초록 ▼

A dentally retained intra-oral appliance worn at night for treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. The appliance maintains the patient's mandible in an anterior, protruded position to prevent obstruction of the pharyngeal airway. The appliance allows a limited degree of lateral movement of

A dentally retained intra-oral appliance worn at night for treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. The appliance maintains the patient's mandible in an anterior, protruded position to prevent obstruction of the pharyngeal airway. The appliance allows a limited degree of lateral movement of the mandible relative to the upper jaw in the protruded position to prevent aggravation of the patient's tempromandibular joint and associated muscles and ligaments. The appliance preferably consists of an upper bite block conforming to the patient's maxillary dentition, a lower bite block conforming to the patient's mandibular dentition, and a connecting assembly secured to an anterior region of the upper and lower bite blocks for adjustably coupling the upper and lower bite blocks together.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An intra-oral dental appliance to be worn by a patient during sleep for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea and snoring comprising:(a) an upper member conforming to the patient's maxillary dentition;(b) a lower member conforming to the patient's mandibular dentition; and

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An intra-oral dental appliance to be worn by a patient during sleep for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea and snoring comprising:(a) an upper member conforming to the patient's maxillary dentition;(b) a lower member conforming to the patient's mandibular dentition; and(c) connecting means for releasably coupling said upper and lower members together to maintain said lower member in an anterior, protruded position relative to said upper member, wherein said connecting means is manually adjustable to incrementally vary the degree of anterior protrusion of said lower member relative to said upper member, and wherein said connecting means is slidably coupled to said lower member to permit a limited degree of sliding lateral movement of said lower member relative to said upper member in said anterior, protruded position.