# US 12,213,906 B2 · Dental appliance for treatment of sleep apnea > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,213,906 B2 - Document ID: US12213906B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/808,807 - Filed: 2015-07-24 - Published: 2016-01-28 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2013-07-01 - Applicants: R. Joseph Magness - Inventors: R. Joseph Magness - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12213906B2 ## CPC - A61F 5/566: {Intra-oral devices} - A61F 2005/563: {Anti-bruxisme} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second bases each comprise polymeric material that follows contours of at least selected teeth of the patient. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein: the polymeric material corresponding to the first base follows contours of substantially all of the upper teeth of the patient; and the polymeric material corresponding to the second base follows contours of substantially all of the lower teeth of the patient. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the portion of the at least one biasing member comprises an aperture; the first engagement mechanism comprises an extension; and the mechanical interference comprises the extension extending into the aperture. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second features each comprise polymeric material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the first and second features are bonded to the first and second bases, respectively. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the first base is positioned between the upper teeth and the first feature. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the second base is positioned between the lower teeth and the second feature. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein: the first feature comprises the concave surface forming the concavity; and the second feature comprises the protrusion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein: a majority of the concave surface forming the concavity is positioned posterior to maxillary central incisors of the patient; and a majority of the protrusion is positioned superior to mandibular central incisors of the patient. ### Claim 11 A method for relieving symptoms related to sleep apnea, the method comprising: obtaining a dental appliance comprising an upper portion comprising a first base shaped to engage upper teeth of a patient, a lower portion comprising a second base shaped to engage lower teeth of the patient, and at least one biasing member formed of an elastomeric material; applying the appliance to the patient such 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 a first side of the lower portion, a front, lateral center of the upper portion, and a second, opposite side of the lower portion, the at least one biasing member extends from the first side to the front, lateral center and from the front, lateral center to the second, opposite side, and a portion of the at least one biasing member is laterally anchored to the front, lateral center; and urging, by the at least one biasing member after the applying, the lower portion toward the upper portion and in an anterior direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first and second bases each comprise polymeric material that follows contours of at least selected teeth of the patient. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein: the polymeric material corresponding to the first base follows contours of substantially all of the upper teeth of the patient; and the polymeric material corresponding to the second base follows contours of substantially all of the lower teeth of the patient. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein: the portion of the at least one biasing member comprises an aperture; the front, lateral center comprises an extension; and the extension extends into the aperture to laterally anchor the portion of the at least one biasing member to the front, lateral center. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one biasing member is continuous from the first side to the second, opposite side. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one biasing member comprises: a first biasing member extending from the first side to the front, lateral center; and a second biasing member, separate from the first biasing member, extending from the front, lateral center to the second, opposite side. ### Claim 17 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one biasing member is continuous from the second engagement mechanism to the third engagement mechanism. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one biasing member comprises: a first biasing member extending from the second engagement mechanism to the first engagement mechanism; and a second biasing member, separate from the first biasing member, extending from the first engagement mechanism to the third engagement mechanism. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein: the portion of the at least one biasing member comprises an aperture located proximate a midpoint of the at least one biasing member; the first engagement mechanism comprises an extension; and the extension extends into the aperture to laterally anchor the portion of the at least one biasing member to the first engagement mechanism.