U.S. patent application number 09/760088 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-11 for oral orthesis to reduce snoring and sleep apnea symptoms.
Invention is credited to Tielemans, W.M.J..
Application Number | 20010027793 09/760088 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26871163 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010027793 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tielemans, W.M.J. |
October 11, 2001 |
Oral orthesis to reduce snoring and sleep apnea symptoms
Abstract
An oral orthesis for reduction of snoring and sleep apnea
symptoms.
Inventors: |
Tielemans, W.M.J.; (Maaseik,
BE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIERMAN MUSERLIAN AND LUCAS
600 THIRD AVENUE
NEW YORK
NY
10016
|
Family ID: |
26871163 |
Appl. No.: |
09/760088 |
Filed: |
January 11, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60175394 |
Jan 11, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
128/848 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 5/56 20130101; Y10S
602/902 20130101; A61F 5/566 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
128/848 |
International
Class: |
A61F 005/56 |
Claims
1. Oral orthesis for reducing snoring and sleep apnea symptoms
comprising a maxilla palate plate (1) and, attached thereon, fixing
means (2) to fix the plate in the oral cavity and a tongue
positioning device (3), characterized in that the plate (1) extents
to cover and support also the soft tissue (1b) of the palate
moll.
2. Oral orthesis according to claim 1, characterized in that the
plate (1) supports at least about 30% of the soft palate.
3. Oral orthesis according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that
the plate (1) extents to also support the sensitive area at which
the nerve concentration is high and that the plate (1) at that
locus (1c) has an opening or recess to relieve pressure to that
sensitive area.
4. Oral orthesis according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized in that the plate (1) has at the dorsal end part a
ridge (1d) to increase the muscle tonus within the soft palate.
5. Oral orthesis according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
characterized in that the plate (1) has extensions (1c) covering
the premolar and/or molar sections.
6. Oral orthesis according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
characterized in that the plate (1) is made of an acrylic
polymer.
7. Oral orthesis according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
characterized in that the fixing means (2) comprises wire anchoring
(2a, 2b) shaped to fix the plate to the molars.
8. Oral orthesis according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
characterized in that the tongue positioning device (3) consists of
a rotatable pellotte (3b) attached to a bar (3a) mounted into the
plate with a spring wire (3c and 3d) engaged to press the pellotte
against the tongue.
9. Oral orthesis according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
characterized in that the bar (3a) is mounted in the middle of
plate (1) and at a distance from the front part between about 0.25
and 0.8 times the length of the plate (as measured along the middle
line from the front ridge to the dorsal end ridge).
10. Oral orthesis according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
characterized in that the mounting position of bar (3a) in the
plate and the length of the bar is chosen in combination such that,
with the pellotte (3b) pressed against the tongue in rest position,
the bar is at an angle of more than about 30, preferably more than
45, degrees with the plate (1).
11. Oral orthesis according to any one of claims 1-10,
characterized in that the movement of the pellotte (3b) operated by
the spring (3c, 3d) when in contact with the tongue is
predominantly horizontally.
12. Oral orthesis according to any one of claims 1-11,
characterized in that the pellotte (3b) is rotatably mounted on an
axis (3e) on the bar (3a) to accommodate the movement of the
tongue.
13. Oral orthesis according to claim 12, characterized in that the
pellotte (3b) has means to block rotation of the pellotte relative
to the axis (3e) of the bar (3a) over an angle of more than about
+/-45 degree such that the spring driven movement of the pellotte
is essentially in a horizontal direction
14. Oral orthesis according to claim 13, characterized in that the
blocking means are provided by protuberances in the pellotte (3b)
engaging side arms to axis (3e) of the bar (3a).
15. Oral orthesis according to any one of claims 1-13,
characterized in that the pressing force of the pellotte against
the tongue is not more than about 30 g.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to an oral orthesis for reducing
snoring and sleep apnea symptoms comprising a maxilla pallatum
plate (1) and, attached thereon, fixing means (2) to fix the plate
in the oral cavity and a tongue positioning device (3). Snoring
results from the blocking of the airway by the tongue causing the
vibrations when air is passed through. In serious occasions, the
blocking can cause a temporary lack of oxygen supply to the brain
and unconsciousness which may be life threatening.
[0002] DE 40 26602 describes such an oral orthesis for preventing
snoring. This orthesis has a small maxilla palate plate to which is
attached a spring as the tongue position device. The plate is in
the form of an arc fitted to the upper row of teeth. The orthesis
is anchored in the oral cavity with wires that attach the plate to
the teeth. The spring pushes the tongue forward to prevent the
blocking of the airway.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The disadvantage of the known oral orthesis is that it does
not sufficiently prevent the blocking of the airway in all
circumstances. The object of the present invention therefor is to
provide an improved oral orthesis that better prevents snoring and
sleep apnea.
[0004] This object is achieved, according to the invention, in that
the plate 1 extents to cover and support also the soft tissue (1b)
of the palate moll.
[0005] Surprisingly it was found that the airway is much less
blocked and snoring is more effectively prevented. At first, the
orthesis creates a larger open airway. Further, it was found that
the orthesis according to the invention increases the muscle tonus
and thus Increases the stiffness of the soft tissue. The stiffer
soft tissue does not hang down and close the airway.
[0006] Another advantage of the present invention is that it is
more comfortable and hence more easily accepted as a measure
against snoring. In particular the oral orthesis is more stable
anchored in the mouth and does not move with breathing, swallowing
etc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective side view of the oral
orthesis showing the maxilla palate plate 1 and, attached thereon,
fixing means 2 to fix the plate in the oral cavity to the teeth and
a tongue positioning device 3. The part of the plate 1a covers the
hard part of the palate and part of the plate 1b covers and
supports the soft tissue of the palate moll. The spring 3a is
mounted in palate 1 and pushes the pellotte 3b against the
tongue.
[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates the oral orthesis positioned in the oral
cavity. The fixing means 2 attach the orthesis to the teeth. The
spring 3a pushes against the tongue.
[0009] FIG. 3. illustrates a perspective side view of the oral
orthesis showing details of the tongue-positioning device 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] In view of the better opening of the airway and preventing
snoring, in the oral orthesis according to the invention, the plate
1 supports preferably at least about 20% of the soft palate (1b).
More preferably, it supports at least 30% and more preferably, at
least about 40%.The advantage is that the airway is kept more open.
In view of wearing comfort preferably at most 60%, preferably at
most about 50% of the soft palate are covered.
[0011] The inventors found that when the palate moll extends to
cover a larger part of the soft tissue the wearing comfort reduces.
In view of improving the wearing comfort, in a preferred embodiment
of the oral orthesis according to the invention, the plate 1
extents to also support the sensitive area beyond the area where
the nerve S concentration is high (1c) and the plate 1, at that
locus (1c), has an opening or recess to relieve pressure to that
sensitive area. The exact location of the area where the nerve
concentration is high may differ slightly from person to person but
can be easily located by the skilled man.
[0012] The oral orthesis according to the invention preferably has
in the plate 1, at the dorsal end part, a ridge (1d) to increase
the muscle tonus within the soft palate. The advantage of this is
that the soft tissue remains harder and does not as easy hang to
block the airway.
[0013] The oral orthesis according to the invention preferably also
has in the plate 1 extension (1e) covering the premolar and/or
molar sections. The extensions are molded to fit the profile of the
teeth with the mouth in a normal closed relaxed position, for
example by casting in a mold formed by biting. These extensions
hold in position the lower jaw relative to the upper jaw and
prevent to some extent the lower jaw from sliding back and thus
closing the airway when the body is in a horizontal position when
sleeping.
[0014] The plate can be made by methods normally used for dental
prosthesis. The plate 1 of the oral orthesis of the invention is
preferably made of an acrylic polymer. This polymer has the
required stiffness and strength to fix the tongue-positioning
device and to exert the force of the spring. In the plate are
provided fixing means 2 preferably comprising wire anchoring (2a,
2b) shaped to fix the plate to the molars. The wiring is adapted to
fit and anchor to the teeth of the individual using the orthesis as
in normal teeth orthesis tongue. The spring wires 3c and 3d are
relatively positioned such that sufficient force is applied on the
pellotte bar. Preferably the pressing force of the pellotte against
the tongue is not more than about 30 g. This can easily be adjusted
by the positioning of the spring wires 3c and/or 3d relative to the
pellotte bar 3a.
[0015] An important feature of the oral orthesis according to the
invention is, that the bar (3a) is mounted in the middle of plate 1
and at a distance from the front part between about 0.25 and 0.8
times the length of the plate (as measured along the middle line
from the front ridge to the dorsal end ridge). In DE 40 26602 the
bar is positioned near the front teeth. Due to this, the pellotte
pushes the tongue in more or less vertical direction. The advantage
of placing the bar more to the rear, i.e. at more than 0.25 times
the length of the plate, is that the tongue is pushed in a
direction that is more horizontal, thus more effectively opening
the airway.
[0016] Is In the oral orthesis according to the invention,
preferably the mounting position of bar (3a) In the plate and the
length of the bar is chosen in combination such that, with the
pellotte (3b) pressed against the tongue in rest position, the bar
is at an angle of more than about 30, preferably more than 45,
degrees with the plate 1. The movement of the pellotte (3b)
operated by the spring (3c, 3d) when in contact with the tongue is
preferably predominantly horizontally. The advantage each time is
that the airway is more effectively opened.
[0017] In view of wearing comfort, the pellotte (3b) is preferably
rotatably mounted on an axis (3e) on the bar (3a) to accommodate
the movement of the tongue. The rotational movement of the pellotte
is preferably blocked when the movement of the pellotte activated
by the spring is about horizontal to give a better support and to
prevent slipping away of the tongue. Hence in the oral orthesis
preferably the pellotte (3b) has means to block rotation of the
pellotte relative to the axis (3e) of the bar (3a) over an angle of
more than about +/-45 degree such that the spring driven movement
of the pellotte is essentially in a horizontal direction.
Preferably, the blocking means are provided by protuberances in the
pellotte (3b) engaging side arms to axis (3e) of the bar (3a). To
prevent slippage of the tongue the pellotte surface may be modified
to increase friction, for example by roughening. Preferably the
pressing force of the pellotte against the tongue is not more than
about 30 g. This can easily be adjusted by the positioning of the
spring wires 3c and 3d relative to the pellotte bar 3a.
* * * * *