US 12,213,906 B2Granted

Dental appliance for treatment of sleep apnea

OwnerR. Joseph Magnessinventor

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Abstract

A dental appliance for treating sleep apnea is disclosed. The appliance may include upper and lower portions and at least one biasing member. The upper portion may include a first base and a first feature. The first base may engage the upper teeth of a patient. The first feature may secure to an anterior area of the first base and include a concave surface forming a concavity. The lower portion may include a second base and a second feature. The second base may engage the lower teeth of the patient. The second feature may secure to an anterior area of the second base and include a protrusion. As the patient bites down, the protrusion may contact the concave surface at a point of contact that is a sole or initial contact between the upper and lower portions. Thus, the interaction of the protrusion and concave surface may control certain mandibular loadings and motions of the patient. The biasing member connect the upper portion to the lower portion and urge the lower portion toward the upper portion and in an anterior direction, which may tend to open an airway of the patient.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for relieving symptoms related to sleep apnea, the method comprising:

obtaining a dental appliance comprising
an upper portion comprising a first base and a first feature, the first base shaped to engage upper teeth of a patient, the first feature securing to an anterior area of the first base and comprising one of a protrusion and a concave surface forming a concavity,
a first engagement mechanism located at a front, lateral center of the upper portion,
a lower portion comprising a second base and a second feature, the second base shaped to engage lower teeth of the patient, the second feature securing to an anterior area of the first base and comprising the other of the protrusion and the concave surface,
a second engagement mechanism located at a first side of the lower portion,
a third engagement mechanism located at a second, opposite side of the lower portion, and
at least one biasing member formed of an elastomeric material;
applying the appliance to the patient so that
the upper portion moves with the upper teeth,
the lower portion moves with the lower teeth,
the at least one biasing member engages each of the first, second, and third engagement mechanisms and extends from the second engagement mechanism to the first engagement mechanism and from the first engagement mechanism to the third engagement mechanism, and
a mechanical interference between the at least one biasing member and the first engagement mechanism laterally anchors a portion of the at least one biasing member to the first engagement mechanism;
biting, by the patient, down on the appliance;
entering, by the protrusion during the biting, the concavity and abutting the concave surface at a point of contact;
and
transferring a majority of a force associated with the biting through the point of contact.

13 more elements

A method for relieving symptoms related to sleep apnea, the method comprising:

obtaining a dental appliance comprising
an upper portion,
a first engagement mechanism located at a front, lateral center of the upper portion,
a lower portion,
a second engagement mechanism located at a first side of the lower portion,
a third engagement mechanism located at a second, opposite side of the lower portion, and
at least one biasing member formed of an elastomeric material;
applying the appliance to a patient such that
the upper portion engages and moves with upper teeth of the patient,
the lower portion engages and moves with lower teeth of the patient,
the at least one biasing member engages each of the first, second, and third engagement mechanisms and extends from the second engagement mechanism directly to the first engagement mechanism and from the first engagement mechanism directly to the third engagement mechanism, and
a portion of the at least one biasing member is laterally anchored to the first engagement mechanism;
and
urging, by the at least one biasing member after the applying, the lower portion toward the upper portion and in an anterior direction.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/808,807Filed 24 Jul 2015 · continuation in part
Priority: 1 Jul 2013
Published: US 2016/0022474 A128 Jan 2016
Granted: 4 Feb 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

A61F 5/566
Devices for preventing snoring: intra-oral devices
A61F 2005/563
Devices for preventing snoring: anti-bruxisme
A61F
Filters implantable into blood vessels

Family

Application61/841,682Us provisional application · filed 1 Jul 2013
Application61/901,696Us provisional application · filed 8 Nov 2013
Application14/321,648Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 1 Jul 2014
Application62/028,860Us provisional application · filed 25 Jul 2014
US 2016/0022474 A1Pre-grant publication · published 28 Jan 2016
US 10,080,680 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2015/0000677 A1Published application
US 12,213,906 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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