Intraoral acupressure apparatus

Abstract

An intraoral acupressure apparatus and method of treating a user are disclosed. The apparatus may include a base shaped to conform to a palate of a user, the base configured to be removably held adjacent to the palate in a predetermined position relative to acupressure points located on the user's palate. The apparatus may additionally include one or more projections extending out from the base and configured to contact one or more acupressure points of the user's palate when the apparatus is removably held in the predetermined position. The base may be configured to be removably held in the predetermined position without wire hooks or clasps.

1 . An intraoral acupressure apparatus, comprising:
 a base shaped to conform to a palate of a user, the base configured to be removably held adjacent to the palate in a predetermined position relative to acupressure points located on the user's palate; and   one or more projections extending out from the base and configured to contact one or more acupressure points of the user's palate when the apparatus is removably held in the predetermined position, wherein the base is configured to be removably held in the predetermined position without wire hooks or clasps.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base is configured to be removably held in the predetermined position via a precision fit in the user's mouth. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the base is further configured not to contact any side of the user's teeth, other than the lingual sides of one or more of the user's teeth, when the base is removably held in the predetermined position. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the base includes a perimeter portion having a plurality of depressions shaped to conform to the lingual sides of one or more of the user's teeth. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base is custom made to the palate of the user. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more projections is configured to contact an acupressure point that promotes appetite suppression when the base is removably held in the predetermined position. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base is made from one or more polymer materials. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a surface that faces away from the palate of the user when the base is removably held in the predetermined position, the surface having texture that is configured to facilitate removal of the apparatus from the predetermined position. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the texture includes a plurality of grooves. 
     
     
         10 . A method of treating a user, comprising:
 making an apparatus from an impression of a palate of a user, the apparatus including:
 a base configured to conform to the user's palate, the base configured to be removably held, without wire hooks or clasps, adjacent to the palate in a predetermined position relative to acupressure points located on the palate of the user, and 
 one or more projections that extend out from the base and are configured to contact one or more acupressure points of the user's palate when the base is held in the predetermined position, and 
   placing the base in the predetermined position in the user's mouth.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein making an apparatus from an impression of a palate of a user includes making the apparatus such that the base is configured to be removably held in the predetermined position via a precision fit in the user's mouth. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein making the apparatus such that the base is configured to be removably held in the predetermined position via a precision fit in the user's mouth includes making the apparatus such that the base is configured not to contact any side of the user's teeth, other than the lingual sides of one or more of the user's teeth, when the apparatus is held in the predetermined position. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein making the apparatus such that the base is configured not to contact any side of the user's teeth, other than the lingual sides of one or more of the user's teeth, when the apparatus is held in the predetermined position includes making the apparatus such that the base includes a perimeter portion having a plurality of depressions shaped to conform to the lingual sides of one or more of the user's teeth. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , making an apparatus from an impression of a palate of a user includes forming an impression of the user's palate and creating a model of the base with the impression. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , where the base is made of one or more materials configured to allow inspection of the user's palate when the base is removably held in the predetermined position, further comprising inspecting the user's palate for one or more pressure points that are not the one or more acupressure points when the base is removably held in the predetermined position. 
     
     
         16 . An intraoral acupressure apparatus, comprising:
 a base configured to conform to a user's palate, the base being further configured to be inserted into the user's mouth and placed adjacent to the user's palate such that at least a substantial portion of the user's palate is covered, wherein the base includes a perimeter that is shaped to conform to the inner surfaces of the user's teeth to secure the base to the user's palate; and   at least one projection from the base configured to extend into and contact one or more acupressure points of the user's palate, wherein the base is configured not to contact any side of the user's teeth, other than the lingual sides of one or more of the user's teeth, when the base is placed adjacent to the user's palate.   
     
     
         17 . The intraoral acupressure apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the apparatus is free from any wires or clasps. 
     
     
         18 . The intraoral acupressure apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the base is free from any apertures. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the base is custom made to the user's palate. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the one or more projections is configured to contact an acupressure point that promotes appetite suppression when the base is adjacent to the user's palate.