Device for dispensing a liquid in a user's mouth

Abstract

A mouthpiece (1) for dispensing a liquid in a user's mouth, the mouthpiece (1) comprising an inlet (6) for a tube (2) and an internal channel (5) having at least two outlets (7), wherein the mouthpiece (1) is configured to be positioned within the upper vestibule (10) of a user's mouth, on top of the gingival margin (11), wherein the thickness of the mouthpiece (1) is less than 1 mm.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a mouthpiece for dispensing liquid in a user's oral cavity, the mouthpiece comprising an inlet for a tube and an internal channel having at least two outlets, wherein the mouthpiece is configured to be positioned in the upper vestibule of the user's oral cavity, at the top of the gingival margin.

[0002] Dry mouth is a symptom characterized by a dry mouth, which may be caused by insufficient saliva production. Since saliva has multiple functions in the oral cavity, dry mouth can lead to many related symptoms, such as tooth decay, tooth erosion, and difficulty swallowing food.

[0003] Dry mouth can have various causes, and it is often difficult to treat the underlying cause. Therefore, treatment primarily focuses on relieving symptoms rather than eliminating the cause. Treatment may include, for example, saliva stimulants such as chewing gum or gummies, or saliva substitutes.

[0004] Devices for delivering fluids orally in a continuous manner or as needed by a patient have been invented. Such devices have the advantage of mimicking the production of saliva by the salivary glands. For example, US2007 / 0204867A1 discloses a system and method for delivering liquid orally into the oral cavity, the system comprising a liquid container, an oral device, and a tube connecting the two. US5055108 discloses a soft pouch filled with liquid attached to the hard palate, wherein the user can release the liquid with the movement of the tongue. US2008 / 0171303A1 discloses an oral rehydration device comprising a tube inserted into the user's mouth and held in place by means of an ear support.

[0005] However, existing embodiments have different drawbacks. For example, the oral device may need to be attached to the teeth, making it unsuitable for use during chewing / eating. This can be a major drawback because the function of saliva is to moisten food in the mouth, making it easier to swallow. Additionally, some embodiments may not release liquid in the optimal area of ​​the mouth, may not hold itself adequately in the mouth, or may have lower smoothness and comfort for the user.

[0006] The object of this invention is to remedy or reduce at least one disadvantage of the prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the prior art. This object is achieved by means of the features specified in the following description and the appended claims. The invention is defined by the independent claims, while the dependent claims define advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a mouthpiece for dispensing liquid in a user's oral cavity, the mouthpiece comprising an inlet for a tube and an internal channel having at least two outlets, wherein the mouthpiece is configured to be positioned within the upper vestibule of the user's oral cavity, at the apex of the gingival margin, and wherein the thickness of the mouthpiece is less than 1.0 mm. When the entire mouthpiece is positioned at the apex of the gingival margin, the mouthpiece will be positioned outside the oral cavity and will not contact the teeth. This position of the mouthpiece makes eating easier when the mouthpiece is in place, as neither the teeth nor the oral cavity is affected. This may be a major advantage, as people with xerostomia may have difficulty swallowing dry food due to a lack of naturally moistening saliva.

[0008] The mouthpiece can be positioned at the highest point of the upper vestibule in the user's mouth. For example, the mouthpiece can be sized and shaped to fit between the user's upper lip and upper gum line, and can be configured to be worn higher than the user's teeth (i.e., above the gum line) so as not to obstruct the teeth. In other words, the mouthpiece can be configured to be positioned within the upper vestibule, spaced apart from or away from the gum line and / or teeth. The entire mouthpiece can be positioned at the highest point of the upper vestibule in the user's mouth. By positioning the mouthpiece at the uppermost part of the upper vestibule, the mouthpiece can be worn for extended periods without affecting normal oral operations. Unlike mouthpieces of the prior art, this makes it suitable for wearing during normal oral operations such as eating and speaking.

[0009] The mouthpiece can be anatomically complementary to the vestibule to securely position itself within the superior vestibule. The mouthpiece's shape can therefore be curved, for example, like a C or U. The mouthpiece can be curved along its length, for example, so that when worn, it wraps around the outside of the user's upper gum from one side of the mouth to the other. The mouthpiece can be flexible, thus adjusting to fit the user's mouth so that a standard shape can fit a range of users. This has the advantage that only a few different standard sizes are needed to fit all users, which reduces the production cost of the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece can, for example, contain silicone materials, such as polyvinylsiloxane, or another material that is considered safe to remain in the mouth for a long time and has good flexibility for the patient.

[0010] The thin mouthpiece results in greater comfort compared to existing technology embodiments. Since mouthpieces are typically worn for many hours each day, comfort is a crucial factor. A thin mouthpiece can be highly flexible, allowing it to conform to the contours of the oral mucosa. In this way, the mouthpiece can be considered organically shaped.

[0011] As mentioned above, the thickness of the mouthpiece is less than 1.0 mm. Therefore, most mouthpieces are less than 1.0 mm thick. The thickness of the mouthpiece can be equal to or less than 0.8 mm, or even equal to or less than 0.6 mm. Its thickness can be less than or equal to 0.75 mm. Its thickness can be in the range of 0.5 to less than 1.0 mm or 0.5 to 0.9 mm. It will be fully understood that when the terms “thick,” “thin,” and “thickness” are used here, they refer to the depth of the mouthpiece, i.e., from front to back when the mouthpiece is worn.

[0012] The width of a mouthpiece can typically be much larger than its thickness, for example, about 1.0 cm, 0.8 cm, or 0.6 cm wide. The width of a mouthpiece can be 1.5 cm or less, such as 1.3 cm. Its width can range from 0.6 cm to 1.5 cm, or 0.8 cm to 1.5 cm, or 1.0 cm to 1.5 cm. A mouthpiece may have such a width because it is configured to be positioned within the upper vestibule of the user's mouth, at the top of the gingival margin, and therefore will not touch the teeth. The mouthpiece will thus have a large surface area to volume ratio, allowing it to adhere better to the user's mucosa. This will ensure that the mouthpiece remains in the correct position once placed in the mouth. Additionally, when the mouthpiece is wide, the internal channels within it may be wider than in the case of a narrow tube mouthpiece. In this way, the channels can accommodate a larger volume of liquid. This may have the following effect: the pressure within the channels is more uniform, thus the distribution of liquid will be more even in at least two outlets. It can also provide a sufficient fluid supply rate, which may not be achievable with narrower channels. Therefore, by providing, for example, a thin mouthpiece with a thickness of <1.0 mm (configured to be positioned within the upper vestibule of the user's mouth, at the top of the gum line), the mouthpiece width, and thus the channel, can be made large enough to provide sufficient fluid supply while minimizing the mouthpiece's impact on chewing, speaking, etc. It will be fully understood that when the terms "width" and "wide" are used here, they refer to the dimension from the top to the bottom of the mouthpiece, that is, the dimension substantially perpendicular to the thickness.

[0013] Compared to narrower mouthpieces, the larger internal channels achieved with wide mouthpieces provide a larger volume of liquid that can be contained within the mouthpiece during use, and thus act as a liquid reservoir within the mouthpiece, allowing for improved liquid distribution to the user's mouth, as the liquid source is readily available. Furthermore, because the mouthpiece is flexible, movement of the user's mouth (e.g., chewing food) helps to dispense or distribute liquid from the internal channels. Therefore, chewing helps pump liquid into the user's mouth, and the mouthpiece can thus automatically provide additional liquid distribution when needed (e.g., during chewing and eating).

[0014] The width of the internal channel can be, for example, in the range of 1 mm to 3 mm, such as 2 mm. Due to the side walls, its thickness may be less than the overall thickness of the bite plate. The channel width can be 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, or 16 times its thickness. Due to material stretching, the channel size may increase when filled with fluid.

[0015] The mouthpiece's internal channel can be a single internal channel configured to connect the mouthpiece's inlet fluid to at least two outlets. The single channel can fluidly connect two outlets, for example, fluidly connecting a first outlet on a first side (e.g., the right side) of the mouthpiece to a second outlet on a second opposite side (e.g., the left side). The mouthpiece may contain only a single internal channel. At least one outlet can be provided on either side of the mouthpiece, for example, one on the left and one on the right side of the user's mouth. Thus, the single channel can supply fluid to both sides of the mouth (left and right), particularly the left and right sides of the upper vestibule. Therefore, the distribution of fluid to the outlets can be determined by the pressure within the internal channel. Thus, the single channel can help self-regulate the distribution of fluid to ensure its uniformity and reduce the likelihood of mouthpiece failure or breakage, for example, if one of the outlets is blocked by, for example, food.

[0016] A mouthpiece may include a contact area to which it attaches to the user's gums. The contact area may be defined by the length and width of the mouthpiece. The length of the mouthpiece may be selected to correspond to the oral cavity dimensions of a particular user to achieve a comfortable fit. For example, the length of the mouthpiece may be equal to the distance measured along the superior vestibule from the posterior left to the posterior right. As previously discussed, the mouthpiece may be wide (e.g., "width" measured in a direction parallel to the surface of the superior gingiva) to provide a large contact area for attachment to the mucosa of the user's superior gingiva (gingiva). This improves mouthpiece attachment. In addition, increasing the width of the mouthpiece ensures that a single internal channel has a larger cross-section, even if it is constructed to be thin (e.g., "thickness" measured in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the superior gingiva).

[0017] As a direct result of the mouthpiece's geometry, the internal channels can have a slender cross-section with a large width relative to the thickness (and can be, for example, substantially rectangular, elliptical, athletic field-shaped, oval, etc.). As mentioned above, for example, the cross-sectional width of the internal channels can be 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, or 16 times its thickness. This mouthpiece construction thus provides improved comfort while maintaining the desired fluid delivery rate. A major drawback of prior art mouthpieces is that they cannot be made thin without significantly reducing the cross-sectional area of ​​the fluid delivery channels.

[0018] The mouthpiece can adhere sufficiently to the mucous membrane without any additional substances. For example, saliva will be present between the mouthpiece and the membrane, and this can, for example, hold the mouthpiece properly in place by cohesion / adhesion. In other words, the presence of moisture in the oral cavity can attach the mouthpiece to the mucous membrane without the need for any other substances. This adhesion can be improved by the shape of the mouthpiece, for example by having a large surface area to volume ratio as mentioned above.

[0019] However, to further improve the adhesion of the mouthpiece to the mucous membrane, the mouthpiece surface may include an adhesive layer. The material of the adhesive layer must be safe for human consumption. The adhesive layer can be a dry material that acquires its adhesive properties only upon wetting. This has the advantage that the mouthpiece will not adhere to other surfaces before use. Wetting the mouthpiece can be easily performed, for example, by applying water to the mouthpiece with a finger before use. Suitable adhesive materials may include, for example, gum arabic or gum arabic-based materials, which are effective and proven safe for humans. Gum arabic can also be applied to the mouthpiece in powder form. The adhesive material may also be, for example, starch. The mouthpiece surface may be rough, for example, containing small grooves, to allow the adhesive material to adhere better to the surface.

[0020] As discussed above, users typically wear mouthpieces for several hours a day. Therefore, the material of the adhesive layer should be selected to exhibit strong bonding properties over extended periods, such as all day or between 2-10 hours, preferably between 6-10 hours. By securing the mouthpiece firmly in the mouth for extended periods, the comfort of the mouthpiece during use can be greatly improved.

[0021] The mouthpiece can be configured such that each outlet is positioned to complement the opening of the parotid duct during use. The parotid duct is where saliva secreted by the parotid gland enters the oral cavity, so these outlet locations are the most natural areas in the oral cavity for injecting liquids such as water or saliva substitutes.

[0022] The mouthpiece may additionally include two flaps adapted to fit within the upper vestibular cavity on each side of the frenulum, and a slit that fits the frenulum. This will further improve the fit between the mouthpiece and the user's mouth, preventing the mouthpiece from slipping out of position.

[0023] When the mouthpiece is positioned in the upper vestibule, the slit is adapted to receive the labial frenulum. As a direct result of this feature, the mouthpiece can be positioned at the highest point of the upper vestibule in the user's mouth without being displaced downwards by the labial frenulum. By properly fitting the mouthpiece at the highest point of the upper vestibule, the mouthpiece (and its internal passage) can be made wider without touching the teeth or interfering with chewing or eating. As discussed, increasing the mouthpiece width and reducing its thickness provides a more comfortable mouthpiece while maintaining the required cross-sectional area and the required fluid flow rate. The slit and wing can also be configured to correctly position the mouthpiece, for example, by having an outlet adjacent to the opening of the parotid duct. When the user wears the mouthpiece, the slit can be located anterosuperiorly to the mouthpiece. The wing can be located on either side of the slit.

[0024] The slit may extend into the mouthpiece by up to 3 mm. For example, the slit may extend into the mouthpiece by a distance ranging from 0.5 to 2 mm. In one embodiment, the slit may extend into the mouthpiece by 1 mm.

[0025] An assembly may be provided in which the mouthpiece is connected to an infusion tube, thereby facilitating the application and dispensing of water, saliva substitutes, medicines, etc., into the user's mouth. The infusion tube may be configured to extend beyond the user's mouth. The infusion tube may be attached to a check valve and may be detachable from the check valve. The infusion tube may include a check valve. The infusion tube may be of any suitable length. The length of the infusion tube may be from 1m to 3m, for example, 2m. Alternatively, the infusion tube may be between about 10cm and 70cm, between about 30cm and 50cm, and may be about 40cm. The infusion tube may be reversibly or irreversibly connected to the inlet of the mouthpiece. However, preferably, the infusion tube is irreversibly connected, i.e., permanently fixed to the inlet of the mouthpiece. The outer diameter of the infusion tube may be between 1.0mm and 3.0mm, and may have an outer diameter of about 2.0mm.

[0026] The bite nozzle can be supplied as a disposable item. The assembly, including the bite nozzle and injection tubing (and check valve if applicable), can be supplied as a disposable item. Typically, the bite nozzle or assembly may be suitable for use for up to 24 hours. At the end of this time, it is usually discarded and replaced with a new bite nozzle or assembly. This has the following advantages: good hygiene is maintained without the need to clean the bite nozzle. The simple and thin design of the bite nozzle will reduce its manufacturing cost, allowing for single-use. Because the assembly can be disposable, it may not include a check valve, and is therefore simple enough and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the mouthpiece's inlet can be irreversibly connected to an injection tube configured to extend outside the user's mouth, thereby facilitating the application and dispensing of water, saliva substitutes, medicines, etc., into the user's mouth. For example, the mouthpiece and the injection tube can be molded together.

[0028] The opposite ends of the injection tube can be configured for easy attachment to and removal from a check valve. The check valve can be attached to a reservoir containing the liquid to be injected via a second tube. The length of the second tube can be 0.2m to 0.5m, such as 0.4m. A pump provides the force to inject the liquid. Therefore, the check valve will prevent liquid from the nozzle from flowing back into the second tube and the reservoir. In this way, the nozzle can be suitable for single use, allowing a new nozzle to be used, for example, once a day. This has the following benefits: good hygiene can be maintained without cleaning the nozzle. The simple and thin design of the nozzle will make it inexpensive to manufacture, so users can use it for single purposes.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, only a single injection tube is connected to the inlet. Compared to prior art devices that use multiple tubes, supplying fluid to the mouthpiece using only a single injection tube is highly advantageous because it is less cumbersome and bulky for the user both inside and outside the mouth, more comfortable, and minimizes interference with chewing and speaking.

[0030] The opposite end of the injection tube (i.e., the end opposite to the end connected to the mouthpiece inlet) can be configured to be easily attached to and easily detached from a container for holding the liquid to be dispensed into the user's mouth.

[0031] Similarly, the opposite end of the injection tube can be configured to be easily attached to and easily detached from other components of a liquid distribution system in fluid communication with the container (e.g., a pump, a check valve as mentioned above, additional piping). Therefore, the injection tube may include a connection for forming a connection to a fluid supply. For example, the connection may be operable to connect the injection tube to a check valve to receive liquid from it. In another embodiment, the opposite end of the injection tube is directly connected to a second tube in fluid communication with a reservoir. The injection tube may include a connection for connecting the injection tube to the second tube. A connection or plug may connect the injection tube to the second tube. A one-way valve may connect the injection tube to the second tube. The second tube may be in fluid communication with the reservoir via a pump, i.e., the pump pumps fluid from the reservoir via the second tube and the injection tube, and thereby pumps it into the inlet of the mouthpiece.

[0032] The second tube may have an outer diameter between 1.0 mm and 3.0 mm, and may have an outer diameter of approximately 2.0 mm. The second tube may be of any suitable length. For example, it may be between approximately 10 cm and 70 cm, between approximately 30 cm and 50 cm, and may be approximately 40 cm. The second tube may be shorter than the injection tube.

[0033] The injection tube may contain silicon.

[0034] The mouthpiece's inlet can be located at the front, close to the oral cavity opening. This ensures that fluid is evenly distributed to at least two openings on the left and right sides of the mouth. Alternatively, the inlet can be located on the side of the mouth (e.g., off-center) so as not to interfere with the intake of food, for example, into the mouth. This makes eating easier when the mouthpiece is in the proper position.

[0035] As can be understood from the above discussion, the inlet tube typically terminates at the mouthpiece inlet. Thereafter, fluid flows through channels within the mouthpiece. Therefore, the impact of the inlet tube on comfort, eating, speaking, etc., is minimized because it does not extend around the teeth towards the back of the mouth.

[0036] A mouthpiece can be used to relieve dry mouth by inserting it into the mouth of a person suffering from dry mouth and injecting liquid through the mouthpiece via the inlet. The liquid may include, for example, water, a saliva substitute, or an aqueous solution containing medicine. The saliva substitute may be, for example, synthetic saliva, and the medicine may be, for example, a saliva stimulant.

[0037] This mouthpiece can alleviate dry mouth by delivering fluid orally at a continuous rate to mimic healthy saliva production. In healthy individuals, normal daily saliva production varies between 0.5 and 1.5 liters. The unstimulated saliva flow rate is approximately 0.3–0.4 ml / min. During sleep, this rate decreases to approximately 0.1 ml / min, and increases to approximately 4.0–5.0 ml / min during eating, chewing, and other stimulating activities. Therefore, the mouthpiece can be configured to deliver fluid, such as water or a saliva substitute, at a rate of 0.0–1.0 ml / min to mimic a healthy saliva flow. As previously discussed, this flow can be delivered to the opening of the parotid duct to reproduce even more accurately the healthy biological production of saliva.

[0038] In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a liquid dispensing system comprising a mouthpiece according to a first aspect of the invention, wherein the liquid dispensing system further comprises a container for receiving liquid to be dispensed into a user's mouth, a second tube for liquid communication from the container to the mouthpiece, and a mechanism for allowing liquid to flow from the container to the mouthpiece. This mechanism may, for example, utilize a mechanical pump or expanding gas to expel liquid from the container and into the second tube.

[0039] The mechanical pump can be configured to continuously deliver fluid to simulate the healthy flow of saliva. For example, the pump can be configured to deliver fluid at a constant rate of 0.0–2.0 ml / min or 0.0–1.0 ml / min. Alternatively, the user can precisely control the pump to deliver the desired amount of fluid. The pump can be configured to remember previous settings. Therefore, in the event of an unintentional or otherwise interrupted power supply to the pump, it can resume its previous operation upon reconnection. The pump can be configured to continuously (e.g., at a constant rate) deliver liquid for more than 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 hours.

[0040] Mechanisms for flowing liquid from a container to a nozzle may include manual pumps, such as rubber bulb pumps.

[0041] This liquid dispensing system can be configured to identify when a container needs to be replaced. The container may include an RFID tag for identification. The pump can be configured to read the RFID tag and receive container-related data from it, such as the initial volume of liquid within the container. The pump can accurately determine the volume of water delivered to the nozzle. For this purpose, the pump may include a stepper motor and a Hall effect sensor. Furthermore, the pump may include components such as an alarm or LED to warn the user when the remaining liquid volume in the container is low.

[0042] The container can be configured to hold a liquid containing dissolved carbon dioxide, such that the carbon dioxide remains dissolved while the liquid is inside the container. Therefore, the container should be robust enough not to expand and airtight enough to prevent carbon dioxide gas from escaping. Carbon dioxide can be introduced into the liquid under high pressure, for example. When the pressure decreases, for example, when the liquid is guided from the container to the mouthpiece, the carbon dioxide in the liquid will cause bubbles to form. These bubbles can be used to keep the internal channels and / or the mouthpiece outlet clean, and since saliva typically contains bubbles, it may make the liquid more like saliva. Carbon dioxide also has the benefit of making the liquid slightly acidic, which can trigger the parotid glands to produce saliva.

[0043] Another tube for liquid communication from the container to the mouthpiece may include an injection tube. The liquid distribution system may include a check valve connected to (or intended to be connected to) the injection tube. In this embodiment, the liquid distribution system may also include a second tube connecting the check valve to the liquid container. The check valve prevents liquid from the mouthpiece from flowing back into the second tube and / or the reservoir. In another embodiment, the liquid distribution system does not include a check valve, but instead includes a connection device, plug, or one-way valve connecting the injection tube to the second tube. The second tube may be in fluid communication with the container, allowing liquid to flow from the container through the second tube and the injection tube, and into the mouthpiece inlet.

[0044] The mouthpiece may include structural elements such as ribs. These structural elements can be configured to provide structural support for the mouthpiece and, for example, facilitate insertion into the user's mouth by carrying the originally flexible portion of the mouthpiece to the back of the user's mouth, thus making proper positioning of the mouthpiece easier. The structural element can be rigid or hard and can extend from one side of the mouthpiece to the other, such as from the left side to the right side of the mouthpiece during use. The structural element can be formed from any suitable material. For example, it can be formed from polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The structural element can be disposed between the constituent layers of the mouthpiece (e.g., silicone sheets) to maintain the shape of the mouthpiece for wear by the user. The thickness of the structural element may be no greater than 0.25 mm, or no greater than 0.20 mm, or no greater than 0.15 mm.

[0045] A method for manufacturing a bite plate may include, for example, the following steps: providing a first half of the bite plate as a sheet of a suitable material; providing a second half of the bite plate as a sheet of a suitable material, wherein the second half has at least two holes; and fixing the two sheets together while leaving the area between the at least two holes unfixed to form an internal channel. This is an effective way to form a thin bite plate. If the bite plate is made of silicone, the two halves can be fixed together, for example, using a platinum crosslinking agent, followed by vulcanization.

[0046] According to another aspect of the invention, a mouthpiece for dispensing liquid in a user's mouth is provided, the mouthpiece comprising an inlet for a tube and an internal channel having at least two outlets, wherein the mouthpiece is configured to be worn by the user between the user's upper lip and upper gum. The mouthpiece may be configured to be worn spaced apart from (e.g., above) the edge of the user's upper gum. The mouthpiece may include any features described herein with reference to other aspects of the invention.

[0047] In another aspect of the invention, a mouthpiece is provided for dispensing liquid in a user's oral cavity, the mouthpiece comprising an inlet for a tube and an internal channel having at least two outlets, wherein the mouthpiece is configured to be positioned within the upper vestibule of the user's oral cavity. The mouthpiece may be configured to be worn above the upper gingival margin of the user, in other words, at the top of the gingival margin. The mouthpiece may include any of the features described herein with reference to other aspects of the invention.

[0048] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for dispensing liquid in a user's oral cavity, the method comprising placing a mouthpiece in the upper vestibule of the user's oral cavity, at the top of the gingival margin, wherein the mouthpiece includes an internal channel having at least two outlets and having a thickness of less than 1.0 mm, the method further comprising: supplying liquid from a container to an inlet in the internal channel of the mouthpiece via at least one tube.

[0049] The following describes examples of the preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0050] Figure 1 The nozzle, injection tube, and liquid reservoir according to an embodiment of the present invention are schematically shown.

[0051] Figure 2 Show Figure 1 The mouthpiece located in the user's upper vestibule, as viewed from below;

[0052] Figure 3 Show Figure 1 and Figure 2 The mouthpiece located in the user's upper vestibule when viewed from the side;

[0053] Figure 4 Show Figures 1 to 3 As in Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the mouthpiece located in the user's upper vestibule, viewed from the side.

[0054] Figure 5 Another view of the mouthpiece is shown; and

[0055] Figure 6 Another view of the mouthpiece and injection tube is shown.

[0056] In the accompanying drawings, reference numeral 1 indicates the bite mouth according to the invention. The same reference numerals indicate the same or similar features. The drawings are presented in a simplified and schematic manner, and the features therein are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0057] Figure 1 A mouthpiece 1 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown, comprising an injection tube 2. In use, the injection tube 2 is connected to a liquid reservoir or container 3 via a check valve 8 and a second tube 4. Liquid from the container 3 can be injected via a continuous injection pump (not shown). The mouthpiece 1 includes a front portion 14 and two rearwardly oriented side branches 15, which together form a C-shape. An inlet 6 is located in the front portion 14. An outlet 7 is laterally positioned at the rear end portion of each branch 15. An internal channel 5 (indicated by dashed lines) connects the inlet 6 to the outlet 7 and also fluidly connects the outlets 7 to each other. One end portion of the injection tube 2 is connected to the inlet 6, and the opposite end portion is connected to the check valve 8. The internal channel 5 can distribute the injected liquid from the inlet 6 to the two outlets 7, which are complementary to the user's parotid duct when the mouthpiece 1 is in the use position. The inlet 6 is typically located in the front portion 14 of the mouthpiece 1 for easy connection to the injection tube 2 via an oral cavity opening. The mouthpiece 1 shown may include two anterior flaps 9, which are adjusted to fit into the cavities of the superior vestibule 10 present on each side of the frenulum (e.g., Figure 2 and Figure 3(As shown). Between the flaps 9, there is a slit 16 for the lip frenulum to engage therein. The flaps 9 and the slit 16 are designed to modify the bite 1 and the upper vestibule 10 (as shown). Figure 1 (Not shown) A fit is used to improve the fixation. The wing can be relatively small, for example, smaller relative to the width of the bite. The thickness of the bite 1 can be, for example, less than 1.0 mm, 0.8 mm, or 0.6 mm, and this thickness is orthogonal to... Figure 1 The plane of the paper in the middle.

[0058] Figure 2 and Figure 3 The mouthpiece 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown from below and the side, respectively, and its position relative to the teeth 12 in the user's upper vestibule 10. The mouthpiece is worn above the gum line.

[0059] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the mouthpiece 1 in the upper vestibule 10 is shown, which is cut substantially through the middle of the oral cavity. The internal channel 5 is visible in the mouthpiece 1. The mouthpiece 1 is thin, less than 1.0 mm thick, and relatively wide, resulting in a large surface area to volume ratio relative to its thickness and a large cross-section of the internal channel 5. Figures 2 to 4 The demonstration shows how the mouthpiece 1 is positioned at the top of the gingival margin 11 in the upper vestibule 10. The teeth 12 and oral cavity proper 13 are thus substantially separated from the mouthpiece 1, allowing the user to eat without difficulty while wearing it. The infusion tube 2 is located at the front, close to the oral cavity opening.

[0060] The thickness of the bite plate 1 is measured along a direction orthogonal to the gingival surface, while the width of the bite plate is measured along a direction from the gingival margin 11 to the top of the superior vestibule 10. The width of the bite plate 1 is greater than its thickness. Figure 4 This demonstrates how this geometry results in an internal channel 5 with a long, narrow cross-section.

[0061] Figure 5 Another view of the mouthpiece 1 when not worn by a user is shown. The mouthpiece 1 includes a slit 16 and a flap 9. In use, the slit 16 is located on the front and upper part of the mouthpiece 1, thereby receiving the user's labial frenulum. The flap 9 fits into the superior vestibular cavity located on each side of the labial frenulum. Thus, the slit 16 and the flap 9 help to properly position the mouthpiece 1 in the user's mouth. When worn by a user, the mouthpiece 1 can change shape (e.g., by becoming flexible).

[0062] Figure 6 This shows the mouthpiece 1 and injection tube 2 when the user is not wearing the device. (See reference...) Figure 5As described, the slit 16 and the wing 9 are positioned such that when the user wears the mouthpiece 1, they are located above and in front of the mouthpiece 1, and thus on the inner curve of the mouthpiece 1 when the user is not wearing the mouthpiece. Therefore, the slit 16 receives the user's frenulum during use, and the wing extends on either side of the frenulum. The injection tube 2 is fluidly connected to a single internal channel 5 and extends from the mouthpiece 1 such that during use, it extends from the user's mouth to inject fluid into the internal channel 5.

[0063] It should be noted that the embodiments mentioned above are illustrative and not limiting of the invention, and those skilled in the art will be able to devise many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Any reference numerals placed between parentheses in the claims should not be considered limiting of the claims. The use of the verb "comprising" and its variations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in the claims. The words "a" or "an" preceding an element do not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

Claims

1. A mouthpiece (1) for dispensing liquid in a user's oral cavity, the mouthpiece (1) comprising an inlet (6) for a tube (2) and an internal channel (5) having at least two outlets (7), wherein the mouthpiece (1) is configured to be positioned within the upper vestibule (10) of the user's oral cavity, at the top of the gingival margin (11), characterized in that, The thickness of the bite (1) is less than 1.0 mm. The internal channel of the bite has a long, narrow cross-section with a greater width than its thickness.

2. The bite (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thickness of the bite (1) is less than 0.8 mm.

3. The mouthpiece (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the mouthpiece (1) is made of organosilicon.

4. The mouthpiece (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the mouthpiece (1) is configured such that, in use, each outlet (7) is positioned to complement the opening of the parotid duct.

5. The mouthpiece (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the inlet (6) of the mouthpiece (1) is molded to the injection tube (2), the injection tube being configured to extend out of the user's mouth and be able to attach to and detach from the check valve (8).

6. The mouthpiece (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece (1) comprises an adhesive material for improving adhesion to the mucous membrane of the user's oral cavity.

7. The mouthpiece (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the adhesive material is gum arabic.

8. The bite (1) as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the surface of the bite (1) is roughened to allow the adhesive material to adhere better to the surface.

9. The mouthpiece (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a slit in which a lip frenulum may engage.

10. The mouthpiece (1) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the mouthpiece comprises two flaps adapted to engage within a cavity of the upper vestibule present on each side of the frenulum.

11. The mouthpiece (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the width of the mouthpiece is in the range of 0.6 to 1.5 cm.

12. The mouthpiece (1) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the width of the mouthpiece is in the range of 1 mm to 3 mm.

13. The mouthpiece (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein only a single internal channel is provided in the mouthpiece.

14. A liquid dispensing system comprising a mouthpiece (1) as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid dispensing system further comprises a container (3) for containing liquid to be dispensed into a user's mouth, another tube (4) for liquid communication from the container (3) to the mouthpiece (1), and a mechanism for allowing liquid to flow from the container (3) to the mouthpiece (1).

15. The liquid dispensing system of claim 14, wherein the container (3) is configured to contain a liquid containing dissolved carbon dioxide such that the carbon dioxide remains dissolved when the liquid is inside the container (3).

16. An assembly comprising a mouthpiece as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising an injection tube (2) fluidly connected to an inlet (6) of the mouthpiece (1).

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