Apparatuses and methods for mandibular protrusion

Abstract

Embodiments of methods and mandibular protruders and positioning devices, comprising, for example: an upper mounting bracket having an upper dental appliance; a lower mounting bracket having a lower dental appliance; and a rail system configured to couple the upper mounting bracket to the lower mounting bracket. Some embodiments comprise a drive motor and/or an initial position adjustment mechanism.

1 - 73 . (canceled) 
     
     
         74 . A mandibular protruder comprising,
 an upper mounting bracket having an upper dental appliance and a portion that extends from the upper dental appliance, the upper dental appliance being configured for use with dental impression material;   a lower mounting bracket having a lower dental appliance and a portion that extends from the lower dental appliance, the lower dental appliance being configured for use with dental impression material;   a rail system coupling the extending portions such that relative motion of the extending portions is substantially prevented in a lateral direction, wherein the rail system comprises an engaged portion of the upper and lower extending portions; and   a coupling component configured to statically fix relative displacement of the lower bracket and the upper mounting bracket.   
     
     
         75 . The mandibular protruder of  claim 74 , wherein the coupling component comprises a screw. 
     
     
         76 . The mandibular protruder of  claim 74 , wherein the coupling component comprises a clamp. 
     
     
         77 . The mandibular protruder of  claim 74 , wherein the coupling component comprises an adhesive. 
     
     
         78 . The mandibular protruder of  claim 74 , wherein at least a portion of each extending portion is configured to extend outside the mouth of a patient when the upper and lower dental appliances are positioned in the mouth of the patient. 
     
     
         79 . The mandibular protruder of  claim 74 , wherein the coupling component comprises:
 an upper portion;   a lower portion, wherein the upper portion of the coupling component is configured to couple with the upper mounting bracket and the lower portion of the coupling component, and wherein the lower portion of the coupling component is configured to couple with the lower mounting bracket and the upper portion of the coupling component; and   a connector that couples the upper and lower portions of the coupling component.   
     
     
         80 . The mandibular protruder of  claim 79 , wherein the connector comprises a screw, a clamp, or an adhesive. 
     
     
         81 . The mandibular protruder of  claim 74 , wherein the upper dental appliance comprises an upper dental tray, and wherein the lower dental appliance comprises a lower dental tray. 
     
     
         82 . The mandibular protruder of  claim 74 , wherein the relative displacement of the lower bracket and the upper mounting bracket as statically fixed by the coupling component is a specified mandibular displacement for a patient. 
     
     
         83 . The mandibular protruder of  claim 82 , wherein the specified mandibular displacement for the patient is an effective or optimal mandibular displacement. 
     
     
         84 . The mandibular protruder of  claim 74 , further comprising a relative position indicator that is configured to indicate a relative position of the lower dental appliance and the upper dental appliance. 
     
     
         85 . The mandibular protruder of  claim 84 , wherein the relative position indicator is integral with the rail system. 
     
     
         86 . The mandibular protruder of  claim 85 , wherein the relative position indicator comprises:
 a scale coupled to one of the upper mounting bracket and the lower mounting bracket; and   an pointer coupled to the other of the upper mounting bracket and the lower mounting bracket, or a window extending through the other of the upper mounting bracket and the lower mounting bracket.   
     
     
         87 . A method comprising:
 providing a mandibular protruder comprising:
 an upper mounting bracket having an upper dental appliance and a portion that extends from the upper dental appliance, the upper dental appliance being configured for use with dental impression material, 
 a lower mounting bracket having a lower dental appliance and a portion that extends from the lower dental appliance, the lower dental appliance being configured for use with dental impression material, and 
 a rail system coupling the extending portions such that relative motion of the extending portions is substantially prevented in a lateral direction, wherein the rail system comprises an engaged portion of the upper and lower extending portions; and 
   relatively displacing the upper mounting bracket and the lower mounting bracket when a patient's upper teeth are coupled to the upper dental appliance and the patient's lower teeth are coupled to the lower dental appliance to cause relative displacement between the upper dental appliance and the lower dental appliance and displace the patient's mandible relative to the patient's maxilla; and   providing a coupling component configured to statically fix relative displacement of the lower bracket and the upper mounting bracket.   
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 87 , further comprising:
 monitoring one or more characteristics of the patient while the patient sleeps, where relatively displacing is performed responsive to the one or more characteristics to reduce the one or more characteristics; and   determining a specified mandibular displacement for the patient at which at least one of the one or more characteristics is minimized, wherein the coupling component statically fixes relative displacement of the lower bracket and the upper mounting bracket at the specified mandibular displacement for the patient.   
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the specified mandibular displacement for the patient is an effective or optimal mandibular displacement. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 87 , wherein the coupling component comprises a screw, a clamp, or an adhesive. 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 87 , wherein the upper dental appliance comprises an upper dental tray, and wherein the lower dental appliance comprises a lower dental tray. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 87 , wherein at least a portion oft each extending portion is configured to extend outside the mouth of a patient when the upper and lower dental appliances are positioned in the mouth of the patient. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 87 , wherein the mandibular protruder further comprises a relative position indicator that is configured to indicate a relative position of the lower dental appliance and the upper dental appliance.