Patent · US Active

Multilevel oral appliance and method for maintaining a pharyngeal airway

US9808371B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
19References
24Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 14, 2013
Grant dateNov 7, 2017
Priority date—
Expiry dateJun 5, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M16/0495
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Plural tongue gripping projections coupled to upper and lower supports grip and hold the tongue during sleep and minimize the risk of the tongue slipping back and blocking the throat. One or both of the upper and lower supports are biased together. A tongue depressor extends rearwardly and downwardly from a cross member portion of a jaw coupler. A soft palate engager extends rearwardly from the cross member. The tongue grasping device, tongue depressor and soft palate engager cooperatively resist closing of the user's pharyngeal airway. The tongue depressor and soft palate engager are desirably biased apart and supported by flexible supports to permit movement of the rear of the tongue to close the pharyngeal airway during swallowing.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.