Oral Device for Airway Patency via Posterior Negative Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for obstructive sleep apnea, such as CPAP, face challenges including discomfort, noise, and high non-compliance due to bulky masks and side effects, while alternative methods like negative pressure applications are ineffective in maintaining airway patency due to the anatomy of the tongue and mouth tissues.
Innovation Solution
The development of an oral device that creates a clear region above the tongue and applies negative pressure to draw the soft palate and tongue anteriorly, maintaining airway patency without contacting gag-sensitive areas, using a tongue constraint and vacuum system to isolate and distribute pressure effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If CPAP delivers continuous pressurized air to maintain airway patency, then airway openness is improved, but patient comfort and compliance deteriorate due to bulky masks, noise, and side effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the vacuum application point from the traditional anterior tongue tip location and relocates it to the posterior oral cavity near the soft palate. This extraction allows the vacuum to directly lift the base of the tongue and maintain airway patency without requiring bulky facial masks, thereby improving patient comfort while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an oral appliance as an intermediary device that delivers vacuum therapy through a small bore tube to the posterior oral cavity. This intermediary system enables effective airway management without direct contact with gag-sensitive areas, reducing discomfort and improving compliance compared to traditional CPAP masks
2Reliability
If negative pressure is applied at the anterior tip of the tongue to lift the base of the tongue, then airway patency is improved, but effectiveness deteriorates due to the self-sealing effect of moist tissues and gravity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by applying negative pressure at the posterior oral cavity near the soft palate rather than at the anterior tongue tip. This inversion overcomes the self-sealing effect of moist tissues because the vacuum is applied where tissues are less compliant and more likely to open under negative pressure, allowing effective propagation of vacuum forces to lift the tongue base
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spatial dimension of vacuum application from the anterior-Posterior axis at the tongue tip to a posterior location near the soft palate. This dimensional change allows the vacuum to directly counteract gravitational pull on the tongue base and overcome tissue self-sealing effects by applying force at the critical posterior location where airway obstruction occurs
3Reliability
If devices contact posterior tissues of the mouth to treat OSA, then airway patency is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates due to gag reflex and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using a small bore tube (approximately 3-5 mm diameter) to deliver vacuum therapy to a specific localized area near the soft palate. This localized application maintains airway patency effectiveness while minimizing contact with gag-sensitive areas, thereby improving patient comfort and compliance compared to broader posterior contact devices
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
This approach enhances airway patency by maintaining a clear region above the tongue, reducing airway obstruction, and is comfortable and quiet, minimizing disruption to the patient's sleep while effectively keeping the airway open.
Implementation Method 1
applying a negative pressure within the clear region to open an airway behind the soft palate
Implementation Method 2
applying a vacuum through the vacuum flow path directly to the soft palate
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for improving airway patency are disclosed. An oral device is positioned in the oral cavity and applies a negative pressure to the oral cavity. The oral device has pressure delivery ports directed toward an anterior surface of the soft palate when positioned therein. The negative pressure generates an air flow out of the oral cavity. A pressure tube is coupled to the oral device to provide the applied negative pressure. A pressure source is coupled to the pressure tube to generate the applied negative pressure. A collector is coupled to the pressure tube and/or pressure source to collect liquid, typically saliva, from the air flow out of the oral cavity. The collector is disposed outside of the oral cavity and coupled to the oral device.