Oral device
AssigneeThe University of Western Ohio
InventorsRuth E. Martin, Frank Bihari, Julie A. Theurer, Rebecca C. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An oral device for use with a person in which at least one non-toxic gas pulse is delivered to a predetermined location in the mouth via a device conduit. The oral device may be provided as a kit with at least one device for measuring the subject's responses and representing them as feedback to the subject/clinician. A method of creating a gas bolus pulse train, delivering it to a predetermined mouth area, and monitoring the subject's responses to it, is also shown. The oral device and method may be used as a diagnostic tool, or a therapeutic tool, in swallowing or speech rehabilitation of children and adults who have swallowing, speech, salivary, and/or oral sensorimotor impairments.
Claims27
An oral device for use in a subject's mouth, the oral device comprising:
- first and second laterally spaced conduits adapted to deliver at least one gas pulse to a predetermined location in the subject's mouth, wherein the laterally spaced first and second conduits define a central opening therebetween such that the first and second conduits are not disposed between the subject's tongue and a roof of the subject's mouth, wherein the tongue is free to touch the roof of the mouth when the first and second conduits are positioned in the subject's mouth;
- and
- a gas pulse generator configured to transmit a train of gas pulses through at least one of the first and second conduits, wherein the gas pulse generator comprises a control system for controlling parameters of the transmission of the train of gas pulses, wherein the parameters comprise a pressure and at least one of a frequency and duration of the gas pulses in the train, wherein the train of gas pulses are configured to induce swallowing in the subject.
An oral device for use in a subject's mouth, the oral device comprising:
- at least one conduit adapted to deliver a gas bolus to a predetermined location in a subject's mouth to induce swallowing while at least a portion of the conduit remains in the subject's mouth;
- and
- a gas pulse generator configured to transmit a train of gas pulses transmitting the at least one gas pulse through the at least one conduit, wherein the gas pulse generator comprises a control system for controlling parameters of the transmission of the train of gas pulses, wherein the parameters comprise a pressure and at least one of a frequency and duration of the gas pulses in the train, wherein the train of gas pulses are configured to induce swallowing in the subject.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.