Mandibular advancement splint

Abstract

Mandibular advancement splint against snoring and sleep apnea. The splint is made of two thermoformable trays ( 1, 2 ) designed to envelop the upper and lower arch. In order to be able to adapt to individual variations in conformation, the advancement splint includes an articulated frame having rigid and flexible elements, immersed in the thermoformable flexible material or molded around it. The frame's articulations ( 12, 13, 23 ) allow the splint to fit the curve of the dental arch and to adapt to irregularities in the teeth's position. The inventive splint is equivalent in terms of comfort and efficiency to a personalized splint made by an orthodontist or dental technician, but its cost is 6 to 10 times lower.

1 . Mandibular advancement splint, having a first tray for enveloping the upper dental arch and a second tray for enveloping the lower dental arch of the mouth cavity, the splint including advancement means connecting said first and second trays, capable of exerting an advancement force onto said second tray in the postero-anterior direction, characterized in that at least one of said first and second trays includes an articulated frame, allowing deformation along three dimensions, to adapt to the wearer's dental conformation, wherein said articulated frame is made of a single injected piece having relatively rigid elements to exert a holding force against the labial and lingual sides of the teeth, and flexible elements to allow said frame to articulate and/or deform.  
     
     
         2 . The mandibular advancement splint of  claim 1 , having elements of thermoformable plastic material in said first and second trays to adapt to the wearer's dental conformation.  
     
     
         3 . The mandibular advancement splint of  claim 1 , wherein said advancement means include elastic loops.  
     
     
         4 . The mandibular advancement splint of  claim 2  wherein said frame is inside said elements of thermoformable plastic material.  
     
     
         5 . The mandibular advancement splint of  claim 1 , wherein said frame includes a plurality of prehension elements open towards the dental arch and capable of exerting a holding action on the dental and lingual sides of the teeth, said prehension elements being connected by flexible articulations.  
     
     
         6 . The mandibular advancement splint of  claim 1 , wherein said first tray and said second tray have visual indicia to make easier the relative alignment of said first and second trays.