AU697492B2

AU697492B2 - A sleeping aid

Info

Publication number: AU697492B2
Application number: AU65458/94A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gary John Jacobsen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Gay Maxwell Harold
Priority date: 1993-04-21
Filing date: 1994-04-20
Publication date: 1998-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 2014-04-20
Also published as: AU6545894A; WO1994023674A1; NZ245730A

Description

aJ _I--il WO 94/23674 PCTINZ94/00036 A Sleeping Aid TECHNIC!A, IELD This invention relates to a sleeping aid.

BACKGROUND ART In particular, the invention relates to a sleeping aid which acts as a snore inhibiting device and a sleep apnoea inhibiting device.

The occurrence of sleep apnoea has been called the little death, and it has a subtle and life threatening effect. A person suffering this condition has their airway obstructed totally as the lower jaw and/or the tongue drops back. Correction of this condition requires an awakening and movement of the lower jaw to open the airway again. Hence, a person suffering from sleep apnoea will often spend most of the night going to sleep, suffocating momentarily, and re-awakening. Having a disturbed sleep such as this results in a person feeling unrested and tired the next day. This person may therefore be prone, at best, to falling asleep at work or working in an unproductive manner, or at worst to a more serious consequence such as falling asleep at the wheel of a vehicle. Furthermore, sleep apnoea appears to put the whole cardiac system under increased strain, and this has serious implications for people with heart problems.

There are available machines for preventing sleep apnoea. Such machines generally include a nose piece which serves to keep the user's airway clear during sleep. However, disadvantages associated with such machines are that they are very expensive and/or complex, and tend to have a severe drying effect upon the throat of the user.

1 ii i i i ,-r n- -1 i.a u I- lt I P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPECI\573834,GAY -25/8/98 -2- Snoring is a common condition which affects many people. Regular snoring, even at moderate intensities and volumes, often results in social pressures, especially in relationships.

That is, the partner of a snoring person may be unable to tolerate the constant disturbances by or from their snoring partner. This may result in unnecessary tension between the two people, and may also result in the non snoring partner feeling tired and restless the next day as a result of a disturbed sleep. A snoring person may also wake feeling tired and restless, and if a snorer is particularly loud, his/her sleep may be disturbed by them waking themselves up by snoring.

10 It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

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DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION a a* a* a *0 *c U *6 0s 0 #04t 0 4 Holding the lower jaw in a more forward position than usual during sleep has the effect of opening or making clearer the airway of a user during sleep. Furthermore, the action of 20 lifting the lower jaw up and/or forward also clears the airway by moving the tongue forward.

The overall result is that a user may breath more easily and more freely during sleep. This helps to prevent sleep apnoea because the tongue is in a more forward position, and also inhibits snoring.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a sleeping aid for insertion into the mouth of a user comprising an upper mould for location with the upper teeth of the user, a lower mould for location with the lower teeth of the user, said upper and lower moulds being joined together so that the lower mould locates the lower teeth and jaw of the user in a more forward position than is usual during sleep, an opening between the upper and lower moulds to allow the passage of air, said upper and lower moulds having walls which in use overlie the outer i, ii d' i P:\\WPDOCS\AMD\SPEC1\573834.GAY 25/98 -3surfaces of the teeth, and said upper mould including a rearwardly extending canopy which when the aid is inserted in the mouth of the user, fits over the palatal region of the upper jaw of the user.

In another aspect, there is provided a sleeping aid for insertion into the mouth of a user comprising an upper mould for location with the upper teeth of the user, a lower mould for location with the lower teeth of the user, said upper and lower moulds being joined together so that the lower mould locates the lower teeth and jaw of the user in a more forward position than is usual during sleep, an opening between the upper and lower moulds to allow the passage of air, wherein the upper mould includes a rearwardly extending canopy which when the aid is inserted in the mouth of the user, fits over part of the soft palate region of the upper t e i: c Cjaw of the user.

c The upper and lower moulds can be fixed relative to each other, with the lower mould fixed in a position more forward and/or elevated than usual. Having the lower mould 3mm to 8mm more forward than usual may be preferred.

C tI ,C \1 The upper and lower moulds can comprise any suitable material, although a resilient yieldable t material may be preferred. A soft plastics material may be particularly suitable.

Preferably, the sleeping aid is custom made for each user. This may be done by taking impressions of a user's upper and lower teeth and forming models therefrom from an appropriate substance, preferably hard dental stone. A bite record may then be taken of the user's teeth with the lower jaw in its desired or required more forward and/or elevated position. It may also be preferable to take the bite record with the lower teeth/jaw slightly open with respect to the upper teeth.

Upper and lower moulds may then be prepared from the models. The upper and lower models may then be placed into the bite record and joined, for example by being set up in a simple t' p^ 0 in line articulator or other suitable device. The upper and lower models may be set in this i

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4J^ r P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPEC1\573834.GAY 25/8/98 -4position by using an appropriate substance such as plaster, and once set the moulds may be placed back onto the models. The two moulds may then be joined together, preferably by heating the biting surfaces of the two moulds and joining them in this way. It is found that the use of a small gas torch may preferably be utilised for this purpose as it does not distort the fit.

Preferably, at least one space may be left between the anterior or side/rear edges of the moulds to provide at least one oral airway. This or these should be as small as practically possible to enable easy breathing.

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-r WO 94123674 PCT/NZ94/00036 It is to be understood and appreciated that the above described method or series of steps is given by way of example only, and that any suitable method of substantially forming a sleeping aid of the above design, shape or configuration may be utilised as required or desired.

Because the sleeping aid may preferably be in the form of a mouth piece or mouth guard, it may rest against the saliva glands within a user's mouth. This may cause a slight secretion of saliva during the night.

One benefit of this is that a user will wake with a slightly moist throat.

This may have advantages for a user who usually wake with sore or dry throats, or who have been drinking the night before. i BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS i Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fiure 1: is a plan view of a sleeping aid in accordance with one possible embodiment of the present invention, and Fiures 2. 3 and 4: are front, rear and side views of the sleeping aid of Figure 1, and Figure 5: is a cross-section at V:V of Figure 1, and Figure 6: is a perspective view of the sleeping aid of Figures ito i T )I ~1_ WO 94/23674 PCTJNZ94/00036 BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION With respect to the drawings, a sleeping aid in accordance with the present invention comprises an upper mould generally indicated by arrow 1 for location with the upper teeth (not shown) of a user and a lower mould generally indicated by arrow 2 for location with the lower teeth. The upper and lower moulds 1, 2 are joined together in such a way that the lower teeth (not shown) of a user are restrained in a more forward position than usual during sleep. An opening 3 is provided f between the upper and lower moulds 1 and 2.

In the example illustrated, the upper and lower moulds 1, 2 are provided with walls generally indicated by arrows 4 and The upper mould 1 includes a rearwardly extending canopy 6, which when the aid is fitted in the mouth of the user it fits over part of the soft palate region of the upper jaw of the user.

The wall 4 of the upper mould comprises a front section 7 and side sections 8 and with the canopy 6 define a trough 9 for the teeth of the user. The edges 10 of the wall 4 are contoured to suit the gum line of the I user.

The wall 5 of the lower section 2 of the aid is divided into front and rear sections 11 and 12 which define a trough 13 for the lower teeth of the user. The edges 14 of the wall section 11 and 12 are contoured to suit the guin line of the user.

It is to be appreciated that the aid is manufactured to be completely personal to the user.

6 ~.Ji WO 94123674 PCTINZ94/00036 The characteristics of humans is such that the lower jaw has the ability to naturally extend forward and during manufacture of the aid the manufacturing technician should endeavour to extend and set the lower mould some 30-80% of the natural extension.

The sleeping aid is formed by the following method.

Impressions are first taken of preparing models of a user's upper and lower teeth and models are poured using a hard dental stone.

A bite record is then taken with the lower jaw forward approximately and slightly open. This is to locate the upper and lower teeth relative to each other.

Upper and lower moulds are formed by use of a heating device that softens the resilient, yieldable plastics material. A combination vacuum machine that sucks the softened material over the prepared models is utilised. Upon cooling, two moulds have been formed that fit firmly and precisely around all the teeth of the user. The moulds are then removed and trimmed leaving as much flange as possible without infringing onto mobile tissue.

The upper and lower models are put into the bite record and set up in this position in a simple in line articulator. When the plaster has set holding the upper and lower models in this recorded forward elevated position, the bite record is removed and the moulds put back onto the models. The biting surfaces of the moulds are softened by the use of heat and joined together. A small gas torch is utilised for this purpose as it enables it to happen without distortion of the fit. Spaces or holes are left created between the anterior edges of the moulds to provide an oral 7 i; i+ WO 94/23674 PCTINZ94/00036 airway.

I believe the advantages of my invention to be as follows however it should be appreciated that all such advantages may not be realised on all embodiments of the invention, and the following list is given by way of example only as being indicative of potential advantages of the present invention. Furthermore, it is not intended that the advantages of the present invention be restricted to those of the list which follows: 1. Having the lower jaw retained in a more forward position than usual during sleep allows for easier and freer breathing, and provides for a larger breathing airway or space. This has the effect of preventing or inhibiting snoring.

2. Locating the lower jaw in a more forward and/or elevated position also clears the .airway of the user by moving the tongue forward.

This allows the user to breath more freely during sleep, but more importantly has the effect of preventing or inhibiting sleep apnoea.

3. Because my sleeping aid inhibits or prevents snoring and/or sleep apnoea, a user of my device has a more restful and less disturbed sleep. This results in the user being generally more alert and less tired the next day which has obvious benefits.

4. During sleep, my sleeping aid is in contact with the saliva glands of the user. This has the effect of causing a slight secretion of saliva during sleep, and hence a user wakes with a slightly moist throat.

This may have particular benefits for people who usually wake with sore or dry throats; people who talk a lot in their work; and people who have been drinking the night before.

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I: I q c WO 94123674 PCTINZ94/00036 The canopy of the upper mould is designed to snugly fit over part of the softer palatal tissue of the upper mouth substantially reducing vibration of the tissue in this area which is responsible for generating noise during snoring.

6. The front and side walls of the upper and lower moulds extend to the gum line of the user further stimulating saliva secretion during sleeping.

7. Because a user of my sleeping aid generally has a more restful and less disturbed sleep, their sleeping partner also has a less disturbed sleep. This has the benefit of preventing any tension between the partners due to tiredness and/or anger at a sleeper's partner being kept awake by snoring and/or sleep apnoea.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

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Claims

1. A sleeping aid for insertion into the mouth of a user comprising an upper mould for location with the upper teeth of the user, a lower mould for location with the lower teeth of the user, said upper and lower moulds being joined together so that the lower mou d locates the lower teeth and jaw of the user in a more forward position than is usual during sleep, an opening between the upper and lower moulds to allow the passage of air, said upper and lower moulds having walls which in use overlie the outer surfaces of the teeth, and said upper mould including a rearwardly extending canopy which when the aid is inserted in the mouth of the user, fits over the palatal region of the upper jaw of the user. S

2. A sleeping aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein front and side walls of the upper and S' lower moulds extend over to the gum-line of the user.

S3. A sleeping aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper and lower moulds are formed from models of the user's teeth and mouth.

4. A sleeping aid as claimed- in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the upper and lower moulds are formed from a resilient yieldable material. a

5. A sleeping aid for insertion into the mouth of a user comprising an upper mould for location with the upper teeth of the user, a lower mould for location with the lower teeth of the user, said upper and lower moulds being joined together so that the lower S* r mould locates the lower teeth and jaw of the user in a more forward position than is usual during sleep, an opening between the upper and lower moulds to allow the passage of air, wherein the upper mould includes a rearwardly extending canopy which when the aid is inserted in the mouth of the user, fits over part of the soft palate region of the upper jaw of the user.

6. A sleeping aid as claimed in claim 5 wherein front and side walls of the upper and lower moulds extend substantially to the gum-line of the user. I'\WIDOCS\AMD\SPECI\73834.OAY *28/98 11

7. A sleeping aid as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the upper and lower moulds a''e formed from models of the user's teeth and mouth.

8. A sleeping aid as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 7 wherein the upper and lower moulds are formed from a resilient yieldable material.

9. A method of forming a sleeping aid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 comprising: preparing upper and lower models of a user's upper and lower teeth, obtaining a bite record of a user's upper and lower teeth, with the lower ja 'teeth in 'a more forward position than usual, obtaining upper and lower moulds of a user's teeth (preferably using the models), placing the upper and lower models into the bite record, joining the upper and lower models with the lower model in said mel forward position, placing the moulds back onto the models, joining the biting surfaces of the moulds leaving at least one gap there between to provide at least one oral airway.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said upper and lower models are joined by placing the bite record into an in line articulator and by using an appropriate substance such as plaster for setting the upper and lower models with respect to each other.

11. A sleeping aid substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of forming a sleeping aid substantially as herein described. DATED this 24th day of August, 1998 MAXWELL HAROLD GAY By Their Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE ye.- I r r