Breathing assist device

Abstract

An apparatus for providing breathing assistance includes a body with a recess for receiving teeth of a user to thereby position the body within an oral cavity of the user. A first opening extends beyond lips of a user to allow air from outside the oral cavity to be drawn in through the opening. A second opening is provided in the oral cavity to allow air to be directed into a posterior region of the oral cavity. A channel connects the first and second openings and through at least part of a buccal sulcus of the user.

The claims defining the invention are as follows: 
     
         1 . Apparatus for providing breathing assistance, the apparatus including:
 a body for positioning within an oral cavity of the user;   a first opening extending beyond lips of a user to allow air from outside the oral cavity to be drawn in through the opening;   a second opening provided in the oral cavity to allow air to be directed into a posterior region of the oral cavity; and,   a channel connecting the first and second openings, the channel extending through at least part of a buccal sulcus of the user.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a recess for receiving teeth of the user. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the recess is for receiving the user's maxillary teeth. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the channel extends between the user's buccal mucosa and teeth. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the channel extends between the user's maxillary and mandibular teeth. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the channel includes a channel opening extending along at least part of the channel. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the channel opening faces a user's mandible. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the channel is substantially U-shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes at least two second openings. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the channel directs air through a hammular notch of the user. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the channel extends behind teeth of the user. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second opening being provided on a lingual side of the teeth. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the channel directs air into a region between the hard and soft palettes of the user. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a recess for receiving teeth of a user is moulded for the user. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a lingual flange for engaging mandibular teeth to thereby maintain mandibular position. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the lingual flange is mounted on a second side of the body, the recess being provided on a first opposing side of the body. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the lingual flange is movably mounted to the body to thereby allow adjustment of a user's mandibular position. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the lingual flange defines a recess for receiving a user's tongue. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a tongue recess for receiving a user's tongue. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the tongue recess is provided in a second side of the body, the recess being provided in an opposing first side of the body.