DE102004007008A1 - Stop mechanism attached to jaws of human patient to keep airway open for prevention of snoring has projecting interlocking stops attached to rails fitting over upper and lower rows of teeth - Google Patents

Abstract

The stop mechanism has a first rail (2) fitting over the teeth on the upper jaw (1). A similar rail (3) fits over the teeth on the lower jaw (5). Projecting interlocking stops (7) are attached to the rails fitting over the upper and lower rows of teeth. The interlocking stops are coated with a thermoplastic foil (8) and engage with each other to prevent complete closing of the jaws and to keep the mouth airway open for prevention of snoring.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

to Magnification of the Respiratory cross sections in the pharynx are known devices which based on the principle of mandibular advancement (protrusion). A mandibular advancement is achieved by the natural Movement of the lower jaw is reduced and limited. Usually will for rails attached to the rows of teeth of the upper jaw and the lower jaw, which are provided with elements that shift the lower jaw limit to a predetermined value relative to the upper jaw. With Such devices, inter alia, snoring successfully fought. Approximately 8% of the population in the working Age suffer from sleep-disordered breathing with snoring. Even though numerous solutions on the principle of mandibular advancement for the therapy of such Respiratory disorders developed have no implementation yet according to the need, mass application found. Main cause for that are the low compatibility (Compliance) of such devices by the patients and their relatively high production costs.

It There are numerous designs of devices where the rails of the upper and lower jaw permanently over Articulated rods are coupled such. U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,138. In addition to low compatibility by the patient are such devices with a high production cost and thus subject to high costs. Have strength and durability proved to be unsatisfactory. In addition, the lead numerous items to unfavorable Properties for hygienic care. Much cheaper in terms of compatibility by the patient are devices according to SU1438759A1, as well as WO0001317. There are projections attached to the toothed rails, which have only one-sided acting surfaces against each other in action and are not coupled with each other. The examples given in WO0001317 are based on that first a plastic film over is molded thermoplastic a plaster model of a row of teeth. After removal of excess material this results in a dental splint. At this rack then be projections from cold curing Plastic attached. In another example, a component made of stainless steel, with a plate carrying a projection. This Component is then combined with the toothed rail, the projection through an opening the dental splint is pushed through from the inside to the outside and wherein the plate is for attachment to the toothed rail.

It has been shown that the subsequent attachment of protrusions Rails made of thermoformed films raises problems in terms of production of durable and inexpensive connections.

TECHNICAL TASK TO BE SOLVED

It the object of the present invention is a device for Limiting the mandibular displacement to create such disadvantages does not have. It should be comfortable for the patient to wear, easy and inexpensive be great and produce Have durability.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The solution the task of the invention is that the thermoformed foil of the dental splint itself such protrusions and that the molded parts, which during the deep-drawing process, the formation the projections caused to remain in the molded dental splint.

BENEFICIAL EFFECTS THE INVENTION

at the production of the dental splint by deep drawing a foil must the plaster model of a row of teeth after the deep drawing process from the Foil are removed. For this to succeed in any case, greater undercuts blocked out on the plaster model. According to the invention are undercuts allowed on the moldings to form the projections and useful, since these moldings remain in the film after the deep-drawing process. Your shape design can therefore be free to the requirements of its task and function orientate. Such moldings can the physiological most favorable Form for the projections and thus fulfill the requirement for increased patient compatibility.

Of the in the film remaining moldings, also contributes to increase the stiffness and strength of the projection and thus increases the durability of such a dental splint.

There Undercuts on the molding cause a molding is held in the toothed rail, accounts for more adhesive or Connecting operations, what to cheapen the production and increase the durability of the Dental splint leads.

Another advantage is the possibility of a permanent identification of the dental rail, for example with a patient code. This can be a, remaining in transparent film, a molded body Wear caption, which is hermetically sealed by the film.

DESCRIPTION AN EXAMPLE ON THE DRAWINGS

in the The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference explained in more detail in the accompanying drawings, in which:

1 a lateral view of a skull with splints bearing protrusions,

2 a lateral view of a dental splint with a partial section in the region of a projection,

3 a plan view of a toothed rail with a partial section in the region of a projection,

4 a cross section through a toothed rail in the region of a projection,

5 a cross section through a dental splint in the region of a projection with an indication of the patient's cheek,

6 a cross section through a toothed rail during the manufacturing process.

The position of projections according to the invention on tooth rails is in 1 on a skull 1 with inserted tooth rails 2 . 3 shown. The upper tooth rail 2 carries the lead 4 and the dental splint 3 of the lower jaw 4 carries the lead 6 , Both projections 4 and 6 are in contact with each other and limit the displacement of the lower jaw 4 in one direction.

In 2 is the dental splint 3 of the lower jaw 4 shown without the lower jaw. It shows in the partial section insight into the dental splint and leaves the molding 7 and the foil surrounding it 8th detect. The visible in section form of the molding 7 is determined by the function of the active surface 9 and the physiologically favorable rounding off 10 ,

In the 3 it can be seen that the dental splint 3 completely out of the slide 8th is formed and only the shaped body 7 contains.

In cross section through the toothed rail 3 , as in 4 shown can be seen within the dental splint 3 the cavity 11 , which by deep drawing the film 8th was created on the plaster model. In the same thermoforming process, the film has 8th also over the molding 7 placed and largely included. The bevel 13 forms on the molding 7 an undercut and leads to its partial inclusion by the film 8th ,

In 5 the same cross-section is shown again, but in addition is the cheek 14 indicated by the patient. It can be seen as the molded body 7 for the best contact with the cheek 14 is designed. Edges and points of high pressure are avoided by chamfers and curves.

In 6 the situation of the molding is exemplified in the manufacturing process of the toothed rail. This is on the molding 7 an extension 14 present, which keeps this during the deep drawing process in its required position. On a carrier plate 16 is the extension 14 of the molding 7 as well as the plaster model 15 by means of adhesive 17 attached. After completion of the deep drawing process, the extension 14 from the molding 7 separated. Subsequently, the thermoformed film 8th together with the molding 7 from the plaster model 15 deducted.

1

skull

2, 3

Mouth Trays

4

head Start

5

mandible

6

head Start

7

moldings

8th

foil

9

effective area

10

roundings

11

cavity

12

cheek

13

bevel

14

cheek

15

plaster model

16

support plate

17

adhesive

Claims (6)

Device for limiting the mandibular displacement, each of which has a dental splint ( 2 . 3 ) for the upper and lower rows of teeth and in which the tooth rails ( 2 . 3 ) Projections ( 4 ), which active surfaces ( 9 ) for limiting the displacement, wherein at least one effective area ( 9 ) on the lead ( 4 ) of the dental splint of the upper jaw on at least one active surface ( 9 ) on the lead ( 4 ) of the lower jaw ( 5 ) and wherein the tooth rails ( 2 . 3 ) of thermoformed films ( 8th ), characterized in that the thermoformed film ( 8th ) of the tooth rails ( 2 . 3 ) even such protrusions ( 4 ) and that the shaped bodies ( 7 ), which in the deep drawing process, the formation of Projections ( 4 ), in the molded tooth rails ( 2 . 3 ) remain. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that these shaped bodies ( 7 ) Have undercuts, which their positive fit in the tooth rails ( 2 . 3 ) cause. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that undercuts by bevels ( 13 ) and / or rounding off ( 10 ) of the shaped body ( 7 ) are formed. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that such a shaped body ( 7 ) until the end of the deep-drawing process an extension ( 14 ), which for fixing the shaped body ( 7 ) during the thermoforming process. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that such an extension ( 14 ) is separated after the thermoplastic drawing process. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the film ( 8th ) is made of transparent material and that on the molding ( 7 ) a label is attached, which by the film ( 8th ) is visible.