Oral mouthpiece and method for the use thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to an oral device, or mouthpiece, for delivering a fluid to the mouth or oropharynx of a user, and to a pneumatic vibrating element. In one embodiment, the oral device includes an intraoral portion, an inlet line and the pneumatic vibrating element. The pneumatic vibrating element may include a shell defining a cavity and an inlet portion in fluid communication with the cavity. The inlet portion may be in fluid communication with the inlet line. A user interface is coupled to the shell and closes the cavity. Methods of dispensing a fluid using the oral device, and/or using the pneumatic vibrating element, are also provided.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A pneumatic vibrating element comprising:
 a shell defining a cavity and comprising an inlet portion in fluid communication with the cavity;   a user interface coupled to said shell and closing said cavity; and   an inlet line adapted to supply a pneumatic pulse to said inlet port.   
     
     
         15 . The pneumatic vibrating element of  claim 14  wherein said user interface comprises a flexible membrane. 
     
     
         16 . The pneumatic vibrating element of  claim 14  wherein said user interface comprises a pressure plate and a flexible bellows connected between said pressure plate and said shell. 
     
     
         17 . An oral device comprising:
 an intraoral portion defining an intraoral conduit having at least one outlet port adapted to dispense at least one fluid pulse;   an inlet line in fluid communication with the intraoral portion and adapted to supply the at least one fluid pulse to the intraoral portion; and   a pneumatic vibrating element comprising:
 a shell defining a cavity and comprising an inlet portion in fluid communication with the cavity, said inlet portion in fluid communication with said inlet line; and 
 a user interface coupled to said shell and closing said cavity. 
   
     
     
         18 . The oral device of  claim 17  wherein said user interface comprises a flexible membrane. 
     
     
         19 . The oral device of  claim 17  wherein said user interface comprises a pressure plate and a flexible bellows connected between said pressure plate and said shell. 
     
     
         20 . The oral device of  claim 17  wherein said inlet line comprises a one-way check valve. 
     
     
         21 . The pneumatic vibrating element of  claim 14  wherein said shell has a domed shape backside. 
     
     
         22 . The pneumatic vibrating, element of  claim 14  wherein said user interface has a circular profile. 
     
     
         23 . The pneumatic vibrating element of  claim 14  wherein said user interface comprises a pressure plate and a spring maintaining said shell and said pressure plate in a normally, spaced apart relationship. 
     
     
         24 . The pneumatic vibrating element of  claim 16  further comprising a spring acting against said flexible bellows. 
     
     
         25 . The oral device of  claim 19  further comprising a spring acting against said flexible bellows. 
     
     
         26 . A system for providing a vibration to a user comprising:
 a pump;   a supply line having a first end in fluid communication with said pump; and   said pneumatic vibrating element of  claim 14  in fluid communication with a second end of said supply line.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26  wherein said pneumatic vibrating element comprises a first pneumatic vibrating element, and further comprising a second pneumatic vibrating element in fluid communication with said supply line. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27  wherein said first and second pneumatic vibrating elements are coupled to said supply line with first and second pneumatic tubes. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 26  wherein said pump is selected from the group consisting of a diaphragm pump, a syringe pump, a vacuum pump and a positive displacement pump. 
     
     
         30 . A method for administering a vibration to a user comprising:
 providing a pneumatic vibrating element comprising a shell defining a cavity and a user interface coupled to said shell and closing said cavity;   abutting said user interface against a skin portion of said user;   providing a pulsing pneumatic pressure to said shell; and   applying a mechanical vibration to said skin portion with said user interface.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 31  wherein said user interface comprises a flexible membrane. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein said user interface comprises a pressure plate and a flexible bellows connected between said pressure plate and said shell, and wherein said applying said mechanical vibration to said skin portion with said user interface comprises flexing, said flexible bellows. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising biasing said pressure plate and said shell away from each other with a spring. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30  wherein said providing a pulsing pneumatic pressure to said shell comprises supplying said pulsing pneumatic pressure with a pump. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30  wherein said abutting said user interface against said skin portion of said user comprises abutting first and second user interfaces of first and second pneumatic vibrating elements respectively against spaced apart first and second skin portions, wherein said providing said puking pneumatic pressure to said shell comprises providing first and second pulsing pneumatic pressures to first and second shells of said first and second pneumatic vibrating elements respectively, and wherein said applying said mechanical vibration to said skin portion with said user interface comprises applying first and second mechanical vibrations to said first and second skin portions with said first and second user interfaces of said first and second pneumatic vibrating elements. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein said first and second pulsing pneumatic pressures are the same. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  wherein said first and second pulsing pneumatic pressures are applied simultaneously.