# US 2014/0190489 A1 · Oral device to eliminate air space in oral cavity > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190489 A1 - Document ID: US20140190489A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/153,336 - Filed: 2014-01-13 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11 - Assignees: Somnics, Inc. - Applicants: Somnics, Inc. - Inventors: Chung-Chu Chen; Yin-Ruei Chen; Ming-Jian You; Wen-Yen Huang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190489A1 ## CPC - A61F 5/566: {Intra-oral devices} - 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 This invention provides devices and systems and methods therefrom for properly controlling negative pressure applied to oral cavity, facilitating breathing and treating sleep apnea and snoring. The systems comprise a negative pressure system providing a vacuum source and an oral device comprising a shield, a tube passing through the shield, a flexible negative pressure deliverable part connected to the shield or the tube, an optional tongue protector, where the negative pressure deliverable part is conformable to the contour of the upper palate. Negative pressure is delivered to the front and back zones inside the oral cavity via the negative pressure deliverable part to eliminate air space in the oral cavity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An oral device for eliminating air space in oral cavity comprising a shield to be situated between lips and front teeth, and a tube passing through the shield, wherein the tube comprises a flexible negative pressure deliverable part to be situated at the space between tongue and upper palate conformable to the contour of the upper palate, whereby the oral device delivers negative pressure via the negative pressure deliverable part to the oral cavity to eliminate air space between the tongue and the upper palate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The oral device of claim 1, wherein the shield comprises a bendable structure which is conformable to the shape of front teeth and lips. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The oral device of claim 2, wherein the shield further functions as a seal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The oral device of claim 1, wherein the shield further comprises at least one air vent. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The oral device of claim 4, wherein the at least one air vent is in place at positions that allow the lips cover the air vent. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The oral device of claim 4, wherein the air vent comprises a one-way vale. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The oral device of claim 1, wherein the tube comprises an anterior end to connect to a vacuum source. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The oral device of claim 7, wherein the vacuum source is delivered by a negative control system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The oral device of claim 1, wherein the tube has a wider structure near the posterior end to provide rigidity of the tube. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The oral device of claim 9, wherein the wider structure near the posterior end has a curved edge. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The oral device of claim 1, wherein the oral device further comprises a tongue protector to prevent direct impingement of teeth on the tip of the tongue. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The oral device of claim 11, wherein the tongue protector is disposed between the bottom of the tongue tip and the back side of the lower front teeth. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The oral device of claim 12, wherein the tongue protector further comprises an indentation to accommodate the shape of tongue frenulum. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The oral device of claim 1, wherein the flexible negative pressure deliverable part further comprises at least one open channel along the flexible negative pressure deliverable part. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The oral device of claim 1, wherein the shield has fold lines allowing the shield to be pliable and compliant to the tooth orientations and shapes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The oral device of claim 1, wherein the shield has recesses near the joint where the tube passing through allowing the tube to bend freely. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The oral device of claim 1, wherein the tube and the shield are detachable. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The oral device of claim 17, where the detachable tube and detachable shield have different sizes and are interchangeable to accommodate different anatomy of patients. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A system for eliminating air space in oral cavity comprising the oral device of claim 1, and a negative pressure control system providing a vacuum source. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A method for eliminating air space in oral cavity comprising attaching the oral device of claim 1 to the mouth of a patient; and applying a negative pressure by a negative control system via the posterior end of the negative pressure deliverable part and via the open channel to both front and back of the oral cavity of the patient to eliminate air space between the tongue and the upper palate.