Tongue training device and method of use thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a tongue training device and a method for using the same. The device includes a front occlusal portion and a rear fixing portion; the front occlusal portion and the rear fixing portion are detachably connected; an elastic telescopic layer is provided in the middle of the rear fixing portion; an elastic telescopic column is provided in the elastic telescopic layer; a tooth socket is also provided at the connection between the front occlusal portion and the rear fixing portion; a conical groove is provided in the middle of the front occlusal portion; the conical groove matches the conical shape of the front end of the elastic telescopic layer. The present invention realizes the functions of combining mouth opening training, tongue function training and stimulating autonomous saliva secretion through a tongue training device, and can encourage patients to perform mouth opening training while performing tongue function exercises, and as the upper and lower jaws and tongue move, the muscles in the oral cavity are driven to move, thereby promoting the device containing the stimulation liquid in the device to automatically secrete artificial saliva, thereby achieving the purpose of bionics, improving the patient's oral environment, and promoting the recovery of treatment complications such as difficulty opening the mouth, speech disorders, dysphagia, and taste disorders. This improves the quality of life of patients.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of oral care devices, and in particular to a tongue training device and a method of using the same. Background Art

[0002] Oral and maxillofacial tumors are among the most common malignant tumors in clinical practice, accounting for approximately 8.2% of all malignant tumors. Oral cancer is a common lesion. According to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD version 9), oral cancer refers to malignant tumors arising in the lips, tongue, salivary glands, gums, floor of mouth, oropharynx, buccal mucosa, and other parts of the mouth. Due to the extensive invasive nature of these tumors, they often lead to functional impairment or loss of many organs. Furthermore, combined treatments (radiotherapy, chemotherapy, etc.), primarily surgical, can cause a wide range of treatment-related side effects. Although recent advances in oral cancer reconstructive techniques have evolved the surgical treatment of oral cancer from primarily radical cure to a combination of radical cure and functional preservation and reconstruction, postoperative complications such as salivary gland resection can result in decreased saliva secretion, thick saliva, and dry mouth. Furthermore, the reduced motor function of the tongue following extended local resection combined with reconstructive surgery for buccal and lingual cancers can lead to speech disorders, dysphagia, and taste disturbances, which remain unresolved. This will affect the patient's nutritional status, psychological state and quality of life, and shorten survival time. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to solve the shortcomings of the prior art and to propose a tongue training device and a method of using the same.

[0004] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions: a tongue training device, comprising a front occlusal part and a rear fixing part; the front occlusal part and the rear fixing part are detachably connected; an elastic telescopic layer is provided in the middle of the rear fixing part; the elastic telescopic layer is arranged in a cone shape from left to right; an elastic telescopic column is provided in the elastic telescopic layer; the elastic telescopic column gradually decreases in height from left to right; a tooth socket is also provided at the connection between the front occlusal part and the rear fixing part; a conical groove is provided in the middle of the front occlusal part; the conical groove matches the conical structure at the front end of the elastic telescopic layer.

[0005] Preferably, a connecting column and a connecting groove are provided on the front engaging portion and the rear fixing portion respectively, and a pad is provided at the bottom of the connecting column to be fixedly connected thereto.

[0006] Preferably, an infusion hole is further provided on the side of the connecting column; the infusion hole passes through the pad; and a non-return device is further provided at the front end of the infusion hole.

[0007] Preferably, a cavity is further provided inside the front bite part; a waterproof layer is further provided between the cavity and the inner wall of the front bite part; an infiltration nozzle is further provided at the front end of the front bite part; the front bite part at the front end of the infiltration nozzle is non-closed, and an opening is provided at the non-closed position.

[0008] Preferably, a support frame is further provided on the end of the rear fixing portion; the support frame includes a rotary handle and a rotary rod; the rotary handle and the rotary rod are driven by a screw.

[0009] Preferably, a rod groove is further provided in the rear fixing portion; the rotary rod slides up and down in the rod groove; and the height of the rod groove is smaller than the height of the rear fixing portion.

[0010] Preferably, the elastic expansion layer divides the rear fixing portion into upper and lower parts; the upper part of the rear fixing portion is fixedly connected to the upper end of the elastic expansion layer; and the lower part of the rear fixing portion is fixedly connected to the lower end of the elastic expansion layer.

[0011] Preferably, a friction and anti-slip layer is further provided on the outer side of the alveolar socket.

[0012] A method for using a tongue training device, wherein the specific steps of the method are as follows:

[0013] S1: Fill the stimulating liquid into the cavity through the infusion hole, and then fix the front occlusal part and the rear fixing part together through the connecting column and the connecting groove;

[0014] S2: The tongue training device is placed in the patient's mouth, and the patient bites the alveolar socket to exert force on the elastic telescopic column in the elastic telescopic layer through the bite of the alveolar socket;

[0015] S3: While applying force through the bite tongue training device, the stimulation liquid in the cavity flows out through the penetration mouth to the opening and is taken into the patient's oral cavity for stimulation, causing the patient to automatically secrete saliva;

[0016] S4: By gradually increasing the height of the elastic telescopic layer through the support frame, the patient needs to gradually increase the bite force to act on the elastic telescopic column, slowly recovering from the patient's difficulty in opening the mouth and taste disorder.

[0017] Compared with the existing technology, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: the present invention uses a tongue training device to achieve the combined functions of mouth opening training, tongue function training, and stimulating autonomous saliva secretion. It can encourage patients to perform mouth opening training while performing tongue function exercises. As the upper and lower jaws and tongue move, the muscles in the oral cavity move, thereby promoting the device containing the stimulation liquid to automatically secrete artificial saliva, achieving the purpose of bionics, improving the patient's oral environment, and promoting recovery from treatment complications such as difficulty opening the mouth, speech disorders, dysphagia, and taste disorders. This, in turn, improves the patient's quality of life. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the front occlusal structure of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic structural diagram of the rear fixing portion of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0022] In the figure: 1-front occlusal part; 2-back fixing part; 3-tooth socket; 11-conical groove; 12-connecting column; 13-pad; 14-infusion hole; 15-non-return device; 16-receiving cavity; 17-waterproof layer; 18-infiltration nozzle; 19-opening; 21-elastic telescopic layer; 22-elastic telescopic column; 23-connecting groove; 24-support frame; 25-rod groove; 241-rotating handle; 242-rotating rod. Implementation Method

[0023] In order to provide a further understanding of the purpose, structure, features, and functions of the present invention, the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the embodiments.

[0024] Please refer to Figure 1 、 Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 The present invention provides a tongue training device, which includes a front biting part 1 and a rear fixing part 2; the front biting part 1 and the rear fixing part 2 are detachably connected; an elastic telescopic layer 21 is provided in the middle of the rear fixing part 2; the elastic telescopic layer 21 is arranged in a cone shape from left to right; an elastic telescopic column 22 is provided in the elastic telescopic layer 21; the elastic telescopic column 22 gradually decreases in height from left to right; a tooth socket 3 is also provided at the connection between the front biting part 1 and the rear fixing part 2; a cone groove 11 is provided in the middle of the front biting part 1; the cone groove 11 is consistent with the cone structure of the front end of the elastic telescopic layer 21.

[0025] Through the detachably connected front biting part 1 and the rear fixing part 2, the patient can be disinfected before and after each use to avoid contamination with bacteria, which may cause the patient to bring bacteria into the oral cavity during use and cause oral environmental pollution; the elastic telescopic column 22 with a gradually decreasing height from left to right can help the patient gradually adapt to the discomfort of having foreign objects in the mouth and avoid dry heaving; at the same time, it can also allow the user to do mouth opening training while biting the alveolar socket 3, and as the upper and lower jaws and tongue move, the muscles in the oral cavity are driven to move.

[0026] Preferably, a connecting column 12 and a connecting groove 23 are respectively provided on the front engaging portion 1 and the rear fixing portion 2. A pad 13 fixedly connected to the bottom of the connecting column 12 is also provided.

[0027] By using the connecting column 12 and the connecting groove 23 in conjunction with each other, there is no need to add any additional connecting structure when connecting the front occlusal part 1 and the rear fixing part 2, thereby reducing the external structure of the tongue training device and reducing the user's resistance to the tongue training device; the connecting column 12 and the connecting groove 23 adopt a frustum-shaped design, which can ensure that the fit is increasingly firm and will not fall off easily.

[0028] Furthermore, the front engaging portion 1 and the rear fixing portion 2 as well as the connecting column 12 and the connecting groove 23 are all made of food-grade safety rubber, which ensures functionality while also ensuring safety, thereby avoiding physical burden on the user caused by long-term use.

[0029] Preferably, an infusion hole 14 is further provided on the side of the connecting column 12 ; the infusion hole 14 passes through the pad 13 ; and a check device 15 is further provided at the front end of the infusion hole 14 .

[0030] The stimulating liquid that stimulates the patient to produce saliva can be injected through the infusion hole 14; the check device 15 can prevent the injected stimulating liquid from flowing out of the infusion hole 14, causing the patient to be stimulated and feel uncomfortable before using the tongue training device.

[0031] Preferably, a cavity 16 is further provided inside the front bite part 1; a waterproof layer 17 is further provided between the cavity 16 and the inner wall of the front bite part 1; a penetration nozzle 18 is further provided at the front end of the front bite part 1; the front bite part 1 at the front end of the penetration nozzle 18 is non-closed, and an opening 19 is provided at the non-closed position.

[0032] The stimulating liquid is introduced into the cavity 16 through the infusion hole 14. When the user bites the tongue training device through the tooth socket 3, the stimulating liquid is squeezed out from the infiltration nozzle 18 and gradually seeps out, and then is injected into the user's oral cavity through the opening 19. The infiltration nozzle 18 has multiple infiltration holes, which can prevent the stimulating liquid in the cavity 16 from receiving excessive pressure when the tongue training device is bitten, thereby preventing a large amount of stimulating liquid from being ejected all at once, causing severe discomfort in the oral cavity. The pressure can be evenly distributed through the multiple infiltration holes.

[0033] Furthermore, the front bite portion 1 is configured as a transparent structure, so that it is easy to observe whether the stimulation liquid in the cavity 16 is used up.

[0034] Preferably, a support frame 24 is further provided on the end of the rear fixing portion 2; the support frame 24 includes a rotary handle 241 and a rotary rod 242; the rotary handle 241 and the rotary rod 242 are driven by a screw.

[0035] Preferably, a rod groove 25 is further provided in the rear fixing portion 2 ; the rotary rod 242 slides up and down in the rod groove 25 ; and the height of the rod groove 25 is smaller than the height of the rear fixing portion 2 .

[0036] Preferably, the elastic telescopic layer 21 divides the rear fixing part 2 into two parts, the upper part of the rear fixing part 2 is fixedly connected to the upper end of the elastic telescopic layer 21 ; the lower part of the rear fixing part 2 is fixedly connected to the lower end of the elastic telescopic layer 21 .

[0037] The upper and lower parts of the rear fixing part 2 can be raised by the support frame 24. Due to the particularity of the elastic telescopic column 22, when the height is higher, greater force is required to compress the column. Therefore, the user needs to use more force when biting. By gradually raising the height of the elastic telescopic column 22, the user needs to gradually increase the bite force, gradually prompting the patient to open his mouth, and driving the muscles in the oral cavity to move, thereby promoting the patient's recovery from treatment complications such as difficulty opening the mouth and difficulty swallowing.

[0038] Preferably, a friction and anti-slip layer 31 is further provided on the outer side of the tooth socket 3 .

[0039] The friction and anti-slip layer 31 can effectively prevent the user from sliding between the teeth when biting, thereby avoiding causing trauma to the gums and oral cavity.

[0040] Furthermore, a skin sensor can be provided on the outer surface of the waterproof layer 17, and an induction lamp can be provided inside the waterproof layer 17, wherein the induction lamp is electrically connected to the skin sensor; when doing tongue training, a doctor or the user can time it by licking the skin sensor with the tongue within the specified time, so that the induction lamp lights up, which is convenient for counting the effective number of tongue training times, so as to achieve the expected effect of tongue function training; at the same time, a card-type battery can be provided in the pad 13, which is electrically connected to the induction lamp and the skin sensor to provide energy for the normal use of the induction lamp and the skin sensor.

[0041] Furthermore, the skin sensor can be set up for separate use on the left and right sides. After the right tongue tip is cut out, if you need to train the left tongue, you only need to turn on the left skin sensor. The training effect is achieved by the patient licking the left skin sensor multiple times within a certain period of time. The same is true for training the right tongue.

[0042] A method for using a tongue training device, wherein the specific steps of the method are as follows:

[0043] S1: Fill the stimulating liquid into the cavity 16 through the infusion hole 14, and then install and fix the front occlusal part 1 and the rear fixing part 2 together through the connecting column 12 and the connecting groove 23;

[0044] S2: The tongue training device is placed in the patient's oral cavity. The patient bites the alveolar 3, and the elastic telescopic column 22 in the elastic telescopic layer 21 is exerted with force by biting the alveolar 3;

[0045] S3: While applying force through the bite tongue training device, the stimulation liquid in the cavity 16 flows out through the penetration mouth 18 to the opening 19 and is taken into the patient's oral cavity to stimulate the patient, causing the patient to automatically secrete saliva;

[0046] S4: The height of the elastic telescopic layer 21 is gradually increased by the support frame 24, so that the patient needs to gradually increase the bite force to act on the elastic telescopic column 22, slowly recovering the patient's difficulty in opening the mouth and taste disorder.

[0047] The present invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments. However, the above embodiments are merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that the disclosed embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention. On the contrary, modifications and improvements that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention are intended to be protected by the present invention.

Claims

1. A tongue training device, characterized in that: The device comprises a front occlusal portion (1) and a rear fixing portion (2); the front occlusal portion (1) and the rear fixing portion (2) are detachably connected; an elastic telescopic layer (21) is provided in the middle of the rear fixing portion (2); the elastic telescopic layer (21) is arranged in a cone shape from left to right; an elastic telescopic column (22) is provided in the elastic telescopic layer (21); the elastic telescopic column (22) decreases in height from left to right; a tooth socket (3) is further provided at the connection between the front occlusal portion (1) and the rear fixing portion (2); a cone groove (11) is provided in the middle of the front occlusal portion (1); the cone groove (11) matches the cone structure of the front end of the elastic telescopic layer (21); the front occlusal portion (1) and the rear fixing portion ( 2) are provided with a connecting column (12) and a connecting groove (23) respectively; the bottom of the connecting column (12) is also provided with a pad (13) fixedly connected thereto; an infusion hole (14) is also provided on the side of the connecting column (12); the infusion hole (14) passes through the pad (13); a check device (15) is also provided at the front end of the infusion hole (14); a cavity (16) is also provided inside the front occlusal part (1); a waterproof layer (17) is also provided between the cavity (16) and the inner wall of the front occlusal part (1); an infiltration nozzle (18) is also provided at the front end of the front occlusal part (1); the front occlusal part (1) at the front end of the infiltration nozzle (18) is non-closed, and an opening (19) is provided at the non-closed position.

2. The tongue training device according to claim 1, wherein: The elastic telescopic layer (21) divides the rear fixing portion (2) into an upper and lower portion; the upper portion of the rear fixing portion (2) is fixedly connected to the upper end of the elastic telescopic layer (21); and the lower portion of the rear fixing portion (2) is fixedly connected to the lower end of the elastic telescopic layer (21).

3. The tongue training device according to claim 2, wherein: A friction anti-slip layer (31) is also provided on the outer side of the tooth socket (3).

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