Intra-oral device for treating obesity

Abstract

The present invention relates to an intra-oral device including a carrier that has an outside wall, an inside wall and an occlusal wall connecting the outside wall to the inside wall. The carrier has at least one inset and at least one insert carrying a beneficial agent that is adapted to fit the inset, and the beneficial agent is capable of promoting weight loss. The intra-oral device is positioned in a user's mouth so that the intra-oral device is in contact with the user's cheeks, lips and/or tongue and the beneficial agent passes through the mucosal membrane of the user's mouth.

1 . A method of delivering a beneficial agent, comprising:
 placing an intra-oral device in the oral cavity of a user, wherein the intra-oral device includes a carrier having at least one inset therein and at least one perforation associated with the inset, and the intra-oral device including at least one insert carrying a beneficial agent adapted to be received by the inset of the carrier; and   applying pressure to the intra-oral device by the user to cause a surge of the beneficial agent through the perforation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier includes an outside wall, an inside wall, and an occlusal wall connecting the outside wall to the inside wall, wherein the outside wall, the inside wall, and the occlusal wall of the carrier define at least one channel for embracing an arch of teeth of the user, and wherein the outside wall is provided with an opening adapted to expose at least one of the user's teeth. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the beneficial agent is capable of promoting weight loss. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier includes an outside wall, an inside wall, and an occlusal wall connecting the outside wall to the inside wall, and wherein the outside wall, the inside wall, and the occlusal wall of the carrier define at least one channel for embracing an arch of teeth of the user; the carrier having a right-hand portion for embracing a portion of the arch of teeth on a right side of the user's mouth and a left-hand portion for embracing a portion of the arch of teeth on a left side of the user's mouth, and the carrier having an intermediate portion disposed between the right-hand portion and the left-hand portion, the intermediate portion arranged to extend along at least a portion of either the roof or the floor of the user's mouth or the inner surface of the teeth when the channel embraces the arch of teeth, wherein the inset is located on the intermediate portion. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the intermediate portion comprises a wing extending from the inside wall. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of applying pressure to the intra-oral device by the user comprises applying pressure to the intra-oral device by the user's tongue. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier includes an outside wall, an inside wall, and an occlusal wall connecting the outside wall to the inside wall, wherein the outside wall, the inside wall, and the occlusal wall of the carrier define at least one channel for embracing an arch of teeth of the user, and wherein the inset is located on the inside wall of the carrier. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the beneficial agent comprises flavors, odors, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The intra-oral device of  claim 1 , wherein the beneficial agent has time release properties, and wherein the surge of the beneficial agent through the perforation caused by the step of applying pressure to the intra-oral device by the user increases the amount of the beneficial agent released through the perforation. 
     
     
         10 . An intra-oral device comprising:
 a carrier having a plurality of walls, at least one of the walls having at least one recessed inset therein, the inset adapted to receive an insert carrying a beneficial agent, the inset having an open end along a surface of the wall that contains the inset, the inset defined by an inner surface extending into the carrier, the inner surface of the inset including a plurality of perforations opposite the open end of the inset, the perforations extending through the wall that contains the inset.   
     
     
         11 . The intra-oral device of  claim 10 , wherein the perforations are adapted to permit the beneficial agent from the insert to pass therethrough when the insert is received in the inset. 
     
     
         12 . The intra-oral device of  claim 10 , further comprising the insert, wherein the beneficial agent is selected from the group consisting of flavors, odors, appetite suppressants, agents for decreasing food absorption, agents for absorbing dietary fat, herbal compounds, chemicals, therapeutic agents, medications, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The intra-oral device of  claim 10 , further comprising the insert, wherein the beneficial agent has time release properties. 
     
     
         14 . The intra-oral device of  claim 10 , further comprising the insert, wherein the beneficial agent is released by a delivery system comprising a polysaccharide-based material. 
     
     
         15 . The intra-oral device of  claim 10 , further comprising the insert, wherein the insert contains edible materials. 
     
     
         16 . The intra-oral device of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of walls includes an outside wall, an inside wall, and an occlusal wall connecting the outside wall to the inside wall, wherein the outside wall, the inside wall, and the occlusal wall of the carrier define at least one channel for embracing an arch of teeth of a user of the intra-oral device; the carrier having a right-hand portion for embracing a portion of the arch of teeth on a right side of the user's mouth and a left-hand portion for embracing a portion of the arch of teeth on a left side of the user's mouth, and the carrier having an intermediate portion disposed between the right-hand portion and the left-hand portion, the intermediate portion arranged to extend along at least a portion of either the roof or the floor of the user's mouth or the inner surface of the teeth when the channel embraces the arch of teeth, wherein the inset is located on the intermediate portion. 
     
     
         17 . The intra-oral device of  claim 15 , wherein the intermediate portion comprises a wing extending from the inside wall. 
     
     
         18 . The intra-oral device of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of walls includes an outside wall, an inside wall, and an occlusal wall connecting the outside wall to the inside wall, wherein the outside wall, the inside wall, and the occlusal wall of the carrier define at least one channel for embracing an arch of teeth of a user of the intra-oral device, and wherein the outside wall is provided with an opening adapted to expose at least one of the user's teeth. 
     
     
         19 . The intra-oral device of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of walls includes an outside wall, an inside wall, and an occlusal wall connecting the outside wall to the inside wall, wherein the outside wall, the inside wall, and the occlusal wall of the carrier define at least one channel for embracing an arch of teeth of a user of the intra-oral device, and wherein the inset is located on the inside wall of the carrier. 
     
     
         20 . The intra-oral device of  claim 19 , wherein the inside wall has an inner surface facing towards the teeth of the user and an outer surface facing away from the teeth of the user, and wherein the inset is located on either the inner surface or the outer surface of the inside wall.