Stepless Jaw Advancement Mechanism for Sleep Apnea Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional airway maintenance devices require frequent adjustments and can be burdensome for patients, as the appropriate drawing extent for the lower jaw to maintain an airway varies among individuals and cannot be standardized, often necessitating repeated attachment and detachment and waking the patient during the adjustment process.
Innovation Solution
An airway maintenance apparatus with a stepless adjusting device that allows for the lower jaw to be drawn forward in a continuous manner relative to the upper jaw, enabling quick and easy setting of the drawing extent without removing the device from the oral cavity, using a bolt member and nut system for precise adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the lower-jaw side attachment is fixed in a unified way to the upper-jaw side attachment with a predetermined shift, then the device structure is simple, but the drawing extent cannot be adjusted to suit individual patients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by implementing an adjustable connection mechanism between the upper-jaw and lower-jaw attachments. The connection allows the lower-jaw attachment to be positioned at multiple predetermined locations along the upper-jaw attachment, enabling dynamic adjustment of the drawing extent to suit individual patient needs while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
2Ease of operation
If the lower-jaw side attachment position is adjusted stepwise, then the drawing extent can be modified, but the adjustment process requires frequent attachment and detachment which burdens the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the preliminary action principle by pre-positioning multiple attachment locations on the upper-jaw attachment before the device is used by the patient. These predetermined positions are prepared in advance during manufacturing, allowing for quick selection and adjustment without requiring complex real-time modifications or frequent complete assembly/disassembly operations.
3Measurement precision
If the appropriate drawing extent is determined by repeated trial and error, then the optimal position can be found, but the patient frequently falls asleep and awakes which increases burden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables precise adjustment of the drawing extent by providing multiple predetermined positions along the upper-jaw attachment, allowing the lower-jaw attachment to be selectively connected at the optimal location. This dynamic positioning capability achieves measurement precision in determining the appropriate drawing extent while reducing patient burden through a streamlined adjustment process that requires minimal trial and error.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an airway maintenance apparatus that draws the lower jaw forward to forcibly maintain an airway during sleep, designed to allow quick and easy setting of a drawing extent for the lower-jaw side attachment suitable for each patient. The airway maintenance apparatus contains an upper-jaw side attachment 1 to be attached to the upper jaw side in the oral cavity, and a lower-jaw side attachment 2 provided separately from the upper-jaw side attachment 1, and to be attached to the lower jaw side in the oral cavity, the lower-jaw side attachment 2 being connected to the upper-jaw side attachment 1 via a stepless adjusting device 3 capable of moving the lower-jaw side attachment 2 in a stepless manner in the direction of drawing the lower jaw forward relative to the upper-jaw side attachment 1.