Adjustable Oral Interface for Airway Patency via Negative Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are invasive, uncomfortable, and often lead to side effects such as dry throat, nose congestion, and low compliance due to large oral devices that cause discomfort and trigger the gag reflex, while existing negative pressure solutions are anatomically dependent and require customization.
Innovation Solution
A small oral apparatus that applies negative pressure to the oral cavity using a secure, adjustable interface to pull the tongue and soft palate forward, maintaining airway patency without directly contacting discomfort-causing areas, and can be used in conjunction with other therapies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large oral device is used to apply negative pressure to the oral cavity, then the airway patency is maintained, but the device causes discomfort, damages teeth and gums, triggers the gag reflex, and requires customization for each patient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the negative pressure application function from a large oral device and relocates it to a small nasal interface. The nasal interface applies negative pressure to the nasal cavity, which indirectly pulls the tongue and soft palate forward to maintain airway patency without directly contacting the oral cavity structures that cause discomfort
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the nasal cavity as an intermediary space to apply negative pressure. Instead of directly applying negative pressure to the oral cavity and tongue, the system applies negative pressure to the nasal cavity, which then indirectly affects the oral structures through the shared respiratory pathway, avoiding direct contact with sensitive oral tissues
2Reliability
If a large oral device is used to engage teeth and retain the tongue, then the airway is kept open, but the device occupies space in the oral cavity causing discomfort and requiring special customization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the tongue retention function from the oral cavity and relocates it to the nasal cavity. The nasal interface applies negative pressure to pull the tongue forward through the shared respiratory pathway, eliminating the need for large oral devices that engage teeth and require customization
Solution Approach 2:
The nasal interface serves multiple functions: it applies negative pressure to the nasal cavity, indirectly pulls the tongue and soft palate forward, maintains airway patency, and prevents mouth breathing. This single device achieves what previously required multiple customized oral components
3Reliability
If CPAP is used to treat OSA, then the airway is kept open with high effectiveness, but the treatment causes dry throat, nose congestion, bloating, headaches, and low compliance
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying positive pressure to force the airway open (CPAP approach), the patent applies negative pressure to pull the airway structures forward and maintain patency. This inverted approach achieves airway openness without the side effects of forced positive pressure inhalation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the natural tendency of negative pressure during inhalation (which causes airway collapse) into a beneficial force by applying controlled negative pressure through the nasal interface to pull the tongue and soft palate forward, transforming the harmful collapse mechanism into a useful airway-opening mechanism
4Reliability
If negative pressure is applied directly on the soft tissues of the tongue to hold the tongue within the cavity, then the airway is maintained, but the device occupies space causing discomfort and inducing excess saliva secretion and gag reflex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the tongue positioning function from direct oral contact and relocates it to indirect nasal cavity pressure application. The nasal interface applies negative pressure that pulls the tongue forward through the shared respiratory pathway without direct contact, eliminating gag reflex and excess saliva secretion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the nasal cavity and shared respiratory pathway as intermediaries to position the tongue. Negative pressure applied to the nasal cavity indirectly affects tongue position without direct contact, avoiding the harmful effects of direct oral cavity engagement
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 solution effectively maintains airway patency during sleep, reducing snoring and apnea episodes while being minimally invasive, comfortable, and energy-efficient, with improved user compliance due to its small size and adjustable design.
Implementation Method 1
applying negative pressure through the small interface to the oral cavity. The negative pressure pulls the tongue toward upper palate and also pulls the soft palate forward.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention provides an oral apparatus and method capable of alleviating or curing snore and obstructive sleep apnea by applying a negative pressure through a mini oral interface to the oral cavity. The mini oral interface creates a secure connection to mouth and prevents disengaging from patient's mouth during sleeping. The negative pressure pulls the tongue toward upper palate and also pulls the soft palate forward as well. By moving the tongue and the soft tissue in a forward direction, the patency of the upper airway near the pharynx is maintained to prevent sleep-disordered breathing. The negative pressure will pull the lips inward to close the mouth preventing air from entering the oral cavity from atmosphere. The negative pressure will also pull the soft palate into contact with the rear surface of the tongue to create a seal that prevents the air from entering the oral cavity through the nasal airway.