Mandibular advancement device
AssigneeSmartGuard Rx, Inc.
InventorsDavid L. Spainhower, Brian Larsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mandibular advancement device is described, and may include an upper portion for fitting to maxillary teeth and a lower portion for fitting to mandibular teeth. The system may include one or more connecting bars, which may be provided in varying lengths, that allow the upper portion and lower portion to be pivotably connected such that horizontal and vertical articulation are possible. A kit is also described, which may allow a user to mold the device to their teeth and select from a plurality of connecting bars having different lengths.
Claims20
A mandibular adjustment device, comprising:
- an upper moldable element conformable to a plurality of maxillary teeth;
- an upper shell defining a receptacle that receives the upper moldable element, the upper shell comprising at first upper bracket on a first outer perimeter side and a second upper bracket on a second outer perimeter side;
- a lower moldable element conformable to a plurality of mandibular teeth;
- and
- a lower shell defining a receptacle that receives the lower moldable element, the lower shell comprising a first lower bracket on a first outer perimeter side and a second lower bracket on a second outer perimeter side;
- and
- a pair of connecting bars, each connecting bar having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotably connectable by a user to the at least one upper bracket and the second end pivotably connectable by a user to the at least one lower bracket, at least one of the first upper bracket, the second upper bracket, the first lower bracket, the second lower bracket, and each connecting bar able to accommodate slight movement of a mandible.
A mandibular adjustment device, comprising:
- an upper moldable element moldable to a user's maxillary teeth;
- an upper shell with a receptacle that receives the upper moldable element, the upper shell comprising a first upper bracket on a first outer perimeter side and a second upper bracket on a second outer perimeter side, each of the first upper bracket and the second upper bracket comprising a slot and a pocket;
- a lower moldable element moldable to a user's mandibular teeth;
- a lower shell with a receptacle that receives the lower moldable element, the lower shell comprising a first lower bracket on a first outer perimeter side and a second lower bracket on a second outer perimeter side, each of the first lower bracket and the second lower bracket comprising a slot and a pocket;
- and
- a first connecting bar and a second connecting bar, each of the first connecting bar and the second connecting bar comprising a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end of each of the first connecting bar and the second connecting bar including:
- a projection receivable within the slot, rotatable within the slot, and slidable along the slot of the first upper bracket, the second upper bracket, the first lower bracket, and/or the second lower bracket;
- and
- a knob receivable within the pocket of the first upper bracket, the second upper bracket, the first lower bracket, and/or the second lower bracket.
A method of fitting a mandibular advancement device to a user's mouth, comprising:
- molding an upper moldable element to a user's maxillary teeth;
- molding a lower moldable element to a user's mandibular teeth;
- selecting a pair of connecting bars;
- inserting a first knob at a first end of each connecting bar into a slot and a pocket of a bracket of an upper shell carrying the upper moldable element;
- and
- inserting a second knob at a second end of each connecting bar into a slot and a pocket of a bracket of a lower shell carrying the lower moldable element, each connecting bar capable of accommodating slight movement of the mandible.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.