Open bite registration device for use in making a customized intraoral device for radiation treatment

Abstract

A device is disclosed to assist in making a customized intraoral positioning device IPD to be positioned within a mouth of a patient in accordance with a prescribed radiation therapy treatment plan for a head and/or neck of the patient, the prescribed radiation therapy treatment plan including an incisor separation and/or tongue position of the patient, the device comprising: a base unit configured to be positioned between upper and lower arches in the patient's mouth, wherein the base unit includes an arch section for incisor separation in a deployed configuration in the patient's mouth and first and second arms that extending from the arch unit; a handle extending from the base unit to enable a user to grasp the device so that the user may introduce and remove the device from the patient's mouth; and one or more bite blocks configured on the arch section of the base unit so as to increase the height of the arch section in accordance with the incisor separation of the prescribed radiation therapy treatment plan, to thereby enable a user to obtain records of the position for dental and oral structure within the patient's mouth including a relationship between the upper and lower arches at the prescribed incisor separation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device to assist in making a customized intraoral positioning device IPD to be positioned within a mouth of a patient in accordance with a prescribed radiation therapy treatment plan for a head and/or neck of the patient, the prescribed radiation therapy treatment plan including an incisor separation and/or tongue position of the patient, the device comprising:
 a base unit configured to be positioned between upper and lower arches in the patient's mouth, wherein the base unit includes an arch section for incisor separation in a deployed configuration in the patient's mouth and first and second arms that extending from the arch unit;   a handle extending from the base unit to enable a user to grasp the device so that the user may introduce and remove the device from the patient's mouth; and   one or more bite blocks configured on the arch section of the base unit so as to increase the height of the arch section in accordance with the incisor separation of the prescribed radiation therapy treatment plan, to thereby enable a user to obtain records of the position for dental and oral structure within the patient's mouth including a relationship between the upper and lower arches at the prescribed incisor separation.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the base unit is shaped in an arch to fit a jaw of the patient. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein arch section of the base unit includes one or more holes to receive one or more projections on a bite block so as to increase the height of the arch section in accordance with the incisor separation of the prescribed radiation therapy treatment plan. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the first and second arms each include a plurality of holes for receiving impression material on opposing sides of the first and second arms to thereby enable impressions to be taken of the upper and lower arches of the patient. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3  wherein one or more bite blocks include one or more projections extending from a surface thereof, the one or more projections configured to fit within the one or more holes on the arch section of the base unit. 
     
     
         6 . The device  claim 5  wherein the one or more projections of the one or more bite blocks have a diameter sized larger than a diameter of the one or more holes in the arch section of the base unit. 
     
     
         7 . The device  claim 5  wherein the one or more bite blocks include one or more holes on a surface opposing the surface with the one or more projections, wherein the one or more holes are sized to receive one or more projections of a second bite block of the one or more bite blocks. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the one or more projections on the one or more bite blocks include at least one annular ring having a diameter larger than diameter of the one or more holes in the arch section. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein a bite block of the one or more bite blocks is constructed to be integral with the arch section. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein a bit block of the one or bite blocks is configured to be installed on the arch section.