U.S. patent number RE36,120 [Application Number 08/598,203] was granted by the patent office on 1999-03-02 for snopper--the snoring stopper anti-snoring mouth device.
Invention is credited to Manuel L. Karell.
United States Patent |
RE36,120 |
Karell |
March 2, 1999 |
Snopper--the snoring stopper anti-snoring mouth device
Abstract
A novel medical device, SNOPPER--The Snoring Stopper.TM.
anti-snoring mouth device, is inserted into the mouth. The device
comprises a denture-like(10) apparatus for supporting
electrodes(12) in such a manner that the electrodes make contact
with the roof of the mouth. Electrical stimulation induces
contraction of relaxed muscles, thereby preventing or stopping
snoring. Electrical energy is provided to the device via wires for
connection to an external stimulator(16) or via a self-contained,
battery-powered, microminiaturized electronic stimulator(20).
Stimulation can be constant or intermittent. Wave shape,
.[.amplitutde.]. .Iadd.amplitude.Iaddend., length, and frequency is
controlled by the individual for comfort and is automatically
induced via a feedback mechanism.
Inventors: |
Karell; Manuel L. (San
Francisco, CA) |
Family
ID: |
25523019 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/598,203 |
Filed: |
February 7, 1996 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
975425 |
Nov 12, 1992 |
05284161 |
Feb 8, 1994 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
128/848; 600/554;
607/134 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61N
1/3601 (20130101); A61N 1/0548 (20130101); A61F
5/566 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
5/56 (20060101); A61N 1/36 (20060101); A61N
1/05 (20060101); A61F 005/56 () |
Field of
Search: |
;607/42,44,118,134,5
;128/741,848 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1553140 |
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Mar 1990 |
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SU |
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5005278 |
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Dec 1985 |
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WO |
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Other References
Herbert Paskow and Sanford Paskow, "Dentistry's Role in Treating
Sleep Apnea and Snoring," New Jersey Medicine, vol. 88, No. 11,
Nov. 1991, pp. 815-817..
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Primary Examiner: Kamm; William E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Reed Smith Shaw & McClay
Claims
I claim: .[.1. An apparatus for the cessation of snoring, wherein
said apparatus comprises:
mouthpiece means for fitting over an entire upper tooth plate in a
person's mouth and providing surfaces for contacting a upper mouth
roof;
electrode means, implanted within said mouthpiece means, for
ceasing snoring through an application of electrical energy to the
upper mouth roof; and
energy means for supplying electrical energy to said electrode
means..]..[.2. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein said energy means
is a microminiaturized stimulation unit implanted within said
mouthpiece..]..[.3. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electrode
means is constructed of a soft, pliable, electroconductive
rubber-like
material..]..[.4. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein said energy
means comprises:
internal wires implanted within said mouthpiece;
external wires connected to said internal wires; and
an external energy source connected to said external
wires..]..Iadd.5. An electromuscular stimulator for providing
electrical stimulation to the muscles of the mouth of a patient to
induce tension and contraction of relaxed muscles comprising:
positioning means for insertion in the patient's mouth and
providing surfaces for contacting a mouth roof;
electrode means, disposed on said positioning means, for making
electrical contact with the mouth roof; and
energy means for supplying electrical energy to said electrode
means. .Iaddend..Iadd.6. The electromuscular stimulator of claim 5,
wherein said positioning means includes means for fitting over at
least a portion of a tooth plate. .Iaddend..Iadd.7. The
electromuscular stimulator of claim 5, wherein said positioning
means includes means for fitting over an entire tooth plate.
.Iaddend..Iadd.8. The electromuscular stimulator of claim 5,
wherein said positioning means includes means for fitting over at
least a portion of an upper tooth plate. .Iaddend..Iadd.9. The
electromuscular stimulator of claim 5, wherein said positioning
means includes means for
fitting over an entire upper tooth place. .Iaddend..Iadd.10. The
electromuscular stimulator of claim 5, wherein said energy means is
a microminiaturized stimulation unit implanted within said
positioning means. .Iaddend..Iadd.11. The electromuscular
stimulator of claim 10, further comprising a battery for powering
said microminiaturized stimulation unit. .Iaddend..Iadd.12. The
electromuscular stimulator of claim 5, wherein said electrode means
comprises an electroconductive rubber-like material.
.Iaddend..Iadd.13. The electromuscular stimulator of claim 5,
wherein said energy means comprises:
at least one internal wire implanted within said positioning
means;
at least one external wire connected to said at least one internal
wire; and
an external energy source connected to said at least one external
wire.
.Iaddend..Iadd.14. The electromuscular stimulator of claim 5,
wherein the positioning means comprises a denture-like plate.
.Iaddend..Iadd.15. The electromuscular stimulator of claim 5,
wherein the positioning means comprises a molded device. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND
1. Field of Invention
This invention generally relates to medical devices, and more
particularly to a novel device inserted into the mouth to prevent
or stop snoring.
2. Description of Prior Art
Snoring.Iadd., including the most severe forms of snoring such as
obstructive sleep apnea, .Iaddend.is caused, in part, by relaxation
of muscles during respiration while asleep. Various devices have
been introduced to alleviate snoring. One device (U.S. Pat. No.
4,669,459 to Spiewak, 1987) provides pressure to the muscles, and
another (U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,737 to Toone, 1990) provides an open
mouth position. Other devices attempt to keep the tongue protruded,
for example, the Samelson and Gardy devices, NJ Medicine, Vol. 88
No. 11 Nov. 1991. Still other devices (such as U.S. Pat. No.
4,644,330 to Dowling, 1987 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,533 to
Mequignon, 1988) attempt to stop snoring by sound feedback. One
device, U.S. Pat. No. 3,480,010 to Crossley, 1969) provides
electrodes that attach to the skin of the neck via a neck band to
shock the sleeper and condition him against snoring. One device,
(U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,506 to Liberati, 1991) attempts to train the
muscles to prevent snoring. Continuous positive air pressure
breathing devices (U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,310 to Sullivan, 1990) and
surgery are currently used to treat severe snoring and obstructive
sleep apnea.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
SNOPPER--The Snoring Stopper.TM. anti-snoring mouth device provides
electrical stimulation to the muscles of the mouth, from inside the
mouth, to induce contraction and tension of relaxed muscles,
thereby eliminating snoring.
SNOPPER--The Snoring Stopper.TM. anti-snoring mouth device allows
for direct action to the muscles. There is no need for retraining
of muscles, sound feedback, sleep interruption, or abnormal mouth
positions or tongue protrusion positions.
SNOPPER--The Snoring Stopper.TM. anti-snoring mouth device obviates
the need for continuous positive air pressure breathing devices or
surgery.
SNOPPER--The Snoring Stopper.TM. anti-snoring mouth device can be
configured as a self-contained battery-powered system that delivers
electrical stimulation that can be adjusted for individual
comfort.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of a SNOPPER--The Snoring
Stopper.TM. anti-snoring mouth device.
FIG. 2 is a plan view drawing of SNOPPER--The Snoring Stopper.TM.
anti-snoring mouth device.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of an embodiment of SNOPPER--The Snoring
Stopper.TM. anti-snoring mouth device with .Iadd.a
.Iaddend.self-contained, battery-powered, microminiaturized
electronic stimulator.
DESCRIPTION OF FIGS. 1-3
A typical embodiment of my invention SNOPPER--The Snoring
Stopper.TM. anti-snoring mouth device is illustrated in FIG. 1
(perspective view) and FIG. 2 (plan view). Electrodes(12), which
are supported by a molded denture-like device(10), make contact
with the roof of the mouth.Iadd., e.g., the hard palate, soft
palate or upper nasal oral pharynx. The electrodes can be made of
any conventional electroconductive material, including
electroconductive rubber.Iaddend.. The electrodes(12) are connected
to internal wires(14), which are connected to external wires(16).
The external wires(16) are connected to an external source of
energy(18).
The plan view in FIG. 3 shows the device(10) alternatively
constructed so that the internal wires(14).[.,.]. are in turn
connected to a battery-powered(24), switched(22), microminiaturized
electronic stimulator unit(20).
OPERATION OF INVENTION
It is believed that snoring is caused, in part, by the relaxation
of muscles during respiration while asleep. My SNOPPER--The Snoring
Stopper.TM. anti-snoring mouth device.[.,.]. provides energized
electrodes for delivering electrical stimulation. This stimulation
induces contraction and tension of relaxed muscles thereby
preventing or stopping snoring.
Electrical energy(18) is delivered to device(10) via external
wires(16), transferred via internal wires(14) to electrodes(12).
The energized electrodes induce contraction of muscles. Also, the
electrical stimulation can induce rhythmic contraction waves that
interfere with snoring rhythms. The device can be configured with a
feedback mechanism (not shown) whereby snoring causes the onset of
electrical stimulation.
Electrical energy can be provided via commercial transcutaneous
electric nerve stimulator units (such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,721 to
Toriu, 1990, or, U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,710 to Lee, 1991) attached to
the wires(16). Alternatively, electrical energy can be provided via
self-contained, battery-powered, microminiaturized stimulator units
within SNOPPER--The Snoring Stopper.TM. anti-snoring mouth device
(FIG. 3); in this case, the device user controls and adjusts wave
shape, amplitude, length, and frequency of the electrical
stimulation, which can be intermittent or constant.
SUMMARY
SNOPPER--The Snoring Stopper.TM. anti-snoring mouth device with
built-in electrodes is inserted into the mouth for electromuscular
stimulation, inducing muscle contraction and tension, thereby
preventing or stopping snoring. Electrical stimulation can be
provided via connections to .Iadd.an .Iaddend.external source or
via a self-contained, battery-powered, microminiaturized electronic
unit. Electrical stimulation can be constant or intermittent, using
.Iadd.any of .Iaddend.a variety of wave forms, .[.amplitude.].
.Iadd.amplitudes.Iaddend., .[.length.]. .Iadd.lengths.Iaddend., and
.[.frequency.]. .Iadd.frequencies .Iaddend.as required for
individual comfort. The device itself and its electrodes can be
made in a variety of shapes and .Iadd.with a variety of
.Iaddend.materials.
Conclusions, Ramifications and Scope of Invention
The novel use of electrodes within a denture-like plate or other
apparatus makes a SNOPPER--The Snoring Stopper.TM. anti-snoring
mouth device beneficial. While the above description contains many
specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the
scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of two
preferred embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible.
For example, electrodes could be installed permanently through or
between the teeth, or stimulation in this area can be prolonged to
induce a beneficial long term hypotensive response. Accordingly,
the scope of the invention should be determined not by the
embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal
equivalents.
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