U.S. patent application number 15/155419 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-08 for oral motion preservation device.
The applicant listed for this patent is SILVERFOX DENTAL & ORTHO, LLC. Invention is credited to Brian Francis SMITH.
Application Number | 20160256313 15/155419 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53773950 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160256313 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SMITH; Brian Francis |
September 8, 2016 |
ORAL MOTION PRESERVATION DEVICE
Abstract
A device for the treatment of bruxism may include an
articulation plate worn on one of the upper or lower jaw and
coupled to a bite plate worn on the other of the upper or lower
jaw. Posts extending from one of the bite plate or articulation
plate into housings in the other of the bite plate or articulation
plate may couple the bite plate and articulation plate. The posts
may include a solid, flexible material to allow for relative
movement of the coupled bite plate and articulation plate. First
articulating components on one of the bite plate or articulation
plate may engage second articulating components on the other of the
bite plate or articulation plate to allow for 360 degree
articulating motion between the bite plate and articulation plate.
A damper may adjust a distance between teeth received in the bite
plate and teeth received in the articulation plate.
Inventors: |
SMITH; Brian Francis;
(Baldwin, MD) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SILVERFOX DENTAL & ORTHO, LLC |
Sparks |
MD |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53773950 |
Appl. No.: |
15/155419 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14622024 |
Feb 13, 2015 |
9339410 |
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15155419 |
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61939586 |
Feb 13, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 5/56 20130101; A61C
7/08 20130101; A61F 2005/563 20130101; A63B 71/085 20130101; A61C
7/36 20130101; A61F 5/566 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61F 5/56 20060101
A61F005/56 |
Claims
1. An oral device, comprising: a first plate; a second plate; a
coupling device configured to couple the first plate and the second
plate, the coupling device including at least one post having a
first end portion coupled to the first plate and a second end
portion coupled to the second plate, wherein the at least one post
has a solid cross section, with a longitudinal length of the at
least one solid post extending substantially linearly between the
first plate and the second plate; and an articulating coupler
configured to allow for articulation between the first plate and
the second plate coupled by the coupling device.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the solid cross section of the at
least one post extends continuously, in a transverse direction
across the at least one post, from a first peripheral edge portion
to a second peripheral edge portion of the at least one post.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one post includes: a
first post having a solid cross section, the first post having a
first end portion fixedly coupled to the first plate, and a second
end portion fixedly coupled to a first housing defined as by a
first recess in the second plate; and a second post having a solid
cross section, the second post having a first end portion fixedly
coupled to the first plate or the second plate, and a second end
portion fixedly coupled to a second housing defined by a second
recess in the second plate.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein a cross sectional shape of the
solid cross section of the first post corresponds to a cross
sectional shape of the first housing, a cross sectional shape of
the solid cross section of the second post corresponds to a cross
sectional shape of the second housing, and the first post and the
second post are each made of a flexible material so as to allow for
six degree of freedom movement between the first and second plates
within a range of motion of the first post and the second post.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the articulating coupler
includes: a plurality of first articulating components included on
one of the first plate or the second plate, each of the first
articulating components including a protrusion having a
substantially semispherical shape extending outward from a mating
surface of the first plate toward a mating surface of the second
plate in the coupled state of the first and second plates; and a
plurality of second articulating components included on the other
of the first plate or the second plate, each of the second
articulating components including a receiving surface having a
concave curved contour so as to interact with the semispherical
shape of the first articulating component so as to respectively
engage with the plurality of first articulating components and
guide a relative motion of the first and second plates.
6. The device of claim 1, further comprising an articulating damper
included in one of the first plate or the second plate, wherein the
articulating damper includes: a cam provided in an anterior portion
of the one of the first plate or the second plate; and a riser
operably coupled to the cam, wherein the riser is configured to
impart a separating force on one of the first plate or the second
plate in response to an external actuation force applied to the
cam, the separating force adjusting a distance between at least one
tooth received in the one of the first plate or the second plate
and at least one tooth received in the other of the first plate or
the second plate.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the riser is configured to extend
out through an opening in the one of the first plate or the second
plate in response to the external actuation force to impart the
separating force on the other of the first plate or the second
plate.
8. The device of claim 6, wherein the riser is configured to
contact an interior lining of the one of the first plate or the
second plate and impart the separating force on the interior lining
of the first plate or the second plate in response to the external
actuation force.
9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a locking wafer
selectively positioned between mating surfaces of the first plate
and the second plate to set a prescribed distance between the
mating surfaces of the first plate and the second plate, the
locking wafer including: a wafer body; and at least one channel
extending longitudinally along the wafer body, at a position
corresponding to the at least one post such that the at least one
post is slidably received in the at least one channel.
10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of
locking pins that extend through the first plate and into the
second plate at a corresponding plurality of different positions to
fix the first plate and the second plate in a selected position,
the selected position including at least one of a fixed lateral
position of the first plate relative to the second plate, a fixed
transverse position of the first plate relative to the second
plate, or a fixed vertical position of the first plate relative to
the second plate to fix a vertical separation distance between the
first plate and the second plate.
11. An oral device, comprising: a first plate configured to be
positioned on one of an upper jaw or a lower jaw; a second plate
configured to be positioned on the other of the upper jaw or the
lower jaw; a coupling device configured to movably couple the first
plate and the second plate; an articulating coupler configured to
guide relative movement between the first plate and the second
plate coupled by the coupling device; and an articulating damper
included in the first plate, wherein the articulating damper
includes: a cam provided in an anterior portion of the first plate;
and a riser operably coupled to the cam, wherein the riser is
configured to impart a separating force on one of the first plate
or the second plate in response to an external actuation force
applied to the cam, the separating force adjusting a distance
between at least one tooth received in the first plate and at least
one tooth received in the second plate.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein the riser is configured to
selectively extend through an opening in the first plate and
contact a mating surface of the second plate so as to adjust a
separation distance between respective mating surfaces of the first
plate and the second plate and adjust the distance between the at
least one tooth received in the first plate and the at least one
tooth received in the second plate.
13. The device of claim 11, wherein the riser is configured to
selectively contact an interior lining of the first plate to adjust
a distance between the at least one tooth received in the first
plate and a mating surface of the first plate, so as to adjust the
distance between the at least one tooth received in the first plate
and the at least one tooth received in the second plate.
14. The device of claim 11, wherein the riser is configured to move
in a first direction to increase the distance between at least one
tooth received in the first plate and the at least one tooth
received in the second plate when the external actuation force is
applied to the cam in a first direction, and the riser is
configured to move in a second direction to decrease the distance
between the at least one tooth received in the first plate and at
least one tooth received in the second when the external actuation
force is applied to the cam in a second direction, the second
direction being opposite the first direction.
15. The device of claim 11, wherein the coupling device includes a
plurality of posts, each of the plurality of posts including: a
first end portion coupled to the first plate; and a second end
portion coupled to the second plate, wherein each of the plurality
of posts is defined by a solid protrusion made of a flexible
material and having a solid cross section, each of the plurality of
posts extending linearly between the first plate and the second
plate, and wherein the plurality of posts are configured to allow
for six degree of freedom movement between the first plate and the
second plate within a range of motion of the plurality of
posts.
16. The device of claim 11, wherein the articulating coupler
includes: a plurality of first articulating components included on
one of the first plate or the second plate, each of the first
articulating components including a protrusion having a convex
contour extending outward from a mating surface of the first plate
toward a mating surface of the second plate; and a plurality of
second articulating components included on the other of the first
plate or the second plate, each of the second articulating
components including a concave receiving surface configured to
engage the convex contour of a corresponding first articulating
component so as to guide relative movement of the first and second
plates.
17. An oral device, comprising: a first plate configured to be
positioned on one of an upper jaw or a lower jaw; a second plate
configured to be positioned on the other of the upper jaw or the
lower jaw; a coupling device including at least one post extending
between the first plate and the second plate and configured to
movably couple the first plate and the second plate; an
articulating coupler coupled to the first plate and the second
plate and configured to guide relative movement between the first
plate and the second plate coupled by the coupling device; and a
locking wafer selectively positioned between a mating surface of
the first plate and a mating surface of the second plate, the
locking wafer including: a wafer body; and at least one channel
extending longitudinally along the wafer body, at a position
corresponding to the at least one post such that the at least one
post is slidably received in the at least one channel.
18. The device of claim 17, wherein the first plate has a U-shaped
contour and the second plate has a U-shaped contour corresponding
to the contour of the first plate, and wherein the at least one
post includes a plurality of posts positioned at varying intervals
along the U-shaped contour of the first plate and the U-shaped
contour of the second plate, and wherein the at least one channel
includes a plurality of channels defined in the wafer body, at
positions corresponding to the plurality of posts.
19. The device of claim 18, wherein the wafer body has a U-shaped
contour corresponding to the U-shaped contour of the first plate
and the U-shaped contour of the second plate, and wherein the
plurality of posts includes at least one first post arranged on
respective first lateral sections of the first plate and the second
plate, and at least one second post arranged on respective second
lateral sections of the first plate and the second plate, and
wherein the plurality of channels includes: a first channel defined
in a first lateral section of the wafer and configured to slidably
receive the at least one first post; and a second channel defined
in a second lateral section of the wafer and configured to slidably
receive the at least one second post.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S.
application Ser. No. 14/622,024, filed Feb. 13, 2015, which claims
priority to Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/939,586, filed on
Feb. 19, 2014, the entirety of which are incorporated by reference
as if fully set forth herein.
FIELD
[0002] This document relates, generally, to an oral device, and in
particular, to an oral device for the preservation of natural
mandibular motion and prevention and/or reduction of bruxism.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Bruxism generally refers to the excessive grinding and/or
gnashing of the teeth, in which the top and bottom teeth forcefully
slide against each other, and/or excessive clenching of the jaw.
Frequent, severe and/or sustained bruxism may lead to
Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJS) and/or Temporomandibular
Joint Disorder (TMJD). Bruxism is an oral para-functional activity,
in that it is not typically a conscious action, and not related to
normal oral functions such as, for example, eating or talking.
Symptoms such as facial pain, neck pain, hypersensitive teeth,
aching jaw muscles, headaches and other such symptoms may be
associated with bruxism. Bruxism may also cause tooth wear, bite
misalignment, and damage and/or breakage of teeth and dental
restorations such as crowns and fillings. A device that preserves
natural jaw motion while providing a barrier to the underlying
teeth, may be effective dissipating forces generated due to
grinding and preserving natural motion, while separation of the
upper an lower jaws may minimize clenching and related
complications and/or symptoms.
SUMMARY
[0004] In one aspect, a bruxism device, as embodied and broadly
described herein, may include an articulation plate including a
plurality of second articulating components and at least one
articulating height-adjustable damper, wherein the articulation
plate is configured to conform to at least one tooth, and a bite
plate including a plurality of first articulating components,
wherein the bite plate is adjustably connected to the articulation
plate. Each second articulating component may articulately receive
a single first articulating component. At least one articulating
damper may be adjusted by height in order to space the upper and
lower jaws apart.
[0005] In another aspect, an oral device, as embodied and broadly
described herein, may include a first plate, a second plate, a
coupling device configured to couple the first plate and the
second, and an articulating coupler configured to allow for
articulation between the first plate and the second plate coupled
by the coupling device. The articulating coupler may include a
plurality of first articulating components included on the first
plate, and a plurality of second articulating components included
on the second plate and configured to respectively engage with the
plurality of first articulating components so as to guide a 360
degree relative motion of the first and second plates.
[0006] In another aspect, an oral device, as embodied and broadly
described herein, may include a bite plate, an articulation plate,
at least one post defined by a protrusion extending outward from a
mating surface of the articulation plate, at least one housing
defined by a recess in a mating surface of the bite plate, at a
position corresponding to the at least one post, so as to receive a
distal end of the at least one post therein and couple the
articulation plate and the bite plate, at least one first
articulating component included on the mating surface of the bite
plate, and at least one second articulating component included on
the mating surface of the articulation plate, at a position
corresponding to the at least one first articulating component, an
inner contour of the at least one second articulating component
corresponding to an outer contour of the at least one first
articulating component.
[0007] In some embodiments, a locking wafer positioned between the
mating surfaces of the bite plate and the articulation plate, the
locking wafer setting a prescribed distance between the mating
surfaces of the bite plate and the articulation plate.
[0008] In some embodiments, a plurality of locking pins may extend
between the bite plate and the articulation plate to fix the bite
plate and the articulation plate in a selected position.
[0009] In some embodiments, the bite plate may be fitted on a
separate oral device positioned on the teeth of one of the upper
jaw or the lower jaw.
[0010] In some embodiments, the articulation plate may be fitted
oral device positioned on the teeth of one of the upper jaw or the
lower jaw.
[0011] In another aspect, a bruxism device, as embodied and broadly
described herein, may include a bite plate including a plurality of
first articulating components, an articulation plate including a
plurality of second articulating components configured to
respectively engage the plurality of first articulating components,
and at least one articulating damper included in the articulation
plate, wherein a position of the at least one articulating damper
is configured to be adjusted in response to an external actuation
force applied to the at least one articulating damper so as to
adjust a separation distance between an upper jaw received in one
of the bite plate or the articulation plate and a lower jaw
received in the other of the bite plate or the articulation
plate.
[0012] The details of one or more implementations are set forth in
the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features
will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1A is a disassembled perspective view of an exemplary
bruxism device, in accordance with an embodiment as broadly
described herein.
[0014] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of an inner side of the first
plate of the exemplary bruxism device shown in FIG. 1A, in
accordance with an embodiment as broadly described herein.
[0015] FIG. 1C is a perspective view of an inner side of a second
plate of the exemplary bruxism device shown in FIG. 1A, in
accordance with an embodiment as broadly described herein.
[0016] FIG. 2A is an assembled perspective view of the exemplary
bruxism device shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, in accordance with an
embodiment as broadly described herein.
[0017] FIG. 2B is a rear view of the exemplary bruxism device shown
in FIG. 2A, in accordance with embodiments as broadly described
herein.
[0018] FIG. 2C is a cross sectional view of the exemplary bruxism
device taken along line C-C of FIG. 2, illustrating a coupling of a
first articulating component and a second articulating component of
the exemplary bruxism device, in accordance with an embodiment as
broadly described herein.
[0019] FIG. 2D is a cross sectional view of the exemplary bruxism
device taken along line D-D of FIG. 2, illustrating a coupling of a
post and a housing of the exemplary bruxism device, in accordance
with an embodiment as broadly described herein.
[0020] FIGS. 3A-3C are front assembled views of a bruxism device,
in accordance with embodiments as broadly described herein.
[0021] FIGS. 4A-4C are disassembled perspective views of a bruxism
device, in accordance with another embodiment as broadly described
herein.
[0022] FIGS. 5A-5D illustrate bruxism devices worn by a user, in
accordance with embodiments as broadly described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] The following detailed description sets forth various
exemplary embodiments of a bruxism device. The description is not
to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose
of illustrating the general principles as broadly described
herein.
[0024] An oral bruxism device, as embodied and broadly described
herein, may serve as an oral motion preservation device, preserving
natural motion of the upper and lower jaws of a patient in the
event of grinding and/or gnashing and/or clenching of the jaws. In
some embodiments, an oral bruxism device may include a static bite
plate positioned between the upper jaw and the lower jaw, and in
particular, between the teeth of the upper jaw and the teeth of the
lower jaw. This type of static bite plate may provide some
protection against wear of the teeth of the upper and/or lower
jaws. However, this type of static bite plate may still provide
some resistance against the natural movement of the jaws, and thus
may still transfer deleterious stress forces generated by a
grinding motion onto the underlying teeth as well as the
temporomandibular joints and connective soft tissues.
[0025] A bruxism device, in accordance with embodiments as broadly
described herein, may allow for the natural movement of the jaws
and dissipate the stress forces generated by the grinding motion. A
bruxism device, as embodied and broadly described herein, may
include, for example, a bite plate connected to an articulation
plate. The bite plate may include a plurality of first articulating
components extending generally perpendicularly from the bite plate.
The articulation plate may include an inner material capable of
being fit or conformed to the upper jaw or the lower jaw, or
conformed to fit a form-fitted, or custom-fitted, dental/oral tray
or other type of dental/oral mouth guard. The articulation plate
may also include a plurality of second articulating components
adapted so that each second articulating component may articulately
receive a single one of the plurality of first articulating
components included on the bite plate. The bruxism device may be
mounted on the upper jaw or the lower jaw. A separation distance
between the bite plate and the articulation plate may be adjusted
by a damper, so that corresponding teeth may be separated by a
predetermined distance from the bruxism device. The damper may be
an articulating damper, or a non-articulating damper. When a user
wearing the bruxism device grinds his/her teeth, the articulating
components may provide a `gliding` affect for the upper and/or
lower jaws, so that the teeth do not encounter significant friction
and the jaws do not encounter significant resistance. The
non-constrained motion of the upper and lower jaws provided for by
a bruxism device as embodied and broadly described herein may allow
the jaws to maintain a substantially natural motion state.
[0026] An example implementation of a bruxism device, in accordance
with one embodiment, is shown in the disassembled perspective view
of FIG. 1A. The bruxism device 100 may include, for example, a
first plate 10 selectively coupled to a second plate 50. For ease
of discussion, the first plate may hereinafter be referred to as a
bite plate 10, and the second plate may hereinafter be referred to
as an articulation plate 50.
[0027] In some embodiments, the bite plate 10 may include a soft
inner lining 12 and a rigid outer lining 14, the inner lining 12
being situated on an inner side of the bite plate 10 in which the
teeth of one of the upper jaw or the lower jaw are to be received,
and the outer lining 14 defining an outer side of the bite plate
10, facing the articulation plate 50. In some embodiments, the
inner lining 12 may be made of a relatively soft, relatively
resilient thermoplastic material such as, but not limited to,
plastic. Properties of the material of the inner lining 12 may
allow the inner lining 12 to conform to the teeth of a user while
also cushioning the jaw against impact and teeth-gnashing forces.
In some embodiments, the inner lining 12 may conform to, or
receive, or be fitted over an oral device 200 (see FIGS. 5C and
5D), such as, for example a pre-existing oral device 200 which the
user has positioned on the teeth, such as, for example, whitening
trays and the like, which may have been previously customized for a
particular user. In some embodiments, the outer lining 14 may be
made of a relatively rigid, somewhat resilient thermoplastic
material, such as, but not limited to, plastic. The inner lining 12
may be secured to the outer lining 14 by, for example, an adhesive,
a lamination process, and the like. In some embodiments, as shown
in FIG. 1B, a plurality of first articulating components 22 may
extend outward from a surface 14a of the outer lining 14. In some
embodiments, the plurality of first articulating components 22 may
extend outward from a surface 14a of the outer lining 14 facing the
articulation plate 50, and may extend in a direction that is
substantially perpendicular to the surface 14a of the outer lining
14. In some embodiments, a plurality of housings 24, or openings
24, or recesses 24, may also be defined in the surface 14a of the
outer lining 14.
[0028] The articulation plate 50 may be positioned opposite, or
facing, the bite plate 10, and may be coupled to the bite plate 10.
The articulation plate 50 may include a soft inner lining 52, as
shown in FIG. 1C, and a rigid outer lining 54, the inner lining 52
being situated on an inner side of the articulation plate 50 in
which the teeth of the other of the upper jaw or the lower jaw are
to be received, and the outer lining 54 defining an outer side of
the articulation plate 50, facing the bite plate 10. In some
embodiments, the inner lining 52 may be made of a relatively soft,
relatively resilient thermoplastic material such as, but not
limited to, plastic. Properties of the material of the inner lining
52 may allow the inner lining 52 to conform to the teeth while also
cushioning the jaw against impact and teeth-gnashing forces. In
some embodiments, the inner lining 52 may conform to, or receive,
or be fitted over another oral device 200 as described above, which
the user has positioned on the teeth, and which may have been
previously customized for a particular user, such as, for example,
whitening trays and the like. In some embodiments, the outer lining
54 may be made of a relatively rigid, somewhat resilient
thermoplastic material, such as, but not limited to, plastic. The
inner lining 52 may be secured to the outer lining 54 by, for
example, an adhesive, a lamination process, and the like. A
plurality of second articulating components 62 and a plurality of
posts 64 may be defined on a surface 54a of the outer lining 54 of
the articulation plate 50, facing the bite plate 10.
[0029] When the bite plate 10 and the articulation plate 50 are
coupled, the surface 54a of the articulation plate 50 on which the
plurality of second articulating components 62 and the plurality of
posts 64 are located may be positioned opposite, or facing, the
surface 14a of the outer liner 14 of the bite plate 10 on which the
plurality of first articulating components 22 and the plurality of
housings 24 are located. The plurality of second articulating
components 62 may be engaged with the plurality first articulating
components 22 provided on the surface 14a of the bite plate 10. The
plurality of posts 64 may be engaged with the plurality of housings
24 defined in the surface 14a of the bite plate 10. The bite plate
10 may interface with the teeth of one of the upper jaw or the
lower jaw, and the articulation plate 50 may interface with the
teeth of the other of the upper jaw or the lower jaw so as to
minimize the transfer of teeth-gnashing forces.
[0030] Each housing 24 formed in the surface 14a of the bite plate
10 may be adapted to receive a single, corresponding post 64 of the
articulation plate 50. When the posts 64 are received in their
respective housings 24, the bite plate 10 and the articulation
plate 50 may be coupled. In some embodiments, each post 64 may be
fixed in its respective housing 24 by, for example, an adhesive or
other attaching material. In some embodiments, each post 64 may be
fixed in its respective housing 24 such that a gap is defined
between the surface 14a of the bite plate 10 and the surface 54a of
the articulation plate 50.
[0031] In the illustrated embodiment, the posts 64 formed on the
example articulation plate 50 shown in FIG. 1A have a substantially
circular cross section, and extend outward, in a substantially
perpendicular direction from the surface 54a of the articulation
plate 50 in a substantially cylindrical form. The housings 24,
which are formed as recesses in the example bite plate 10 shown in
FIG. 1B, also have a substantially circular cross section,
extending into the outer lining 14 of the bite plate 10 in a
substantially cylindrical form, so as to correspond to the posts 64
and allow the posts 64 to be received and secured in the housings
24. However, in some embodiments, the posts 64 and housings 24 may
have other cross sectional shapes. For example, in some
embodiments, the posts 64 and housings 24 may have, for example, an
elliptical cross section, a square cross section, a rectangular,
cross section, or other polygonal cross sectional shape. In some
embodiments, a cross sectional shape of the housing 24 corresponds
to a cross sectional shape of the post 64 to facilitate insertion
and securing of the post 64 in the housing 24. Insertion of one of
the posts 64 of the articulating plate 50 into a corresponding
housing 24 formed in the bite plate 10 is shown in FIG. 2D.
[0032] In some embodiments, the posts 64 may be made of a flexible,
somewhat deformable material. Flexibility of the posts 64 fixed in
the housings 24 may allow for some movement, such as, for example,
longitudinal movement between the bite plate 10 and the
articulation plate 50 (in a front and rear direction of the jaws,
as shown by the arrow Z in FIG. 2A), and/or transverse movement
between the bite plate 10 and the articulation plate 50 (in a right
and left direction of the jaws, as shown by the arrow X in FIG.
2A), some compressive movement between the bite plate 10 and the
articulation plate 50 (as shown by the arrow Y in FIG. 2A), and/or
a combination of the longitudinal and transverse movement which may
produce a rotational movement (as shown by the arrows R1 and R2 in
FIG. 2A). Flexibility of the posts 64 fixed in the housings 24 and
the resulting flexibility in the X, Y, Z, R1 and R2 directions as
shown may provide for both shock absorption and stability between
the bite plate 10 and the articulation plate 50.
[0033] In some embodiments, while being flexible, the posts 64 may
also be substantially solid, and relatively free of openings that
may otherwise entrap debris and/or moisture, and relatively tightly
fitted in the housings to avoid entrapment of debris and/or
moisture in spaces between the posts 64 and the housings 24.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 2C, each second articulating component 62
may be adapted to articulately receive, and/or engage with, a
single, corresponding first articulating component 22. In some
embodiments, the plurality of first articulating components 22 and
plurality of second articulating components 62, may, in a received
or engaged arrangement, be referred to together as an articulating
connector.
[0035] In the example embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1B and 2C, each
of the plurality of first articulating components 22 is defined by
a protrusion that extends outward, from the mating surface 14a of
the bite plate 10 and having a substantially semispherical shape or
surface 22a. In the example embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1B and 2C,
each of the plurality of second articulating components 62 includes
a receiving surface 62a located on the mating surface 54a of the
articulation plate 50, at positions corresponding to the positions
of the plurality of first articulating components 22. The receiving
surface 62a of each of the second articulating components may have
a curved, or arcuate, contour, that facilitates essentially 360
degree movement of the semispherical surface 22a of the first
articulating component 22 received therein. The curved indentation,
or curved recess, formed by the receiving surface 62a allows the
first articulating component 22 to be received in and move freely
within the second articulating component 62 without becoming easily
disengaged.
[0036] In some embodiments, the first and second articulating
components 22 and 62 may include, for example, ball and trough
components, ball-in-socket components, two plates with a
mobile/sliding core positioned between the two plates, and other
such components that, with the articulating components in an
aligned and engaged arrangement, would provide for an articulating
relationship between the bite plate 10 and the articulation plate
50.
[0037] In the views shown in FIGS. 1A, 2A-2B and 3A-3B, the bruxism
device 100 is oriented with the bite plate 10 at an upper portion
of the device 100 and the articulation plate 50 at a lower portion
of the device 100. When the bite plate 10 and the articulation
plate are oriented in this manner, and coupled in the manner shown
in FIG. 2, the device 100 may be worn so that the teeth of the
upper jaw are received in the inner lining 12 of the bite plate 10,
and the teeth of the lower jaw are received in the inner lining 52
of the articulation plate 50, such that the device 100 is
essentially "worn" or "mounted" on the upper jaw. The bite plate 10
and articulation plate 50 of the bruxism device 100 are oriented as
shown in FIGS. 1A, 2A and 2B simply to facilitate description of
the features of the device 100. In some embodiments, the device 100
may be worn in a position inverted from what is shown in FIGS. 1A,
2A-2B and 3A-3B. That is, in some embodiments, the teeth of the
bottom jaw may be received in the inner lining 12 of the bite plate
10, and the teeth of the upper jaw may be received in the inner
lining 52 of the articulation plate 50, such that the device 100 is
essentially "worn" or "mounted" on the lower jaw.
[0038] In the example implementation shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, 2A-2D
and 3A-3B, the first articulating components 22 and the housings 24
are located on the surface 14a of the bite plate 10, and the second
articulating components 62 and the posts 64 are located on the
surface 54a of the articulating plate 50. However, in some
embodiments, the first articulating components 22 and the housings
24 may be located on the surface 54a of the articulation plate 50,
and the second articulating components 62 and the posts 64 may be
located on the surface 14a of the bite plate 10. Other various
arrangements of the first and second articulating components 22 and
62, the housings 24 and the posts 64 on the surfaces 14a and 54a of
the bite plate 10 and the articulating plate 50 may also be
implemented, as long as engagement between the first and second
articulating components 22 and 62, and between the posts 64 and
housings 24, may be maintained. For example, while the illustrated
embodiment includes the "male" articulating component 22 on the
bite plate 10 and the "female" articulating component 62 on the
articulation plate 50, respective installation of the articulating
components 22 and 62 on the bite plate 10 and the articulation
plate 50 may be reversed, for some, or for all, of the pairs of
articulating components 22/62. Similarly, while the illustrated
embodiment includes the "male" post 64 on the articulation plate 50
and the "female" housing 24 in the bite plate 10, respective
installation of the housings 24 and posts 64 on the bite plate 10
and the articulation plate 50 may be reversed, for some, or for
all, of the pairs of housings 24 and posts 64.
[0039] In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the bite
plate 10 and articulation plate 50 includes two pairs of first and
second articulating components 22 and 62 arranged on a first side
(for example, a left side) of the bruxism device 100, two pairs of
first and second articulating components 22 and 62 arranged on a
second side (for example, a right side) of the bruxism device 100,
and one pair of first and second articulating components 22 and 62
arranged at a front central portion of the bruxism device 100, or
five total pairs of first and second articulating components 22 and
62 movably coupling the bite plate 10 and the articulation plate
50. However, in some embodiments, more, or fewer, pairs of first
and second articulating components 22 and 62 may be arranged along
the mating surfaces of the bite plate 10 and the articulation plate
50, depending, for example, on a size of the bruxism device, and
amount of correction and/or compensation required, and other such
factors.
[0040] In some embodiments, an articulating damper 56 may be
provided in, for example, the articulating plate 50. The
articulating damper 56 may include a mechanism that adjusts and
maintains a desired position between the bite plate 10 and the
articulation plate 50, and thus a desired amount of separation
between the corresponding teeth of the upper jaw and the lower jaw.
In some embodiments, the articulating damper 56 may be included at
a front portion of the articulation plate 50, so that the
articulating damper 56 is easily accessible and may provide for
adjustment of the separation distance between the front teeth,
which may facilitate the further dissipation of grinding and
clenching forces. In some embodiments, this separation distance may
be between approximately 0.0 mm and 50.0 mm, depending, for
example, on the size of a particular bruxism device and/or the
individual needs and/or comfort of a particular user.
[0041] FIG. 3A is a front view of the exemplary bruxism device 100,
in which the articulating damper 56 has not been actuated. In the
example shown in FIG. 3B, the articulating damper 56 is provided at
a front, or anterior, portion of the device 100, and has been
actuated to increase a separation distance, or damper opening,
between the front teeth received in the bite plate 10 and the front
teeth received in the articulation plate 50. The articulating
damper 56 may employ, for example, a cam, a spring, a piston, a
jack, a wedge and the like to generate and maintain the separation
distance, and may be adjusted by, for example, a knob, a hex key, a
button and the like. In some embodiments, the articulating damper
56 may exert a force on an underside of the outer lining 54,
pushing the surface 54a in the direction of the surface 14a, and
consequently increasing a separation distance between the teeth
received in the articulation plate 50 and the bite plate 10 in the
general area of the damper 56. In some embodiments, this force
exerted by the articulating damper 56 may be exerted on a
corresponding one of the second articulating components 62. In
other embodiments, actuation may cause a portion of the damper 56
to extend up through the surface 54a of the articulation plate 50
to push on the surface 14a of the bite plate 10.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 3C, in some embodiments, the damper 56 may
be coupled to a riser 56A. In response to actuation of the damper
56, the riser 56A may protrude through an opening in the
articulation plate 50 and an opening in the bite plate 10, causing
the riser 56A to directly contact the teeth received in the bite
plate 10 to maintain a separation distance between the bite plate
10 and the teeth.
[0043] In some embodiments, the bite plate 10 and the articulation
plate 50 may be secured in a desired position to limit relative
movement of the jaws in a particular direction, or to limit
relative movement of the jaws to a particular amount. For example,
as shown in FIG. 4A, in some embodiments, a locking wafer 80 may be
inserted between the bite plate 10 and the articulation plate 50 to
secure, or lock, a relative position of the bite plate 10 and the
articulation plate 50. The locking wafer 80 may include channels 82
extending longitudinally along opposite side portions of the
locking wafer 80. The locking wafer 80 may slide into place on the
articulation plate 50, as illustrated by the dotted lines shown in
FIG. 4A, with the posts 64 on opposite sides of the articulation
plate 50 sliding along the channels 82 on the opposite sides of the
locking wafer 80 to guide the locking wafer 80 into position on the
articulation plate 50. The locking wafer 80 may remain secured in
its position between the bite plate 10 and the articulation plate
50 due to some amount of friction between the locking wafer 80 and
the bite plate 10 and/or articulation plate 50, as well as the
positioning of the posts 64 in the channels 82.
[0044] In some embodiments, a plurality of first locking pins 84
and a plurality of second locking pins 86 may secure, or lock, a
relative position of the bite plate 10 and the articulation plate
50, as shown in FIG. 4B. In some embodiments, the plurality of
first locking pins 84 and/or the plurality of second locking pins
86 may be removable from and insertable into corresponding openings
in the articulation plate 50 and the bite plate 10, respectively,
so that a desired position of the bite plate 10 and the
articulation plate 50 may be selected and secured, and adjusted as
necessary. In some embodiments, the plurality of first locking pins
84 and/or the plurality of second locking pins 86 may be, for
example, tension mounted so that pressure applied to the first
locking pins 84 and/or the second locking pins 86 may cause the
first locking pins 84 and/or the second locking pins 86 to be
retracted and/or extended.
[0045] In some embodiments, the bruxism device may include both the
locking wafer 80 and the plurality of first locking pins 84 and/or
the plurality of second locking pins 86, as shown in FIG. 4C. In
this embodiment, as the locking wafer 80 slides into place, the
plurality of first locking pins 84 and/or the plurality of second
locking pins 86 may extend from the respective bite plate 10 and/or
articulation plate 50 for engagement with the locking wafer 80. In
this manner, the locking wafer 80 may be positioned and secured
between the articulation plate 50 and the bite plate 10 to
establish and secure a predetermined position of the articulation
plate 50 and the bite plate 10.
[0046] Securing, or locking, the articulation plate 50 and the bite
plate 10 with either the locking wafer 80 as shown in FIG. 4A, the
plurality of first locking pins 84 and/or the plurality of second
locking pins 86 as shown in FIG. 4B, or both the locking wafer 80
and the locking pins 84 and/or 86 as shown in FIG. 4C, may cause
the device to be in a static, non articulating state, with the bite
plate 10 and the articulation plate 50 maintained in a desired
relative position.
[0047] In use, as shown in FIG. 5A, the bruxism device 100 may be
worn, or mounted, on the upper jaw, with the teeth of the lower jaw
received in the inner lining 52 of the articulation plate 50 when
the jaws are in a closed position. As shown in FIG. 5B, the bruxism
device 100 may be worn, or mounted, on the lower jaw, with the
teeth of the upper jaw received in the inner lining 12 of the bite
plate 10 when the jaws are in the closed position. The bruxism
device 100 may be available in a variety of sizes, such as, for
example, small, medium, large, youth, adult and the like, so that
the bruxism device 100 may be adapted to a vast majority of jaw
sizes.
[0048] In use, as shown in FIG. 5C, the bruxism device 100 may be
worn, or mounted, on the upper jaw, with a separate oral tray 200
positioned on the teeth of the lower jaw, and the separate oral
tray 200 being received in, or fitted in, the inner lining 52 of
the articulation plate 50 when the jaws are in a closed position.
As shown in FIG. 5D, the bruxism device 100 may be worn, or
mounted, on the lower jaw, with the separate oral tray 200 on the
teeth of the upper jaw, and the separate oral tray 200 being
received in, or fitted in, the inner lining 12 of the bite plate 10
when the jaws are in the closed position. As noted above, the
bruxism device 100 may be available in a variety of sizes, to adapt
to the vast majority of jaw sizes and/or to accommodate various
different types of separate, customized trays which the user may
already have on hand.
[0049] In some embodiments, an impression of the relevant mouth
cavity may be taken, and then one or both of the plates may be
conformed to the impression. Thereafter, the articulating damper 56
may be actuated to adjust and set an amount of separation between
the articulation plate 50 and the bite plate 10 that will yield the
desired amount of separation between the corresponding teeth of the
upper and lower jaws. The bruxism device 100 may then be mounted to
either the upper jaw, as shown in FIG. 4A, or the lower jaw, as
shown in FIG. 4B. In mounting the bruxism device 100 to the upper
jaw, the teeth of the upper jaw may be received in, for example,
the inner lining 52 of the articulation plate 50, so that, when the
jaws are in the closed position, the teeth of the lower jaw are
received in the inner lining 12 of the bite plate 10. Similarly, in
mounting the bruxism device 100 to the lower jaw, the teeth of the
lower jaw may be received in, for example, the inner lining 52 of
the articulation plate 50, so that, when the jaws are in the closed
position, the teeth of the upper jaw are received in the inner
lining 12 of the bite plate 10.
[0050] In some embodiments, the bruxism device 100 may be
customized by the user so that the bite plate 10 and/or the
articulation plate 50 may be custom fitted to the particular user's
teeth and jaws. For example, in some embodiments, the bite plate 10
and/or the articulation plate 50 may be heated and then positioned
in place on the user's teeth/jaws, so that the material of the
inner lining 12 of the bite plate 10 and/or the material of the
inner lining 52 of the articulation plate 50 may be molded to
conform to the user's teeth and jaws. This customized, conformal
shape of the inner lining 12 and/or the inner lining 52 may then
set as the inner lining 12 and/or the inner lining 52 cools. In
some embodiments, this type of customization may be done by the
user, providing a less expensive and faster customized solution
than a custom device made from impressions taken by a dental
professional.
[0051] As noted above, in some embodiments, the bite plate 10
and/or the articulation plate 50, and in particular the inner
lining 12 of the bite plate 10 and/or the inner lining 52 of the
articulation plate 50, may be adapted to receive another type of
oral device and/or tray 200 that a user may already have on hand,
such as, for example, night guard trays or whitening trays,
orthodontic trays, and other such oral devices that may have been
previously customized for the user which the user may wish to wear
in conjunction with the bruxism device 100. In this instance, the
customized tray(s) 200 may be worn on the teeth, and then the
bruxism device 100 may be worn over the tray(s) 200. This may allow
the user to benefit from previous customization of the tray(s) 200,
continue the treatment intended by the tray(s) 200, and still reap
the additional benefits provided by the bruxism device 100.
[0052] A bruxism device 100, as embodied and broadly described
herein, may enable articulating movement of the upper and lower
jaws in any number of different directions due to, for example, the
essentially 360 degree motion supported by the plurality of first
articulating components respectively engaged with the plurality of
second articulating components, together with the flexibility and
multiple degrees of freedom of motion supported by the plurality of
flexible posts 64 respectively received in the plurality of
housings 24. Thus, when wearing the bruxism device 100, if
clenching does occur, the jaw may articulate in a manner
corresponding to its naturally intended movement and dissipate
forces on the temporomandibular joint, with the distance between
certain teeth of the upper and lower jaws spaced a predetermined
distance apart due to the height adjustment provided by the
articulating damper 56, rather than remaining in a static clenched
state in which damage to the joints and connective tissue may
occur. Moreover, when wearing the bruxism device 100, if grinding
does occur, the jaw may experience a "gliding" effect due to the
plurality of first and second articulating components 22 and 62,
without encountering the friction and/or resistance normally
encountered when grinding, maintaining the jaws in a natural motion
state and avoiding the typical wear, pain and damage normally
associated with grinding.
[0053] The foregoing provides a detailed description of various
exemplary embodiments. It is understood that modifications may be
made without departing from the spirit and scope as broadly
described herein and as set forth in the following claims.
[0054] While certain features of the described implementations have
been illustrated as described herein, many modifications,
substitutions, changes and equivalents will now occur to those
skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the
appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and
changes as fall within the scope of the implementations. It should
be understood that they have been presented by way of example only,
not limitation, and various changes in form and details may be
made. Any portion of the apparatus and/or methods described herein
may be combined in any combination, except mutually exclusive
combinations. The implementations described herein can include
various combinations and/or sub-combinations of the functions,
components and/or features of the different implementations
described.
* * * * *