US 12,303,424 B2
Adjustable sleep apnea oral appliance for use with orthodontic braces
Rob Veis, Malibu, CA (US)
Assigned to R.I.P., LLC, Chatsworth, CA (US)
Appl. No. 18/832,656
Filed by R.I.P., LLC, Chatsworth, CA (US)
PCT Filed Sep. 5, 2023, PCT No. PCT/US2023/073495
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 24, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2024/050568, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 7, 2024.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/403,400, filed on Sep. 2, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2025/0099292 A1, Mar. 27, 2025
Int. Cl. A61C 7/28 (2006.01); A61F 5/56 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 5/566 (2013.01) [A61C 7/28 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sleep appliance for use with orthodontic braces, comprising:
(1) an upper appliance portion for use on maxillary dentition of a user of the appliance, comprising:
(a) an upper base portion having a right side, a left side, an anterior side, a posterior side, an upper side, and a lower side;
(b) an upper right side wire having a proximal end, a distal end, a lingual wire portion, a buccal wire portion, and a medial portion, wherein:
(i) the proximal end of the upper right side wire is attached to the right side of the upper base portion;
(ii) the lingual wire portion of the upper right side wire extends posteriorly from the proximal end to the medial portion, the medial portion of the upper right side wire extends laterally, and the buccal wire portion of the upper right side wire extends from the medial portion anteriorly to the distal end; and
(iii) the upper right side wire is adapted to fit between brackets of orthodontic braces affixed to teeth of the user of the appliance and gum tissue of the user;
(c) an upper left side wire having a proximal end, a distal end, a lingual wire portion, a buccal wire portion, and a medial portion, wherein:
(i) the proximal end of the upper left side wire is attached to the left side of the upper base portion;
(ii) the lingual wire portion of the upper left side wire extends posteriorly from the proximal end to the medial portion, the medial portion of the upper left side wire extends laterally, and the buccal wire portion of the upper left side wire extends from the medial portion anteriorly to the distal end; and
(iii) the upper left side wire is adapted to fit between brackets of orthodontic braces affixed to teeth of the user of the appliance and gum tissue of the user;
(d) an upper receptacle having an upper surface, wherein the upper receptacle comprises a thermoplastic material; and
(e) a downwardly extending projection having a proximal end, a distal end, an anterior surface, and a posterior surface, wherein the projection is attached to and extends downwardly from the lower side of the upper base portion; and
(2) a lower appliance portion for use on mandibular dentition of a user of the appliance, comprising:
(a) a lower base portion having a right side, a left side, an anterior side, a posterior side, an upper side, and a lower side;
(b) a lower right side wire having a proximal end, a distal end, a lingual wire portion, a buccal wire portion, and a medial portion, wherein:
(i) the proximal end of the lower right side wire is attached to the right side of the lower base portion;
(ii) the lingual wire portion of the lower right side wire extends posteriorly from the proximal end to the medial portion, the medial portion of the lower right side wire extends laterally, and the buccal wire portion of the lower right side wire extends from the medial portion anteriorly to the distal end; and
(iii) the lower right side wire is adapted to fit between brackets of orthodontic braces affixed to teeth of the user of the appliance and gum tissue of the user;
(c) a lower left side wire having a proximal end, a distal end, a lingual wire portion, a buccal wire portion, and a medial portion, wherein:
(i) the proximal end of the lower left side wire is attached to the left side of the lower base portion;
(ii) the lingual wire portion of the lower left side wire extends posteriorly from the proximal end to the medial portion, the medial portion of the lower left side wire extends laterally, and the buccal wire portion of the lower left side wire extends from the medial portion anteriorly to the distal end; and
(iii) the lower left side wire is adapted to fit between brackets of orthodontic braces affixed to teeth of the user of the appliance and gum tissue of the user; and
(d) a lower receptacle having a lower surface, wherein the lower receptacle comprises a thermoplastic material,
wherein the anterior surface of the projection is adapted to contact the posterior side of the lower base portion when the appliance is in use, thereby limiting anterior movement of the upper appliance portion with respect to the lower appliance portion, and
wherein the thermoplastic material can be reversibly deformed in order to accommodate changing tooth positions of the teeth of the user.