Oral mouthpiece and method for the use thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10028885-B2
Application number	US-201414213313-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

An oral device, or mouthpiece, for delivering a fluid to the mouth or oropharynx of a user includes an intraoral portion and an extraoral portion, which may be integrally formed. In various embodiments, the oral device may be configured with ear loops. The intraoral portion generally includes at least one outlet port through which the fluid is delivered to the oral cavity or oropharynx. A method for making an oral device is also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An oral mouthpiece comprising:
an integrally formed Y-shaped housing comprising a pair of arms and an inlet tube defining a junction at an intersection of said pair of arms and said inlet tube, wherein said pair of arms comprises a pair of laterally spaced intraoral portions defining intraoral conduits each having at least one outlet port adapted to dispense at least one fluid pulse; and wherein said inlet tube defines in part an extraoral portion coupled to and integrally formed with said intraoral portions as a one-piece component, said extraoral portion defining at least one extraoral conduit in flow communication with said intraoral conduits, said extraoral portion being connectable to a fluid supply, wherein said intraoral portions and extraoral portion form a delivery conduit, and wherein said delivery conduit comprises a one-way valve permitting one way directional flow from said extraoral conduit to said intraoral conduits; and wherein said one-way valve is disposed in said Y-shaped housing within said junction.

2. The oral mouthpiece of claim 1 wherein said extraoral portion comprises a wing forming a lip-receiving portion.

3. The oral mouthpiece of claim 2 further comprising an ear loop connected to said wing.

4. The oral mouthpiece of claim 3 wherein a length of said ear loop is adjustable.

5. The oral mouthpiece of claim 4 wherein said wing has a receptacle and said ear loop has a free end, wherein said free end is moveably captured by said receptacle.

6. The oral mouthpiece of claim 3 wherein said ear loop is overmolded on said wing.

7. The oral mouthpiece of claim 5
wherein said ear loop extends from and is moveable relative to said receptacle such that a length of said ear loop is lengthened or shortened while a corresponding length of said free end is simultaneously shortened or lengthened respectively, and wherein said ear loop comprises a plurality of detents engageable by said receptacle and fixing a location of said ear loop as said ear loop is moved relative to said receptacle.

8. The oral mouthpiece of claim 7 wherein said intraoral and extraoral portions are integrally formed from a first material, and wherein said ear loop is made of a second material and is overmolded onto said delivery conduit.

9. The oral mouthpiece of claim 8 wherein said second material has a lower durometer than said first material.

10. The oral mouthpiece of claim 7 wherein said plurality of detents comprises a plurality of bumps or grooves.

11. The oral mouthpiece of claim 1 wherein said one-way valve is integrally molded with said delivery conduit.

12. The oral mouthpiece of claim 1 further comprising a stiffening member disposed adjacent said one-way valve, wherein said stiffening member is disposed in said housing and is made of a more rigid material than said housing.

13. The oral mouthpiece of claim 12 wherein said stiffening member surrounds said one-way valve.

14. A method for making an oral mouthpiece comprising:
integrally molding a pair of intraoral portions and an extraoral portion from a first material, said intraoral portions defining intraoral conduits having outlet ports adapted to dispense at least one fluid pulse, and said extraoral portion defining at least one extraoral conduit in flow communication with said intraoral conduits, and said extraoral portion comprising a receptacle, said extraoral portion being connectable to a fluid supply, wherein said intraoral portions and said extraoral portion form a delivery conduit;
wherein said integrally molding said intraoral portions and said extraoral portion comprises:
molding a Y-shaped housing comprising a pair of arms defining said intraoral portions and an inlet tube, said housing defining a junction at an intersection of said pair of arms and said inlet tube; and
molding a one-way valve within said junction; and

overmolding a second material over at least a portion of said first material, said second material having a different durometer than said first material, wherein said overmolding said second material comprises molding an ear strap having a free end portion insertable through said receptacle so as to define an ear loop, wherein said ear strap is adapted to be moveable relative to said receptacle such that a length of said ear loop is capable of being lengthened or shortened while a corresponding length of said free end is simultaneously shortened or lengthened respectively, and wherein said ear loop comprises a plurality of detents engageable by said receptacle so as to fix said length of said ear loop.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said second material has a lower durometer than said first material.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said integrally molding said intraoral portions and said extraoral portion comprises forming an opening along a length of at least portions of said intraoral and extraoral portions.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said overmolding said second material comprises covering said opening.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein said plurality of detents comprises a plurality of bumps or grooves.

Assignees

• Martin Ruth E
• Nuttall Michael
• Finlay Bryan
• Theurer Julie
• Coultes Brandon
• Univ Western Ontario
• Trudell Medical Int

Inventors

• Martin Ruth E
• Nuttall Michael
• Finlay Bryan
• Theurer Julie
• Coultes Brandon

Classifications

• A61H2205/04

  neck · CPC title

• A61M16/0006

  with means for creating vibrations in patients' airways · CPC title

• A61H2205/02

  Head · CPC title

• A61H2201/165

  Wearable interfaces · CPC title

• A61H23/04 Primary

  with hydraulic or pneumatic drive {(hydraulic or Pneumatic massages, A61H9/00; underwater massages, A61H33/00)} · CPC title