# US 10,765,493 B2 · Cheek and lip expansion device and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,765,493 B2 - Document ID: US10765493B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/030,591 - Filed: 2018-07-09 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15 - Assignees: Ultradent Products, Inc. - Applicants: Ultradent Products, Inc. - Inventors: Neil T. Jessop; Bruce S. McLean; Craig Hines - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765493B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/0293: {with ring member to support retractor elements} - A61B 1/24: for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth - A61B 1/32: Devices for opening or enlarging the visual field, e.g. of a tube of the body - A61B 13/00: Instruments for depressing the tongue (combined with illuminating and viewing instruments A61B1/24; combined with saliva removers A61C17/10) - A61B 17/02: for holding wounds open, e.g. retractors; Tractors - A61C 5/90: Oral protectors for use during treatment, e.g. lip or mouth protectors (A61C5/82 takes precedence) - A61B 2017/00862: {elastic or resilient} - A61B 2560/0443: Modular apparatus - A61C 1/00: Dental machines for boring or cutting {; General features of dental machines or apparatus, e.g. hand-piece design} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) ## Abstract Cheek and lip expansion devices including an upper frame portion configured to extend about an upper dental arch, and a lower frame portion configured to extend about a lower dental arch. The upper and lower frame portions may each include first and second side members, each with anterior and posterior regions. An upper connecting member may extend between the anterior regions of the upper side members. A lower connecting member may extend between the anterior regions of the lower side members. The posterior regions of the upper and lower side members on respective sides of the frame are joined to one another to form a bendable radius that resists bending at a distinct point. The bendable radius on opposed sides permits the frame to be collapsed top to bottom. The frame may be collapsible side-to-side. A posterior crossbar may be provided extending between the posterior regions of the side members. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A frame of a cheek and lip expansion device configured to extend about dental arches of a user, the frame comprising: an upper frame portion including a first upper side member, a second upper side member, a first upper connecting portion, and a second upper connecting portion; a lower frame portion including a first lower side member, a second lower side member, a first lower connecting portion, and a second lower connecting portion; a first upper thickened structure disposed between the first upper side member and the first upper connecting portion, the first upper thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent portions of the first upper side member and the first upper connecting portion; a second upper thickened structure disposed between the second upper side member and the second upper connecting portion, the second upper thickened portion having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent portions of the second upper side member and the second upper connecting portion; a first lower thickened structure disposed between the first lower side member and the first lower connecting portion, the first lower thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent portions of the first lower side member and the first lower connecting portion; and a second lower thickened structure disposed between the second lower side member and the second lower connecting portion, the second lower thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent portions of the second lower side member and the second lower connecting portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The frame of claim 1, further comprising: a first posterior thickened structure disposed between the first upper side member and the first lower side member, the first posterior thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to the adjacent portions of the first upper side member and the first lower side member; and a second posterior thickened structure disposed between the second upper side member and the second lower side member, the second posterior thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to the adjacent portions of the second upper side member and the second lower side member; wherein: the first upper side member, the first lower side member, and the first posterior thickened structure form a first bendable radius; and the second upper side member, the second lower side member, and the second posterior thickened structure form a second bendable radius. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The frame of claim 1, further comprising a posterior crossbar that connects the first posterior thickened structure and the second posterior thickened structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The frame of claim 3, wherein: the posterior crossbar comprises a first and a second posteriorly curved members; and a middle portion of the posterior crossbar is anteriorly curved to facilitate inward collapse of the frame from side-to-side as the first thickened structure and the second thickened structure posterior are pressed towards one another. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The frame of claim 1, wherein the first upper connecting member includes a greater anterior width than an anterior width of the first lower connecting member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The frame of claim 1, further comprising: a first posterior frame arched region including the first upper side member, the first posterior thickened structure, and the first lower side member; and a second posterior frame arched region including the second upper side member, the second posterior thickened structure, and the second lower side member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The frame of claim 6, wherein: the first posterior thickened structure of the first posterior frame arched region being resistant to bending; and the second posterior thickened structure of the second posterior frame arched region being resistant to being. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The frame of claim 6, wherein the first upper thickened structure, the second upper thickened structure, the first lower thickened structure, and the second lower thickened structure are comprised of an elastomeric material disposed over a portion of the upper frame portion and a portion of lower frame portion, respectively. ### Claim 9 A cheek and lip expansion device, the device comprising: a first upper side member; a first upper connecting portion; a first upper thickened structure disposed between the first upper side member and the first upper connecting portion, the first upper thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent portions of the first upper side member and the first upper connecting portion; a second upper side member; a second upper connecting member; a second upper thickened structure disposed between the second upper side member and the second upper connecting portion, the second upper thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent portions of the second upper side member and the second lower connecting member; a first lower side member; a first lower connecting portion; a first lower thickened structure disposed between the first lower side member and the first lower connecting portion, the first lower thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent portions of the first lower side member and the first lower connecting portion; a second lower side member; a second lower connecting portion; and a second lower thickened structure disposed between the second lower side member and the second lower connecting portion, the second lower thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent portions of the second lower side member and the second lower connecting portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, further comprising: a first posterior thickened structure disposed between the first upper side member and the first lower side member, the first posterior thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to the adjacent portions of the first upper side member and the first lower side member; and a second posterior thickened structure disposed between the second upper side member and the second lower side member, the second posterior thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to the adjacent portions of the second upper side member and the second lower side member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, further comprising a posterior crossbar connected to a first posterior frame arched region and a second posterior frame arched region. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein: the posterior crossbar comprises a first and a second posteriorly curved members; and a middle portion of the posterior crossbar is curved to facilitate inward collapse of the frame from side-to-side as the first thickened structure and the second thickened structure posterior are pressed towards one another. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein: the first posterior arched region includes at least a portion of the first upper side member, the first posterior thickened structure, and the first lower side member; the second posterior arched region includes at least a portion of the second upper side member, the second posterior thickened structure; the posterior crossbar is connected to the first posterior arched region by one or more gussets; and the posterior crossbar is connected to the second posterior arched region by one or more gussets. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the first upper thickened structure, the second upper thickened structure, the first lower thickened structure, and the second lower thickened structure are comprised of an elastomeric material disposed over a portion of an upper portion of a frame and a portion of a lower portion of the frame. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, further comprising: a first posterior frame arched region including the first upper side member, the first posterior thickened structure, and the first lower side member; and a second posterior frame arched region including the second upper side member, the second posterior thickened structure, and the second lower side member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein: the first posterior thickened structure of the first posterior frame arched region being resistant to bending; and the second posterior thickened structure of the second posterior frame arched region being resistant to being. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein: the first upper thickened structure being resistant to bending; the second upper thickened structure being resistant to bending; the first lower thickened structure being resistant to bending; the second lower thickened structure being resistant to bending; the first posterior thickened structure being resistant to bending; and the second posterior thickened structure being resistant to being. ### Claim 18 A frame of a cheek and lip expansion device, the frame comprising: an upper frame portion including a first upper side member, a second upper side member, a first upper connecting portion, and a second upper connecting portion; a lower frame portion including a first lower side member, a second lower side member, a first lower connecting portion, and a second lower connecting portion; a first upper thickened structure disposed between the first upper side member and the first upper connecting portion, the first upper thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent portions of the first upper side member and the first upper connecting portion; a second upper thickened structure disposed between the second upper side member and the second upper connecting portion, the second upper thickened portion having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent portions of the second upper side member and the second upper connecting portion; a first lower thickened structure disposed between the first lower side member and the first lower connecting portion, the first lower thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent portions of the first lower side member and the first lower connecting portion; and a second lower thickened structure disposed between the second lower side member and the second lower connecting portion, the second lower thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent portions of the second lower side member and the second lower connecting portion; a first posterior thickened structure disposed between the first upper side member and the first lower side member, the first posterior thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent frame portions; a second posterior thickened structure disposed between the second upper side member and the second lower side member, the second posterior thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent frame portions; wherein: the first and the second posterior thickened structures are resistant to bending; and the first and the second posterior thickened structures are configured to transfer a flexing force acting to press a first frame portion towards a second frame portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The frame of claim 18, wherein: the first frame portion and the second frame portion are configurable in a collapsed arrangement in which an anterior portion of the first frame portion is bent towards an anterior portion of the second frame portion responsive to imposition of the flexing force; the first frame portion and the second frame portion are further configurable in an expanded arrangement responsive to removal of the flexing force; and in the collapsed arrangement, the flexing force is substantially transferred from to the adjacent frame portions such that the adjacent frame portions flex. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The frame of claim 18, further comprising a posterior crossbar that connects the first posterior thickened structure to the second posterior thickened structure, wherein: the posterior crossbar is configured for inward collapse from side-to-side as the first posterior thickened structure and the second posterior thickened structure are pressed towards one another; and the frame is devoid of any structures interconnecting the first and the second frame portions apart from the posterior crossbar.