# US 8,739,794 B2 · Oral device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,794 B2 - Document ID: US8739794B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/593,172 - Filed: 2005-11-04 - Published: 2008-07-31 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2004-11-04 - Applicants: Harold E. Cutler - Inventors: Harold E. Cutler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739794B2 ## 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 An oral device is disclosed. The oral device comprises a mouthpiece member, a tube member and an attachment member. The mouthpiece member comprises a resilient material, and is adapted to fit within the contours of the teeth of a wearer. The tube member is affixed, at a first end, to the mouthpiece member, and extends outward from the mouthpiece member towards the soft palate of the mouth of the wearer. The attachment member is attached to the mouthpiece member at at least one location. Finally, the tube member defines an opening, which prevents the collapse of the soft palate of the wearer by allowing for the free transfer of air between the wearer and the environment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An oral device for a wearer comprising: a mouthpiece member, the mouthpiece member being of a resilient material and compliant to contours of the teeth of the wearer; a tube member affixed to the mouthpiece member and extending rearward towards the oral cavity of the wearer, the tube member having a first, anterior end and a second, posterior end; and a palate member adapted to be adjustably affixed to the tube member and extending from the posterior end of the tube member and having an upwardly inclined portion and ending with a downward extending portion, the palate member being adjusted in position to cause the downward extending portion to maintain contact with the soft palate of the wearer; and whereby the tube member defines an opening which allows for free transfer of air between the oral cavity of the wearer and the environment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The oral device of claim 1, further comprising an attachment member attached to the mouthpiece in at least one location and operable to secure the oral device within the oral cavity of the wearer. ### Claim 3 An oral device for a wearer comprising: a mouthpiece member, the mouthpiece member being of a resilient material and compliant to contours of the teeth of the wearer; a tube member, the tube member having a first, anterior end and a second, posterior end and being affixed to the mouthpiece member and extending rearward towards the oral cavity of the wearer; a soft palate member adjustably affixed to the tube member and having a first (anterior) and second (posterior) end, the first end of the soft palate member extending rearward from the second end of the tube member and having an upwardly inclined portion and the second end of the soft palate member ending with a downward extending portion, the soft palate member being adjusted in position to ensure the downward extending portion maintains upward pressure against the soft palate of the wearer; and a tongue member adjustably affixed to the tube member and extending rearward from the second end of the tube member and ending in a portion that is angled downward and extends downward to follow the shape of the back of the tongue, the tongue member being adjusted in position to maintain downward pressure against the tongue of the wearer and reach a rear area of the tongue, the soft palate member and tongue member being adjustable in position independent of each other; whereby the tube member defines an opening, the opening allowing for free transfer of air between the oral cavity of the wearer and the environment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The oral device of claim 3, further comprising an attachment member attached to the mouthpiece member in at least one location and operable to secure the oral device within the oral cavity of the wearer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The oral device of claim 4 wherein the attachment member is comprised of a resilient material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The oral device of claim 3 wherein the tongue member is adapted to extend from the second end of the tube member rearward past the teeth of the wearer along the top of the tongue of the wearer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The oral device of claim 3, wherein the tongue member is configured to inhibit rearward movement of the tongue. ### Claim 8 An oral device for a wearer comprising: a mouthpiece member, the mouthpiece member being of a resilient material and compliant to contours of the teeth of the wearer; a tube member having a first, anterior end and a second, posterior end, the tube member being affixed to the mouthpiece member and extending rearward towards the oral cavity of the wearer; a soft palate member adjustably affixed to the tube member and having a first, anterior end and a second, posterior end, the first end of the soft palate member extending rearward from the second end of the tube member and having an upwardly inclined portion and the second end of the soft palate member ending in a downward extending portion, the soft palate member having a slot disposed therein for adjusting a position of the soft palate member in cooperation with a screw to be received by the tube member, the soft palate member being adjusted in position to cause the downward extending portion to maintain upward pressure against the soft palate of the wearer; and a tongue member adjustably affixed to the tube member and extending rearward from the second end of the tube member a length sufficient to reach a rear area of the tongue and ending in a portion that is angled downward and extends downward to follow the shape of the back of the tongue, the tongue member having a slot disposed therein for adjusting a position of the tongue member in cooperation with a screw to be received by the tube member to cause the tongue member to maintain downward pressure against the tongue of the wearer, the positions of the soft palate member and tongue member being adjustable independent of each other; whereby the tube member defines an opening, the opening allowing for free transfer of air between the oral cavity of the wearer and the environment. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The oral device of claim 8, wherein the soft palate member further comprises a substantially horizontal portion between the upwardly inclined portion and the downward extending portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The oral device of claim 8, further comprising an attachment member attached to the mouthpiece member in at least one location and operable to secure the oral device within the oral cavity of the wearer.