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US 12,661,252 B2Granted
Apparatus for improved breathing
AssigneeAirWay Technologies, LLC
InventorsW. Keith Thornton, Alastair Edwin McAuley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
According to one embodiment, an apparatus for improved breathing is provided. The apparatus may include an improved oral appliance, an improved mask, an improved coupler to couple an oral appliance to a mask, and/or a combination of these improvements.
Claims20
An oral appliance comprising:
- a lower frame comprising a lower occlusal surface, the lower frame further comprising a material that maintains its shape at temperatures at or below 100 degrees Celsius;
- a lower thermoplastic moldable tray coupled to the lower frame such that the lower thermoplastic moldable tray is positioned between the lower frame and a mandibular arch of a user when the lower frame is positioned in a mouth of the user, wherein the lower thermoplastic moldable tray comprises irradiated, cross-linked thermoplastic polymer not customized to any user's teeth, and wherein the irradiated, cross-linked thermoplastic polymer softens to be moldable to a shape of a portion of the user's mandibular arch when the thermoplastic polymer is heated to 40 to 80 degrees Celsius;
- an upper frame separate from the lower frame, wherein the upper frame comprises an upper occlusal surface;
- an upper thermoplastic moldable tray separate from the lower thermoplastic moldable tray, wherein the upper thermoplastic moldable tray is coupled to the upper frame such that the upper thermoplastic moldable tray is positioned between the upper frame and a maxillary arch of the user when the upper frame is positioned in the mouth;
- and
- a device coupled to the upper frame along a midline of the upper frame, wherein the device is arranged to engage the lower frame and to adjust a forward position of the upper frame relative to the lower frame.
3 more elements
An oral appliance comprising:
- a lower frame comprising a lower occlusal surface;
- a lower thermoplastic moldable tray coupled to the lower frame such that the lower thermoplastic moldable tray is positioned between the lower frame and a mandibular arch of a user when the lower frame is positioned in a mouth of the user, wherein the lower thermoplastic moldable tray comprises irradiated, cross-linked thermoplastic polymer not customized to any user's teeth, and wherein the irradiated, cross-linked thermoplastic polymer softens to be moldable to a shape of a portion of the user's mandibular arch when the thermoplastic polymer is heated to 40 to 80 degrees Celsius;
- an upper frame separate from the lower frame, wherein the upper frame comprises an upper occlusal surface;
- an upper thermoplastic moldable tray separate from the lower thermoplastic moldable tray, wherein the upper thermoplastic moldable tray is coupled to the upper frame such that the upper thermoplastic moldable tray is positioned between the upper frame and a maxillary arch of the user when the upper frame is positioned in the mouth;
- and
- a device coupled to the upper frame along a midline of the upper frame, wherein the device is arranged to engage the lower frame and to adjust a forward position of the upper frame relative to the lower frame.
3 more elements
An oral appliance comprising:
- a lower frame comprising a material that maintains its shape at temperatures at or below 100 degrees Celsius, the lower frame further comprising:
- a lower occlusal surface;
- and
- a flange extending perpendicular from the lower occlusal surface;
- a lower thermoplastic moldable tray coupled to the lower frame such that the lower thermoplastic moldable tray is positioned between the lower frame and a mandibular arch of a user when the lower frame is positioned in a mouth of the user, wherein the lower thermoplastic moldable tray comprises irradiated, cross-linked thermoplastic polymer not customized to any user's teeth, and wherein the irradiated, cross-linked thermoplastic polymer softens to be moldable to a shape of a portion of the user's mandibular arch when the thermoplastic polymer is heated to 40 to 80 degrees Celsius;
- an upper frame separate from the lower frame, wherein the upper frame comprises an upper occlusal surface;
- an upper thermoplastic moldable tray separate from the lower thermoplastic moldable tray, wherein the upper thermoplastic moldable tray is coupled to the upper frame such that the upper thermoplastic moldable tray is positioned between the upper frame and a maxillary arch of the user when the upper frame is positioned in the mouth;
- and
- a device coupled to the upper frame along a midline of the upper frame, wherein the device is arranged to engage the lower frame and to adjust a forward position of the upper frame relative to the lower frame.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.