JP2023020502A - Tongue position holding device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a tongue position holding device that is compact and has high performance while suppressing cost.SOLUTION: A tongue position holding device includes: a curved and concave capsule 10 fitted in an oral cavity M while covering at least a tip part of a tongue T; a tube 20 having one end connected to the capsule 10 and drawn out from an oral cavity M; and a suction apparatus 30 connected to the other end of the tube 20 and constituted of a syringe or ball pump for sucking internal air of the capsule 10 covering a tongue T.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to tongue position retention devices.

As a device for suppressing snoring and bruxism during sleep or for preventing Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Patent Document 1 discloses a device that is worn in the user's mouth and includes a front portion of the user's tongue. is held in a socket to provide an airflow passageway through the pharyngeal airway to facilitate normal breathing during sleep.

Further, in Patent Document 2, a mouthpiece to which a decompression unit is connected via a tube is attached to the user's mouth, and the decompression unit generates negative pressure in the user's oral cavity, and the user's soft palate and surrounding soft tissues are removed in the oral cavity. It is described to keep the user's pharyngeal airway open by pulling the user's tongue toward the hard palate as well as pulling the user's tongue toward the hard palate.

Further, in Patent Document 3, a tongue part locking tool whose main structural part is a base having suction parts facing both the palate part and the tongue part is inserted between the palate part and the tongue part, A device is disclosed that prevents the base of the tongue from sinking and obstructing the pharyngeal airway by exhausting outside air or the like and interposing a tongue fastener between the tongue and palate to prevent movement.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,473 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-319680 JP 2008-183388 A

By the way, with the socket described in Patent Document 1, in which the front portion of the tongue is fitted and held, there is a risk that the tongue will come off and fall down due to insufficient holding force.

In addition, as in the devices described in Patent Documents 2 and 3, simply applying negative pressure to the oral cavity or allowing the surface of the tongue to adhere to the mouthpiece causes the position of the tongue to move downward in the direction of the pharyngeal airway, resulting in the user's pharynx. It is difficult to keep the airway open. Moreover, since these apparatuses are equipped with large-scale devices such as a decompression unit and an air pump, noise is generated during use of the apparatus, which leads to an increase in size and cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a small-sized, high-performance tongue position holding device while suppressing costs.

In order to achieve the above object, the tongue position holding device of the present invention includes:
a curved concave capsule placed over at least the tip of the tongue and worn in the oral cavity;
a tube having one end connected to the capsule and pulled out of the oral cavity;
an aspirator consisting of a syringe or a ball pump to which the other end of the tube is connected and which aspirates the air in the capsule placed on the tongue;
Prepare.

According to the tongue position holding device of this configuration, the tongue can be held by being adsorbed to the capsule by putting the capsule on the tongue and sucking the air in the capsule with the aspirator. As a result, it is possible to satisfactorily suppress the depression of the tongue during sleep, and improve sleep-exhalation disorders such as OSA, upper airway resistance syndrome, and snoring, which cause upper airway obstruction. Furthermore, it is possible to satisfactorily suppress the depression of the tongue during intravenous sedation or general anesthesia.
In addition, since a syringe or a ball pump is provided as a suction device for sucking the tongue into the capsule, compared to a device provided with a large-scale suction device that controls the suction force by controlling the driving of the electric pump with a control device, the device is easier to use. Miniaturization and cost reduction can be achieved. In addition, after the capsule is adhered to the tongue, the aspirator consisting of a syringe or a ball pump can be stored in a breast pocket or the like, increasing the degree of freedom of movement while wearing the device, and even turning over is possible. be.

In the tongue position holding device of the present invention,
The capsule may be provided with a stopper that abuts against the lips while the capsule is placed over the tongue.

According to the tongue position holding device of this configuration, the stopper is brought into contact with the lips while the capsule is placed over the tongue. It is also possible to fix the tongue with , and it is possible to better suppress the depression of the tongue during bedtime, intravenous sedation, and general anesthesia.

In the tongue position holding device of the present invention,
A splint may be attached to the capsule with which at least front teeth can be engaged while the capsule is placed over the tongue.

According to the tongue position holding device of this configuration, the tooth is engaged with the splint while the capsule is placed on the tongue, so movement of the capsule in the oral cavity can be restricted, and the flat plate can be extended from the splint to the outside of the oral cavity. It is also possible to fix the tube and the capsule at any position outside the oral cavity, and to better prevent the tongue from sagging during bedtime, intravenous sedation, or general anesthesia.

In the tongue position holding device of the present invention,
The capsule may have a double structure in which an inner capsule having a plurality of through holes is fitted inside.

According to the tongue position holding device of this configuration, when the air inside the capsule is sucked by the suction device, the air between the tongue and the tongue is sucked through the plurality of through-holes of the inner capsule, whereby the tongue is attracted to the inner capsule. be. As a result, the double-structured capsule with the inner capsule can be brought into better contact with the surface of the tongue over a wide area, and the tongue can be prevented from sagging during sleep, intravenous sedation, or general anesthesia. .

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the tongue position holding|maintenance apparatus of this invention, a small and high-performance tongue position holding|maintenance apparatus can be provided, suppressing cost.

1 is a configuration diagram of a tongue position holding device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. Fig. 2 shows a capsule that constitutes the tongue position holding device, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a side view, (c) is a rear view, (d) is a front view, and (e) is a rear view. be. It is a schematic diagram explaining the usage example of a tongue position holding|maintenance apparatus. FIG. 4 is a side view of an aspirator showing another example of the aspirator; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a capsule with a stopper, (a) is a side view of the capsule with the stopper attached, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in (a). FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a usage example of a capsule having a stopper; Fig. 2 shows a tongue position holding device with a splint, (a) is a plan view with the capsule placed in a posterior position (a position that keeps the tongue in its normal position), and (b) is a plan view with the capsule placed anteriorly. It is a top view of the state arranged in the direction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure explaining a splint, (a) is a side view of a splint, (b) is a back view of a splint. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a splint, (a) is a front view of the splint, and (b) is a front view of the splint attached to a tube and a capsule. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a usage example of a tongue position holding device with a splint. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a capsule according to a modification, in which (a) is a plan view of the capsule, (b) is a plan view of the capsule and the inner capsule, (c) is a rear view of the capsule, and (d) is the inner capsule. It is a rear view.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a tongue position holding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a tongue position holding device 100 according to this embodiment includes a capsule 10, a tube 20, and an aspirator 30. As shown in FIG. This tongue position holding device 100 holds the user's tongue by the capsule 10 attached to the user's oral cavity, suppresses the tongue from sagging during sleep, and improves sleep breathing disorders such as OSA, upper airway resistance syndrome, and snoring. It is a device that prevents the tongue from sagging during intravenous sedation or general anesthesia.

One end of a tube 20 is connected to the capsule 10 via an adapter 40 . The other end of tube 20 is connected to aspirator 30 . The tube 20 is made of synthetic resin such as polyethylene, for example. By using the inexpensive polyethylene tube 20, the cost of the tongue position holding device 100 can be suppressed. The capsule 10 is made of silicon, for example, and the adapter 40 connecting the capsule 10 and the tube 20 is made of synthetic resin such as plastic.

The adapter 40 is formed in a hollow rod shape having a large-diameter portion 41 in the middle portion in the longitudinal direction. The adapter 40 has connecting tube portions 42 at both ends. One connecting tube portion 42 is connected to the capsule 10 and the other connecting tube portion 42 is connected to one end of the tube 20 . Note that the adapter 40 may or may not have the large diameter portion 41 . A suction device 30 to which the other end of the tube 20 is connected is a syringe having an outer cylinder 31 and a pusher 32 , and the pusher 32 is inserted into the outer cylinder 31 . A tube tip portion 33 is formed at the tip of the outer tube 31 , and the tube 20 is connected to the tube tip portion 33 .

2A and 2B are diagrams showing the capsule constituting the tongue position holding device, in which (a) is a plan view, (b) is a side view, (c) is a rear view, (d) is a front view, and (e). is a rear view.

As shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 2(e), the capsule 10 is formed in a curved concave shape with an open rear portion, and is formed wide with a width greater than its height. The capsule 10 has an inner shape that conforms to the outer shape of the tip of the tongue, and the tip of the tongue of the user is inserted through an opening 11 at the rear. A notch 12 is formed in the lower part of the capsule 10 . As a result, when the tip of the tongue is inserted into the capsule 10, the tongue frenulum under the tongue is arranged in the notch 12 so that the capsule 10 does not interfere with the tongue frenulum.

Capsule 10 has a connection 13 at its front. The connection portion 13 is formed in a tubular shape having a connection hole 14 . The connection tube portion 42 of the adapter 40 is inserted into the connection hole 14 to be connected to the connection portion 13 .

A plurality of protrusions 15 and a plurality of ridges 16 are formed on the inner surface of the capsule 10 . The ridges 16 are formed substantially radially from the connection hole 14 , and projections 15 are formed between these ridges 16 .

Next, the case of using the tongue position holding device 100 having the above configuration will be described.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a usage example of the tongue position holding device.

As shown in FIG. 3, the capsule 10 of the tongue position holding device 100 is put into the oral cavity M with the notch 12 facing downward. Then, the tongue T is inserted into the inside of the capsule 10 through the opening 11 at the rear portion and the mouth is closed.

In this state, the pusher 32 of the suction device 30 is pulled out from the outer cylinder 31 . Then, the air inside the capsule 10 is sucked by the suction device 30 through the tube 20 , and the user's tongue T is sucked onto the capsule 10 . As a result, the tongue T is held by the capsule 10, and sagging of the tongue T is suppressed during sleep, intravenous sedation, general anesthesia, and the like.

To remove the tongue T from the capsule 10 holding the tongue T, the pusher 32 of the suction device 30 is pushed into the outer cylinder 31 . As a result, the suction of the air inside the capsule 10 by the suction device 30 is released, and the tongue T can be easily removed from the capsule 10 .

Moreover, the suction device 30 of the tongue position holding device 100 is not limited to a syringe composed of the outer cylinder 31 and the pusher 32 . For example, as shown in FIG. 4, as the aspirator 30, a spherical pump 33 having a hollow spherical shape may be used. This ball pump 33 is made of, for example, urethane rubber. In the tongue position holding device 100 having the ball pump 33 as the suction device 30, the ball pump 33 is gripped and elastically deformed, and the tongue T is inserted into the capsule 10 to close the mouth. Release the hand. Then, the air in the capsule 10 is sucked through the tube 20 by the elastically deformed ball pump 33 trying to restore. As a result, the user's tongue T can be easily attracted to the capsule 10 . Further, by gripping the ball pump 33 in this state and elastically deforming it, the suction of the air inside the capsule 10 is released and the tongue T can be easily removed from the capsule 10 .

As described above, according to the tongue position holding device 100 according to the present embodiment, the capsule 10 is placed over the tongue T and the air in the capsule 10 is sucked by the suction device 30, thereby holding the tongue by being adsorbed to the capsule. be able to. As a result, it is possible to satisfactorily suppress the depression of the tongue T during sleep, and improve sleep breathing disorders such as OSA, upper airway resistance syndrome, and snoring caused by upper airway obstruction. In addition, it is possible to prevent the tongue T from sagging during intravenous sedation or general anesthesia.

In addition, since a syringe or a ball pump is provided as the suction device 30 for causing the tongue T to be adsorbed to the capsule 10, it is compared to a large-scale suction device that controls the suction force by controlling the driving of the electric pump with the control device. , the size and cost of the device can be reduced, and there is no concern about noise. In addition, after the capsule 10 is adsorbed to the tongue T, the aspirator 30 consisting of a syringe or a ball pump can be stored in a breast pocket or the like. is also possible.

Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), a stopper 50 can be attached to the tongue position holding device 100 according to the present embodiment.

The stopper 50 is, for example, a plate-shaped member made of synthetic resin such as polyolefin. The stopper 50 may be slightly bent in the same direction by forming bent portions 51 at both ends thereof in order to conform to the shape of the upper and lower lips. A mounting hole (not shown) is formed in the center of the stopper 50. The diameter of this mounting hole is smaller than the outer diameter of the connecting tube portion 42 of the adapter 40, so that the connecting tube portion 42 of the adapter 40 can be mated. By fitting the connection tube portion 42 of the adapter 40 into the mounting hole and connecting the connection tube portion 42 to the tube 20, the stopper 50 is mounted at a position spaced apart from the front end side of the capsule 10. be done. Since resistance is generated between the connecting tube portion 42 and the mounting hole of the stopper 50, the positional relationship of the connecting tube portion 42 and the capsule 10 with respect to the stopper 50 does not change. The stopper 50 is attached with its bent portion 51 directed toward the capsule 10 side. In the case of the adapter 40 without the large diameter portion 41, the diameter of the mounting hole of the stopper 50 is smaller than the outer diameter of the tube 20, and the tube 20 is fitted with resistance. As a result, the stopper 50 can be fixed at any position on the tube 20, so that the longitudinal position of the capsule 10 can be freely set.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a usage example of a capsule having a stopper. Note that FIG. 6 illustrates a case where the adapter 40 without the large diameter portion 41 is used. As shown in FIG. 6, in the tongue position holding device 100 with the stopper 50 attached, the stopper 50 is brought into contact with the upper lip Ra and the lower lip Rb in a state in which the capsule 10 is placed in the oral cavity M and attached to the tongue T. be. Thereby, the capsule 10 is arranged so as to keep the tongue T in the oral cavity M at a normal position, and the depression of the tongue T can be better suppressed during sleeping, intravenous sedation, and general anesthesia.

Next, the tongue position holding device 100 with the splint attached will be described.
FIG. 7 shows a tongue position holding device with a splint, (a) is a plan view of the capsule placed in a posterior position (a position that keeps the tongue in its normal position), and (b). is a plan view of a state in which the capsule is placed in an anterior position; 8A and 8B are diagrams for explaining the splint, in which (a) is a side view of the splint and (b) is a rear view of the splint. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the splint, (a) is a front view of the splint, and (b) is a front view of the splint attached to a tube and a capsule. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a usage example of a tongue position holding device with a splint.

As shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), a splint can be attached to the tongue position holding device 100 according to this embodiment. The splint 60 is a member made of, for example, thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate or acrylic resin for denture base.

As shown in FIGS. 8( a ) and 8 ( b ), the splint 60 has a plurality of engagement holes 61 . These engagement holes 61 are formed at positions corresponding to the front teeth Tha, Thb, premolars, and molars of the user on the front and back of the splint 60. Thb, premolars, and molars can be engaged. Note that the engagement hole 61 of the splint 60 may be formed on either the front or back. FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) exemplify the case where the engagement hole 61 is formed on the back side of the splint 60. FIG. For example, when the engagement holes 61 are formed on the front side, the engagement holes 61 are engaged with the user's upper anterior teeth Tha, premolar teeth, and molar teeth, and when the engagement holes 61 are formed on the back side, the engagement holes 61 are engaged. The matching hole 61 is engaged with the user's lower front teeth Thb, premolars, and molars.

This splint 60 is provided with a flat plate 63 made of the same material as the splint 60 . The flat plate 63 extends forward from the splint 60, and its frontmost portion is a mounting piece 64 bent upward by 90 degrees. As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a mounting hole 65 is formed in the center of the mounting piece 64 . The tube 20 is fitted into the mounting hole 65 from the front side. The splint 60 is attached to the tube 20 by fitting the connecting portion 13 of the capsule 10 to the tube 20 fitted in the attachment hole 65 via the adapter 40 .

The diameter of the mounting hole 65 formed in the mounting piece 64, which is the bent portion of the flat plate 63 of the splint 60, is smaller than the outer diameter of the tube 20, and the tube 20 is fitted with resistance. Therefore, when the tube 20 is fitted in the mounting hole 65 of the mounting piece 64 of the flat plate 63 , the mounting piece 64 of the flat plate 63 can be fixed at any position on the tube 20 . The target position can also be freely set and fixed.

As described above, with the tongue position holding device 100 with the splint 60 attached, as shown in FIG. Anterior teeth Tha, Thb, bicuspids, and molars are fitted into and engaged with 61 . Thereby, the capsule 10 is arranged so as to keep the tongue T in the oral cavity M in a normal position, and the depression of the tongue T can be better suppressed during sleeping, intravenous sedation, and general anesthesia.

Moreover, the mounting piece 64 of the flat plate 63 of the splint 60 can be fixed at any position on the tube 20, and the front-rear position of the capsule 10 with respect to the tube 20 can be freely set and fixed. Therefore, in the tongue position holding device 100 with the splint 60 attached, as shown in FIG. 7(a), the capsule 10 is placed in a posterior position (a position to keep the tongue in a normal position) with respect to the splint 60. It can also be used in a backward position holding state, or, as shown in FIG. For example, if the capsule 10 is placed in the forward position with respect to the splint 60 and used in the forward position holding state, the tongue T can be held further forward, and the tongue T can be held at bedtime, during intravenous sedation, or during general anesthesia. It is possible to enhance the effect of suppressing the decline of

Next, capsules according to modified examples will be described.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a capsule according to a modification, (a) is a plan view of the capsule, (b) is a plan view of the capsule and the inner capsule, (c) is a rear view of the capsule, and (d) is a plan view of the capsule. is a rear view of the inner capsule;

As shown in FIGS. 11(a) to 11(d), the modified capsule 10 includes an inner capsule . The inner capsule 70, like the capsule 10, is made of silicon, is formed in a curved concave shape with an open rear portion, and has an inner shape that follows the contour of the tip of the tongue. A plurality of through holes 72 are formed in the inner capsule 70 . The inner capsule 70 is also formed with a notch 73 for avoiding interference with the lingual frenulum under the tongue. The inner capsule 70 is fitted into the capsule 10 through the opening 11 . As a result, the capsule 10 has a double structure with the inner capsule 70 inside. In addition, in a modified example, the capsule 10 may have the ridge 16 on its inner surface (see FIG. 11(c)) or may not have the ridge 16 .

In the tongue position holding device 100 having the double-structured capsule 10 according to this modified example, the tongue T is inserted through the opening 71 formed in the inner capsule 70 to be worn in the oral cavity M. As shown in FIG. When suction is performed by the suction device 30 in this state, the air in the closed space between the capsule 10 and the inner capsule 70 is sucked through the tube 20 . Furthermore, the air between the user's tongue T is sucked through the plurality of through holes 72 of the inner capsule 70 , and the user's tongue T is attracted to the inner capsule 70 . As a result, the double-structured capsule 10 having the inner capsule 70 can be better adhered to the tongue T, and the tongue T can be prevented from sagging during sleep, intravenous sedation, or general anesthesia. can.

10 capsule 20 tube 30 aspirator 40 adapter 50 stopper 60 splint 70 inner capsule 72 through hole 100 tongue position holding device M oral cavity Ra upper lip Rb tongue lip T tongue Tha, Thb front teeth

Claims (4)

a curved concave capsule placed over at least the tip of the tongue and worn in the oral cavity;
a tube having one end connected to the capsule and pulled out of the oral cavity;
an aspirator consisting of a syringe or a ball pump to which the other end of the tube is connected and which aspirates the air in the capsule placed on the tongue;
comprising
Tongue position retention device. A stopper is attached to the capsule that contacts the lips while the capsule is placed on the tongue,
The tongue position retaining device of claim 1. A splint that can be engaged with at least the front teeth while the capsule is placed on the tongue is attached to the capsule.
The tongue position holding device according to claim 1 or 2. The capsule has a double structure in which an inner capsule having a plurality of through holes is fitted inside.
The tongue position holding device according to any one of claims 1-3.

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