Thermoplastic Bite Splint with Structured Channels for Snoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermoplastic bite splints for preventing snoring and obstructive sleep apnea suffer from decreased tooth adhesion over time and lack of an emergency breathing opening, leading to potential life-threatening situations during extreme sleep apnea episodes.
Innovation Solution
A thermoplastic bite splint with structured bite channels featuring flat elevations and vertical ridges to stabilize tooth position, combined with a slit-shaped air hole for emergency breathing, ensuring improved adhesion and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the bite splint uses a simple smooth bite channel design, then the manufacturing is easier and the structure is simpler, but the tooth adhesion decreases over time and teeth can bite through the material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing specific structural features (flat elevations and vertical ridges) only in the critical areas of the bite channel where tooth contact occurs. The inner floor has flat elevations with circular bottom perimeters, and the inner side walls have vertical ridges, while the rest of the splint structure remains simple and smooth for easy manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The bite channel structure is segmented into distinct functional elements: flat elevations on the inner floor and vertical ridges on the side walls. These segmented structures work together to provide multiple contact points for tooth stabilization, improving adhesion without complicating the overall manufacturing process.
2Device complexity
If the bite splint uses a one-piece design without additional features, then the structure is simpler and manufacturing is easier, but there is no emergency breathing capability during sleep apnea episodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts a specific functional element (the air hole) from the solid bite splint structure. A hole is introduced in the front area of the bite splint to allow emergency breathing during sleep apnea episodes, while maintaining the overall one-piece simple design for ease of manufacturing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the bite splint material is made thin in the area of bite grooves, then the material is more flexible and easier to adapt to teeth, but the bite plate can bite through after frequent use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the thickness and structural density in different areas of the bite channel. The inner floor has flat elevations that provide localized thickness and structural support where biting forces are applied, while maintaining overall flexibility for adaptation. The vertical ridges on side walls also provide localized reinforcement.
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 splint provides enhanced tooth retention and emergency breathing capabilities, extending its usability and ensuring patient safety by maintaining effective jaw alignment and airway openness.
Implementation Method 1
The patient takes the heated, not yet fitted mouthpiece into his mouth, in order to then press the teeth of the lower and upper jaw into the corresponding lower and upper bite grooves in the malleable plastic
Implementation Method 2
The plastic cools down and regains its firm elasticity, after which the mouthpiece is now adapted to the patient's upper and lower rows of teeth
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a bite splint (14) made of thermoplastic material for preventing snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, comprising a bottom side (2) and a top side (3), which each form a shaping biting channel (4, 5) for the teeth that is open to the lower jaw or upper jaw, wherein the thermoplastic material can be shaped to the human upper jaw or lower jaw in the manner of braces, wherein the inner surface of the biting channels has a structure that defines the position of the teeth in the biting channels and improves the adhesion (retention) of the teeth in the thermoplastic material.