U.S. patent application number 13/415734 was filed with the patent office on 2012-06-28 for intraoral acupressure apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to INTRA ORAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.. Invention is credited to James Peter Allen.
Application Number | 20120165862 13/415734 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46318000 |
Filed Date | 2012-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120165862 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Allen; James Peter |
June 28, 2012 |
INTRAORAL ACUPRESSURE APPARATUS
Abstract
An intraoral acupressure apparatus and method of treating a user
are disclosed. The apparatus may include a base shaped to conform
to a palate of a user, the base configured to be removably held
adjacent to the palate in a predetermined position relative to
acupressure points located on the user's palate. The apparatus may
additionally include one or more projections extending out from the
base and configured to contact one or more acupressure points of
the user's palate when the apparatus is removably held in the
predetermined position. The base may be configured to be removably
held in the predetermined position without wire hooks or
clasps.
Inventors: |
Allen; James Peter; (Bend,
OR) |
Assignee: |
INTRA ORAL TECHNOLOGIES,
INC.
Bend
OR
|
Family ID: |
46318000 |
Appl. No.: |
13/415734 |
Filed: |
March 8, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12592297 |
Nov 23, 2009 |
|
|
|
13415734 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
606/204 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61H 2201/1604 20130101;
A61H 2201/1607 20130101; A61H 2205/022 20130101; A61H 2205/084
20130101; A61H 21/00 20130101; A61H 2201/165 20130101; A61C 9/0006
20130101; A61H 39/04 20130101; A61H 2205/083 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
606/204 |
International
Class: |
A61H 39/04 20060101
A61H039/04 |
Claims
1. An intraoral acupressure apparatus, comprising: a base shaped to
conform to a palate of a user, the base configured to be removably
held adjacent to the palate in a predetermined position relative to
acupressure points located on the user's palate; and one or more
projections extending out from the base and configured to contact
one or more acupressure points of the user's palate when the
apparatus is removably held in the predetermined position, wherein
the base is configured to be removably held in the predetermined
position without wire hooks or clasps.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is configured to be
removably held in the predetermined position via a precision fit in
the user's mouth.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the base is further configured
not to contact any side of the user's teeth, other than the lingual
sides of one or more of the user's teeth, when the base is
removably held in the predetermined position.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the base includes a perimeter
portion having a plurality of depressions shaped to conform to the
lingual sides of one or more of the user's teeth.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is custom made to the
palate of the user.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or
more projections is configured to contact an acupressure point that
promotes appetite suppression when the base is removably held in
the predetermined position.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is made from one or
more polymer materials.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base includes a surface
that faces away from the palate of the user when the base is
removably held in the predetermined position, the surface having
texture that is configured to facilitate removal of the apparatus
from the predetermined position.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the texture includes a
plurality of grooves.
10. A method of treating a user, comprising: making an apparatus
from an impression of a palate of a user, the apparatus including:
a base configured to conform to the user's palate, the base
configured to be removably held, without wire hooks or clasps,
adjacent to the palate in a predetermined position relative to
acupressure points located on the palate of the user, and one or
more projections that extend out from the base and are configured
to contact one or more acupressure points of the user's palate when
the base is held in the predetermined position, and placing the
base in the predetermined position in the user's mouth.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein making an apparatus from an
impression of a palate of a user includes making the apparatus such
that the base is configured to be removably held in the
predetermined position via a precision fit in the user's mouth.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein making the apparatus such that
the base is configured to be removably held in the predetermined
position via a precision fit in the user's mouth includes making
the apparatus such that the base is configured not to contact any
side of the user's teeth, other than the lingual sides of one or
more of the user's teeth, when the apparatus is held in the
predetermined position.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein making the apparatus such that
the base is configured not to contact any side of the user's teeth,
other than the lingual sides of one or more of the user's teeth,
when the apparatus is held in the predetermined position includes
making the apparatus such that the base includes a perimeter
portion having a plurality of depressions shaped to conform to the
lingual sides of one or more of the user's teeth.
14. The method of claim 10, making an apparatus from an impression
of a palate of a user includes forming an impression of the user's
palate and creating a model of the base with the impression.
15. The method of claim 10, where the base is made of one or more
materials configured to allow inspection of the user's palate when
the base is removably held in the predetermined position, further
comprising inspecting the user's palate for one or more pressure
points that are not the one or more acupressure points when the
base is removably held in the predetermined position.
16. An intraoral acupressure apparatus, comprising: a base
configured to conform to a user's palate, the base being further
configured to be inserted into the user's mouth and placed adjacent
to the user's palate such that at least a substantial portion of
the user's palate is covered, wherein the base includes a perimeter
that is shaped to conform to the inner surfaces of the user's teeth
to secure the base to the user's palate; and at least one
projection from the base configured to extend into and contact one
or more acupressure points of the user's palate, wherein the base
is configured not to contact any side of the user's teeth, other
than the lingual sides of one or more of the user's teeth, when the
base is placed adjacent to the user's palate.
17. The intraoral acupressure apparatus of claim 16, wherein the
apparatus is free from any wires or clasps.
18. The intraoral acupressure apparatus of claim 16, wherein the
base is free from any apertures.
19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the base is custom made to
the user's palate.
20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of the one or
more projections is configured to contact an acupressure point that
promotes appetite suppression when the base is adjacent to the
user's palate.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/592,297, filed Nov. 23, 2009, which is
incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present disclosure relates to the acupressure treatment
and more specifically to a method and apparatus for applying
pressure and/or stimulation to intraoral sites to elicit a response
in a person. For example, the apparatus may be used to elicit
responses for habit control, smoking, weight loss, anxiety
treatment and/or other responses from acupressure/acupuncture
stimulation.
[0003] Examples of related devices include U.S. Pat. No. 4,073,296
issued to McCall, which discloses an acupressure device for the
ear. Other acupressure devices for the ear includes U.S. Pat. No.
5,735,143 issued to Tanaka and U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,574 issued to
Sun. Other patents describe devices that are used on the human hand
and provide a means of applying the stimulus to various parts of
the body, including U.S. Pat. No. 3,923,064 issued to Leupold and
U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,586 issued to Cao. Finally, other patents
described devices that may be applied to the skin of various areas
on the body, including U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,647 issued to Ferber,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,176 issued to Chang, and U.S. Pat. No.
5,250,067 issued to Gelfer et al. The complete disclosures of the
above patents are hereby incorporated by reference for all
purposes.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0004] The present disclosure includes an apparatus made to cover
the palatal area or the upper mouth. The apparatus may be either a
complete or partial covering of the palate. This appliance has
projections that extend towards the palate into and onto the
tissues to stimulate areas of acupressure/acupuncture stimulation.
These projections may be fixed or adjustable. The adjustments to
the projections would be to modify the depth, extension, and/or
place of acupressure/acupuncture stimulation.
[0005] It has been shown that applying stimulation through a manner
of acupressure/acupuncture to sites intraorally by using an
intraoral appliance may elicit a response used in habit control,
such as elicit physiological responses for smoking, weight loss,
anxiety treatment and/or other responses from
acupressure/acupuncture stimulation.
[0006] The appliance may be held or retained by wires, clasps,
suction, adhesives, cohesion and/or precision of fit. The
fabrication of the appliance may be through direct methods in the
mouth and/or indirect methods. The indirect methods may include
impressions, models, 3-D scans, radiology modeling, ultra-sound,
and/or other techniques to render models and forms of the palate
and other areas of the mouth. The models may be castings, plaster,
and/or digital models to be used in fabrication of the
appliances.
[0007] The appliances may be fabricated using resins, polymers,
metals, plastics, and/or other rigid and/or flexible material(s)
and/or combinations of materials. The projections from the palatal
side of the appliance may vary in location, depth, and/or shape.
The location may vary with patient anatomy and required area of
acupressure/acupuncture stimulation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an example of an
intraoral acupressure apparatus.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the intraoral acupressure
apparatus of FIG. 1 with the projections located at spots
corresponding to acupressure treatment areas.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the intraoral acupressure
apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along lines 3-3 in FIG. 2.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of another example of the
intraoral acupressure apparatus of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the intraoral acupressure
apparatus of FIG. 4.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the intraoral acupressure
apparatus of FIG. 4 taken along lines 6-6 in FIG. 5.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a user's palate and examples
of areas of the user's palate that may affect other parts of the
user's body.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the user's palate of FIG. 7,
shown with the intraoral acupressure apparatus of FIG. 4
installed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an intraoral acupressure
apparatus 10 that may be formed to a particular user's palate.
Unless explicitly stated, intraoral acupressure apparatus 10 may
additionally, or alternatively, include one or more components of
one or more other intraoral acupressure apparatus described in the
present disclosure. The palate apparatus 14 is initially made from
an impression of the user's palate. The impression is typically
made from one of many suitable materials used in surgical and/or
dental applications and may be made from any acceptable method for
making a direct or indirect impression of the palate region of the
mouth.
[0017] Once the impression of the user's palate has been made, an
apparatus of the impression is created using one or more suitable
materials, such as plastics, polymers, resin, and/or a combination
of materials to create a thin rigid yet somewhat flexible cast of
the user's palate. After the apparatus has been made, acupressure
points are located on the apparatus that will correspond to areas
on the palate that are known to have areas that may be stimulated
for acupressure treatment. These acupressure points will vary
depending on the anatomy of the user. In one example, the
acupressure points on the palate are located and marked with a
surgical marking pen on the user's palate. The markings are
transferred to the impression and then located on the palate
apparatus 14. The projections 11 are then located on the palate
apparatus 14. The areas of acupressure are indicated intra orally
and this information transferred to the final model.
[0018] Once the acupressure points have been located on the
apparatus of the palate, projections 11 are added to the apparatus
that extends out the top of the palate apparatus. The projections
may have various shapes including bead, spherical, nodule, spike
and/or pointed. The size of the projection may vary and may be
adjusted. When the palate apparatus is worn by the user, the
projections 11 extend into the soft tissue of the user's palate
stimulating that region of the user's palate.
[0019] The palate apparatus 14 apparatus may be kept in place using
various means. In the figures, the palate apparatus is kept in
place by adding wire hooks 12 and 13 to the palate apparatus that
secures the apparatus to the user's palate. Other means for keeping
the palate apparatus in place in the user's mouth are available,
including clasps, suction, adhesives, cohesion, and/or precision
fit.
[0020] FIGS. 4-6 show another example of intraoral acupressure
apparatus 10, which is generally indicated at 20. Unless explicitly
stated, intraoral acupressure apparatus 20 may additionally, or
alternatively, include one or more components of one or more other
intraoral acupressure apparatus described in the present
disclosure. Intraoral acupressure apparatus 20 may include any
suitable structure configured to provide acupressure stimulation to
the palate of the use. Apparatus 20 may be manufactured and/or made
in any suitable way(s). For example, apparatus 20 may be custom
made to a user's palate.
[0021] The intraoral acupressure apparatus may, for example,
include a base 22 and one or more projections 24. The base may
include a palate surface 26 and a lingual surface 28. The base may
be configured to be inserted into a user's mouth placed adjacent to
the palate in a predetermined position. When in the predetermined
position, the palate surface may be adjacent to the palate and the
lingual surface may be spaced from the palate relative to the
palate surface (and/or adjacent to a user's tongue relative to the
palate surface). In other words, the palate surface may face the
user's palate, while the lingual surface may face away from the
palate in the predetermined position.
[0022] In some examples, base 22 may be free from or without any
apertures or openings. In some examples, base 22 may be configured
to not restrict movement of the user's tongue. Specifically, base
22 may be configured to be free from and/or without structure(s)
that hold a user's tongue down (such as to ensure the tongue does
not obstruct a person's airway).
[0023] The base may be shaped to conform to a palate of a user. For
example, the base may be arcuate in shape (as shown in FIGS. 4 and
6) to correspond to the arcuate shape of a user's palate. In some
examples, the base may cover a substantial portion or all of the
user's palate. Base 22 may be made from one or more polymer
materials and/or other materials discussed in the present
disclosure. In some examples, base 22 may be made with one or more
materials configured to allow inspection of the user's palate when
the base is removably held in the predetermined position. Such
materials may, for example, allow inspection of the user's palate
for one or more pressure points outside of the one or more
acupressure points contacted by the projection(s) when the base is
removably held in the predetermined position. Those pressure points
may, in some examples, appear as blanched tissue.
[0024] Additionally, base 22 may be configured to be removably held
adjacent to the palate in a predetermined position relative to
acupressure points located on the user's palate. The predetermined
position may, for example, include a position in which projections
24 contact and/or provide acupressure to one or more areas of the
user's palate but in which the base does not apply pressure (or
applies minimal pressure) to any other areas of the user's palate
or mouth. Base 22 may be removably held in the predetermined
position without wire hooks and/or clasps (such as wire hooks
and/or clasps that attach the base to a user's teeth). For example,
base 22 may be removably held in the predetermined position via a
precision fit in the user's mouth.
[0025] An example of a precision fit may include where the base is
configured not to contact any side of the user's teeth, other than
the lingual sides of one or more of the user's teeth, when the base
is removably held in the predetermined position. For example, the
base may include a perimeter (or perimeter portion) 30 that
includes a plurality of ridges 32 and a plurality of depressions 32
shaped to conform to the inner sides (and/or lingual sides) of one
or more of the user's teeth. An example of apparatus 20 in the
predetermined position is shown in FIG. 8.
[0026] In some examples, the lingual surface may have texture 36
that is configured to facilitate removal of apparatus 20 from the
predetermined position and/or from the mouth of the user. For
example, texture 36 may include a plurality of grooves,
protuberances, and/or other structure(s) configured to facilitate
gripping of apparatus 20. Although FIGS. 4-5 show parallel grooves,
texture 36 may alternatively, or additionally, include non-parallel
grooves and/or non-parallel structure(s).
[0027] Projections 24 may include any suitable structure configured
to contact one or more acupressure points and/or areas of a user's
palate when the base is in the predetermined position. The
projections may be attached to and/or formed with base 22, and/or
may extend out from the base. Projections 24 may be any suitable
shape(s) and/or size(s). For example, projections 24 may be about 4
mm in diameter and/or other suitable diameter(s). Although two
projections 24 are shown, apparatus 20 may include any suitable
number of projections, such as one, three, four, five, six, seven,
or more.
[0028] In some examples, one or more of projections 24 may be
configured to contact at least one acupressure point that promotes
appetite suppression when the base is removably held in the
predetermined position. Projections 24 may additionally, or
alternatively, contact one or more other acupressure points that
affect the same and/or other parts of a user's body. An example of
acupressure points in a user's palate 40 is shown in FIG. 7, with
apparatus 20 shown in the predetermined position in FIG. 8.
[0029] In some examples, the intraoral acupressure apparatus of the
present disclosure may be described to have a "passive fit" when in
the predetermined position in the user's mouth because it applies
minimal pressure on a person's teeth and/or applies pressure only
to the one or more acupressure points. "Minimal pressure," when
used in the present disclosure to describe the passive fit of the
apparatus in a person's mouth, refers to pressure that is less or
substantially less than the pressure required to maintain and/or
retain teeth in a position, such as a desired position following
surgery and/or a desired position for realigning teeth. The
intraoral acupressure apparatus may have a passive fit regardless
on whether the apparatus is held or maintained in the predetermined
position via wires, clasps, suction, adhesive, cohesion, and/or
precision fit.
[0030] The intraoral acupressure apparatus of the present
disclosure may be used in one or more methods of treating a user.
Unless explicitly stated, the method of treating a user may include
one or more steps described in making the apparatus above. Although
particular steps are discussed, other examples of a method of
treating a user may add, omit, replace, and/or modify one or more
steps. In some examples, the method may include making an apparatus
from an impression of a palate of a user, and placing a base of the
apparatus in a predetermined position in the user's mouth. The
apparatus may include a base configured to conform to the user's
palate, the base configured to be removably held, without wire
hooks or clasps, adjacent to the palate in a predetermined position
relative to acupressure points located on the user's palate. The
apparatus also may include one or more projections that extend out
from the base and are configured to contact one or more acupressure
points of the user's palate when the base is held in the
predetermined position.
[0031] Making an apparatus from an impression of a user's palate
may include forming an impression of the user's palate, creating a
model of the base with the impression, placing acupressure points
on the model (such as by making one or more depressions using a
drill and/or other suitable device), pressing one or more materials
(such as clear plastic) on the model, trimming excess material off,
curing/hardening the material(s), removing the apparatus, and/or
polishing the apparatus (if needed). Additionally, making an
apparatus from an impression of a user's palate may include making
the apparatus such that the base is configured to be removably held
in the predetermined position via a precision fit in the user's
mouth, such as being configured not to contact any side of the
user's teeth other than the lingual sides of one or more of the
user's teeth, when the apparatus is held in the predetermined
position. For example, the apparatus may be made from an impression
of a user's palate such that the base includes a perimeter portion
having a plurality of depressions shaped to conform to the lingual
sides of one or more of the user's teeth.
[0032] In some examples, the method of treating a user may further
include inspecting the user's palate for one or more pressure
points that are not the one or more acupressure points when the
base is removably held in the predetermined position. This step may
be facilitated if the base is made with one or more materials
configured to allow inspection of the user's palate when the base
is removably held in the predetermined position (covering most or
all of the user's palate).
[0033] It is believed that the disclosure set forth herein
encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility.
While each of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred
form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated
herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous
variations are possible. The subject matter of the disclosure
includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations
of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties
disclosed herein.
[0034] Applicant reserves the right to submit claims directed to
certain combinations and subcombinations that are directed to one
of the disclosed inventions and are believed to be novel and
non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and
subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties
may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of
new claims in that or a related application. Such amended or new
claims, whether they are directed to a different invention or
directed to the same invention, whether different, broader,
narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are also
regarded as included within the subject matter of the inventions of
the present disclosure. Where such claims recite "a" or "a first"
element or the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood
to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither
requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
* * * * *