US 12,251,092 B2
Cheek and lip expansion device and method
Neil T. Jessop, Sandy, UT (US); Bruce S. McLean, Sandy, UT (US); and Craig Hines, Lihue, HI (US)
Assigned to ULTRADENT PRODUCTS, INC., South Jordan, UT (US)
Filed by ULTRADENT PRODUCTS, INC., South Jordan, UT (US)
Filed on Sep. 8, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/014,857.
Application 17/014,857 is a continuation of application No. 16/030,591, filed on Jul. 9, 2018, granted, now 10,765,493, issued on Sep. 8, 2020.
Application 16/030,591 is a continuation of application No. 14/858,954, filed on Sep. 18, 2015, granted, now 10,016,258, issued on Jul. 10, 2018.
Application 14/858,954 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/776,867, granted, now 9,901,332, issued on Feb. 27, 2018, previously published as PCT/US2014/028083, filed on Mar. 14, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/789,929, filed on Mar. 15, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2020/0397535 A1, Dec. 24, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/02 (2006.01); A61B 1/24 (2006.01); A61B 1/32 (2006.01); A61B 13/00 (2006.01); A61C 5/90 (2017.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/0293 (2013.01) [A61B 1/24 (2013.01); A61B 1/32 (2013.01); A61B 13/00 (2013.01); A61B 17/02 (2013.01); A61C 5/90 (2017.02); A61B 2017/00862 (2013.01); A61B 2560/0443 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A frame of a cheek and lip expansion device configured to extend about dental arches of a user, the frame comprising:
an upper frame portion including a first upper side member, a second upper side member, and an upper connecting portion;
a lower frame portion including a first lower side member, a second lower side member, and a lower connecting portion;
a first posterior thickened structure disposed between the first upper side member and the first lower side member, the first thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent portions of the first upper side member and the first lower side member;
a second posterior thickened structure disposed between the second upper side member and the second lower side member, the second thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent portions of the second upper side member and the second lower side member; and
a posterior frame element, a first end of the posterior frame element connected at least proximate to the first posterior thickened structure, and a second end of the posterior frame element connected at least proximate to the second posterior thickened structure.