Eccentric Jaw Position Instrument with Movable Bite Forks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring the position of the lower jaw are inadequate for accurately determining the optimal forward position for improving upper airway stability, as they are irreproducible, difficult to handle, and fail to convey dynamic jaw movement, making it challenging to produce effective oral correction devices for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea treatment.
Innovation Solution
An instrument with adaptable bite forks that allow horizontal movement and eccentric extension design, enabling precise dynamic positioning of the lower jaw, easy handling for both left- and right-handed users, and the ability to register and adjust the midline position, along with a protrusion adjustment screw for fine control, facilitates accurate bite registration and transfer of measurements to oral correction devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the forced protrusion (chin lift manoeuvre) is used to determine the air passage through the upper airway, then the measurement can be performed, but the mandibular position becomes almost irreproducible and the vertical component becomes variable and uncontrolled, making accurate measurement difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a measuring instrument as an intermediary device between the physician and the patient's jaw. This instrument includes a bite fork that engages with the patient's teeth and a scale that measures the horizontal displacement of the lower jaw relative to the upper jaw. The intermediary instrument provides controlled, reproducible measurement of mandibular protrusion without the variability and irreproducibility of the manual chin lift manoeuvre.
2Measurement precision
If known measuring devices are used to measure the lower jaw position, then the position can be measured, but there are no means to accurately and dynamically convey this position to the oral correction device, and the handling is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring instrument is segmented into distinct functional components: a bite fork that engages with the patient's teeth, a movable element that follows jaw movement, and a scale that quantifies the displacement. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining ease of operation. The bite fork remains stationary while the movable element tracks jaw position, simplifying the overall operation.
3Measurement precision
If the forced protrusion is used as an extreme manoeuvre, then the air passage can be evaluated, but the patient would not tolerate this position and it is of minimal clinical value for patients who qualify for oral correction device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static, extreme positioning to dynamic, gradual measurement. The instrument allows the lower jaw to be moved forward incrementally while continuously measuring the position and evaluating air passage changes. This dynamic approach enables the identification of the optimal protrusion position where air passage is maximized without causing patient discomfort or tolerance issues, making the measurement clinically applicable for oral correction device fabrication.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an instrument (1) for measuring the position of the lower jaw comprising a first (2) and a second (4) bite fork that are individually adaptable to the upper (19) and lower (20) tooth arch of a patient, whereby the first (2) and the second (4) bite fork are each attached to an excentric located extension (5, 11) that extends in a horizontal plane, so that the extensions (5, 11) extend outside the mouth of the patient in front of the anterior teeth when the first (2) and the second (4) bite fork are adapted to the upper (19) and lower (20) tooth arch, and whereby the extensions enable the bite forks (2, 4) to move with respect to one another in a horizontal movement direction (34), while the instrument (1) is placed in the patient's mouth and enables the relative position of the bite forks and thus the relative position of the upper and lower tooth arch (19, 20) to be registered outside the patient's mouth. The invention proposes that the first (2) and the second (4) bite fork have the same symmetric shape with regard to a midline position (32) of the first (2) and the second (4) bite fork.