# US 8,783,259 B2 · Oral appliance for improved nocturnal breathing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,259 B2 - Document ID: US8783259B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/435,061 - Filed: 2009-05-04 - Published: 2009-11-05 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-05-02 - Assignees: Cadwell Therapeutics, Inc. - Applicants: Jamison Ross Spencer - Inventors: Jamison Ross Spencer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783259B2 ## 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 appliance includes a one-piece tray system that fits over the posterior teeth of the user and is custom-made or customized using lining material that conforms to the dentition of the wearer. The device may position the lower jaw in a slightly protruded position with respect to the upper jaw. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An oral appliance for positioning the mandibular portion of the jaw with respect to the maxillary portion of the jaw, the oral appliance comprising a unitary tray including: a mandibular portion comprising: a first mandibular receptacle, a second mandibular receptacle oriented in spaced relation from the first mandibular receptacle, and a bridge member coupling the first mandibular receptacle to the second mandibular receptacle, wherein the first and second mandibular receptacles receive mandibular teeth; and a maxillary portion comprising: a first maxillary receptacle operable to receive maxillary teeth, wherein the first maxillary receptacle is coupled to the first mandibular receptacle; a second maxillary receptacle operable to receive maxillary teeth, wherein the second maxillary receptacle is coupled to the second mandibular receptacle; a first aperture formed in the first mandibular receptacle and the first maxillary receptacle, wherein the first aperture is defined by a through-hole providing fluid communication between the first mandibular receptacle and the first maxillary receptacle; and a second aperture formed in the second mandibular receptacle and the second maxillary receptacle, where the second aperture is defined by a through-hole providing fluid communication between the second mandibular receptacle and the second maxillary receptacle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The oral appliance of claim 1, wherein the maxillary receptacles are offset from the mandibular receptacles such that each maxillary receptacle extends beyond a posterior edge of its associated mandibular receptacle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The oral appliance of claim 2, wherein each mandibular receptacle extends beyond an anterior edge of its associated maxillary receptacle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The oral appliance of claim 1, wherein: the tray comprises an occlusal base wall having first occlusal surface and a second occlusal surface opposite the first occlusal surface; the mandibular receptacles comprise: a buccal flange extending from the first occlusal surface, and a lingual flange extending from the first occlusal surface, wherein the mandibular receptacle forms an open channel; and the maxillary receptacles comprise: a buccal flange extending from the second occlusal surface, and a lingual flange extending from the second occlusal surface, wherein the mandibular receptacle forms an open channel. ### Claim 5 An oral appliance for opening the oro-pharyngeal airway of a wearer, the oral appliance comprising a unitary tray including: a mandibular receptacle operable to receive mandibular teeth; a maxillary receptacle operable to receive maxillary teeth; and an aperture for retention of lining material, the aperture extending through both the mandibular and maxillary receptacles, wherein the oral appliance supports a mandible such that it is vertically spaced from the maxilla and opens the oro-pharyngeal airway of the wearer, wherein the maxillary receptacle is offset from the mandibular receptacle such that the maxillary receptacle extends beyond a posterior edge of the mandibular receptacle to define a shoulder. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The oral appliance of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of apertures for retention of lining material, at least one aperture being formed into the shoulder. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The oral appliance of claim 5, wherein the aperture for retention of lining material is a through-hole aperture configured to retain the lining material in a homogenous unit by creating a mechanical bond of lining material via the through-hole aperture to the mandibular and maxillary receptacles. ### Claim 8 A dental system for opening the oro-pharyngeal airway of a wearer, the system comprising: a generally rigid tray having a unitary structure, the tray comprising: a mandibular receptacle operable to receive mandibular teeth; a maxillary receptacle operable to receive maxillary teeth; and an aperture for retention of lining material; and lining material operable to cure from a conformable state to a non-conformable state, wherein the maxillary receptacle is offset from the mandibular receptacle such that an anterior end of the mandibular receptacle extends beyond an anterior end of the maxillary receptacle to define a shoulder and wherein the aperture defines a through-hole extending from the mandibular receptacle to the maxillary receptacle; and the lining material extends through the aperture to mechanically connect to the tray. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The dental system of claim 8 further comprising a bite gauge including: a first groove operable to receive mandibular anterior teeth; and a second groove operable to receive maxillary anterior teeth. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The dental system of claim 9, wherein the first groove is offset from the second groove to align the maxillary anterior teeth forward or rearward of the mandibular anterior teeth. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The dental system of claim 10, wherein the bite gauge device comprises: a handle portion to permit manipulation of the device; and a teeth-engaging portion defined by a first wall, an arcuate medial portion, and a second wall, wherein the first groove is formed in an exterior surface of the first wall and the second groove is formed in an exterior surface of the second wall. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The dental system of claim 11, wherein: the first and second walls define a gap; the bite gauge device further comprises a spacer disposed within the gap and between the first and second walls; and the spacer maintains the spacing between the walls. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The dental system of claim 8, wherein: the tray comprises an occlusal base wall having first occlusal surface and a second occlusal surface opposite the first occlusal surface; the mandibular receptacle comprises: a buccal flange extending from the first occlusal surface, and a lingual flange extending from the first occlusal surface; and the maxillary receptacle comprises: a buccal flange extending from the second occlusal surface, and a lingual flange extending from the second occlusal surface. ### Claim 14 A method of adjusting the positioning of mandible with respect to the maxilla, the method comprising: (a) obtaining an oral appliance comprising unitary tray including: a mandibular receptacle operable to receive mandibular teeth, a maxillary receptacle operable to receive maxillary teeth, and an aperture for retention of conformable material, the aperture extending through both the mandibular and maxillary receptacles, wherein the maxillary receptacle is offset from the mandibular receptacle such that an anterior end of the mandibular receptacle extends beyond an anterior end of the maxillary receptacle to define a shoulder and wherein the aperture for retention of conformable material is a through-hole aperture configured to retain the conformable material in a homogenous unit by creating a mechanical bond of conformable material via the through-hole aperture to the mandibular and maxillary receptacles; (b) applying a curable reline material to the receptacles of the oral appliance; (c) filling the aperture of the oral appliance with conformable material; (d) curing the reline material to solidify the material; and (e) positioning the oral appliance within the mouth of a wearer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein (d) comprises: (d.1) positioning the dental appliance into the mouth of the wearer; (d.2) positioning maxillary teeth within the maxillary receptacle; (d.3) positioning the mandibular teeth within the mandibular receptacle; and (d.4) curing the reline material while in contact with the teeth such that the material conforms to the dentition of the wearer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: (f) positioning a bite gauge between the anterior teeth of the maxilla and the anterior teeth of the mandible, the bite gauge including: a first groove operable to receive mandibular anterior teeth; and a second groove operable to receive maxillary anterior teeth; (g) positioning the anterior teeth of the mandible within the first groove; and (h) positioning the anterior teeth of the maxilla within the second groove, wherein the bite gauge engages the anterior teeth during the curing of the reline material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein (b) further comprises (b.1) directing the curable material through the aperture.