WO2009156802A1

WO2009156802A1 - Flexible snore prevention device

Info

Publication number: WO2009156802A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/053510
Authority: WO
Inventors: Olivier Tequi; Luc Tequi
Original assignee: Olivier Tequi; Luc Tequi
Priority date: 2008-06-27
Filing date: 2008-06-27
Publication date: 2009-12-30

Abstract

A snore prevention device (1 ) of elongated shape made of one integral piece, the snore prevention device (1 ) comprising a narrow central portion (2) of a convex- concave shape, said narrow central portion (2) being surrounded by two larger lateral portions (3, 4), the snore prevention device (1 ) being adapted for insertion into the mouth of a user, between the lips and the teeth, the snore prevention device (1 ) being characterised in that it is made of a material which is flexible at ambient temperatures, and in that, when the snore prevention device is in a non- operative state outside the mouth, the lateral portions (3, 4) are of a substantially planar shape.

Description

Flexible snore prevention device

The present invention pertains to a plate-like snore prevention device of elongated shape made of one integral piece, the snore prevention device comprising a narrow central portion of a convex shape, said narrow central portion being surrounded by two larger lateral portions, the snore prevention device being adapted for insertion into the mouth of a user, between the lips and the teeth.

Such a snore prevention device is known from document US-A-5,921 ,240. This document discloses a snore prevention device which mainly consists of a generally oval plate. The oval plate is rigid at ambient temperatures, but becomes pliable upon heating in hot water or in another heating device, such as a microwave oven. The user may heat the snore prevention device such that it softens, and thereafter, position the oval plate of the device in his or her mouth. Being soft, the oval plate conforms to the mouth interior so as to obtain a comfortable fit. The oval plate may then be removed from the mouth in order to cool. In the process of cooling, the oval plate hgidifies. The result is a snore prevention device with a shape that matches the interior of the user's mouth, ensuring a comfortable wearing experience for the user.

This known device has the following drawbacks. Firstly, the user must go through the heating and cooling process described above before he may use the snore prevention device. This renders the use of the device time-consuming. Secondly, this known device is not very convenient when the user is travelling. Indeed, during travel, the device takes up a considerable amount of space, for example in the user's toilet bag. It would be desirable to have a snore prevention device which is more compact and could thus be carried around more easily.

One aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a snore prevention device which combines an optimal wear comfort with simplicity of use and, on top of that, is as compact as possible.

This aim is achieved by a snore prevention device of the afore-mentioned type, characterised in that it is made of a material which is flexible at ambient temperatures, and in that, when the snore prevention device is in a non-operative state outside the mouth, the lateral portions are of a substantially planar shape and define a common plane. By making the snore prevention device flexible at ambient temperatures, its shape can be easily altered. Accordingly, when it is in use in the mouth, thanks to its flexibility, the device can conform to the shape of the user's denture, ensuring an optimal wear comfort. Furthermore, during travel, the device can be flattened or bent to adapt to limited stowage space. But even without bending or flattening, thanks to its planar lateral portions, the inventive snore prevention device is still more compact than the device known from US-A-5,921 ,240, so that the inventive snore device is easier to carry around. The flexibility of the inventive snore prevention device ensures that, when the device is in the mouth, the lateral portions have changed from their planar configuration to a curved shape following the contour of the user's denture.

According to preferred embodiments, the snore prevention device of the present invention comprises one or more of the following features, taken separately or in all technically possible combinations: - the snore prevention device is made of a silicone-based material;

- the outer end of each lateral portion is slightly curved, in a direction opposite to the concavity of said narrow central portion;

- the narrow central portion has a first curvature along the longitudinal direction of the snore prevention device and a second curvature along the transverse direction of the snore prevention device, said transverse direction being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, such that the shape of the narrow central portion is adapted to follow the shape of the denture when the snore prevention device is inserted in the mouth of a user;

- the central portion is substantially part-spherical; - the narrow central portion has a through hole in its centre, the through hole being adapted to allow a certain amount of limited mouth breathing when the snore prevention device is inserted in the mouth of a user;

- the snore prevention device is bendable at ambient temperatures in such a way that the lateral portions can reversibly be made to touch each other; and - the snore prevention device is symmetrical with respect to its central longitudinal axis and/or its central transverse axis. The invention will be better understood when reading the following description, given merely for illustrative purposes, with reference to the annexed drawings.

Figure 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a snore prevention device according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device of figure 1 , taken along the lines M-Il; and

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the device of figure 1 , taken along the lines Ill-Ill. Figure 1 illustrates a snore prevention device 1 according to the invention.

The device 1 is shown in its non-operative state, i.e. in the state that it has when it is outside the mouth, resting for example on a bedside table.

The device 1 has an elongated shape and a general middle plane P. The device 1 has a length along the longitudinal direction L which is substantially higher than its width along the transverse direction T. The front view of Figure 1 is a projection perpendicular to plane P.

As can be seen in figure 1 , the snore prevention device 1 has two symmetry axes, namely its central longitudinal axis X-X and its central transverse axis Y-Y.

The length of the snore prevention device 1 is from substantially 10 to substantially 12 cm, the preferred length being substantially 11 cm. The thickness

D (cf. figure 2) of the snore prevention device 1 is from substantially 0.5 to substantially 1.5 mm and is substantially constant throughout the extent of the device. The height H, taken perpendicularly to plane P, is from substantially 1.5 to substantially 2 cm, the preferred height being substantially 1.7 cm. The device 1 is made of a thin and flexible membrane, which easily adapts to the mouth's morphology. The membrane consists of food grade anallergic medical silicone, which is air impervious and saliva resistant. The outer ends 5 and

6 of the membrane are round and blunt, in order to ensure a high wearing comfort and in order to prevent mouth injuries. As seen in Figure 1 , the device 1 comprises two rounded convex lateral portions 3 and 4, which are separated by a narrower bi-concave central portion 2. The central portion 2 has a small central opening 7. Preferably, this opening

7 has an oval shape extended in the direction L, but it could also have a different shape, such as a circular shape. In a preferred embodiment, the length of the major axis of the opening 7 is between 6 and 10mm, and the length of the minor axis of the opening 7 is between 3 and 6 mm. In the most preferred embodiment, the length of the major axis is substantially 8mm, and the length of the minor axis is substantially 4 mm. The opening 7 has a blunt, rounded edge, to prevent injuries.

The central portion 2 has a convex, substantially part-spherical shape mainly extending above plane P, as can be seen both in Figures 2 and 3. More precisely, the central portion 2 has a first curvature A along the longitudinal direction L and a second curvature B along the transverse direction T. Both the curvature A (cf. figure 2) and the curvature B (cf. figure 3) have a radius of curvature of 3 to 6 cm, but preferably, their radius of curvature is substantially 3.5 cm. The overall length OL of the central portion 2 in directions L and T is from substantially 2.5 to substantially 5 cm. With reference to figure 2, the lateral portions 3 and 4, extending below plane P, have a substantially planar shape. The lateral portions 3 and 4 define a common plane Q, parallel to and below plane P, from which the central portion 2 protrudes. Looking at Figure 2, the central portion 2 could also be qualified as a central bulge flanked by two substantially flat lateral portions 3 and 4. The outer ends 5 and 6 of the lateral portions 3 and 4 are slightly curved, in a direction opposite to the curvature A of the narrow central portion 2, i.e. towards plane P.

With reference to figure 1 , the periphery of outer ends 5 and 6, which is located in a plane that is parallel to plane Q, has the shape of a circular arc with a radius of substantially 2 cm. The distance between the centres C1 , C2 of the two circles defined by the two circular arcs is substantially 6.6 cm, the centre of the opening 7 being located at a distance of substantially 3.3 cm from the centre C1 , C2 of each circle.

Having described the structure of the snore prevention device 1 , its functioning will now be described. Before a user goes to sleep, he introduces the device 1 into his mouth.

More precisely, the device 1 is introduced in the oral vestibule, i.e. between, on the one hand, the jaws and the teeth, and, on the other hand, the lips and the cheeks. In the inserted position, the central portion 2 of the device 1 is located behind the lips and in front of the incisors. Thanks to its specific convex shape, the central portion 2 follows the curved contour defined by the outer surfaces of the upper and the lower teeth. Accordingly, the upper 9 and lower 11 edge of the device 1 (cf. figure 1 ) fit exactly into the pockets between the gums and the lips.

The two enlarged lateral portions 3 and 4 of the device 1 are located behind the cheeks and in front of the premolars and molars. The enlarged portions 3 and

4 ensure the device's stability inside the mouth. Thanks to the enlarged lateral portions 3 and 4, the device remains in a stable position. This reduces the risk that the user accidentally ejects or swallows the device 1 during its use.

The main effect of the snore prevention device 1 is to substantially eliminate mouth breathing, so that the user is forced to breathe through his or her nose. However, mouth breathing is not completely suppressed, the opening 7 allowing for a minimal air flow into the mouth. During use, this small air flow is reassuring for the user, indicating that there is no risk of suffocation even if nose breathing is impaired for some reason. If the device 1 is used on a regular basis, in the long term, it will shift the user's sleep breathing habits from mouth to nose breathing.

Incidentally, the opening 7 has the further effect that it permits the passage of saliva, so that the saliva generated by the presence of the snore prevention device 1 can be swallowed by the user and does not accumulate in the mouth.

Furthermore, during use of the device 1 , the user's deglutition reflex creates a depression inside the mouth cavity, which tends to press the snore prevention device 1 against the teeth. In other words, the snore prevention device 1 adheres to the teeth much like a suction cup adheres to a surface. This adherence helps to maintain the mouth closed during sleeping.

It is to be noted that the snore prevention device 1 may be turned inside out and used in this everted state. Indeed, the everted device 1 is stiffer and the applicant has found out that some users prefer a stiffer device 1 , which rests more stably in the mouth. Accordingly, instead of applying the backside BS (cf. figure 2) to his teeth, the user may turn the snore prevention device 1 inside out and apply the frontside FS to his teeth. Thanks to this reversibility, the snore prevention device 1 can be positioned in the mouth with great ease, even in the dark.

Claims

1. A plate-like snore prevention device (1 ) of elongated shape made of one integral piece, the snore prevention device (1 ) comprising a narrow central portion (2) of a convex shape, said narrow central portion (2) being surrounded by two larger lateral portions (3, 4), the snore prevention device

(1 ) being adapted for insertion into the mouth of a user, between the lips and the teeth, the snore prevention device (1 ) being characterised in that it is made of a material which is flexible at ambient temperatures, and in that, when the snore prevention device is in a non-operative state outside the mouth, the lateral portions (3, 4) are of a substantially planar shape and define a common plane (Q).

2. The snore prevention device (1 ) of claim 1 , the snore prevention device being made of a silicone-based material.

3. The snore prevention device (1 ) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer end (5, 6) of each lateral portion (3, 4) is slightly curved, in a direction opposite to the concavity of said narrow central portion (2).

4. The snore prevention device (1 ) of anyone of the preceding claims, the narrow central portion (2) having a first curvature (A) along the longitudinal direction (L) of the snore prevention device (1 ) and a second curvature (B) along the transverse direction (T) of the snore prevention device (1 ), said transverse direction (T) being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L), such that the shape of the narrow central portion (2) is adapted to follow the shape of the denture when the snore prevention device (1 ) is inserted in the mouth of a user.

5. The snore prevention device (1 ) of claim 4, wherein said central portion (2) is substantially part-spherical.

6. The snore prevention device (1 ) of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the narrow central portion (2) has a through hole (7) in its centre, the through hole (7) being adapted to allow a certain amount of limited mouth breathing when the snore prevention device (1 ) is inserted in the mouth of a user.

7. The snore prevention device (1 ) of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the snore prevention device (1 ) is bendable at ambient temperatures in such a way that the lateral portions (3, 4) can reversibly be made to touch each other.

8. The snore prevention device (1 ) of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the snore prevention device (1 ) is symmetrical with respect to its central longitudinal axis (X-X) and/or its central transverse axis (Y-Y).