Multifunctional oral cavity supporting device

Abstract

The utility model provides a multifunctional oral cavity supporting device, and relates to the technical field of medical instruments. The multifunctional oral cavity supporting device comprises a driving device, a tongue sleeve and two arc-shaped supporting pieces, the arc ends of the two arc-shaped supporting pieces are rotationally connected, the tongue sleeve is arranged on the inner sides of the arc-shaped supporting pieces, and the driving device is connected between the arc tops of the two arc-shaped supporting pieces and is in driving connection with the tongue sleeve and at least one arc-shaped supporting piece; in actual application, the two arc-shaped supporting pieces abut against the upper tooth and the lower tooth of a patient respectively, the tongue sleeve is arranged on the tongue body of the patient in a sleeving mode, and the driving device can drive the tongue sleeve to move in the direction away from or close to the arc top. One arc-shaped supporting piece can be driven to move in the direction away from or close to the other arc-shaped supporting piece, or the two arc-shaped supporting pieces are driven to move back to back or face to face. On the basis, normal tissues and tumor target regions in the oral cavity of a patient can be reasonably separated, so that the risk of side effects such as oral mucosa and tongue injury is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of medical device technology, and in particular to a multifunctional oral support device. Background Technology

[0002] Radiation therapy (RT) is a method of treating tumors that uses high-energy rays (such as X-rays, gamma rays, proton beams, and heavy ion beams) to irradiate tumor cells. This causes single-strand or double-strand breaks in the DNA of the tumor cells, preventing them from dividing and proliferating normally, thereby controlling and eliminating the tumor cells. In related technologies, when performing radiotherapy on tumors in the head and neck, an oral support is used to open the patient's upper and lower teeth before high-energy rays are irradiated into the tumor target area through the patient's mouth. The high-energy rays destroy the DNA structure of the tumor cells, thus treating the tumor. However, existing oral supports cannot adequately separate normal tissues in the patient's mouth from the tumor target area, nor can they provide radiation protection and isolation for the patient's tongue. This results in excessive radiation doses to normal tissues in the patient's mouth, increasing the risk of side effects on the oral mucosa, tongue, and other normal organs. Utility Model Content

[0003] This application provides a multifunctional oral support device, which aims to solve the problem of side effects such as damage to the oral mucosa and tongue that are easily caused when radiotherapy is performed on tumors in the head and neck of patients.

[0004] To address the aforementioned drawbacks in related technologies, this application provides a multifunctional oral support device, comprising a driving device, a tongue sleeve, and two opposing arc-shaped support members. The arc ends of the two arc-shaped support members are rotatably connected. The driving device is connected between the arc apexes of the two arc-shaped support members and is driven by at least one arc-shaped support member. The tongue sleeve is disposed on the inner side of the arc-shaped support member, and the driving device is also driven by the tongue sleeve. The two arc-shaped support members are respectively used to abut against the patient's upper and lower teeth. The tongue sleeve is used to be fitted onto the patient's tongue. The driving device is used to drive the tongue sleeve to move away from or towards the arc apex. The driving device is also used to drive one arc-shaped support member to move away from or towards the other arc-shaped support member, or to drive the two arc-shaped support members to move in opposite directions or towards each other.

[0005] In some implementations, the tongue sleeve includes a tongue depressor and a protective sleeve. The protective sleeve is located on one side of the tongue depressor, and a driving device is connected to the tongue depressor. The tongue depressor is used to press against the tongue, and the protective sleeve is used to accommodate the tongue. The length of the tongue depressor is greater than the length of the protective sleeve. Further, the protective sleeve includes a cover plate and an arc-shaped groove formed by bending and extending from the outer edge of the cover plate. The cover plate is used to cover the upper surface of the tongue, and the arc-shaped groove is used to accommodate the outer edge portion of the tongue.

[0006] In some implementations, the two arc-shaped support members are an upper arc-shaped support member and a lower arc-shaped support member, respectively. The driving device is located on the top of the arc of the lower arc-shaped support member and is driven and connected to the upper arc-shaped support member. Specifically, the driving device is used to drive the upper arc-shaped support member to move away from or towards the lower arc-shaped support member. Further, the driving device includes a base and two transmission structures, both of which are located within the base. Each transmission structure has a transmission end and an operating end extending out of the base. The two transmission structures include a first transmission structure and a second transmission structure. The transmission end of the first transmission structure is rotatably connected to the top of the arc of the upper arc-shaped support member, and the transmission end of the second transmission structure is connected to the tongue sleeve. When the doctor manipulates the operating end of the first transmission structure, the first transmission structure drives the upper arc-shaped support member to move away from or towards the lower arc-shaped support member; when the doctor manipulates the operating end of the second transmission structure, the second transmission structure drives the tongue sleeve to move away from or towards the top of the arc.

[0007] In one implementation, the transmission structure includes a button, a toothed buckle, and a rack. The base has a through hole, and the rack is set inside the through hole. Both opposite ends of the rack protrude from the through hole to serve as the transmission end and the operation end, respectively. The base also has an opening that connects to the through hole. The button is located at the opening and rotates with the base. The toothed buckle is located inside the through hole and is set on the button. One side of the rack with teeth faces the toothed buckle, and the opposite side slides with the base. The transmission structure has a unidirectional limiting state. In the unidirectional limiting state, the teeth are engaged between the teeth of the rack. The teeth do not restrict the upper arc-shaped support from moving away from the lower arc-shaped support, nor restrict the upper arc-shaped support from moving towards the lower arc-shaped support. Alternatively, the teeth do not restrict the tongue sleeve from moving towards the top of the arc, nor restrict the tongue sleeve from moving away from the top of the arc. When the button is pressed, the button rotates away from the rack and causes the teeth to disengage from the rack, thus exiting the unidirectional limiting state. A spring is provided at the rotational connection between the button and the base. When the button is released, the button rotates towards the rack under the elastic force of the spring and pushes the teeth to engage between the teeth of the rack, thus entering the unidirectional limiting state.

[0008] Furthermore, the cross-sections of both the teeth and the buckles are right-angled triangles, and both the teeth and the buckles include exposed right-angled surfaces and inclined surfaces. When the buckles are engaged between two teeth, the inclined surface of the buckles fits into the inclined surface of the first tooth, and the right-angled surface of the buckles fits into the right-angled surface of the second tooth.

[0009] In one implementation, the transmission structure includes a connector and a support rod. The base has a through hole, and the support rod is located within the through hole. Both ends of the support rod protrude from the through hole to serve as the transmission end and the operation end, respectively. One side of the support rod is slidably fitted with the base, and the opposite side has multiple insertion holes spaced apart along its own axis. The base also has a sliding hole connected to the through hole. The connector is located within the sliding hole, with one end inside the through hole and the opposite end exposed outside the base. The connector is used to move along its own axis within the sliding hole and, by inserting into different insertion holes, adjusts the opening and closing size between the upper and lower arc-shaped support members or adjusts the position of the tongue relative to the top of the arc.

[0010] In some implementations, the arc-shaped support includes an arc-shaped support plate with an arc-shaped placement groove for accommodating the patient's tooth. Further, the side of the arc-shaped support plate with the arc-shaped placement groove is covered with a thermoplastic layer.

[0011] By implementing the above technical solution of this application, a multifunctional oral support device is constituted by a driving device, a tongue sleeve, and two opposing arc-shaped support members. The arc ends of the two arc-shaped support members are rotatably connected. The tongue sleeve is placed on the inner side of the arc-shaped support member. The driving device is connected between the arc apex of the two arc-shaped support members and is connected to the tongue sleeve and at least one arc-shaped support member. In the actual radiotherapy process of the patient's head and neck, the two arc-shaped support members abut against the patient's upper and lower teeth respectively. The tongue sleeve is placed on the patient's tongue. The driving device can drive the tongue sleeve to move away from or towards the arc apex, and can also drive one arc-shaped support member to move away from or towards the other arc-shaped support member, or drive the two arc-shaped support members to move in opposite directions or towards each other. Therefore, when performing radiotherapy on tumors in the head and neck of patients, this application can, on the one hand, use two arc-shaped supports to open the patient's upper and lower teeth, and arbitrarily adjust the opening size between the two arc-shaped supports (i.e., the opening size of the patient's oral cavity) through a driving device; on the other hand, it can restrict and protect the patient's tongue through a tongue sleeve, and arbitrarily adjust the position of the tongue sleeve in the patient's oral cavity (i.e., the position of the tongue in the patient's oral cavity) through a driving device. In this way, normal tissues in the patient's oral cavity can be reasonably separated from the tumor target area, thereby reducing the radiation dose of high-energy rays to normal tissues in the patient's oral cavity, and thus reducing the risk of side effects such as damage to the oral mucosa and tongue. Attached Figure Description

[0012] To more clearly illustrate the related technologies or the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the related technologies or the embodiments of this application will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0013] Figure 1 This is a first structural schematic diagram of the multifunctional oral support device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0014] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the second structure of the multifunctional oral support provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0015] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the third structure of the multifunctional oral support provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0016] Figure 4 This is a partial enlarged view of the driving device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0017] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the meshing of the toothed buckle and the rack provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0018] The markings in the above figures represent: 100-driving device, 200-tongue sleeve, 300-arc-shaped support, 110-base, 120-transmission structure, 111-through hole, 121-first transmission structure, 122-second transmission structure, 1211-button, 1212-tooth buckle, 1213-rack, 210-tongue pressure plate, 220-protective sleeve, 221-cover plate, 222-arc-shaped groove, 310-upper arc-shaped support, 320-lower arc-shaped support, 311-arc-shaped support plate, 312-thermoplastic layer. Detailed Implementation

[0019] In related technologies, when performing radiotherapy on tumors in the head and neck of patients, an oral support is needed to open the patient's upper and lower teeth before high-energy rays are irradiated into the tumor target area through the patient's mouth. This is done to destroy the DNA structure of tumor cells, thereby treating the tumor. However, existing oral supports cannot effectively separate normal tissues in the patient's mouth from the tumor target area. The tongue sleeve in the oral support only serves to fix and protect the patient's tongue, but cannot provide radiation-related protection and isolation. This results in excessive radiation doses to normal tissues in the patient's mouth, increasing the risk of side effects on the oral mucosa, tongue, and other normal organs. Therefore, this application proposes a multifunctional oral support in the embodiments below to address the aforementioned shortcomings of related technologies.

[0020] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, this application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with its embodiments and corresponding drawings. Throughout, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. It should be understood that the embodiments of this application described below are only for explaining this application and are not intended to limit this application. That is, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application. Furthermore, the technical features involved in the various embodiments of this application described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0021] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a first structural schematic diagram of a multifunctional oral support device. This embodiment provides a multifunctional oral support device, including a driving device 100, a tongue sleeve 200, and two opposing arc-shaped support members 300. The arc ends of the two arc-shaped support members 300 are rotatably connected. The driving device 100 is connected between the arc apexes of the two arc-shaped support members 300 and is rotatably connected to at least one arc-shaped support member 300. The tongue sleeve 200 is disposed on the inner side of the arc-shaped support member 300, and the driving device 100 is also rotatably connected to the tongue sleeve 200. Each arc-shaped support member 300 has two arc ends, and the two arc ends of one arc-shaped support member 300 are rotatably connected to the corresponding two arc ends of the other arc-shaped support member 300. Preferably, the arc ends of the two arc-shaped support members 300 are hinged for rotational engagement; both arc-shaped support members 300 are made of plastic, and the tongue sleeve 200 is made of high-density material, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polycarbonate (PC), acrylic (PMMA), and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU); radiation-proof materials, such as barium sulfate and calcium carbonate, are added during the preparation of the tongue sleeve 200, thus giving the tongue sleeve 200 radiation-related protection and isolation functions, which can effectively prevent high-energy rays from damaging the tongue during radiotherapy.

[0022] During actual radiotherapy of the patient's head and neck, two arc-shaped supports 300 abut against the patient's upper and lower teeth respectively, and a tongue sleeve 200 is fitted on the patient's tongue. The driving device 100 can drive the tongue sleeve 200 to move away from or towards the top of the arc under the doctor's control (i.e., drive the tongue sleeve 200 to move into or out of the patient's mouth). When the driving device 100 is connected to one arc-shaped support 300, the driving device 100 can drive one arc-shaped support 300 to move away from or towards the other arc-shaped support 300 under the doctor's control. When the driving device 100 is connected to two arc-shaped supports 300, the driving device 100 can drive the two arc-shaped supports 300 to move away from or towards each other under the doctor's control, thereby driving the two arc-shaped supports 300 to open or close.

[0023] Therefore, when performing radiotherapy on tumors in the head and neck of a patient, this embodiment can, on the one hand, use two arc-shaped supports 300 to open the patient's upper and lower teeth, and use the driving device 100 to arbitrarily adjust the opening size between the two arc-shaped supports 300 (i.e., the opening size of the patient's mouth). On the other hand, the tongue sleeve 200 can restrict and protect the patient's tongue, and use the driving device 100 to arbitrarily adjust the position of the tongue sleeve 200 in the patient's mouth (i.e., the position of the tongue in the patient's mouth). In this way, the normal tissue in the patient's mouth can be reasonably separated from the tumor target area, thereby reducing the radiation dose of high-energy rays to the normal tissue in the patient's mouth. At the same time, the radiation-proof material added when preparing the tongue sleeve 200 can effectively prevent high-energy rays from damaging the tongue during radiotherapy. Therefore, this embodiment can reduce the risk of side effects such as damage to the oral mucosa and tongue.

[0024] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a second structural schematic diagram of a multifunctional oral support device. The arc-shaped support 300 includes an arc-shaped support plate 311, on which an arc-shaped placement groove (not shown) is formed. When the arc-shaped support 300 abuts against the patient's teeth, the patient's teeth can be accommodated within the arc-shaped placement groove. The arc-shaped placement groove plays a certain limiting role in the patient's teeth, which can prevent the patient's teeth from moving back and forth significantly during radiotherapy, thereby affecting the progress of radiotherapy. Preferably, the side of the arc-shaped support plate 311 with the arc-shaped placement groove is covered with a thermoplastic layer 312, which can soften in hot water and harden at room temperature, meeting the usage scenarios of radiotherapy.

[0025] In some embodiments, still refer to Figure 2The tongue cover 200 includes a tongue depressor 210 and a protective sleeve 220. The protective sleeve 220 is disposed on one side of the tongue depressor 210, and the driving device 100 is driven and connected to the tongue depressor 210. In the actual radiotherapy process, the tongue depressor 210 presses against the patient's tongue, and the patient's tongue is contained within the protective sleeve 220. As one embodiment, the protective sleeve 220 includes a cover plate 221 and an arcuate groove 222 formed by bending and extending from the outer edge of the cover plate 221. In the actual radiotherapy process, the cover plate 221 covers the upper surface of the patient's tongue, and the outer edge of the patient's tongue is contained within the arcuate groove 222. It is understandable that the protective sleeve 220 only covers the upper surface and outer edge of the tongue, not the middle area of ​​the lower surface. This is because the tongue has a frenulum (also known as the frenulum), and if the protective sleeve 220 covered the entire lower surface, it would inevitably interfere with the frenulum. Preferably, since there is no frenulum above the tongue, the length of the tongue depressor 210 can be greater than the length of the protective sleeve 220, allowing it to cover as much of the patient's tongue as possible and provide better tongue restraint. As can be seen from this description, the tongue sleeve 200 of this application is more ergonomic.

[0026] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The two arc-shaped support members 300 are an upper arc-shaped support member 310 and a lower arc-shaped support member 320, respectively. The driving device 100 is located on the top of the arc of the lower arc-shaped support member 320 and is driven and connected to the upper arc-shaped support member 310 and the tongue sleeve 200. In actual radiotherapy, the driving device 100 can drive the tongue sleeve 200 to move away from or towards the top of the arc under the operation of the doctor, and drive the upper arc-shaped support member 310 to move away from or towards the lower arc-shaped support member 320. Specifically, the driving device 100 includes a base 110 and two transmission structures 120. Both transmission structures 120 are located inside the base 110. Both transmission structures 120 have a transmission end and an operating end that extend out of the base 110. The two transmission structures 120 include a first transmission structure 121 and a second transmission structure 122. The transmission end of the first transmission structure 121 is rotatably connected to the top of the arc of the upper arc-shaped support member 310, and the transmission end of the second transmission structure 122 is connected to the tongue sleeve 200. In actual radiotherapy, when the doctor manipulates the operating end of the first transmission structure 121, the first transmission structure 121 drives the upper arc-shaped support 310 to move away from or towards the lower arc-shaped support 320; when the doctor manipulates the operating end of the second transmission structure 122, the second transmission structure 122 drives the tongue sleeve 200 to move away from or towards the apex of the arc. Furthermore, it should be noted that the two transmission structures 120 have the same structure and working principle.

[0027] As one example, please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 , Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the third structure of a multifunctional oral support device. Figure 4 This is a partial enlarged view of the drive device. The transmission structure 120 includes a button 1211, a toothed buckle 1212, and a rack 1213. The base 110 has a through hole 111 that passes through it. The rack 1213 is disposed in the through hole 111, and both opposite ends of the rack 1213 protrude from the through hole 111 to serve as the transmission end and the operation end, respectively. The base 110 also has an opening (not shown) that connects to the through hole 111. The button 1211 is disposed at the opening and rotates with the base 110. The toothed buckle 1212 is located in the through hole 111 and is disposed on the button 1211. One side of the rack 1213 with teeth faces the toothed buckle 1212, and the opposite side slides with the base 110. It is understandable that the two opposite ends of the rack 1213 have through holes 111 to serve as the transmission end and the operation end, respectively. This means that one end of the rack 1213 is rotatably connected to the top of the arc of the upper arc support 310 (or connected to the tongue sleeve 200), and the other end is for the doctor to operate.

[0028] In this embodiment, the transmission structure 120 has a unidirectional limiting state. In the unidirectional limiting state, the toothed buckle 1212 is engaged between the teeth of the rack 1213. For the opening and closing of the two arc-shaped support members 300, the toothed buckle 1212 does not restrict the upper arc-shaped support member 310 from moving away from the lower arc-shaped support member 320, but restricts the upper arc-shaped support member 310 from moving closer to the lower arc-shaped support member 320. That is, it does not restrict the opening of the two arc-shaped support members 300, but restricts the closing of the two arc-shaped support members 300. For the back-and-forth movement of the tongue sleeve 200 in the oral cavity, the toothed buckle 1212 does not restrict the tongue sleeve 200 from moving closer to the top of the arc, but restricts the tongue sleeve 200 from moving away from the top of the arc. That is, it does not restrict the tongue sleeve 200 from moving out of the oral cavity, but restricts the tongue sleeve 200 from moving into the oral cavity. It is understandable that the tongue sheath 200 may unintentionally move into the oral cavity during radiotherapy. If the tongue sheath 200 moves too deep into the oral cavity, it will inevitably damage the patient's tongue or throat. Therefore, this application restricts the movement of the tongue sheath 200 into the oral cavity during radiotherapy. Furthermore, during radiotherapy, the patient will involuntarily close their mouth, thereby applying opposing forces to the two arc-shaped supports 300, causing the two arc-shaped supports 300 to tend to close. Once the two arc-shaped supports 300 close, it will inevitably affect the progress of radiotherapy. Therefore, this application restricts the closure of the two arc-shaped supports 300 during radiotherapy.

[0029] Specifically, when it is necessary to operate the operating end of the rack 1213 to close the two arc-shaped support members 300 or to move the tongue sleeve 200 into the oral cavity, the button 1211 can be pressed. The button 1211 will rotate away from the rack 1213 and drive the toothed buckle 1212, causing the toothed buckle 1212 to disengage from the rack 1213. At this time, the transmission structure 120 exits the unidirectional limiting state, and neither the closing / opening of the two arc-shaped support members 300 nor the movement of the tongue sleeve 200 into / out of the oral cavity will be restricted. Furthermore, a spring (not shown) is provided at the rotational connection between the button 1211 and the base 110. When the button 1211 is released, the button 1211 will rotate towards the rack 1213 under the elastic force of the spring and push the toothed buckle 1212, causing the toothed buckle 1212 to re-engage between the teeth of the rack 1213. At this time, the transmission structure 120 re-enters the unidirectional limiting state.

[0030] Please see Figure 4 and combined Figure 5 , Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the meshing of the toothed buckle and the rack. Taking the drive of the upper arc-shaped support 310 as an example, the cross-section of the teeth of the rack 1213 and the toothed buckle 1212 is a right-angled triangle. Both the teeth of the rack 1213 and the toothed buckle 1212 include an exposed right-angled surface and a beveled surface. When the toothed buckle 1212 meshes between two teeth of the rack 1213, the beveled surface of the toothed buckle 1212 is in contact with the beveled surface of the first tooth, and the right-angled surface of the toothed buckle 1212 is in contact with the right-angled surface of the second tooth. Among them, both the teeth of the rack 1213 and the toothed buckle 1212 have two right-angled surfaces. One right-angled surface of the toothed buckle 1212 coincides with the outer wall of the button 1211, and one right-angled surface of the teeth of the rack 1213 coincides with the outer wall of the strip rod that supports each tooth. Therefore, each of them has only one exposed right-angled surface.

[0031] like Figure 5 As shown, when the doctor pushes the rack 1213 to open the two arc-shaped supports 300, the rack 1213 applies a force to the toothed buckle 1212 (i.e., Figure 5 In the case of F1), the force is directed away from itself (i.e., perpendicular to its own central axis). The toothed buckle 1212 is pushed by the rack 1213 and the button 1211 rotates away from the rack 1213. At the same time, due to the spring force, the toothed buckle 1212 automatically moves into the next toothed space after disengaging from the current tooth, and so on. When the doctor pulls the rack 1213 to close the two arc-shaped support members 300, the rack 1213 also applies a force to the toothed buckle 1212 (i.e., F1). Figure 5(F2 in the text), but this force is parallel to its own central axis. Under this force, the toothed buckle 1212 will drive the button 1211 to rotate towards the rack 1213, making the toothed buckle 1212 mesh tighter and tighter between the current teeth. The toothed buckle 1212 is restricted to the current teeth, thus playing the role of restricting the closure of the two arc-shaped support members 300. Only when the button 1211 is pressed can the button 1211 drive the toothed buckle 1212 to disengage from the rack 1213, and only then can the doctor control the closure of the two arc-shaped support members 300.

[0032] As one example, analogous to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The transmission structure 120 includes a connector (not shown) and a support rod (not shown). The base 110 still has a through hole 111. The support rod is disposed within the through hole 111, with both opposite ends of the support rod extending out of the through hole 111 to serve as the transmission end and the operating end, respectively. One side of the support rod is slidably fitted with the base 110, and the opposite side has multiple insertion holes (not shown) spaced apart along its own axis. The base 110 also has a sliding hole (not shown) communicating with the through hole 111. The connector is disposed within the sliding hole, with one end of the connector located within the through hole 111 and the opposite end exposed outside the base 110. It can be understood that the fact that both opposite ends of the support rod extend out of the through hole 111 to serve as the transmission end and the operating end, respectively, means that one end of the support rod is rotatably connected to the arc-shaped top of the upper arc-shaped support 310 (or connected to the tongue sleeve 200), and the other end is for manipulation by the doctor.

[0033] In this embodiment, the doctor can manipulate the connector to reciprocate along its own axis within the sliding hole, thereby inserting the connector into the socket on the support rod or pulling the connector out of the socket on the support rod. At the same time, the doctor can also adjust the opening and closing size between the upper arc-shaped support 310 and the lower arc-shaped support 320, or adjust the position of the tongue sleeve 200 relative to the top of the arc, by inserting the connector into different sockets on the support rod. Specifically, taking the adjustment of the opening and closing size between the two arc-shaped support members 300 as an example, the doctor first pulls the connector out of the socket on the support rod, and then slides it relative to the base 110 through the operating end of the support rod. The transmission end of the support rod will drive the upper arc-shaped support member 310 to move away from or closer to the lower arc-shaped support member 320, thereby changing the opening and closing size between the two arc-shaped support members 300. When the opening and closing size between the two arc-shaped support members 300 is appropriate, the doctor inserts the connector into the socket on the support rod, thereby restricting the sliding of the support rod relative to the base 110, that is, restricting the movement of the upper arc-shaped support member 310 away from or closer to the lower arc-shaped support member 320, so that the opening and closing size between the two arc-shaped support members 300 remains unchanged before the next adjustment.

[0034] In this embodiment, both the outer wall of the connector and the wall of the sliding hole are threaded, meaning the connector and the sliding hole are threaded together. By rotating the connector, the connector can reciprocate within the sliding hole along its own axis. Furthermore, when the connector is not rotated, the threaded engagement between the connector and the sliding hole restricts the connector's movement within the sliding hole along its own axis, thereby preventing the connector from arbitrarily detaching from the socket on the support rod and affecting the radiotherapy of the tumor.

[0035] Of course, in other embodiments, the connector and the sliding hole can also use other forms of cooperation. For example, a spring can be installed inside the sliding hole. When the doctor pulls the connector, the connector disengages from the hole on the support rod and compresses the spring. When the doctor releases the connector, the connector automatically moves towards the support rod under the elastic force of the spring and eventually inserts into the hole on the support rod. Furthermore, when the connector is not pulled, the elastic force of the spring also restricts the connector from moving away from the support rod, that is, it restricts the connector from disengaging from the current hole. This prevents the connector from detaching from the socket and affecting radiotherapy to the tumor; alternatively, the connector has a latch, and the sliding hole has a groove that mates with the latch. When the doctor pulls the connector, the latch disengages from the groove, and the connector disengages from the socket on the support rod. When the doctor pushes the connector, the connector inserts into the socket on the support rod, and the latch engages with the groove. This engagement prevents the connector from detaching from the socket, thus preventing it from detaching and affecting radiotherapy to the tumor. It should be noted that the form of engagement between the connector and the sliding hole is not limited to any particular configuration, as long as it allows the connector to reciprocate along its own axis within the sliding hole.

[0036] The above embodiments are merely preferred implementations of this application and are not the only limitation on the content related to the multifunctional oral support device; those skilled in the art can make flexible settings based on the above embodiments and according to the actual application scenario. It is understood that, through the implementation of the above embodiments of this application, a multifunctional oral support is constituted by a driving device 100, a tongue sleeve 200, and two opposing arc-shaped support members 300. The arc ends of the two arc-shaped support members 300 are rotatably connected. The tongue sleeve 200 is disposed on the inner side of the arc-shaped support member 300. The driving device 100 is connected between the arc apex of the two arc-shaped support members 300 and is driven by the tongue sleeve 200 and at least one arc-shaped support member 300. In the actual radiotherapy process of the patient's head and neck, the two arc-shaped support members 300 respectively abut against the patient's upper and lower teeth. The tongue sleeve 200 is placed on the patient's tongue. The driving device 100 can drive the tongue sleeve 200 to move away from or towards the arc apex, and can also drive one arc-shaped support member 300 to move away from or towards the other arc-shaped support member 300, or drive the two arc-shaped support members 300 to move in opposite directions or towards each other. Therefore, this application can, on the one hand, use two arc-shaped support members 300 to open the patient's upper and lower teeth, and use the driving device 100 to arbitrarily adjust the opening size between the two arc-shaped support members 300 (i.e., the opening size of the patient's oral cavity). On the other hand, it can use the tongue sleeve 200 to restrict and protect the patient's tongue, and use the driving device 100 to arbitrarily adjust the position of the tongue sleeve 200 in the patient's oral cavity (i.e., the position of the tongue in the patient's oral cavity). In this way, normal tissues and tumor target areas in the patient's oral cavity can be reasonably separated, thereby reducing the radiation dose of high-energy rays to normal tissues in the patient's oral cavity. At the same time, the radiation-proof material added when preparing the tongue sleeve 200 can effectively prevent high-energy rays from damaging the tongue during radiotherapy. Therefore, this embodiment can reduce the risk of side effects such as damage to the oral mucosa and tongue, and ensure the patient's oral health.

[0037] It should be noted that the several embodiments shown above in this application are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on its differences from other embodiments. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to interchangeably. It should also be noted that in the textual description of this application, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply such an actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements may include not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus; and, without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0038] Furthermore, those skilled in the art can implement or use this application by practicing the several embodiments shown above. Various modifications to the embodiments shown above will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments not shown without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the several embodiments shown above, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A multifunctional oral support device, characterized in that, The device includes a driving device, a tongue sleeve, and two opposing arc-shaped support members. The arc ends of the two arc-shaped support members are rotatably connected. The driving device is connected between the arc apexes of the two arc-shaped support members and is driven to at least one of the arc-shaped support members. The tongue sleeve is disposed inside the arc-shaped support members, and the driving device is also driven to the tongue sleeve. The two arc-shaped support members are respectively used to abut against the patient's upper and lower teeth. The tongue sleeve is used to be fitted onto the patient's tongue. The driving device is used to drive the tongue sleeve to move away from or towards the arc apex. The driving device is also used to drive one of the arc-shaped support members to move away from or towards the other arc-shaped support member, or to drive the two arc-shaped support members to move in opposite directions or towards each other.

2. The multifunctional oral support device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tongue cover includes a tongue depressor and a protective sleeve. The protective sleeve is disposed on one side of the tongue depressor. The driving device is connected to the tongue depressor. The tongue depressor is used to press and cover the tongue body, and the protective sleeve is used to contain the tongue body.

3. The multifunctional oral support device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The protective sleeve includes a cover plate and an arcuate groove formed by bending and extending from the outer edge of the cover plate. The cover plate is used to cover the upper surface of the tongue, and the arcuate groove is used to receive the outer edge portion of the tongue.

4. The multifunctional oral support device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The two arc-shaped support members are an upper arc-shaped support member and a lower arc-shaped support member. The driving device is located on the top of the arc of the lower arc-shaped support member and is connected to the upper arc-shaped support member. The driving device is specifically used to drive the upper arc-shaped support member to move away from or towards the lower arc-shaped support member.

5. The multifunctional oral support device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The driving device includes a base and two transmission structures. Both transmission structures are located inside the base. Each transmission structure has a transmission end and an operating end that extend out of the base. The two transmission structures include a first transmission structure and a second transmission structure. The transmission end of the first transmission structure is rotatably connected to the top arc of the upper arc-shaped support member. The transmission end of the second transmission structure is connected to the tongue sleeve. When the doctor manipulates the operating end of the first transmission structure, the first transmission structure drives the upper arc-shaped support to move away from or towards the lower arc-shaped support; when the doctor manipulates the operating end of the second transmission structure, the second transmission structure drives the tongue sleeve to move away from or towards the top of the arc.

6. The multifunctional oral support device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The transmission structure includes a button, a toothed buckle, and a rack. The base has a through hole, the rack is disposed in the through hole, and the two opposite ends of the rack protrude from the through hole to serve as the transmission end and the operation end, respectively. The base also has an opening communicating with the through hole. The button is disposed at the opening and rotates with the base. The toothed buckle is located in the through hole and is disposed on the button. The toothed side of the rack faces the toothed buckle, and the opposite side slides with the base. The transmission structure has a unidirectional limiting state. In the unidirectional limiting state, the toothed buckle engages between the teeth of the rack. The toothed buckle does not restrict the upper arc-shaped support member from moving away from the lower arc-shaped support member, or restricts the upper arc-shaped support member from moving closer to the lower arc-shaped support member. Alternatively, the toothed buckle does not restrict the tongue sleeve from moving closer to the top of the arc, or restricts the tongue sleeve from moving away from the top of the arc. When the button is pressed, the button rotates away from the rack and causes the toothed buckle to disengage from the rack, thus disengaging the transmission structure from the unidirectional limiting state. A spring is provided at the rotatable connection between the button and the base. When the button is released, the button rotates towards the rack under the elastic force of the spring and pushes the toothed buckle, causing it to engage between the teeth of the rack, thus putting the transmission structure into the unidirectional limiting state.

7. The multifunctional oral support device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The cross-section of both the tooth and the buckle is a right-angled triangle. Both the tooth and the buckle include an exposed right-angled surface and an inclined surface. When the buckle is engaged between two teeth, the inclined surface of the buckle is in contact with the inclined surface of the first tooth, and the right-angled surface of the buckle is in contact with the right-angled surface of the second tooth.

8. The multifunctional oral support device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The transmission structure includes a connector and a support rod. The base has a through hole, and the support rod is disposed within the through hole. Both opposite ends of the support rod protrude from the through hole to serve as the transmission end and the operating end, respectively. One side of the support rod is slidably fitted with the base, and the opposite side has multiple insertion holes spaced apart along its own axis. The base also has a sliding hole communicating with the through hole. The connector is disposed within the sliding hole, with one end of the connector located within the through hole and the opposite end exposed outside the base. The connector is used to move along its own axis within the sliding hole, and to adjust the opening size between the upper arc-shaped support and the lower arc-shaped support, or to adjust the position of the tongue relative to the top of the arc, by inserting it into different holes.

9. The multifunctional oral support device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The arc-shaped support includes an arc-shaped support plate with an arc-shaped placement groove for accommodating the patient's teeth.

10. The multifunctional oral support device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The side of the arc-shaped support plate with the arc-shaped groove is covered with a thermoplastic layer.

Images