AU2004231163A1 - Oral Device For The Treatment Of Snoring - Google Patents

Description

18-NOV-2004 01:45PM FROM-Wynnes pattm attorneys 61 7 33421292 T-636 P-005017 F-812 O ORAL DEVICE FOR THE TREATMENT OF SNORING

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0 FIELD OF INVENTION 0 0 The present invention relates to devices for preventing snoring and sleep apnea. In particular the present invention relates to mandibular advancement or en I0 repositioning splints.

Cc- BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 0 Snoring Is a common problem suffered by many people. Snoring disrupts the sleep of a sufferer and decreases their ability to function in daily life. In a chronic condition, a snorer may suffer sleep apnea where oxygen Is starved from the brain during snoring, forcing the snorer to wake up. Consequently the snorer has Irregular sleep patterns comprising of short periods of sleep interrupted by moments of forced wakefulness. As a result, the person Is constantly tired and may suffer mental fatigue and even mental disorders because of the lack of sleep.

Snoring not only affects the sufferer but also their partners who are often frustrated In trying to fall asleep while their partner is snoring or have their sleep Interrupted by the loud snoring noises of their partners.

There have been a number of approaches to the treatment of snoring. One approach is the use of an oral device or appliance commonly known as a mandibular advancement or repositioning splint. The mandibular splint Is wor by the snorer to prevent snoring while they are asleep. The mandibular advancement splint temporarily repositions the lower Jaw to open the airways and allow the passage of air while the person sleeps.

The mandibular splint disclosed In Australian patent 697492 has a mouth guard type appearance with an upper mold for locating the upper teeth, a lower mold COMS ID No: SBMI-01003336 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:46 Date 2004-11-18 18-NOV-2004 01:45PM FROM-Wynnes pattatt attorneys G1 7 33421292 T-636 P.06/017 F-812 -2- 0 o for locating the lower teeth wherein the upper and lower molds are joined so as to position the upper and lower jaw in a predefined orientation relative to each other.

Z The splint also has an opening between the upper and lower molds to allow air to 00 pass through to the airways. The upper mold also has a rearwardly extending canopy which In use is operationally located against the soft pallet region within the mouth to support and maintain the position of the splint In the mouth. The splint disclosed In Australian patent 697492 is an example of the current splints. All the 0 current splints have some form of rearwardly extending canopy for support.

The rearwardly extending canopy however, makes the splint uncomfortable to wear and can trigger the gagging reflex for the wearer. Without the rearwardly extending canopy the splint may move out of position while the wearer sleeps. The splint may move out of position because It Is made of soft resiliently deformable plastics. Soft plastics are preferably used for the splint to provide comfort for the wearer. Furthermore the oral cavity Is a relatively harsh environment and the soft plastic splint becomes pitted and discoloured with time and requires replacing after a relatively short period of time.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present Invention to provide an oral device that treats snoring and overcomes at least in part one or more of the abovementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect the present invention broadly resides In an oral device for use by a person to treat snoring including COMS ID No: SBMI-01003336 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:46 Date 2004-11-18 IB-NOV-2004 01:46PM FROM-ynnes pattu attorneys 61 7 334212S2 T-36 P.007017 F-812 3 0 O an upper portion locatable over a plurality of upper teeth or upper gum: and a lower portion locatable over a plurality of lower teeth or lower gum, said Z upper and lower portions are Integrally formed or operationally engageable so that 00 Sthe lower jaw Is located in a forward position relative to the upper law and there is an opening adjacent the front teeth or gums between the upper and lower portions, wherein an air passage is maintained open while the person wears the device.

SPreferably the device Is a one piece member.

o Preferably the upper and lower portions have engagement surfaces that are N complementary to the shape of plurality of teeth or a gum section. The device is preferably custom made for each person so that the engagement surface for the upper and lower portions complement each person's teeth or gum section. The upper and lower portions preferably have engagement surfaces that are complementary to the shape of a plurality of teeth, gum section or a combination of both depending on the person's oral topography. In one preferred form the upper and lower portions are locatable over the majority of upper and lower teeth respectively and substantially without touching or rubbing the gum, Where a person wears a denture, they preferably have upper and lower portions that have engagement surfaces that are complementary to the shape of one or more gum sections.

Preferably the device has a hard and rigid outer surface and a relatively soft internal surface. With a hard and rigid outer surface, the device retains Its shape substantially preventing repositioning while the wearer sleeps. With a hard and rigid outer surface, the device wears better and has a comparatively longer life than devices with soft outer surfaces. A soft internal surface provides comfort to the COMS ID No: SBMI-01003336 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:46 Date 2004-11-18 18-NOV-2004 01:46PM FROM-Wynnes patet attorneys 61 7 33421292 T-636 P.008017 F-12 S-4 0 0 wearer. In a preferred form the device is made of two plastics, a hard setting acrylic o plastic on the outer surface and a soft setting plastic for the internal surface.

Z In another aspect the present Invention broadly resides In an oral device for 00 use by a person to treat snoring Including an upper portion locatable over a plurality of upper teeth or upper gum; and Va a lower portion locatable over a plurality of lower teeth or lower gum, said upper and lower portions are Integrally formed or operationally engageable so that 0 the lower jaw Is located in a forward position relative to the upper jaw and there is an opening adjacent the front teeth or gums between the upper and lower portions, wherein an air passage is maintained open while the person wears the device, wherein there Is a hard and rigid outer surface to substantially retain the shape of the device and a relatively soft intemal surface.

The device may also include a suction plate on the Inner side of the upper portion and extending rearwardly from the front of the lower portion. Preferably the suction plate extends rearward approximately 5 mm from the front section of the upper portion. The suction plate preferably assists in positioning and maintainng the position of the device against the front of the hard pallet.

The device may be hinged to accommodate movement of the Jaws relative to each other while maintaining the opening and relative forward projection of the lower Jaw. In one form the device is hinged on one or both sides and adjacent the rear of the device.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01003336 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:46 Dale 2004-11-18 1S-NOV-2004 01:46PM FROM-Wynnes pat&tm attorneys 01 7 32421292 T-636 P.009/017 F-812 0 o BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present Invention can be more readily understood and put Z Into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings 00 wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic bottom view of the oral device of the preferred embodiment; Figure 2 Is a diagrammatic top view of the oral device of the preferred oembodiment; Figure 3 Is a diagrammatic front view of the oral device of the preferred embodiment; Figure 4 Is a diagrammatic side view of the oral device of the preferred embodiment; Figure 5 Is a diagrammaUc perspective view of the oral device of the preferred embodiment; and Figure 6 Is a diagrammatic top view of the upper portion of a second preferred embodiment of the oral device with a suction plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to Figures 1 to 5, there Is shown an oral device being a mandibular splint 10 having a lower portion 1 I and an upper portion 12. The lower portion 11 and upper portion 12 are joined on each side at sections 13 and 14. The upper and lower portions 11, 12 are joined so that the lower portion 11 Is In a forward position relative to the upper portion 12 and an opening 15 is formed at the front of the mandibular splint 10, The outer surface 18 Is relatively rigid and hard maintaining the integrity of the shape of the mandibular splint 10 and providing a COMS ID No: SBMl-01 003336 Received by IP Australia: lime 14:46 Date 2004-11-18 IS-NOV-2004 01:46PM FROM-Wynnes pat&tm attorneys 61 7 33421202 T-636 P.010/017 P-812 -6- 0 o relatively resistant surface to the harsh oral environment. The rigid and hard outer surface 16 extends about the entire mandibular splint 10. The outer surface 16 is Z preferably formed of hard setting acrylic plastics. The lower portion Internal surface 00 17 and upper portion Internal surface 18 is relatively soft and preferably formed of soft setting plastics. The internal surfaces 17, 18 are complementary to the user's Va lower and upper teeth respectively. In this way the mandibular splint 10 is custom made for each person to provide accurate and comfortable fitting. The custom fitting 0of the splint 10 enables a partial vacuum to be formed In each tooth Impression and the suction grip formed assists In holding the lower jaw in the splint 10 to maintain open airways. This feature overcomes the current problem of the lower jaw disconnecting from the splint 10 as the user falls asleep. When the lower jaw becomes disconnected, the jaw moves posteriorly thus allowing the tongue and soft tissues to obstruct the alrways. The Internal surfaces 17, 18 are substantially Ushaped so that when the mandibular splint 10 Is worn the Internal surfaces 17, 18 surround the user's teeth. The upper and lower portions 12, 11 are trimmed so that they do not touch or rub the gum when fitted within the mouth of the user.

Where a person has partial dentures then a customized oral device is made without the gingival cutouts.

With reference to Figure 6 there Is shown a second embodiment of a mandibular splint 25 with a lower portion 28 and an upper portion 27. The upper portion 27 has a suction plate 28 extending rearwardly from the Inside surface 29 of the front section of the mandibular splint 25. The suction plate 28 assists the user In positioning and maintaining the position of the mandibular splint 25 within the mouth of the user and It holds the tongue tissues forward thus keeping them clear of the COMS ID No: SBMI-01003336 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:46 Date 2004-11-18 18-NOV-2004 01:47PM FROM-Wynnes patitm attorneys 61 7 33421292 T-638 P-011/017 F-12 0 O airways. All other features of the mandibular splint 25 are similar to the features described in the mandibular splint Z In use the mandibular splint 10 is inserted in the mouth of the user and 00 positioned so that the upper teeth and lower teeth engage the complementary internal surfaces 18, 17 of the upper portion 12 and lower portion 11 respectively. In Va this way the lower Jaw Is positioned forward relative to the upper jaw to ensure the air passageways remain open and air passing through the opening 15 can enter these 0 passageways. With the positioning of the jaws and maintaining an open passageway to provide constant source of air to the lungs, the user is substantially prevented from snoring and Is able to achieve reasonable sleep.

ADVANTAGES

The preferred embodiment of the present Invention provides the advantage that a relatively comfortable mandibular splint without a rearwardly extending canopy may be used to substantially prevent snoring. As a consequence the mandibular splint reduces the Incidence of gagging. The preferred embodiment of the mandibular splint has a hard and rigid outer surface which helps maintain the shape of the mandibular splint and extends the useful life of the splint The preferred embodiment of the mandibular splint has a soft plastic Internal surface and hard plastic external surface and does not require lubrication for the insertion or reinsertion of the device. Furthermore, the custom fitting of the splint enables a partial vacuum to be formed In each tooth Impression and the suction grip formed assists In holding the lower Jaw In the splint 10 to maintain open airways,

VARIATIONS

COMS ID No: SBMI-01003336 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:46 Date 2004-11-18 18-NOV-2094 01:47PM FROM-Wynnes patttm attorneys 61 7 33421292 T-636 P.012/017 F-812 S-8- 0 o It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of Illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations 0 Z thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within 00 the broad scope and ambit of this invention as Is herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims this specification the word "comprise" V0 and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to n exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

0 0 ci COMS ID No: SBMI-01003336 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:46 Date 2004-11-18

Claims (1)

18-NOV-2004 01:47PM FROM-Wynnes pattn attorneys 61 7 33421292 T-638 P-013/017 F-812 0 -9- i CLAIMS Z 1. An oral device for use by a person to treat snoring including 00 an upper portion locatable over a plurality of upper teeth or upper gum; and a lower portion locatable over a plurality of lower teeth or lower gum, said upper and lower portions are Integrally formed or operationally engageable so that the lower jaw is located in a forward position relative to the upper Jaw and there Is an 0 opening adjacent the front teeth or gums between the upper and lower portions, C wherein an air passage is maintained open while the person wears the device. 2. An oral device for use by a person to treat snoring Including an upper portion locatable over a plurality of upper teeth or upper gum; and a lower portion locatable over a plurality of lower teeth or lower gum, said upper and lower portions are integrally formed or operationally engageable so that the lower Jaw Is located in a forward position relative to the upper Jaw and there is an opening adjacent the front teeth or gums between the upper and lower portions, wherein an air passage Is maintained open while the person wears the device, wherein there is a hard and rigid outer surface to substantially retain the shape of the device and a relatively soft Internal surface. 3. An oral device as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein there the upper and lower portions have engagement surfaces that are complementary to the shape of a plurality of teeth, gum section or a combination of both depending on the person's oral topography. COMS ID No: SBMI-01003336 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:46 Date 2004-11-18 18-NOV-2004 01:47PM FROM-Wynnes patLti attorneys GI 7 33421292 T-638 P.014/017 F-8 12 0 O 4. An oral device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein there Is a suction plate on the Inner side of the upper portion and extending rearwardly from Z- the front section of the upper portion, said suction plate substantially assists In 00 positioning and maintaining the position of the device and holding the tongue mass forward. I-O n 5. An oral device as substantially described herein with reference to and as 0 illustrated by the accompanying drawings. 0 DATED THIS EIGHTEENTH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2004 THE SNORE STOP CLINIC PTY LTD by their Patent Attorneys WYNNES PATENT AND TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS COMS ID No: S8MI-01003336 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:46 Date 2004-11-18