Removable oral devices for use in weight management and other applications
AssigneeScientific Intake Limited Co.
InventorsWilliam H Longley, Richard P Schneider, Anthony R Tremaglio, Marc M Gibeley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Certain configurations of removable oral devices are described. In some instances, the removable oral device includes a palatal element. In certain configurations, the palatal element may comprise a variable hardness at different areas, e.g., edges can be softer than other areas of the removable oral device. In other instances, the removable oral device may comprise two or more individual palatal elements which together can form the palatal element and permit user adjustment of the oral volume. Various materials used in the palatal element are described. Sensors and other on-board devices are also described.
Claims19
A removable oral device comprising a palatal element configured to contact a roof of a user's mouth at a palatal surface, the palatal element comprising a body comprising a thickness configured to lower a vaulted area of the roof of the mouth to decrease an overall oral volume of the mouth to a first oral volume, the body comprising a variable hardness across a tongue surface of the body, wherein the variable hardness comprises a Vickers hardness that gradually decreases from a central apex to outer edges of the palatal element, wherein the removable oral device is configured for insertion into the user's mouth and being retained within the mouth during consumption of food by the user to increase an overall time it takes the user to ingest a particular volume of the food to promote satiety and an overall reduction in food intake volume, wherein the palatal element comprises a first material at the central apex of the body and a second material at the outer edges of the body, wherein the second material is softer than the first material, and wherein the second material is cross-linked to the first material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.