JP2008183388A - Tongue locking device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for locking a tongue part for preventing disorders such as apnea syndrome, mouth snore, or the like caused by a tongue part falling in the direction of a respiratory tract by locking the tongue part on a palate part. <P>SOLUTION: The tongue locking device having a base 21, equipped with suction parts 12 directing to both surfaces of the palate part and the tongue part, as a main structural part is inserted between the palate part and the tongue part. The tongue locking device is attached between the tongue part and the palate part by discharging ambient air or the like inside the suction parts to block the movements. Consequently, the tongue locking device prevents the tongue part from falling and also prevents the blockage of the respiratory tract. Moreover, the tongue locking device has an accidental ingestion preventing part 11a which has an L-shaped or I-shaped cross-section and extends from one end of the base 21 to the outside of a mouth or between teeth and lips or the filter 23 interposed in the middle of an air passage 22 continuing from a compulsory discharging device 24 to the base to filter and accumulate discharge inhibiting substances such as saliva contained in the ambient air travelling from the suction parts through the air passage to prevent failures of the compulsory discharging device and to keep clean by cleaning a filter. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a technique for preventing movement of a tongue by locking the tongue to a palate in the mouth.

Methods to stop snoring have been announced, such as expanding the nasal passages and nostrils, or stimulating parts of the body every time you snore, while treating sleep apnea syndrome (hereinafter referred to as apnea) For this, a method of preserving breathing by using a device forcibly supplying air from the nasal cavity during sleep, which prevents the falling tongue from blocking the airway, has been adopted.

Regarding these methods, the effectiveness of the method for stopping snoring is low, and the effectiveness of CPAP has been established. However, it is bothersome to wear a mask at all times during sleep, the rolling is regulated, and the forced air supply is always performed. Therefore, once the mouth is opened, the air supply escapes to the outside of the mouth, making it difficult to breathe, which may lead to a decrease in vital capacity due to regular use, and air leakage from the mask is also likely to occur once There were defects such as a drastic decrease in effect.

The present invention is made against the background of such a situation, and it is opened during sleep such as snoring due to mouth breathing (hereinafter referred to as snoring), apnea, etc. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that can be prevented by locking the palate and the tongue, or that the locked tongue suppresses mouth breathing, promotes nasal breathing, and prevents snoring.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the tongue locking device according to the first aspect of the present invention has at least an air passage in the base, and the suction cup and the opening in the vicinity of the opening in the suction direction of the air passage. The adsorbing part is formed so that the periphery of the adsorbing part is closed without a gap and surrounds the opening, and the adsorbing part is formed by sucking and discharging liquid such as air or saliva in the adsorbing part through the air passage. Is adsorbed on each of the surfaces, and a ventilation opening / closing part is provided at a part of the ventilation path where it is easy to operate. By closing this, the adsorption state is maintained, and by opening, air or the like is sent into the adsorption part. It has a structure that enables the adsorption state to be opened. The suction part composed of an opening described here is an suction part that opens on the dish surface of the base and the suction cup and communicates with the ventilation path, and a circumferential line that forms the shape of the dish surface or the opening part. As long as it is closed to one, the shape of the dish surface or the opening may be any shape as long as it does not inhibit adsorption.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tongue locking device according to the present invention, wherein at least the base is composed of a side piece facing the tongue side and a side piece facing the palate side, and is formed so as to be separable from the suction cup and the opening. The end of the air passage is opened toward the adsorbing part, and the base is provided with a fitting part having a function of fitting each other on the periphery or the entire circumference of the side where the side pieces face each other. When worn, it becomes a sealed state where air and liquid can not enter the air passages drilled between each side piece, for example when coughing or drinking drinks, it is necessary to remove the tongue locking device in an emergency, By strongly separating the tongue part and palate part that the adsorption part adsorbs and locks, the fitting between the side pieces that are in close contact with each other part is released, and the air is supplied to the adsorption part by opening. By locking the tongue lock It is possible to remove quickly.

In addition, as long as the structure part which has a function to fit can achieve the effect which keeps the confidentiality between side pieces, it may be provided not only in the periphery or the whole circumference but in any part between the side pieces.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tongue lock according to a third aspect of the present invention, wherein at least the air passage is extended outwardly, and is formed into a generally tubular shape and includes a forced forced discharger such as an air pump on the extension. By operating the forced discharger and continuing the suction and discharge of air or the like, the suction force of the suction part composed of the suction cup and the opening can be maintained for a long time, and the tongue can be maintained for a long time. The attachment and engagement of the palate and the palate can be maintained, the palate and the tongue can be locked stably throughout the entire time, such as during sleep, or the forced ejector can be switched to be freely operated. Accordingly, the outside air can be sent to the tongue locking device in the air supply state, and the outside air can be sent to the suction portion to release the suction state of the suction portion to be locked.
Furthermore, cleanliness can be easily maintained by opening the air passage and cleaning.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tongue locking device, wherein the tongue locking device including a base is inserted at least between the palate portion and the tongue portion, and a suction cup is provided on a surface of the base facing the palate portion. By providing other suction cups on the surface facing the tongue and crimping the palate and tongue in the close-contact direction, the air in these suction cups is discharged and adsorbed on each surface. The tongue part is attached to the palate part via the tongue part locking tool to prevent the obstacle from falling mainly toward the airway during sleep, and the tongue part locked to the palate part suppresses breathing from the mouth. These actions prevent snoring.

In the invention described in claim 5, the tongue locking device according to the present invention is accidentally swallowed by providing an accidental ingestion prevention portion that protrudes from the base toward the mouth and between the lips and teeth or outside the mouth. To prevent that.

Conventional snoring prevention devices mainly bulge the nasal cavity, restrict the opening of the mouth, suppress the fall of the lower jaw, or protrude the lower jaw dentition outward from the upper jaw dentition with a mouthpiece or the like. There are ways to stop it. In addition, there is also disclosed a method for preventing the tongue from falling by inserting the tongue while excluding air into the tube-shaped soft device and locking the soft device (Patent Publication 2004-520084).
On the other hand, the treatment of sleep apnea is called CPAP. During sleep, forced air is continuously supplied through the nasal cavity to prevent an apnea disorder caused by the tongue falling and blocking the airway. Instruments are being used.

However, none of these methods or instruments has the effect of directly locking the tongue, or even if the tongue is inserted into a soft instrument, the tongue itself is also soft and can be freely deformed. Therefore, it does not prevent the tongue from falling off by being locked without being locked, or by directly locking the tongue, and therefore has no effect of directly holding the tongue itself and preventing the tongue from falling. This means that, for example, after inserting the tongue into a soft bag such as a condom and discharging the air or saliva etc. inside, the tongue is not pulled out together even if the flexible bag is pulled out, It is clear from the experimental results that only the soft bag is pulled out.

On the other hand, the tongue locking device according to the present invention is such that the tongue is a soft body when discharging the air around the surface of the suction cup or the suction portion around both the surface of the tongue and the suction cup. In addition, the tongue and the suction part composed of the suction cup and the opening are easily engaged with each other, and the palate part is always moistened by the saliva. Utilize the actual situation with the nature of stopping each other.
That is, the suction part, which is composed of a suction cup and an opening with the dish surface facing the tongue or palate surface in the mouth, is fixed, locked or drilled inward from the surface or surface of the base. From the inside of the base, an air passage is extended toward the suction opening composed of the suction cup and the opening, and the outside air or liquid staying in a zone near the suction portion can be sucked and discharged through the air passage. By forcibly discharging, the snoring is prevented by keeping the adsorbing part adsorbed on the surface of the tongue part or the palate part and maintaining the interposition between the tongue part and the palate part.
Further, a vent opening / closing section is provided in a part of the ventilation path to control the outside air or ventilation on the ventilation path by an opening / closing mechanism such as a rotating plug, push plug, or shutter, and the ventilation opening / closing section is closed to By maintaining the suction state of the suction portion, or by opening the ventilation opening / closing portion so that the suction state of the suction portion engaged and locked can be opened, the suction strength can be adjusted optimally, or By releasing the suction state and immediately allowing the suction part and the base to be detached from the surface of the tongue part or the palate part, the position of the tongue part and the palate part is held constant, Provided is a tongue locking device that has the effect of preventing the tongue from falling in the direction of the airway in a lying state or having the effect of easily removing the tongue locking device as required.

The base is divided into a tongue portion and a palate side, so-called bivalve shape, fits together when in use, seals and forms the ventilation path in the fit when fitted. When it is necessary to urgently stop the use of the tongue locking tool, or to remove it urgently, the tongue part and the palate part are pulled apart strongly, so that the fitting between the bases is released and a large amount of outside air quickly enters the ventilation path. If there is a risk that the mouth breathing may be inhibited, the mouth can be removed by opening the mouth sooner than opening the ventilation opening / closing portion.

Further, the air passage is extended from the base to the outside of the base, or is formed in a flexible tube and extends from the face, and an air pump or the like can be continuously operated at the extension destination. A suction device is provided and operated to maintain the suction state of the suction portion, or the discharge direction of the forcible discharger is reversed to send air to the ventilation path, and the suction portion of the suction portion is opened to release the suction state. Allows the tongue lock to be removed.
In addition, by providing a filter between the forced discharger and the ventilation path to filter substances that inhibit the discharge of saliva and other airflows, these substances are retained and the ventilation is discharged without damaging the forced discharger. By making it possible or by removing the filter and washing it, not only can the obstacles that reduce drainage be removed, but also the hygiene of the instrument can be maintained.

Further, the tongue locking device according to the present invention abuts the surface of the tongue portion and the palate portion and the suction portion, and then presses the abutting surface, so that the plate surface of the suction cup to be contacted or the entire area near the suction portion. Air is exhausted and the tongue or palate is adsorbed by the suction part composed of the suction cup and the opening, and the tongue and palate are intercalated and locked by a tongue locker, so that the tongue is mainly in the airway during sleep Deter the obstacles that fall down and block the airway.

In order to prevent accidental swallowing of these tongue locking devices, an accidental swallowing prevention portion is formed extending from the base to be locked out of the mouth or between the teeth and the lips, or both. By doing so, the tongue locking device stays within a certain range and does not enter the back of the throat, and the cross-sectional shape of the accidental ingestion prevention part is generally formed in an L shape so that the nasal passage from the lips outside the mouth Alternatively, it can be stretched in the jaw direction and attached to the face to prevent accidental ingestion, or it can be formed in a similar shape and tightly fitted between the lips and teeth to prevent accidental ingestion. It is possible to improve the wearability by providing the lip and removing the uncomfortable feeling when worn outside the mouth or between the outside of the mouth and the lips. If the lip is sandwiched between the mouth and the lip between the mouth and the lips, it is possible to form an accidental ingestion prevention unit that is more difficult to drop off.

The tongue locking device is preferably made of a material that does not contain harmful substances because the suction part made of a suction cup or a hole is very flexible and easily adsorbs along the tongue or palate during suction. Elastomers used are optimal, and there is an advantage that it is easy to deal with flexible tongues, but in order to maintain the optimum shape according to the palate etc. if it is formed professionally and appropriately in medicine In addition, a material that is not flexible may be selected. Since the material is limited to a device used in the mouth, it is necessary to be made by a specialist such as a specialist or an engineer. The same applies to the base.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the tongue locking device of the present invention.
Reference numeral 1A denotes another tongue locking device having a ventilation passage 22 formed in the base 21. One of the passages 22 is connected to the opening 22a of the suction portion so as to allow ventilation, and the other is connected to the ventilation opening / closing portion 22b. As a result, the outside air (air), saliva, etc. staying in the entire area of the opening 22a can be discharged and the adsorbing part can be adsorbed to the tongue 2 or palate part 3.
Further, after the discharge, the adsorbing state can be maintained by closing the ventilation opening / closing part 22b by a push plug-like opening / closing mechanism 22d, and the adsorbing state can be released by opening the air by opening it. The structure of the opening / closing mechanism 22d is not limited to the illustrated stopper shape, and the same function is exhibited even if it is in the shape of a rotating stopper or a shutter.
The suction cup 12 and the base 21 that are the adsorbing portions are fixed so as not to be separated from each other, or have a structure that is difficult to be separated from each other, and can be replaced with each other by limiting the removal method. Is possible.

FIG. 3 shows that in all embodiments of the tongue locking device of the present invention, the tongue locking device 1 and the other tongue locking devices 1A and 1B are locked to the tongue 2 and the palate portion 3, It is sectional drawing which shows that the obstruction which the tongue part 2 falls to the airway 5 direction is prevented.
The tongue locking device 1 or other tongue locking devices 1A and 1B are sandwiched between the tongue 2 and the palate portion 3, the tongue 2 is moved in the opening direction of the mouth, and the tongue 2 is moved to the palate portion 3. The outside air (air), saliva, etc. staying in the entire area of the opening 22a through the air passage 22 are exhausted (see FIG. 2), and the adsorbing portion 12 and the base 11 are applied to the tongue portion 2 and the palate portion 3, respectively. By locking through the tongue locking device, the movement of the tongue 2 is prevented and it does not fall in the direction of the airway 5.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The tongue locking tool 1B shown in FIG. 4 is composed of a side piece 21c facing the tongue side and a side piece 21a facing the palate, and each side piece is provided with a suction portion 12. An opening 22 a opens in the suction portion 12 and continues to the ventilation path 22. Further, a column 11b is formed near the center of the triangular space of the air passage 22 to prevent the air passage 22 from being sucked and dropped during exhaust.
Further, the air passage 22 extends outward from the mouth and is formed into a tubular shape. The air passage 22 also becomes the air passage 22 and is provided with a forced discharger 24 at the extension destination. The suction portion 12 and the suction portion 12 are maintained in the suction state, or the forced discharger 24 is operated in the reverse direction, and the discharge direction 24a is switched to the direction of introduction into the suction portion. By sucking air toward 22a, the suction by the suction portion 12 can be released and the tongue locking devices 1A and 1B can be quickly removed.
In addition, by interposing the filter 23 between the forced discharger 24 and the continuous air passage 22 that continues in a tubular shape, discharge-inhibiting substances such as saliva contained in the outside air are filtered and retained. It is possible to prevent failure and to make the filter 23 detachable and cleanable, so that cleanliness can always be maintained.
Also in the present embodiment, the suction cup 12 serving as the suction portion and the side piece 21a or the side piece 21c of the base are fixed so as not to be separated from each other, or have a structure that is difficult to remove from each other, and the removal method is limited. It is also possible to have a locking structure that can be exchanged.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing in detail this structure in FIG. The side piece 21a and the side piece 21c are strongly fitted to each other and are in a fitted state, and the support column 11b prevents the air passage 22 from falling.

In FIG. 6, the gap between the tongue side 2 and the palate side 3 is strongly opened, so that each side piece, which is a component of the tongue locking device 1B, is fitted with the fitting portion 21d on the tongue side. It shows a state in which the fitting with the fitting part 21b on the palate side is released and the opening is released and the outside air 4 enters and the adsorption of the adsorption part 12 is released. By this operation, the tongue locking device 1B can be safely removed and kept breathing.

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the tongue locking device of the present invention.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a tongue locking device according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a plurality of suction cups 12 serving as suction parts are fixed or locked to a base 11, and the plate surface 12a of the suction cup 12 serving as a suction part is directed toward the palate part. Or facing the tongue.
The suction cup 12 and the base 11 that are the adsorbing portions are fixed so as not to be separated from each other, or have a structure that is difficult to remove from each other, and can be replaced with each other by limiting the removal method. Is possible.

In this structure, the tongue locking tool 1 is sandwiched between the tongue 2 and the palate 3 as shown in FIG. 3, and then the tongue 2 and the palate 3 are pressed firmly to face each other. By discharging the outside air (air), saliva, etc. staying in the dish surface 12a of the suction cup 12 which is a part, the tongue part 2 and the palate part 3 are adsorbed by the tongue part locking tool 1 and the mutual displacement is stopped. The tongue 2 is prevented from falling toward the airway mainly during sleep.

Moreover, FIG. 7 is sectional drawing which shows another embodiment of an adsorption | suction part. That is, the suction part 22c of another form connected from the ventilation path 22 is opened on a plane, and the suction cup 12 does not exist. Therefore, at the time of suction, a flat surface extending around the suction part 22c of another form performs the function of sucking instead of the suction cup 12, and sucks according to the intake air discharged from the air passage 22. This can be achieved by making the plane extending around the suction part 22c of another form a substantially flat surface. If there is a projection or the like that keeps the intake air on the plane, the suction of the suction part 22c. The function to do is impossible.

In each of the embodiments of the present invention, the tongue locking device 1, 1A, 1B extends toward the site where it can be moored by the surface of the dentition, and the accidental ingestion preventing portion 11a is extended so that the tongue can be used even during saliva. This prevents accidents such as accidental swallowing of the throat 1 and the clogging of the throat.

The structure of the accidental ingestion prevention portion 11a is bent in an L shape as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, and is anchored around the lip outside the mouth. Therefore, the tongue locking devices 1, 1A, 1B are accidentally ingested. The prevention unit 11a prevents accidental swallowing.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the accidental ingestion prevention portion 11c extends from an appropriate portion of the tongue locking device 1, 1A, 1B, and has an L-shape or lip between the lips and the teeth or gingiva. It has a structure that stands up and narrows in an I-shape, and it can be anchored to the lips and teeth or gingival part like a mouthpiece without going out of the mouth. There is no sense of incongruity.

The accidental ingestion prevention portions 11a and 11c can exhibit a prevention function by being provided independently. However, the effectiveness can be further enhanced by using the accidental ingestion prevention portions 11a and 11c in combination as shown in FIG.

In FIGS. 1 to 4, the accidental ingestion preventing portions 11a and 11c are all illustrated so as to face upward, but these elevation directions may be directed downward as well as upward. It can be moored on the lips or both lips and / or teeth or gingival area to prevent accidental ingestion (not shown), or it can face up and down to prevent accidental ingestion. It is possible to seek improvement in effect (not shown).

The present invention is not limited to the contents of the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope described in the claims.
For example, the suction part 22 consisting of the suction cup and the opening of the tongue preventive tool 1A or 1B is changed to the structure of another type of suction part 22c shown in FIG. 7, and a flat surface extending around the suction part 22c is suctioned instead of the suction cup 12. By fulfilling the function, it is possible to increase the same adsorption effect.

  It is a perspective view which shows 4th embodiment of the tongue part latching tool concerning this invention.   It is a perspective view which shows 1st embodiment of the tongue part latching tool concerning this invention.   It is sectional drawing which shows that the tongue part locking tool concerning this invention has latched the tongue part to the palate part.   It is a figure which equips the tongue part locking tool concerning this invention with a ventilation path, a forced discharger, and a filter.   It is a figure which shows the cross section of FIG. 4 of the tongue part locking tool concerning this invention.   It is sectional drawing which shows that the side piece of the tongue part locking tool concerning this invention was spaced apart.   It is sectional drawing which shows another embodiment of the adsorption | suction part of the tongue part locking tool concerning this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A, 1B Tongue part locking tool 2 Tongue part 3 Palate part 4 Outside air 5 Airway 11, 21 Base 11a 11c Ingestion prevention part 11b Strut 12, 22c Adsorption part 12a Dish surface 21a, 21c Side piece 21b, 21d Fitting Part 22 Ventilation path 22a Opening part 22b Vent opening / closing part 22d Opening / closing mechanism 23 Filter 24 Forced discharger 24a Discharge direction

Claims (5)

  In the tongue or palate in the mouth, the suction part, which is a suction cup with a dish surface facing each surface, or a hole-like suction part, is configured by adhering to, anchoring or drilling on the surface of the base, and The air passage extending from the inside of the base toward the opening of the surface allows suction and discharge of outside air or liquid that stays in the suction portion through the air passage, and the suction portion is formed by suction and discharge. A ventilation opening / closing part that adsorbs to the tongue part or the palate part and / or controls the outside air or the ventilation on the ventilation path is provided in a part of the ventilation path, and is inserted between the tongue part and the palate part through the ventilation path. Enables control of suction or discharge of outside air or liquid, that is, closes the ventilation opening / closing part and keeps the adsorption state of the adsorption part, or opens the ventilation opening / closing part to open the adsorption state of the adsorption part To, tongue locking device.   The suction cup or the hole-shaped suction part is configured to be fixed, locked, or punched on each side piece constituting the base that can be separated into the tongue side and the palate side, and the side pieces are It can be separably fitted at any time and can be kept airtight, and when the engagement between the tongue and the palate is released urgently, the tongue and the palate are strongly separated from each other on the sides of the fitting. The tongue locking device according to claim 1, wherein the engagement of the pieces is released, and the opening is opened to allow release by releasing air or liquid and releasing airtightness.   By extending the vent passage out of the mouth, and having a discharge device for air, liquid, etc. on the extension, operating the discharge device to force exhaust properly to maintain the adsorption state, the tongue portion and the palate portion By making the interposition locking sustainable, or by switching the discharger so that it can be sucked and discharged, outside air is sent to the adsorption portion in the outside air intake state, and the adsorption portion is adsorbed in the interposition locking state. 3. The tongue locking device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the state locking device can be opened.   Consists of a sucker with a dish surface facing each surface in the tongue and palate in the mouth, and a base that fixes or locks the base of the sucker, and inserts between the tongue and the palate to make these suckers The plate surface of the tongue is pressed onto the tongue and palate surface, and adsorbed, and the tongue and palate are attached and locked to prevent movement of the tongue, mainly toward the airway during sleep. Tongue lock that suppresses obstacles that fall and block the airway.   It includes an accidental ingestion preventing portion that extends from the base and has an effect of preventing accidental ingestion of the tongue locking device by engaging with one or both of the mouth and between the teeth and the lips. The tongue locking device according to claim 1.

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