Oral cavity positioning member

Abstract

This invention provides an oral positioning member that can be used to solve the problem of the risks associated with surgery in conventional methods for improving sleep apnea syndrome. [Solution] An oral positioning member comprising: an upper fixing cover having one housing section, with one outer wall and one inner wall located on opposite sides of the housing section; a lower fixing cover having one housing section, with one outer wall and one inner wall located on opposite sides of the housing section of the lower fixing cover; and two positioning members, each connected to the upper fixing cover and the lower fixing cover, with the lower fixing cover protruding from the upper fixing cover by a protrusion distance of one unit. This makes it possible to suppress respiratory obstruction caused by the tongue muscles during the user's sleep.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to medical devices, and particularly to an oral positioning member used for fixing the positions of the upper jaw and the lower jaw.

Background Art

[0002] As the main causes of sleep apnea syndrome, the airway becomes narrow due to congenital factors or obesity, and the tension of the airway muscles is insufficient, so the muscles at the root of the tongue collapse, blocking the airway and causing respiratory obstruction. Patients with sleep apnea syndrome not only affect the sleep quality of neighboring people by snoring, but also cause a decline in their own sleep quality, resulting in problems such as daytime sleepiness and reduced concentration. In severe cases, sudden death may occur due to respiratory arrest during sleep.

[0003] Currently, the solution to sleep apnea syndrome usually aims to improve it by surgically removing a part of the muscles, but the surgery is accompanied by the risk of infection. Based on the above problems, it is necessary to further improve the conventional method for improving sleep apnea syndrome.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an oral positioning member that can improve the airway obstruction caused by the root tongue muscles without surgery.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The terms of directionality or similar terms used throughout the specification of this invention, such as "front," "back," "left," "right," "top (summit)," "bottom (bottom)," "inside," "outside," and "side," are based on the directions shown in the accompanying drawings. Each of these directions or similar terms is merely for the purpose of assisting in the explanation and understanding of each embodiment of the invention and does not limit the invention.

[0007] Throughout the specification of this invention, the counter words "one" or "one" used with respect to parts or components are used for convenience and to give a common meaning to the scope included in this invention, and should be interpreted as one or at least one in this invention, and unless explicitly stated otherwise, the concept of one also includes cases of multiple.

[0008] In the entirety of the specification of this invention, approximate terms such as "joining," "combining," or "assembling" mainly include those in which the members can be separated without damaging them even after joining, and those in which the members cannot be separated after joining, and these can be selected by a person with ordinary skill in the art according to the material of the members to be joined or the requirements of the assembly.

[0009] The oral positioning member of the present invention includes an upper fixing cover having one housing portion, with one outer wall and one inner wall located on opposite sides of the housing portion; a lower fixing cover having one housing portion, with one outer wall and one inner wall located on opposite sides of the housing portion of the lower fixing cover; and two positioning members, each connected to the upper fixing cover and the lower fixing cover, with the lower fixing cover protruding from the upper fixing cover by a protrusion distance of one unit.

[0010] As a result, the oral positioning member of the present invention, with the upper and lower fixing covers respectively covering the user's upper and lower teeth, positions the two positioning members relative to the upper and lower fixing covers, causing the lower fixing cover to protrude further than the upper fixing cover in the protruding direction. This allows the user's lower jaw to protrude beyond the upper jaw, and furthermore, the lingual root muscle located behind the lower jaw can be moved away from the airway. Therefore, by being fixed in the user's oral cavity by the oral positioning member, respiratory disorders caused by the lingual root muscle during the user's sleep can be suppressed.

[0011] Furthermore, the two positioning members are connected to the outer wall of the upper fixing cover and the outer wall of the lower fixing cover, respectively. This allows the two positioning members to position the upper fixing cover and the lower fixing cover.

[0012] Furthermore, the two positioning members are connected to the inner wall of the upper fixing cover and the inner wall of the lower fixing cover, respectively. This allows the two positioning members to position the upper fixing cover and the lower fixing cover.

[0013] Furthermore, each of the positioning members has one first connecting step and one second connecting step, the first connecting step being connected to the upper fixing cover and the second connecting step being connected to the lower fixing cover. This allows a predetermined distance to be maintained between the upper fixing cover and the lower fixing cover.

[0014] Furthermore, the first connecting stage has one connecting hole, which connects to a plug portion on the outer wall of the upper fixing cover, and the second connecting stage has one connecting hole, which connects to a plug portion on the outer wall of the lower fixing cover. This allows a predetermined distance to be maintained between the upper fixing cover and the lower fixing cover.

[0015] Furthermore, there is an elastic section between the first connecting stage and the second connecting stage, and the first and second connecting stages move closer to each other due to the elastic deformation of the elastic section, and then move further apart due to the elastic restoration of the elastic section. This makes it possible to suppress wear caused by frequent contact between the user's upper and lower teeth and the upper and lower fixing covers.

[0016] Furthermore, the upper and lower fixing covers have a single symmetrical centerline in the protruding direction, and the outer wall of the lower fixing cover along the symmetrical centerline has the aforementioned protruding distance relative to the outer wall of the upper fixing cover. This allows the user's lower jaw to protrude from the upper jaw by the aforementioned protruding distance.

[0017] Furthermore, the protrusion distance is 3 to 5 mm. This allows the lingual root muscle, located behind the mandible, to be moved away from the airway, thereby preventing the muscle at the base of the tongue from collapsing and obstructing the airway during the user's sleep, thus preventing respiratory obstruction.

[0018] Furthermore, it includes a tongue restraint piece, which is positioned on either the upper or lower fixing cover. This allows the tongue restraint piece to be positioned in accordance with the tongue of the mandible, thereby preventing the tongue from collapsing toward the airway.

[0019] Furthermore, the tongue restraint piece has multiple drainage holes. This allows saliva secreted from the tongue to flow out through these drainage holes.

[0020] Furthermore, the tongue restraint piece is located on the upper fixing cover, and the tongue restraint piece has a position limiting portion, and the tongue restraint piece protrudes toward the lower fixing cover, thereby positioning the position limiting portion within the range surrounded by the lower fixing cover. As a result, the tongue restraint piece is positioned to conform to the tongue of the lower jaw and acts as a position limiting portion, thereby suppressing the tongue from collapsing toward the airway. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0021] [Figure 1] It is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a view showing the assembled state of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a front view of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a view showing the usage state of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] It is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] It is a view showing the assembled state of the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] It is a front view of the second embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] In order to more easily understand the above object, other objects, features and advantages of the present invention, embodiments of the present invention are given as follows, and will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Also, in different drawings, those denoted by the same reference numerals are regarded as the same, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first embodiment of the oral positioning member of the present invention includes one upper fixing cover 1, one lower fixing cover 2 and two positioning members 3, and the upper fixing cover 1 and the lower fixing cover 2 are connected to each other by the two positioning members 3.

[0024] The upper fixed cover 1 is fixed in the user's oral cavity, thereby positioning it relative to the user's upper jaw. More specifically, the upper fixed cover 1 may be an upper dental mouthpiece, and the upper fixed cover 1 can be made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), which gives the upper fixed cover 1 excellent wear resistance and flexibility, and allows it to be easily fixed to the user's upper dental arch. The upper fixed cover 1 may have a single housing portion 11, which can cover the user's upper dental arch. Preferably, the housing portion 11 may have a groove shape corresponding to the user's upper dental arch, and for example, the upper fixed cover 1 can be molded by taking a mold of the user's upper dental arch.

[0025] Furthermore, the upper fixed cover 1 may have one outer wall 12 and one inner wall 13, with the outer wall 12 and inner wall 13 located on opposite sides of the housing portion 11, and the outer wall 12 and inner wall 13 being formed in a curved arc shape, so that the upper fixed cover 1 has a shape corresponding to the dental arch of the upper teeth. The outer wall 12 is used to face the user's lips, and the inner wall 13 is used to face the inside of the user's oral cavity. In this way, the upper fixed cover 1 can be stably placed over the user's upper teeth.

[0026] The lower fixing cover 2 is used to position the lower jaw of the user, and the lower fixing cover 2 may be a lower dental arch mouthpiece, while the lower fixing cover 1 may be made of thermoplastic elastomer. The lower fixing cover 2 may have a housing portion 21, and the lower fixing cover 2 can be placed over the user's lower teeth by the housing portion 21. Preferably, the housing portion 21 has a groove shape corresponding to the user's lower teeth. Furthermore, the lower fixing cover 2 may have one outer wall 22 and one inner wall 23, the outer wall 22 and the inner wall 23 are located on opposite sides of the housing portion 21, and the outer wall 22 and the inner wall 23 are formed in a curved arc shape so that the lower fixing cover 2 has a shape corresponding to the dental arch of the lower teeth. The outer wall 22 is used to face the user's lips, and the inner wall 23 is used to face the inside of the user's oral cavity. In this way, the upper fixing cover 2 can be stably placed over the user's upper teeth.

[0027] The two positioning members 3 are connected to the upper fixing cover 1 and the lower fixing cover 2, respectively, thereby positioning them relative to the upper fixing cover 1 and the lower fixing cover 2, and allowing the fixing cover 1 and the lower fixing cover 2 to form an upper and lower pair within the user's oral cavity. The two positioning members 3 can be connected to the upper fixing cover 1 and the lower fixing cover 2, respectively, by bonding, engaging, or integral molding. More specifically, the two positioning members 3 can be connected to the outer wall 12 of the upper fixing cover 1 and the outer wall 22 of the lower fixing cover 2, respectively. Alternatively, the two positioning members 3 can be connected to the inner wall 13 of the upper fixing cover 1 and the inner wall 23 of the lower fixing cover 2, respectively.

[0028] In this embodiment, each positioning member 3 may have one first connecting step 31 and one second connecting step 32, with the first connecting step 31 connecting to the upper fixing cover 1. For example, the first connecting step 31 has one connecting hole 31a, which can be connected to one plug portion 14 of the outer wall 12 of the upper fixing cover 1. The second connecting step 32 connects to the lower fixing cover 2, and further has one connecting hole 32a, which can be connected to one plug portion 24 of the outer wall 22 of the lower fixing cover 2. An elastic portion 33 may be present between the first connecting step 31 and the second connecting step 32, allowing the first connecting step 31 and the second connecting step 32 to move closer to each other by the elastic deformation of the elastic portion 33 and to move apart from each other by the elastic restoration of the elastic portion 33. In this way, the elastic restoration of the elastic part 33 allows a predetermined distance to be maintained between the upper fixed cover 1 and the lower fixed cover 2, thereby suppressing wear caused by frequent contact between the upper and lower teeth of the user.

[0029] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, it should be noted that the two positioning members 3 are positioned relative to the upper fixing cover 1 and the lower fixing cover 2, so that the upper fixing cover 1 and the lower fixing cover 2 are offset from each other. More specifically, in the direction from the inside of the user's mouth toward the outside of the mouth, that is, from the inner walls 13 and 23 of the upper fixing cover 1 and the lower fixing cover 2 toward the outer walls 12 and 22, there is one protrusion direction D, and the lower fixing cover 2 protrudes from the upper fixing cover 1 toward a protrusion distance D. Furthermore, the upper fixing cover 1 and the lower fixing cover 2 have one symmetrical center line L in the protrusion direction D, and the outer wall 22 of the lower fixing cover 2 has one protrusion distance H relative to the outer wall 12 of the upper fixing cover 1 along the symmetrical center line L, and the protrusion distance H may be 3 to 5 mm. In this way, after the upper fixed cover 1 and lower fixed cover 2 are placed over the user's upper and lower teeth, respectively, the user's lower jaw can be made to protrude by a distance H beyond the upper jaw, and the lingual root muscle located behind the lower jaw can be moved away from the airway, thereby suppressing the collapse of the muscles at the base of the tongue during the user's sleep, which can obstruct the airway and cause respiratory obstruction.

[0030] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the oral positioning member of the present invention may further include a tongue restraint piece 4, which may be positioned on the lower fixing cover 2, and which may consist of a single plate. For example, the periphery of the tongue restraint piece 4 may be connected to the inner wall 23 of the lower fixing cover 2, thereby allowing it to be positioned on the tongue. In this way, the tongue restraint piece 4 can be positioned relative to the tongue of the mandible and act as a positional restraint, thereby suppressing the tongue from collapsing toward the airway. The tongue restraint piece 4 may have a plurality of flow guide holes 41, which may consist of a plurality of through holes, and which may be used to allow saliva secreted from the tongue to flow out.

[0031] As shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7, the second embodiment of the oral positioning member of the present invention is substantially the same as the first embodiment described above, but in this embodiment the tongue restraint piece 5 is located on the upper fixing cover 1. The periphery of the tongue restraint piece 5 can be connected to the inner wall 13 of the upper fixing cover 1, and the tongue restraint piece 5 has one position limiting portion 51, and the tongue restraint piece 5 protrudes toward the lower fixing cover 2 so that the position limiting portion 51 is located within the range surrounded by the lower fixing cover 2. In this way, the tongue restraint piece 5 is positioned to conform to the tongue of the mandible and acts as a position limiter, thereby suppressing the tongue from collapsing toward the airway.

[0032] In summary, the oral positioning member of the present invention, with the upper and lower fixing covers respectively covering the user's upper and lower teeth, positions the two positioning members relative to the upper and lower fixing covers, causing the lower fixing cover to protrude further than the upper fixing cover in the protruding direction. This allows the user's lower jaw to protrude beyond the upper jaw, and furthermore, the lingual muscle located behind the lower jaw can be moved away from the airway. Therefore, by being fixed in the user's oral cavity by the oral positioning member, respiratory disorders caused by the lingual muscle during the user's sleep can be suppressed.

[0033] Although the present invention has been disclosed with the above embodiments, they do not limit the invention. Those skilled in the art will know that various modifications to the above embodiments will remain within the scope of the invention, as long as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention includes all modifications that fall within the scope of the language set forth in the claims and equivalents described below. Furthermore, the present invention includes embodiments in any combination of the above embodiments, provided that such combinations are possible. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0034] 1. Upper fixing cover 11. Storage Unit 12 Outer wall 13 Inner wall 14 Stopper part 2. Lower fixing cover 21 Storage Unit 22 Outer wall 23 Inner wall 24 Plug part 3 Positioning member 31 First connection stage 31a Binding hole 32 Second articulation stage 32a Binding hole 33 Elastic part 4 Tongue-holding piece 41 Direction hole 5 Tongue-holding piece 51 Position restriction section D Projection direction L is the symmetry center line. H protrusion distance

Claims

1. An upper fixed cover having one housing compartment, with one outer wall and one inner wall located on opposite sides of the housing compartment, A lower fixing cover having one housing section, with one outer wall and one inner wall located on opposite sides of the housing section of the lower fixing cover, An oral positioning member, comprising two positioning members, each connected to the upper and lower fixing covers, with the lower fixing cover protruding from the upper fixing cover by a protrusion distance of one unit.

2. The oral cavity positioning member according to claim 1, characterized in that the two positioning members are connected to the outer wall of the upper fixing cover and the outer wall of the lower fixing cover, respectively.

3. The oral cavity positioning member according to claim 1, characterized in that the two positioning members are connected to the inner wall of the upper fixing cover and the inner wall of the lower fixing cover, respectively.

4. The oral positioning member according to claim 1, wherein each of the positioning members has one first connecting step and one second connecting step, the first connecting step is connected to the upper fixing cover and the second connecting step is connected to the lower fixing cover.

5. The oral cavity positioning member according to claim 4, characterized in that the first connecting step has one connecting hole, the connecting hole is connected to one plug portion on the outer wall of the upper fixing cover, and the second connecting step has one connecting hole, the connecting hole of the second connecting step is connected to one plug portion on the outer wall of the lower fixing cover.

6. The oral positioning member according to claim 4, wherein there is an elastic portion between the first connecting step and the second connecting step, and the first connecting step and the second connecting step move closer to each other by the elastic deformation of the elastic portion and further move apart from each other by the elastic restoration of the elastic portion.

7. The oral positioning member according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper fixing cover and the lower fixing cover have a single symmetrical center line in the protruding direction, and the outer wall of the lower fixing cover on the symmetrical center line has the protruding distance relative to the outer wall of the upper fixing cover.

8. The oral cavity positioning member according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned protrusion distance is 3 to 5 mm.

9. The oral positioning member according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a tongue-pressing piece, wherein the tongue-pressing piece is located on the upper fixing cover or the lower fixing cover.

10. The oral positioning member according to claim 9, characterized in that the tongue restraining piece has a plurality of flow guide holes.

11. The oral positioning member according to claim 9, characterized in that the tongue restraining piece is located on the upper fixing cover, the tongue restraining piece has a position limiting portion, and the tongue restraining piece protrudes toward the lower fixing cover, thereby positioning the position limiting portion within the range surrounded by the lower fixing cover.

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