# US 2014/0194792 A1 · Swallowing air pulse therapy mouthpiece and method for the use thereof

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- Number: US 2014/0194792 A1
- Document ID: US20140194792A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/013,470
- Filed: 2013-08-29
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2008-04-15
- Assignees: The University of Western Ontario; Trudell Medical International
- Inventors: Ruth E. Martin; Michael Nuttall; Michael A. Baran; George Baran; Bryan Finlay; Julie Theurer; Sarah Trotter
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194792A1

## CPC

- A61H 13/00: Gum massage
- A61M 11/00: Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes (in general B05B; {aerosol containers B65D83/14})
- A61H 21/00: Massage devices for cavities of the body {, e.g. nose, ears and anus (for the genitals A61H19/00); Vibration or percussion related aspects A61H23/00}
- A61J 7/0061: {Swallow helping devices, e.g. tongue shields}
- A61M 16/0006: {with means for creating vibrations in patients' airways}
- A61M 16/049: {Mouthpieces}
- A61N 1/04: Electrodes {(electrosurgical electrodes A61B18/14)}
- A61N 1/0452: {Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]}
- A61N 1/0456: {Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]}
- A61N 1/0548: {Oral electrodes}
- A61N 1/18: Applying electric currents by contact electrodes
- A61N 1/205: {for promoting a biological process}
- A61N 1/26: Electromedical brushes; Electromedical massage devices {(massage devices in general A61H); Combs}
- A61N 1/36007: {of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control}
- A61H 2201/10: with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
- A61M 16/0666: {Nasal cannulas or tubing (devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02)}
- A61M 2202/0208: Oxygen
- A61M 2202/025: Helium
- A61M 2210/0625: Mouth
- A61M 2230/60: Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)

## Abstract

An oral appliance for administering a stimulus, such as a substance, to the mouth of a user includes a flexible tube having an inlet portion, a first curved portion forming an ear loop connected to the inlet portion, a second curved portion forming a lip bend connected to the first curved portion, and an outlet portion extending from the second curved portion. Alternatively, a mouthpiece for delivering a substance to the mouth of a user includes a housing having an inlet portion, a riser portion extending upwardly from the inlet portion and a curved outlet portion. A flexible tube is coupled to the housing. A method of delivering a substance to a predetermined location in a user's mouth includes disposing a flexible tube between a row of teeth and an interior surface of a cheek. The flexible tube has an exit port positioned in a rear portion of the user's mouth. No portion of the flexible tube is disposed between the upper and lower teeth of the user such that the upper and lower teeth can be closed against each other. The method further includes dispensing a substance through the exit port.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-75. (canceled)

### Claim 76

An oral appliance for use with a subject in his/her mouth comprising:
a mouthpiece adapted to be positioned in the subject's oral vestibule, wherein the occlusal surfaces of the subject's teeth are substantially not covered by the mouthpiece, and wherein the mouthpiece comprises a vibratory component.

### Claim 77

(canceled)

### Claim 78 (depends on 76)

The oral appliance of claim 76 wherein said vibratory component comprises a compliant tube having an inner surface, wherein said compliant tube is expandable in response to a pressure being applied to said inner surface.

### Claim 79 (depends on 76)

The oral appliance of claim 76 further comprising a pressure source communicating with said compliant tube, wherein said pressure source applies said pressure to said inner surface of said compliant tube.

### Claim 80 (depends on 79)

The oral appliance of claim 79 wherein said pressure source comprises a pressurized gas, and further comprising a regulator operable to deliver said pressurized gas in pressure pulses, wherein said compliant tube is successively expandable and contractable in response to said pressure pulses.

### Claim 81 (depends on 78)

The oral appliance of claim 78 wherein said vibratory component comprises a pair of said compliant tubes.

### Claim 82 (depends on 81)

The oral appliance of claim 81 wherein said mouthpiece comprises a housing having an inlet portion and a pair of spaced apart outlet portions extending laterally outwardly from said inlet portion, each of said outlet portions supporting one of said compliant tubes.

### Claim 83 (depends on 82)

The oral appliance of claim 82 wherein said compliant tubes extend from said inlet portion in a side-by-side relationship.

### Claim 84 (depends on 76)

The oral mouthpiece of claim 76 wherein said oral mouthpiece is coated with an oral disinfectant.

### Claim 85

A method of stimulating a region of a user's oral cavity comprising:
positioning a vibratory component of a mouthpiece in the user's oral vestibule, wherein the occlusal surfaces of the user's teeth are not covered by the mouthpiece; and
applying a vibratory stimulus to an oral tissue of the user with said vibratory component.

### Claim 86 (depends on 85)

The method of claim 85 wherein said vibratory component comprises a compliant tube having an inner surface, wherein said applying said vibratory stimulus comprises applying a pressure to an inner surface of said compliant tube and expanding said compliant tube.

### Claim 87 (depends on 86)

The method of claim 86 wherein said applying said vibratory stimulus further comprises contacting said oral tissue with an exterior surface of said compliant tube.

### Claim 88 (depends on 86)

The method of claim 86 wherein said applying said pressure to said inner surface comprises supplying said compliant tube with a pressurized gas from a pressure source.

### Claim 89 (depends on 88)

The method of claim 88 wherein said supplying said compliant tube with said pressurized gas comprises delivering said pressurized gas in pressure pulses with a regulator, and wherein said expanding said compliant tube comprises expanding and contracting said compliant tube in response to said pressure pulses.

### Claim 90 (depends on 86)

The method of claim 86 wherein said vibratory component comprises a pair of said compliant tubes, wherein said applying said pressure to said inner surface of said compliant tube comprises applying said pressure to said inner surface of each of said pair of compliant tubes and expanding each of said pair of said compliant tubes.

### Claim 91 (depends on 90)

The method of claim 90 wherein said mouthpiece comprises a housing having an inlet portion and a pair of spaced apart outlet portions extending laterally outwardly from said inlet portion, each of said outlet portions supporting one of said pair of said compliant tubes.

### Claim 92 (depends on 90)

The method of claim 90 wherein said pair of said compliant tubes extends from said inlet portion in a side-by-side relationship.

### Claim 93 (depends on 85)

The method of claim 85 wherein said oral mouthpiece is coated with an oral disinfectant.