Adjustable Mandibular Tray for Sleep Apnea
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anti-snoring and sleep apnea devices lack adjustability, which limits their ability to maximize air passage expansion and effectively reduce sleep apnea symptoms, as they are typically non-reconfigurable to accommodate individual jaw structures.
Innovation Solution
A custom-fitted anti-snoring and sleep apnea device featuring polymer trays with an expansion mechanism, including screws and alignment rods, that allows for adjustable forward movement of the mandibular tray relative to the maxillary tray, utilizing a thermal acrylic liner for precise fitting and prevention of slippage, enabling tailored jaw alignment for improved breathing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing anti-snoring and sleep apnea devices are used, then they provide basic air passage support, but they lack adjustability to maximize air passage expansion for individual users
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates an expansion mechanism with screws that allows the mandibular tray to be dynamically adjusted relative to the maxillary tray. This enables the air passage to be expanded to different degrees according to individual user needs, transforming a static device into a dynamic, adjustable system that adapts to various jaw structures and air passage requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed integral structures are used for sleep apnea devices, then they maintain jaw position, but they cannot be readjusted to achieve maximum air passage opening
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate components: a maxillary tray and a mandibular tray that can be independently adjusted. The expansion screws allow each tray to be positioned separately, enabling precise adjustment of the mandibular tray forward to open the air passage. This segmentation provides readjustability without complicating the operation, as each component can be adjusted independently using simple screw mechanisms.
3Volume of moving object
If custom-fitted polymer trays with expansion mechanism are used, then air passage expansion is maximized, but device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion mechanism is nested within the tray structure itself. The screws are integrated into the maxillary and mandibular trays, with the mandibular tray containing the expansion components that allow it to be pushed forward. This nesting approach maximizes pharyngeal space through adjustable expansion while keeping the overall device structure compact and integrated, rather than adding separate external components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively increases pharyngeal space by repositioning the lower jaw forward, enhancing air exchange and reducing snoring and sleep apnea symptoms through customizable adjustment and repositioning of the mandibular tray relative to the maxillary tray.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal acrylic liner for precise fitting and prevention of slippage
Implementation Method 2
The material is capable of being remolded, through thermal action
Data Source
AI summary
An anti-snoring and sleep apnea device has a maxillary tray adapted for receiving upper teeth, the maxillary tray having a pair of shoulder structures with each of the shoulder structures having an adjustable expansion device and a movable boss member connected to the expansion device, with adjustment of each expansion device for moving each boss member away from each shoulder structure, the maxillary tray also having a polymer compound therein, and a mandibular tray adapted for receiving lower teeth, the mandibular tray having a pair of upstanding structural fins, each of the fins being adjacent to each of the boss members, with adjustment of each expansion device for moving the mandibular tray forward of the maxillary tray, the mandibular tray also having a polymer compound therein.