Intra-oral continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) interfaces
AssigneeDiscover Medical Devices Ltd.
InventorsEran Lavi, David Madjar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides intra-oral interfaces, systems and methods for preventing sleep apnea, the interfaces comprises a conduit adapted to receive continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) from a CPAP source, and for delivering positive air pressure to a mouth of a patient, a mouthpiece through which the conduit extends, the mouthpiece having a portion configured to reside between the teeth and inner part of the lips and cheeks in the mouth of the patient; and an active seal associated with the mouthpiece, the active seal having at least a portion thereof adapted to reside in a buccal vestibulum of the patient, the active seal being configured to bulge and contract as the patient breathes.
Claims19
A self-adaptable intra-oral continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) interface comprising:
- a) a flexible polymeric tube section adapted to receive continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) from a CPAP source via an adapter element, and for delivering positive air pressure to a mouth of a patient;
- and
- b) a flexible polymeric intra-oral section formed in one piece with said tube section, said intra-oral section being configured to reside buccally to the teeth in buccal sulci, said intra oral section comprising a centrally disposed aperture in fluid communication with said tube section, and a circumferential hollow rim configured to form at least one air pocket therein, said at least one air pocket arranged to bulge with exhaled air and contract as the patient inhales thereby changing at least one of a vertical dimension and a lateral dimension thereof so as to maintain constant tissue contact with said buccal sulci to provide sealing during both inhalation and exhalation of said patient.
An intra-oral continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) interface for introduction in the buccal vestibulum between teeth and inner part of lips and cheeks in a mouth of a patient, the interface comprising:
- a) a hollowed ellipsoid tube section which opens towards the teeth;
- b) an adapter element in communication with a source of positive air pressure at a first end of the hollowed ellipsoid tube section;
- and
- c) an intra-oral section extending perpendicularly from a second end of said hollowed ellipsoid tube section, the intra-oral section comprising:
- i. a central aperture in fluid communication with said hollowed ellipsoid tube section,
- ii. at least one buccal ellipsoid surface around said central aperture, and
- iii. a hollow lingual rim projecting from a circumferential border of said at least one buccal ellipsoid surface,
- wherein said hollow rim is adapted to bulge upon receiving exhaled air thereby forming at least one circumferential air pocket and to contract as the patient inhales, and
- wherein said intra-oral section is adapted to be inserted within buccal sulci occupying substantially the entire volume of a buccal sulcus potential space during patient inhalation and exhalation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.