Mandibular Advancement Mouthpiece With Posture-Triggered Sleep Therapy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mandibular advancement and sleep positional therapy devices do not provide comprehensive assistance beyond their individual operations, leading to low adherence and discomfort issues, with no effective means to predict user response and titrate jaw advancement.

Innovation Solution

A system integrating a mandibular advancement mouthpiece with posture and physiological sensors, a controller, and sensory stimulators to provide both mandibular advancement and sleep positional therapy, adjusting jaw position and prompting posture changes through sensory stimulation based on sensor data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mandibular advancement devices are used to treat sleep disordered breathing, then airway patency is improved, but user comfort deteriorates and adherence decreases due to jaw discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairway patencyVSAvoiduser comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines mandibular advancement therapy and sleep positional therapy into a single integrated system. The mouthpiece incorporates both mandibular advancement mechanics and sensors for detecting sleep position, allowing simultaneous delivery of both therapies through one device rather than requiring separate devices worn by the user

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mouthpiece serves multiple functions: it provides mandibular advancement to maintain airway patency, monitors sleep position through integrated sensors, and delivers positional therapy cues. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate devices needed and improves overall user compliance by addressing multiple therapy needs through a single wearable item

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate mandibular advancement devices and positional therapy devices are used, then individual therapy functions are provided, but device complexity increases and comprehensive sleep assistance is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapy coverageVSAvoidnumber of devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges mandibular advancement device functionality with sleep positional therapy device functionality into a single integrated mouthpiece system, reducing the number of separate devices from two to one while maintaining comprehensive therapy coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated mouthpiece performs multiple therapeutic and monitoring functions including mandibular advancement, sleep position detection, and positional therapy delivery, making a single device universal enough to replace multiple specialized devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If fixed jaw advancement positions are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but ability to predict user response and optimize therapy is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustment mechanismVSAvoidtherapy optimization

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from fixed, static mandibular advancement positioning to dynamic, adjustable positioning based on real-time sensor feedback. The mouthpiece can modify jaw advancement degree during sleep sessions based on detected sleep position and breathing patterns, optimizing therapy effectiveness for each user's specific needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates sensors that detect sleep position and breathing patterns, providing feedback to adjust mandibular advancement positioning dynamically. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows the device to adapt to user response and optimize therapy parameters during actual use rather than relying on predetermined fixed settings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Enhances user comfort by reducing jaw advancement needs, decreases adverse effects, and improves adherence by combining therapies, effectively addressing sleep disordered breathing events and positional snoring.

Implementation Method 1

The one or more posture sensors comprise an accelerometer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAccelerometer: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentEP3897483B1System for providing mandibular advancement and sleep positional therapy

Publication Date: 2025.11.05 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

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AI summary

The present disclosure pertains to a system and method for providing mandibular advancement and sleep positional therapy to a user for a sleep session. The system is formed by a mandibular advancement device for treating obstructive sleep disordered breathing (e.g., obstructive sleep apnea and snoring) that includes an electronics module configured to aid in sleep positional training. The present system and method facilitate advancing a lower jaw of the user into a protruding position relative to an upper jaw of the user to increase a size of an airway of the user, determining whether a posture of the user has breached a posture threshold, and, responsive to a breach, prompting the user to change posture such that the posture of the user no longer breaches the posture threshold.