# US 2019/0314115 A1 · Dental appliance for constraining the tongue > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0314115 A1 - Document ID: US20190314115A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/365,269 - Filed: 2019-03-26 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2008-08-06 - Assignees: Tongue Laboratory Limited - Applicants: Tongue Laboratory Limited - Inventors: Claude Mauclaire - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190314115A1 ## CPC - A61C 7/00: Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions - A61F 5/566: {Intra-oral devices} - A61C 7/10: Devices having means to apply outwardly directed force, e.g. expanders - A61C 7/18: specially adapted to be fixed to teeth with a band; Bands therefor - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) - 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 includes an attachment mechanism suited to attach the appliance on the teeth of a patient's upper jaw. The appliance includes a constraining mechanism linked to the attachment mechanism, where the constraining mechanism is suited to limit the movement of a central zone of the tongue and allow the anterior and lateral edges of the patient's tongue to perform movements necessary for speech and swallowing. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-14. (canceled) ### Claim 15 A dental appliance comprising: an attachment mechanism adapted to attach the dental appliance onto molars of an upper jaw of a patient; and a constraining mechanism linked to the attachment mechanism, the constraining mechanism including: an arch having posterior end portions linked to the attachment mechanism and an anterior portion having an apex at an anterior end; and an adjustment mechanism to adjust the arch, wherein the arch is positioned relative to the attachment mechanism such that, when the attachment mechanism is attached to the molars of the upper jaw of the patient: (i) the anterior portion of the arch is maintained spaced apart from a palate of the patient to limit movement of an anterior portion of a central zone of a tongue of the patient toward the palate of the patient; (ii) the adjustment mechanism is positioned anterior relative to the attachment mechanism and portions of the arch posterior to the adjustment mechanism and extending anteriorly from the attachment mechanism towards the adjustment mechanism are angled towards an occlusal plane of the patient; and (iii) the apex of the arch approaches the occlusal plane of the patient relative to the attachment mechanism. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The dental appliance of claim 15, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes first and second pairs of loops. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The dental appliance of claim 15, wherein the attachment mechanism includes at least two bands tightenable respectively onto the molars of the upper jaw of the patient. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The dental appliance of claim 17, wherein each of the at least two bands includes a horizontal sheath located on a lingual surface of the band, wherein each of the sheaths receives one end of the arch. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The dental appliance of claim 16, wherein the arch includes a metal wire. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The dental appliance of claim 19, wherein each of the loops is formed by winding the metal wire on itself. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The dental appliance of claim 20, wherein, when the attachment mechanism is attached to the molars of the upper jaw of the patient, each of the first pair of loops is substantially vertical or slightly oblique, each of the first pair of loops being located in a substantially vertical plane, symmetrically about a sagittal plane, to enable adjustment of a distance of the anterior portion of the arch from the palate. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The dental appliance of claim 21, wherein, when the attachment mechanism is attached to the molars of the upper jaw of the patient, each of the second pair of loops is substantially horizontal to enable adjustment of a width of the anterior portion of the arch. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The dental appliance of claim 15, further comprising an additional support mechanism to prevent movement of the attachment mechanism. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The dental appliance of claim 23, wherein the additional support mechanism comprises two stems of metal wire, wherein one end of each stem is substantially rigidly connected to the attachment mechanism and each stem is adapted to be positioned against an edge of the palate located near palatal surfaces of teeth in the upper jaw when the attachment mechanism is attached to the molars of the upper jaw of the patient. ### Claim 25 A method comprising: fitting a patient having a tongue dysfunction with a dental appliance, the dental appliance including: an attachment mechanism adapted to attach the dental appliance onto molars of an upper jaw of a patient; and a constraining mechanism linked to the attachment mechanism, the constraining mechanism including: an arch having posterior end portions linked to the attachment mechanism and an anterior portion having an apex at an anterior end; and an adjustment mechanism to adjust the arch; and attaching the dental appliance onto the molars of the upper jaw of the patient such that; (i) the anterior portion of the arch is maintained spaced apart from a palate of the patient to limit movement of an anterior portion of a central zone of a tongue of the patient toward the palate of the patient; (ii) the adjustment mechanism is positioned anterior relative to the attachment mechanism and portions of the arch posterior to the adjustment mechanism and extending anteriorly from the attachment mechanism towards the adjustment mechanism are angled towards an occlusal plane of the patient; and (iii) the apex of the arch approaches the occlusal plane of the patient relative to the attachment mechanism; and maintaining the appliance in place for a period of time sufficient to re-educate the patient's tongue so as to alleviate the dysfunction. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a first pair of loops, and wherein the method further comprises adjusting the first pair of loops to adjust a height of the anterior portion of the arch. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a first pair of loops, and wherein the method further comprises adjusting the second pair of loops to adjust a width of the anterior portion of the arch. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprising maintaining the dental appliance attached to the molars of the upper jaw of the patient for at least three months. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprising maintaining the dental appliance attached to the molars of the upper jaw of the patient for a period of time in a range from three months to at least six months. ### Claim 30 A method comprising: fitting a patient having a tongue dysfunction with a dental appliance, the dental appliance including: an attachment mechanism adapted to attach the dental appliance onto molars of an upper jaw of a patient; and a constraining mechanism linked to the attachment mechanism, the constraining mechanism including: an arch having posterior end portions linked to the attachment mechanism and an anterior portion having an apex at an anterior end; and an adjustment mechanism to adjust the arch, the adjustment mechanism including first and second pairs of loops positioned anterior to the posterior end portions; attaching the dental appliance onto the molars of the upper jaw of the patient such that; (i) the anterior portion of the arch is maintained spaced apart from a palate of the patient to limit movement of an anterior portion of a central zone of a tongue of the patient toward the palate of the patient; and (ii) the apex of the arch approaches the occlusal plane of the patient relative to the attachment mechanism; and maintaining the dental appliance attached to the molars of the upper jaw of the patient for at least three months such that the anterior portion of the central zone of the tongue of the patient is blocked from pressing against the palate for at least three months, thereby re-educating the tongue. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the maintaining includes maintaining the dental appliance attached to the molars of the upper jaw of the patient for a period of time in a range from three months to at least six months. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, further comprising adjusting the first pair of loops to adjust a height of the anterior portion of the arch relative to the occlusal plane. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein the adjusting the first pair of loops is performed while the dental appliance is attached to the molars of the upper jaw of the patient.