Oral muscle trainer
By incorporating a movable adjustment block and drive device into the oral muscle trainer, the length of the elastic element can be adjusted, solving the problem that existing oral muscle trainers cannot adjust the closing elastic force. This enables continuous adjustment of the elastic force and improves the trainer's versatility and adaptability.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-20
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-07
AI Technical Summary
Existing oral motor trainers cannot adjust the closing elastic force, resulting in poor universality and inability to adapt to the training needs of different patients and different training stages of the same patient.
Design an oral motor trainer by setting two elastic elements between the handle and the biting element, and setting a movable adjustment block between the elastic elements. Use a drive device to control the reciprocating motion of the adjustment block to adjust the length of the elastic elements to change the elastic force.
It achieves continuous adjustment of elastic force, improves the universality of oral motor trainer, and can adapt to the training needs of different patients and different training stages of the same patient. The adjustment process is smooth and continuous.
Smart Images
Figure CN224085930U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of medical device technology, and in particular to an oral muscle trainer. Background Technology
[0002] In recent years, with the aging population, the number of stroke patients has been increasing. Dysphagia and speech disorders are common complications of stroke. Among dysphagia, oral phase dysphagia is more common, manifesting as weakness of the lips and drooling. Common characteristics of oral phase dysphagia include drooling, food accumulation in the cheek muscles on the affected side, or food impaction on the hard palate. Weakened lip muscles can affect a patient's ability to close their lips, leading to food spillage and residue during eating. Speech disorders can result in unclear lip sounds and indistinct speech. Currently, there are limited methods to increase lip muscle strength; therefore, resistance training for lip closure can improve lip strength at this stage. Utility Model Content
[0003] The purpose of this disclosure is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide an oral motor trainer.
[0004] This disclosure provides an oral motor trainer, comprising:
[0005] handle;
[0006] Two elastic elements, one end of each elastic element is fixedly disposed inside the handle, and the other end is connected to a biting element;
[0007] An adjusting block is movably disposed on the handle and located between the two elastic elements, and is configured to reciprocate along the length of the elastic elements under the action of a driving device when subjected to force.
[0008] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the driving device includes:
[0009] The handwheel is rotatably mounted on the handle and extends partially beyond the handle to apply a rotational force.
[0010] A support assembly is disposed on the handle and configured to support the adjustment block between the two elastic elements. The support assembly is also connected to the rotating handwheel via a transmission mechanism to drive the adjustment block to reciprocate along the length of the elastic elements by means of the rotation of the rotating handwheel.
[0011] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the support component includes:
[0012] A guide plate is slidably disposed on the handle via a matching guide groove and a guide block. The guide groove extends along the length direction of the elastic member. One of the guide groove and the guide block is disposed on the guide plate, and the other is disposed on the handle. The guide plate has a through hole through which the elastic member passes.
[0013] A push plate, which is fixedly mounted on the guide plate and is connected to the rotating handwheel via a transmission mechanism;
[0014] A connector is located between the two elastic elements, with one end fixedly mounted on the guide plate and the other end fixedly mounted on the adjusting block.
[0015] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the transmission mechanism includes a rack disposed on the push plate and a gear meshing with the rack, the rack extending along the length direction of the elastic member, and the gear being rotatably disposed on the handle and driven to rotate by the rotating handwheel.
[0016] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the adjusting block includes a first adjusting block and a second adjusting block having a gap, and a pressure sensor is provided on the first adjusting block or the second adjusting block;
[0017] The orofacial muscle trainer also includes a display element disposed on the handle and communicatively connected to the pressure sensor to display the pressure exerted on the first and second adjustment blocks when the bite is closed.
[0018] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the connector includes at least one first connecting rod and at least one second connecting rod, the first connecting rod being used to connect the first adjusting block and the guide plate, and the second connecting rod being used to connect the second adjusting block and the guide plate.
[0019] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the oral motor trainer further includes:
[0020] A signal tube, which is connected between the second adjusting block and the guide plate;
[0021] The signal line has one end passing through the signal tube and connected to the pressure sensor, and the other end passing through the guide plate and connected to the display element.
[0022] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the orofacial muscle trainer further includes an indicator strip disposed on the push plate, the indicator strip indicating the elastic force provided by the elastic element when the adjustment block moves to different positions relative to the elastic element to bite two of the biting elements; and an observation window is provided on the handle, the observation window being configured to read the biting force required by the adjustment block in the current position.
[0023] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the handle includes:
[0024] The handheld part, wherein the rotating handwheel is disposed on the handheld part;
[0025] An extension portion extends from the end of the handle portion toward the engagement member, and in a direction perpendicular to the length of the elastic member, the length of the extension portion is less than the length of the handle portion, and the end of the elastic member passes through the extension portion and is then fixedly disposed on the engagement member.
[0026] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the engagement member includes a support piece and a support plate connecting the support piece and the elastic member. The support piece has a front support curved surface, a transition arc surface and a rear support curved surface arranged sequentially, and the edge of the rear support curved surface is higher than the edge of the front support curved surface.
[0027] One of the beneficial effects of the oral muscle trainer disclosed herein is that the oral muscle trainer has two elastic elements between the handle and the biting element, and an adjustment block that can move along the length direction of the elastic elements is provided between the two elastic elements. The adjustment block is controlled to reciprocate by a drive device, thereby adjusting the length of action of the two elastic elements to adjust the elastic force provided by the elastic elements.
[0028] Thus, the oral muscle trainer disclosed herein can adjust the elastic force between the two occlusal parts, thereby having high versatility and being able to adapt to the training of different patients, as well as to different training stages of the same patient. Furthermore, the adjustment block of the oral muscle trainer disclosed herein has a high degree of freedom of movement. Unlike discrete adjustment, the adjustment process of this disclosure is smooth and continuous, achieving stepless change of elastic force. Attached Figure Description
[0029] Embodiments of this disclosure are illustrated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are included and form part of this specification, and together with their description serve to explain the principles of this disclosure.
[0030] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the oral motor trainer disclosed herein;
[0031] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the right-side structure of an embodiment of the oral motor trainer disclosed herein;
[0032] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the oral muscle trainer disclosed in this embodiment with the extension of the handle omitted.
[0033] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another structure of the oral muscle trainer disclosed herein, with the extension of the handle omitted in one embodiment.
[0034] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the right-side view structure;
[0035] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the assembled drive device and adjustment block provided in one embodiment of the oral motor trainer disclosed herein;
[0036] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the rotating handwheel structure provided in one embodiment of the oral motor trainer disclosed herein;
[0037] Figure 8 This is yet another structural schematic diagram of the drive device and adjustment block assembly provided in one embodiment of the oral motor trainer disclosed herein;
[0038] Figure 9 This is yet another structural schematic diagram of the drive device and adjustment block assembly provided in one embodiment of the oral motor trainer disclosed herein;
[0039] Figure 10 This is a top view schematic diagram of the handheld part provided in one embodiment of the oral motor trainer disclosed herein.
[0040] Figures 1 to 10 The correspondence between the component names and the reference numerals in the figures is as follows:
[0041] 1. Handle; 11. Handheld part; 111. Guide groove; 112. Display element; 12. Extension; 121. Observation window;
[0042] 21 Engaging component; 22 Elastic component;
[0043] 31 Adjusting block, 311 First adjusting block, 312 Second adjusting block, 32 Support assembly, 321 Push plate, 3211 Rack, 3212 Strip, 322 Guide plate, 3221 Guide block, 323 Connector, 3231 First connecting rod, 3232 Second connecting rod, 33 Rotating handwheel, 331 Gear, 34 Pressure sensor, 341 Signal tube, 342 Signal line. Detailed Implementation
[0044] Various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions, and values of the components and steps set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present disclosure.
[0045] The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative and is in no way intended to limit this disclosure or its application or use.
[0046] Techniques, methods, and equipment known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and equipment should be considered part of the specification.
[0047] In all the examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limitations. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values.
[0048] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be discussed further in subsequent figures.
[0049] In this article, terms such as "up," "down," "front," "back," "left," and "right" are used only to indicate the relative positional relationship between related parts, rather than to define the absolute position of these related parts.
[0050] In this article, "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish one another, and not to indicate degree of importance, order, or prerequisite for each other.
[0051] In this document, terms such as “equal” and “same” are not strict mathematical and / or geometric limitations, but also include errors that are understandable to those skilled in the art and permissible in manufacturing or use.
[0052] It should be noted that when describing the structure and working principle of the oral motor trainer, the directional terms used in this article are based on the oral motor trainer. The direction closer to the occlusal component is "up", and the direction farther from the occlusal component is "down".
[0053] Oral motor trainers are specifically designed to help improve the strength, flexibility, and coordination of oral muscles. Using oral motor trainers can help individuals improve pronunciation clarity, enhance swallowing function, and prevent or correct various problems caused by weak or poorly coordinated oral muscles.
[0054] Existing oral motor trainers have a fixed elastic force for closure, which cannot be adjusted. This makes the trainers less universally applicable, unable to adapt to the training of different patients, or to different training stages of the same patient.
[0055] Therefore, this disclosure provides an oral motor trainer. The oral motor trainer of this disclosure includes a handle, two elastic elements, and an adjustment block.
[0056] In detail, one end of each elastic element is fixedly disposed inside the handle, and the other end is connected to an engaging element; the adjusting block is movably disposed on the handle and located between the two elastic elements, and is configured to reciprocate along the length of the elastic elements under the action of the driving device.
[0057] Thus, the oral muscle trainer disclosed herein has two elastic elements between the handle and the biting element, and an adjustment block that can move along the length of the elastic elements is set between the two elastic elements. The adjustment block is controlled to reciprocate by a drive device, thereby adjusting the length of action of the two elastic elements to adjust the elastic force provided by the elastic elements.
[0058] Obviously, the oral muscle trainer disclosed herein can adjust the elastic force between the two occlusal parts, thus having high versatility and being able to adapt to the training of different patients, as well as to different training stages of the same patient. Furthermore, the adjustment block of the oral muscle trainer disclosed herein has a high degree of freedom of movement. Unlike discrete adjustment, the adjustment process of this disclosure is smooth and continuous, achieving stepless change of elastic force.
[0059] For ease of understanding, please refer to the following: Figures 1 to 10 The specific structure and working principle of the oral motor trainer disclosed herein will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments.
[0060] Combination Figure 3 and Figure 4 The oral muscle trainer disclosed herein includes a handle 1, two elastic elements 22 and an adjustment block 31, wherein one end of each elastic element 22 is fixedly disposed in the handle 1 and the other end is connected to a biting element 21; the adjustment block 31 is movably disposed on the handle 1 and located between the two elastic elements 22, and is configured to reciprocate along the length direction of the elastic elements 22 under the action of a drive device.
[0061] In detail, the handle 1 of the oral muscle trainer disclosed herein is a shell with a square-round cross section. Two elastic elements 22 are constructed as elongated strips and are parallel to each other. One end of each elastic element 22 is fixedly disposed inside the lower end of the handle 1, and the other end is fixed to two biting elements 21 respectively to support the biting elements 21 and provide elastic force when the biting elements 21 are closed. An adjusting block 31 is movably disposed on the handle 1 and is located between the two elastic elements 22. Under the action of the driving device, the adjusting block 31 reciprocates along the length of the elastic element 22, thereby changing the length of action of the elastic element 22, and thus changing the elastic force provided by the elastic element 22 accordingly.
[0062] Thus, the oral muscle trainer disclosed herein can adjust the elastic force between the two biting parts 21, thereby having high universality. Furthermore, the elastic force between the two biting parts 21 of this disclosure can be continuously adjusted to achieve stepless change of elastic force.
[0063] Furthermore, in one embodiment of this disclosure, each elastic element 22 includes a pair of parallel elastic strips. The upper ends of these two pairs of elastic strips are respectively fixed to two engaging elements 21, and the lower ends are fixed inside the handle 1. In this way, the engaging elements 21 of this disclosure have higher stability, and the biting force on the elastic element 22 when the engaging elements 21 are closed will not be concentrated, thus avoiding the elastic element 22 from undergoing deformation that is difficult to recover and reducing its service life.
[0064] Optionally, the material of the elastic element 22 disclosed herein may be a material that is elastic and can return to its original shape after the external force is removed, such as nitinol, stainless steel, thermoplastic elastomer or fiber-reinforced composite material.
[0065] like Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the driving device includes a rotating handwheel 33 and a support assembly 32. The rotating handwheel 33 is rotatably mounted on the handle 1 and extends partially beyond the handle 1 to apply a rotational force. The support assembly 32 is mounted on the handle 1 and is configured to support the adjusting block 31 between two elastic members 22. The support assembly 32 is also connected to the rotating handwheel 33 via a transmission mechanism to drive the adjusting block 31 to reciprocate along the length of the elastic members 22 by means of the rotation of the rotating handwheel 33.
[0066] In detail, the rotating handwheel 33 of this disclosure is perpendicular to the length direction of the elastic member 22, is rotatably mounted on the handle 1, and partially protrudes outside the handle 1 to apply a rotating force. At the same time, the rotating handwheel 33 is provided with strip-shaped anti-slip texture along the circumference to increase the friction of the rotating handwheel 33.
[0067] The rotating handwheel 33 has a drive shaft extending to both sides along the axis, and the two ends of the drive shaft are also provided with U-shaped buckles. The drive shaft is set in the U-shaped groove of the U-shaped buckle. Furthermore, the handle 1 has a corresponding slot that cooperates with the U-shaped buckle. In this way, the rotating handwheel 33 can be rotatably set on the handle 1, and the structure is simple and stable.
[0068] Meanwhile, the support component 32 is mounted on the handle 1 and is connected to the rotating handwheel 33 via a transmission mechanism. An adjustment block 31 is fixedly mounted on the upper end of the support component 32 and is supported between two elastic elements 22. In this way, the rotating handwheel 33 drives the support component 32 to reciprocate along the length of the elastic element 22, thereby driving the adjustment block 31 fixed on the upper end of the support component 32 to reciprocate along the length of the elastic element 22. This allows the adjustment block 31 to move and the engaging element 21 to close, changing the fulcrum between the two elastic elements 22, thereby changing the length of action of the two elastic elements 22 and thus changing the elastic force provided by the elastic elements 22.
[0069] like Figure 8 , Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the support assembly 32 includes a guide plate 322, a push plate 321, and a connector 323. The guide plate 322 is slidably mounted on the handle 1 via a matching guide groove 111 and a guide block 3221. The guide groove 111 extends along the length of the elastic member 22. One of the guide groove 111 and the guide block 3221 is mounted on the guide plate 322, and the other is mounted on the handle 1. The guide plate 322 has a through hole through which the elastic member 22 passes. The push plate 321 is fixedly mounted on the guide plate 322 and is connected to the rotating handwheel 33 via a transmission mechanism. The connector 323 is located between the two elastic members 22, with one end fixedly mounted on the guide plate 322 and the other end fixedly mounted with an adjusting block 31.
[0070] In detail, the guide plate 322 of this disclosure is a square-round plate and is parallel to the lower end face of the handle 1. A guide block 3221 is provided on each of the two sides of the guide plate 322 that are perpendicular to the rotating handwheel 33 to avoid affecting the rotating handwheel 33. Correspondingly, the two opposite sides inside the handle 1 are provided with matching guide grooves 111 along the length direction of the elastic member 22. In this way, the guide plate 322 can be guided and limited to move stably along the length direction of the elastic member 22, thereby enabling the support assembly 32 to drive the adjusting block 31 to move stably along the length direction of the elastic member 22.
[0071] Of course, the guide groove 111 and the guide block 3221 can also be arranged in opposite directions. The guide plate 322 has a guide groove 111 on each of the two sides perpendicular to the rotating handwheel 33. Correspondingly, the two opposite sides of the handle 1 are constructed with matching guide blocks 3221 along the length of the elastic member 22. In this way, the guide plate 322 can be guided and limited to move stably along the length of the elastic member 22, thereby enabling the support component 32 to drive the adjusting block 31 to move stably along the length of the elastic member 22.
[0072] Meanwhile, the guide plate 322 has a through hole through which the elastic member 22 passes, so that the elastic member 22 can pass through the through hole to connect the handle 1 and the engagement member 21.
[0073] Furthermore, the push plate 321 extends along the length of the elastic member 22 and is fixedly disposed on the edge of the guide plate 322 to avoid the elastic member 22 and the through hole. The side of the push plate 321 near the rotating handwheel 33 is connected to the rotating handwheel 33 through a transmission mechanism, thereby driving the support assembly 32 to reciprocate under the action of the rotating handwheel 33.
[0074] The connector 323 on the support assembly 32 is located between the two elastic members 22, with one end fixedly mounted on the guide plate 322 and the other end fixedly mounted on the adjustment block 31, so that the adjustment block 31 is fixed on the guide plate 322. Under the action of rotating the handwheel 33, the adjustment block 31 is driven to reciprocate and avoid the through hole through which the elastic member 22 passes, so as not to affect the function of the elastic member 22.
[0075] like Figure 4 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the transmission mechanism includes a rack 3211 disposed on the push plate 321 and a gear 331 meshing with the rack 3211, wherein the rack 3211 extends along the length direction of the elastic member 22, and the gear 331 is rotatably disposed on the handle 1 and is driven to rotate by the rotating handwheel 33.
[0076] In detail, the transmission mechanism of this disclosure is a gear transmission. The push plate 321 is provided with two bosses extending along the length direction of the elastic member 22 on the side near the rotating handwheel 33, and a rack 3211 is constructed on each boss. The two bosses are respectively provided on both sides of the push plate 321.
[0077] Simultaneously, two gears 331 are correspondingly provided to mesh with corresponding racks 3211. These two gears 331 are respectively provided on both sides of the rotating handwheel 33 and are coaxially fixed with the rotating handwheel 33. Specifically, the transmission shafts extending from both sides of the rotating handwheel 33 are respectively provided with first keyways of the same length as the transmission shafts. The inner walls of the shaft holes of the two gears 331 are also provided with corresponding second keyways. Keys are installed in the second keyways in the shaft holes of the gears 331. The transmission shafts cooperate with the keys in the first keyways and the second keyways, thereby causing the rotating handwheel 33 to drive the gears 331 to rotate together.
[0078] In this way, when the handwheel 33 rotates under the action of external force, it drives the two gears 331 to rotate together, and then through the corresponding meshing rack 3211, it causes the push plate 321 to reciprocate along the length direction of the elastic member 22, thereby driving the support assembly 32 and the adjusting block 31 to reciprocate together.
[0079] like Figure 6 and Figure 8 As shown, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the adjustment block 31 includes a first adjustment block 311 and a second adjustment block 312 with a gap, and a pressure sensor 34 is provided on the first adjustment block 311 or the second adjustment block 312; the oral muscle trainer also includes a display element 112, which is disposed on the handle 1 and communicately connected to the pressure sensor 34 to display the pressure on the first adjustment block 311 and the second adjustment block 312 when the occlusal member 21 is closed.
[0080] The adjustment block 31 disclosed herein includes a first adjustment block 311 and a second adjustment block 312, with a gap between them. A pressure sensor 34 is disposed at the gap and fixed to either the first adjustment block 311 or the second adjustment block 312. When the engaging member 21 is closed, the first adjustment block 311 and the second adjustment block 312 are subjected to pressure, which is captured by the pressure sensor 34 at the gap and converted into an electrical signal. A display element 112 is disposed at the lower end of the handle 1, communicates with the pressure sensor 34, and converts the transmitted electrical signal into a pressure value for display. The handle 1 also contains a power element to provide power to the pressure sensor 34 and the display element 112.
[0081] Furthermore, when the biting member 21 closes, the elastic member 22 of this disclosure presses the first adjusting block 311 and the second adjusting block 312, causing the pressure sensor 34 to be subjected to the pressure of the first adjusting block 311 and the second adjusting block 312, thereby outputting an electrical signal. At the same time, the elastic member 22 of this disclosure also undergoes elastic deformation, thereby providing elastic force. Thus, as the biting force increases, the elastic member 22 also provides a corresponding elastic force. The pressure on the pressure sensor 34 is the force after the biting force overcomes the elastic force, and it is converted into an electrical signal and transmitted to the display element 112.
[0082] During measurement, by adjusting the adjusting block 31 to the position closest to the occlusal member 21, at which point the adjusting block 31 is positioned between the two occlusal members 21 and the elastic member 22 is not activated, the patient presses their lips against the two occlusal members 21 and attempts to close their lips forcefully. The display element 112 displays the actual biting force between the patient's lips. Simultaneously, since the patient needs to adjust the elastic force provided by the elastic member 22 according to different training stages to ensure that the biting force required to occlude the two occlusal members matches the purpose of training the patient's lip muscles, the display element 112 can also be used to observe the fluctuations in the patient's biting force in real time. After the observed value stabilizes, the adjusting block 31 can be moved to gradually increase the elastic force provided by the elastic member 22, thereby improving the efficiency of the patient's training.
[0083] Optionally, the pressure sensor 34 disclosed herein can be a piezoresistive or miniature capacitive pressure sensor. These types of sensors are not only small in size and low in power consumption, but also have good stability and high sensitivity.
[0084] like Figure 6 and Figure 8 As shown, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the connector 323 includes at least one first connecting rod 3231 and at least one second connecting rod 3232. The first connecting rod 3231 is used to connect the first adjusting block 311 and the guide plate 322, and the second connecting rod 3232 is used to connect the second adjusting block 312 and the guide plate 322.
[0085] In detail, the connector 323 of this disclosure includes a first connecting rod 3231 and a second connecting rod 3232 arranged along the length direction of the elastic member 22. The upper end of the first connecting rod 3231 is fixedly connected to the middle of the first adjusting block 311, and the lower end is fixedly connected to the guide plate 322, so that the first adjusting block 311 is firmly fixed to the guide plate 322, ensuring the relative position between the two is stable; the upper end of the second connecting rod 3232 is fixedly connected to the middle of the second adjusting block 312, and the lower end is fixedly connected to the guide plate 322, fixing the second adjusting block 312 and the guide plate 322 together, providing necessary support and ensuring the relative position between the two is stable.
[0086] Furthermore, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the connector 323 includes two first connecting rods 3231 and two second connecting rods 3232 arranged along the length of the elastic member 22. The upper ends of the two first connecting rods 3231 are respectively fixedly connected to both sides of the first adjusting block 311, and the lower ends are fixedly connected to the guide plate 322, so that the first adjusting block 311 is firmly fixed to the guide plate 322, ensuring the relative position between the two is stable; the upper ends of the two second connecting rods 3232 are fixedly connected to both sides of the second adjusting block 312, and the lower ends are fixedly connected to the guide plate 322, fixing the second adjusting block 312 and the guide plate 322, providing necessary support and ensuring the relative position between the two is stable.
[0087] The number of the first connecting rod 3231 and the second connecting rod 3232 is not limited in this disclosure. Those skilled in the art can arrange the first adjusting block 311 and the second adjusting block 312 relative to the guide plate 322 according to actual needs.
[0088] like Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the oral motor trainer further includes a signal tube 341 and a signal line 342. The signal tube 341 is connected between the second adjustment block 312 and the guide plate 322. One end of the signal line 342 passes through the signal tube 341 and is connected to the pressure sensor 34, and the other end passes through the guide plate 322 and is connected to the display element 112.
[0089] In this way, the signal tube 341 is connected between the second adjusting block 312 and the guide plate 322, providing necessary physical protection for the signal line 342. The lower end of the signal tube 341 is connected to the through hole on the guide plate 322 for the signal line 342 to pass through, and a gap is left between the upper end and the second adjusting block 312 to prevent the signal line 342 from bending too much when it extends out of the signal tube 341 and from being worn by the edge of the signal tube 341. The upper end of the signal line 342 passes through the signal tube 341 and is connected to the pressure sensor, and the lower end passes through the guide plate 322 and is connected to the display element 112, which is used to transmit the electrical signal of the pressure sensor to the display element 112 at the lower end of the handle 1.
[0090] like Figure 4 and Figure 7 As shown, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the oral muscle trainer further includes an indicator strip disposed on the push plate 321, and the indicator strip indicates the elastic force provided by the elastic member 22 when the adjustment block 31 moves to different positions relative to the elastic member 22 to bite the two biting members 21; and, an observation window 121 is provided on the handle 1, the observation window 121 being configured to read the biting force required when the adjustment block 31 is in the current position.
[0091] The push plate 321 of this disclosure has a long strip 3212 on one side along the length of the elastic member 22. The side of the long strip 3212 near the handle 1 has a long groove. The marking strip is placed in the long groove and moves back and forth along the length of the elastic member 22 together with the push plate 321. This disclosure sets a uniform long groove so that the marking strip is parallel to the elastic member to ensure the accuracy of the marking strip.
[0092] This disclosure divides the movement of the adjustment block 31 relative to the elastic element 22 into different positions and marks a series of scales on the marking strip, each scale representing the maximum elastic force that the elastic element 22 of the oral muscle trainer can provide at this time.
[0093] It should be noted that when measuring the elastic force provided by the elastic element 22 at a certain position, an external force needs to be applied between the two interlocking elements 21. When the two interlocking elements 21 are just in a state of mutual contact, the applied external force minus the value measured by the pressure sensor at this time will give the elastic force provided by the two elastic elements 22 at this position. This force is recorded on the marking strip to make the marking strip.
[0094] Meanwhile, an observation window 121 is opened on the handle 1 to read the elastic force provided by the elastic element 22 when the adjustment block 31 on the label bar is in its current position. In this way, when the patient uses it, he / she can adjust the adjustment block 31 to the corresponding range for training according to the bite force measured during treatment.
[0095] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the handle 1 includes a handheld portion 11 and an extension portion 12, wherein a rotating handwheel 33 is disposed on the handheld portion 11; the extension portion 12 extends from the end of the handheld portion 11 toward the engaging member 21, and in the direction perpendicular to the length of the elastic member 22, the length of the extension portion 12 is less than the length of the handheld portion 11, and the end of the elastic member 22 passes through the extension portion 12 and is fixedly disposed on the engaging member 21.
[0096] In detail, the handheld part 11 is the part held by the patient. The handheld part 11 of this disclosure conforms to ergonomic principles, providing a comfortable grip and preventing fatigue caused by prolonged use. The handheld part 11 is also the main carrier for supporting the parts, and its internal structure includes a guide groove 111 to guide and limit the guide plate 322. The extension part 12 is a regular square shell and is not connected to the internal drive device, thus avoiding any impact on the drive device and the adjustment block 31, while protecting the internal parts. In the direction perpendicular to the length of the elastic member 22, the length of the extension part 12 is less than the length of the handheld part 11. In this way, the center of gravity of the handle 1 is closer to the patient's palm, thereby improving the stability and comfort when holding the hand. In addition, the shorter length of the extension part 12 can reduce the amount of material used without affecting the function, reduce manufacturing costs, and also reduce the overall weight, making it easier to carry and operate.
[0097] Furthermore, the upper end of the extension 12 has a flange extending inward in a direction perpendicular to the length of the elastic member 22. In this way, the end of the elastic member 22 can pass through the extension 12 and be fixedly mounted with the engaging member 21. The flange of the extension 12 does not affect the elastic member 22 while protecting the internal parts.
[0098] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the interlocking member 21 includes a support piece and a support plate connecting the support piece and the elastic member 22. The support piece has a front support curved surface piece, a transition arc surface and a rear support curved surface piece arranged in sequence, and the edge of the rear support curved surface piece is higher than the edge of the front support curved surface piece.
[0099] The function of the support plate disclosed herein is to connect the support plate to the elastic element 22, enhancing the stability of the support plate connection and facilitating the assembly and maintenance of the support plate of the engagement element 21. The front support curved surface plate provides initial support, bearing the pressure first when a load is applied. Its curved shape helps to distribute the load, reduce stress concentration, and thus protect the connection system from excessive local pressure; the transition arc surface is located between the front support curved surface plate and the rear support curved surface plate, playing a role in smooth transition. This arc surface can effectively mitigate the abrupt changes that may occur during the transition from one curved surface to another, ensuring more uniform force transmission, reducing wear, and increasing the reliability of the system; the edge of the rear support curved surface plate is higher than the edge of the front support curved surface plate, and the higher edge can act as a blocking mechanism to prevent the lips from slipping out during engagement.
[0100] For better understanding, please refer to the following... Figures 1 to 10 The working principle of the oral motor trainer provided in this disclosure will be explained in detail with an application scenario.
[0101] When using the oral muscle trainer provided in this disclosure, the patient first needs to adjust the adjustment block 31 to the position closest to the occlusal member 21. At this time, the adjustment block 31 is located between the two occlusal members 21. The patient presses his lips against the two occlusal members 21 and tries to close his lips with force. The display element 112 displays the actual biting force between the patient's lips, such as 150N.
[0102] Then, based on the bite value displayed on the display element 112, the medical staff determined that the most suitable resistance for training the patient's lip muscles should be 50N (Note: During oral muscle training, the resistance should be within an appropriate range. If the resistance is too high, the patient's biting force will not be sufficient to overcome the resistance and achieve lip closure, which may damage the lip muscles; if the resistance is too low, the effect of oral muscle training will be too poor).
[0103] Next, the medical staff adjusted the rotating handwheel 33 until the value displayed in the observation window 121 was 50N, indicating that the two elastic elements 22 of the oral muscle trainer could provide 50N of resistance at this time. Then, the patient could train the oral muscles under this resistance.
[0104] Obviously, the oral muscle trainer disclosed herein has high versatility by adjusting the elastic force between the two biting parts 21, and can be adapted to the training of different patients, as well as different training stages of the same patient. Furthermore, the adjustment block 31 of the oral muscle trainer disclosed herein has a high degree of freedom of movement. Unlike discrete adjustment, the adjustment process of this disclosure is smooth and continuous, achieving stepless change of elastic force.
[0105] The various embodiments of this disclosure have been described above. These descriptions are exemplary and not exhaustive, and are not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is chosen to best explain the principles, practical application, or technical improvements to the embodiments in the market, or to enable others skilled in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein. The scope of this disclosure is defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. An oral motor trainer, characterized in that, include: Handle (1); Two elastic elements (22), one end of each elastic element (22) is fixedly disposed in the handle (1), and the other end is connected to a biting element (21). Adjustment block (31), which is movably disposed on the handle (1) and located between the two elastic elements (22), and is configured to reciprocate along the length direction of the elastic element (22) under the action of the drive device after being subjected to force; The driving device includes: Rotate the handwheel (33), which is rotatably mounted on the handle (1) and extends partially beyond the handle (1) to apply a rotational force; A support assembly (32) is disposed on the handle (1) and configured to support the adjustment block (31) between the two elastic elements (22). The support assembly (32) is also connected to the rotating handwheel (33) via a transmission mechanism to drive the adjustment block (31) to reciprocate along the length of the elastic element (22) by means of the rotation of the rotating handwheel (33).
2. The oral motor trainer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support component (32) includes: A guide plate (322) is slidably disposed on the handle (1) via a matching guide groove (111) and a guide block (3221). The guide groove (111) extends along the length direction of the elastic member (22). One of the guide groove (111) and the guide block (3221) is disposed on the guide plate (322) and the other is disposed on the handle (1). The guide plate (322) has a through hole through which the elastic member (22) passes. Push plate (321), the push plate (321) is fixedly mounted on the guide plate (322) and is connected to the rotating handwheel (33) through a transmission mechanism; The connector (323) is located between the two elastic members (22), with one end fixedly mounted on the guide plate (322) and the other end fixedly mounted on the adjusting block (31).
3. The oral motor trainer according to claim 2, characterized in that, The transmission mechanism includes a rack (3211) disposed on the push plate (321) and a gear (331) meshing with the rack (3211). The rack (3211) extends along the length direction of the elastic member (22), and the gear (331) is rotatably disposed on the handle (1) and driven to rotate by the rotating handwheel (33).
4. The oral motor trainer according to claim 2, characterized in that, The adjusting block (31) includes a first adjusting block (311) and a second adjusting block (312) with a gap, and a pressure sensor (34) is provided on the first adjusting block (311) or the second adjusting block (312). The oral muscle trainer also includes a display element (112) disposed on the handle (1) and communicatively connected to the pressure sensor (34) to display the pressure exerted on the first adjustment block (311) and the second adjustment block (312) when the bite (21) is closed.
5. The oral motor trainer according to claim 4, characterized in that, The connector (323) includes at least one first connecting rod (3231) and at least one second connecting rod (3232). The first connecting rod (3231) is used to connect the first adjusting block (311) and the guide plate (322), and the second connecting rod (3232) is used to connect the second adjusting block (312) and the guide plate (322).
6. The oral motor trainer according to claim 4, characterized in that, The orofacial muscle trainer also includes: A signal tube (341) is connected between the second adjusting block (312) and the guide plate (322); The signal line (342) has one end passing through the signal tube (341) and connected to the pressure sensor (34), and the other end passing through the guide plate (322) and connected to the display element (112).
7. The oral motor trainer according to claim 2, characterized in that, The orofacial muscle trainer also includes an indicator strip on the push plate (321), and the indicator strip indicates the elastic force provided by the elastic element (22) when the adjustment block (31) moves to different positions relative to the elastic element (22) to bite the two biting elements (21); and an observation window (121) is provided on the handle (1), the observation window (121) being configured to read the biting force required when the adjustment block (31) is in the current position.
8. The oral motor trainer according to claim 2, characterized in that, The handle (1) includes: Handhold (11), wherein the rotating handwheel (33) is disposed on the handhold (11); The extension (12) extends from the end of the hand-held part (11) toward the bite member (21), and in the direction perpendicular to the length of the elastic member (22), the length of the extension (12) is less than the length of the hand-held part (11), and the end of the elastic member (22) passes through the extension (12) and then the bite member (21) is fixedly installed.
9. The oral motor trainer according to claim 2, characterized in that, The engagement member (21) includes a support plate and a support plate connecting the support plate and the elastic member (22). The support plate has a front support curved surface, a transition arc surface and a rear support curved surface arranged in sequence. The edge of the rear support curved surface is higher than the edge of the front support curved surface.