Masticatory Orthotic with Hinged Extender for Airway Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional oral devices for treating sleep-disordered breathing and obstructive sleep apnea often cause discomfort, low compliance, and side effects such as tooth movement, gagging, and masticatory disorders, while also being bulky and prone to breakage, with limited effectiveness in reducing airway constriction during sleep.
Innovation Solution
An oral appliance that securely attaches to the upper teeth, stimulating the lower jaw muscles to move forward, creating more airway space by subtly guiding the lower jaw into a more forward position through mechanoreceptor activation, with adjustable extenders and air openings to enhance breathing, and optionally incorporating electric stimulation to activate tongue muscles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional oral devices are used to advance the lower jaw, then airway opening is improved, but device bulkiness and breakage risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The oral device is divided into two separate trays: an upper tray that attaches to upper teeth and a lower tray that attaches to lower teeth. These trays are connected by a hinge mechanism, allowing independent positioning and adjustment. This segmentation reduces the bulkiness of any single component while maintaining the overall airway-opening function, and distributes mechanical stress to improve durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge connection between upper and lower trays provides dynamic adjustment capability, allowing the device to adapt to different jaw positions and movements during sleep. This dynamic structure replaces rigid bulkier designs with flexible articulated components that maintain reliability through controlled movement rather than fixed rigid connections.
2Volume of moving object
If conventional oral devices advance the lower jaw significantly, then airway constriction is reduced, but tooth movement and masticatory disorders occur
Solution Approach 1:
The device applies different forces to different dental regions through separate upper and lower trays with independent adjustment mechanisms. This allows localized control of jaw advancement, applying minimal necessary force to specific areas to open the airway while preserving normal occlusion relationships in other areas, thereby preventing unwanted tooth movement and masticatory disorders.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism and independent tray positioning allow precise control of the advancement parameter, enabling gradual and controlled jaw repositioning rather than aggressive fixed advancement. This parameter control reduces harmful effects on teeth and masticatory structures while maintaining effective airway opening.
3Ease of operation
If conventional oral devices are designed to be compact, then comfort is improved, but airway opening effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device utilizes the vertical dimension through stacked upper and lower trays connected by a hinge, rather than relying solely on horizontal bulk. This dimensional arrangement maintains a compact profile while providing sufficient structural support and adjustment range to achieve effective airway opening without compromising comfort.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional oral devices use fixed advancement mechanisms, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to individual patients is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism provides inherent adjustability that can be manufactured using standard components, combining manufacturing simplicity with patient-specific adaptability. The dynamic hinge allows clinicians to adjust the device to individual patient needs without requiring complex custom-manufactured mechanisms for each adjustment option.
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 appliance effectively reduces airway blockage, improving breathing during sleep by opening the airway behind the tongue and palate, while minimizing side effects like tooth movement and gagging, and can be adjusted for individual comfort and effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
stimulating the lower jaw muscles to move forward, creating more airway space by subtly guiding the lower jaw into a more forward position through mechanoreceptor activation
Implementation Method 2
optionally incorporating electric stimulation to activate tongue muscles
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for treating sleep-disordered breathing and related masticatory and temporomandibular joint disorders are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an oral appliance for treating the sleep-disordered breathing and/or the related masticatory and temporomandibular joint disorders includes an upper section configured for attachment to upper teeth and a lower section configured for positioning behind lower teeth. The oral appliance also includes an extender connecting the lower section to the upper section. The extender is configured to advance the lower section into a contact with the lower teeth.