Cast Metal Mandibular Advancement Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mandibular advancement devices for treating snoring and sleep apnea are often bulky, uncomfortable, and prone to failure due to material weakness, requiring significant jaw opening, encroaching on tongue space, and causing adverse effects like lip incompetence and dry mouth, with acrylic materials being brittle and difficult to clean.
Innovation Solution
A compact, tooth-borne device using a thin cast metal alloy with a palatal plate and connecting bar in the labial sulcus, featuring a telescopic arm and sleeve arrangement to advance the lower jaw relative to the upper jaw, ensuring even distribution of occlusal loads and minimal vertical opening, while being easy to clean and maintain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If acrylic materials are used to make mandibular advancement devices, then the device can be manufactured and fitted, but the material is weak, brittle, and prone to breakage under considerable forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from acrylic to cast metal alloy, fundamentally altering the material's mechanical properties to be stronger and more durable while maintaining the ability to be fitted to patients
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite construction combining cast metal alloy for structural components with acrylic or plastic for softer elements, creating a device that leverages the strengths of both material types
2Strength
If devices are made bulky to provide sufficient structural support, then strength is improved, but comfort and patient tolerance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter to cast metal alloy which provides high strength-to-volume ratio, allowing the device to be much thinner and more compact while maintaining sufficient structural support, thereby improving patient comfort
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different material properties to different parts of the device - using cast metal alloy for structural components requiring strength and acrylic/plastic for softer elements, optimizing both strength and comfort locally
3Ease of manufacture
If acrylic materials are used, then the device can be fabricated, but the material picks up stains, is difficult to clean, and degrades with time becoming more brittle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from acrylic to cast metal alloy for structural components, fundamentally improving resistance to staining, degradation, and brittleness while maintaining manufacturability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses cast metal alloy for structural components where durability is critical and acrylic/plastic for softer elements where ease of fabrication is important, optimizing both durability and manufacturability locally
4Productivity
If devices are designed to advance the jaw effectively, then treatment function is improved, but they encroach upon tongue space and cause lip incompetence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the linkage components from the lingual side to the buccal side, utilizing the buccal sulcus space instead of encroaching on tongue space, thereby achieving jaw advancement without interfering with tongue function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the device into separate functional components - the palatal plate for jaw advancement and the buccal linkage for connection - allowing independent optimization of each function to avoid interference with tongue space
5Ease of manufacture
If acrylic materials are used for the device, then it can be manufactured, but the metal/acrylic interfaces show fracture fatigue with use leading to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter to cast metal alloy throughout the structural components, eliminating the metal/acrylic interface and its associated fracture fatigue problem while maintaining manufacturability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite construction combining cast metal alloy for structural components with acrylic or plastic for softer elements, creating a device that leverages the strengths of both material types and eliminates interface fatigue
Data Source
AI summary
A device for advancing a lower jaw relative to an upper jaw in a mouth, the device comprising an upper member arranged to be positioned behind the upper front teeth in the upper jaw and configured to extend back towards the upper molars on either side of the upper jaw, the upper member having retaining means for retaining the upper member within the upper jaw by engagement with one or more of the upper molars; a lower member, arranged to be positioned forward of the lower front teeth in the lower jaw and configured to extend backwards to cover at least part of the occlusal surfaces of one or more of the lower molars on either side of the lower jaw, the lower member having retaining means for retaining it within the lower jaw by engagement with one or more of the lower molars; and connection means configured to removably connect the upper member to the lower member such that the lower jaw is advanced to and retained at a predetermined minimum distance relative to the upper jaw.