Composite Oropharyngeal Airway Bite Guard for Stable Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current oropharyngeal airway devices suffer from dislodgment and unwanted movement due to lack of an integrated anchoring point, and their hard bite-block bodies can cause dental and gum damage.
Innovation Solution
An oropharyngeal airway integrated bite guard device with a soft material bite guard that includes a dental channel and U-shaped horizontal channel for anchoring the incisors, combined with a hard inner bite block body to prevent dislodgment and protect teeth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a hard bite-block body is used to prevent dislodgment, then stability is improved, but dental and gum damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses a composite structure combining a hard inner bite block body (for stability and dislodgment prevention) with a soft outer bite guard material (for dental protection). This layered composite design resolves the contradiction by having each material perform its optimal function - the hard core provides anchoring stability while the soft exterior protects teeth and gums from damage.
2Device complexity
If no anchoring attribute is provided, then device complexity is reduced, but dislodgment and migration occur
Solution Approach 1:
The anchoring feature is merged into the bite block body itself through an integrated receiving channel formed within the bite block. This integration combines the anchoring function with the existing bite block structure, providing stable positioning without adding separate anchoring components or increasing overall device complexity.
3Strength
If the oropharyngeal airway is made stiff to maintain airway patency, then airway openness is improved, but tissue obstruction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device applies local quality differentiation by making the bite block body stiff (for maintaining airway patency and preventing tongue collapse) while making the outer bite guard soft (for protecting dental structures). This localized variation in material properties allows the device to simultaneously achieve airway openness and minimize tissue obstruction damage.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses an improved oropharyngeal airway device used to maintain optimal airway patency and adequate oxygenation. An important aspect of the device is the pharyngeal body which is configured to isolate the dentition and soft tissue, resulting in a larger anterior, posterior and lateral dimensions of the upper airway for improved airflow. The device is an integrated bite guard that provides a soft channel material configured to enclose the entire bite block body to protect one or more incisor teeth and a gum line from dental damage during masseter muscle clenching downward force. The integrated bite guard offers a defined receiving channel as an anchoring contact site for dentition to help maintain optimal device position by limiting undesirable migration of the oropharyngeal airway device.