Mouth Cooler With Segmented Cooling Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mouth cooling devices for treating oral mucositis and oral stomatitis have low cooling efficiency due to poor tissue coverage and are uncomfortable for patients, especially during chemotherapy, as they are bulky and require static tongue positions, with ice cubes being messy and potentially hazardous.

Innovation Solution

A mouth cooling device with a peripheral cooling winding to cool the lower and upper jaw and a central cooling winding to cool the tongue, featuring adjustable size and design to fit comfortably around the mouth, including recesses for labial frenulum relief and detachable mounting members for improved fit and ease of use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a bulky mouth cooling device with static tongue position is used, then cooling coverage is provided, but patient comfort deteriorates and device portability worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling coverageVSAvoidpatient comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into multiple independent cooling channels: a first cooling channel for the tongue and a second cooling channel for the cheeks and gums. This segmentation allows each channel to independently cool specific high-heat-emission areas without requiring bulky structure or static tongue positioning, thereby maintaining cooling coverage while improving patient comfort and device portability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Temperature

If ice cubes are used for mouth cooling, then cooling effect is achieved, but tissue coverage is poor and health hazards increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectVSAvoidtissue coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a fluid-based cooling system with channels that circulate cooling medium directly to contact oral tissues. This hydraulic approach ensures comprehensive tissue coverage through controlled fluid flow in dedicated channels, unlike ice cubes which have poor and inconsistent contact with tissue surfaces, while maintaining effective cooling through continuous circulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Temperature

If a closed channel system with circulated cooling medium is used, then oral cavity cooling is achieved, but cooling efficiency is low due to poor tissue coverage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoral cavity coolingVSAvoidcooling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is designed with localized cooling channels positioned at specific high heat emission areas: the tongue (first cooling channel) and the cheeks and gums (second cooling channel). This local quality approach concentrates cooling effect where it is most needed, maximizing cooling efficiency by targeting areas with highest metabolic heat production rather than providing uniform cooling throughout the oral cavity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 provides enhanced cooling efficiency by effectively reaching high heat emission areas and improving patient comfort through adjustable size and design, ensuring better tissue coverage and reduced discomfort during extended treatment times.

Implementation Method 1

cooling of the oral cavity leads to prevention chemotherapy absorption in the oral cavity; hence leading to reduction and prevention of oral mucositis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat absorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

a mouth cooling device with a closed channel system in which a cooling medium is circulated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3179967B1Mouth cooler
Publication Date: 2021.07.14 BRAINCOOL
  • EP3179967B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3179967B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3179967B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

A mouth cooler is provided. The mouth cooler comprises a first peripheral cooling winding shaped and dimensioned to cool the lower and upper jaw, and at least one second cooling winding in arrangement with the peripheral cooling winding shaped and dimensioned to cool at least the blood entry to the tongue.