Expandable Oral Device Neck Reducing Constrictive Forces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing oral devices, such as pacifiers and bottle caps, can exacerbate abnormal constrictive sucking forces that lead to malocclusion and deformation of dental arches and palates in children, disrupting normal neuromuscular coordination and oxygenation during feeding.

Innovation Solution

The development of an oral device with a bulb and neck portion that expands laterally when sucked, increasing the lateral contact area with the lips and mimicking the natural physiologic movements of breastfeeding, thereby reducing abnormal constrictive forces and promoting proper oral and facial structure development.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional oral devices are used, then the device structure is simple, but abnormal constrictive forces are exacerbated leading to malocclusion and dental arch deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabnormal constrictive forcesVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The neck portion is designed to be flexible and expandable rather than rigid, allowing it to dynamically change shape in response to sucking forces. This dynamic structure redirects abnormal constrictive forces while maintaining simplicity in the overall device design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The neck portion changes its physical parameters (shape and volume) in response to applied forces. When sucked, it expands laterally and elongates, transforming the force application from constrictive to expansive, thereby preventing malocclusion without complex mechanical components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Area of moving object

If the neck portion is made rigid to maintain structure, then manufacturing is easier, but lateral expansion cannot occur to increase contact area with lips

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelateral contact areaVSAvoidneck portion fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The neck portion is constructed as a flexible shell that can expand and contract. This flexible structure increases the lateral contact area with the child's lips during use, while still being manufacturable using standard molding techniques for elastomeric materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Stability of the object's composition

If the oral device exerts inward and forward forces during sucking, then the device maintains structural integrity, but excessive constriction is activated exacerbating malocclusion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice structural integrityVSAvoidexcessive constriction

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The neck portion transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure that responds to sucking forces by expanding laterally and elongating. This dynamic response converts potentially harmful inward and forward constrictive forces into beneficial outward and backward expansive forces, maintaining structural integrity while preventing excessive constriction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If bottle-feeding is used with conventional devices, then feeding is convenient, but neuromuscular coordination of sucking, swallowing, and breathing is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeeding convenienceVSAvoidneuromuscular coordination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The expandable neck portion automatically adjusts to the child's sucking pattern, allowing spontaneous sucking and breathing without disruption from frequent swallowing. The device self-regulates the feeding process to maintain proper neuromuscular coordination while preserving feeding convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 redirects and decreases abnormal constrictive forces on dental arches and palates, preventing deformation and promoting normal neuromuscular activation, ensuring proper development and function of oral structures, including breathing and digestion.

Implementation Method 1

the neck portion moves in the lateral direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the oral device from a first, unexpanded configuration to a second, expanded configuration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10596074B2Oral Devices

Publication Date: 2020.03.24 LEE SUE S

AI summary

Oral devices such as a pacifier, bottle cap, teething tools and toys, and methods for using the same are provided. An oral device includes a bulb portion configured to be disposed inside a mouth of a user and a wider neck portion coupled distally to the bulb portion and configured to be held by user's lips. The neck portion is configured such that, when it is sucked on by the user, the neck portion moves in the lateral direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the oral device from a first, unexpanded configuration to a second, expanded configuration such that a lateral contact area of the neck portion with the user's lips increases. The oral device can include one or more expansion accommodation features that facilitate expansion and retraction of the neck portion.