Oropharyngeal Exercise Devices, Systems, And Methods

Abstract

The various devices and systems herein include oropharyngeal exercise devices having a pump bulb with a bulb body having a flow restriction structure with a restricted configuration in which the flow restriction structure is configured to restrict the flow of fluid through the lumen such that the user must apply a force to increase the flow of the fluid. Other devices include containers and/or lids thereof with the bulbs attached to or integrated therein.

1 . An oropharyngeal exercise device, the device comprising:
 (a) a device body comprising a mouthpiece sized and shaped to be insertable into a user's mouth;   (b) a lumen defined within the device body;   (d) a flow restriction structure associated with the device body, wherein the flow restriction structure comprises:
 (i) a restricted configuration in which the flow restriction structure is configured to restrict the flow of fluid through the lumen such that the user must apply at least a first amount of negative pressure to create a first flow rate of the fluid; and 
 (ii) a less restricted configuration in which the flow restriction structure is configured to restrict the flow of fluid through the lumen such the user must apply at least a second amount of negative pressure to create a second flow rate of the fluid, wherein the second amount of negative pressure is greater than the first amount, and wherein the second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate; and 
   (e) at least one distal opening defined in the mouthpiece and in fluidic communication with the lumen,   wherein the flow restriction structure can be the at least one distal opening.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece has an ovular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one distal opening is a slit defined in a distal end of the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise device of  claim 3 , wherein a length of the slit is parallel with a cross-sectional width of the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise device of  claim 3 , wherein the slit comprises stress relief openings defined at each end of the slit. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the flow restriction structure is disposed anywhere along a length of the lumen. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise device of  claim 6 , wherein the flow restriction structure comprises a narrow section defined within the lumen, wherein the narrow section has a narrower diameter than any other portion of the lumen. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the device body further comprises a proximal opening in fluidic communication with the lumen, wherein the proximal opening is sized to couple with an elongate tube. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece comprises a length of 7 mm to 65 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the bulb comprises a material with a hardness ranging from 25A durometer to 45A durometer. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece comprises a wall having a thickness ranging from 0.1 mm to 10 mm. 
     
     
         12 . An oropharyngeal exercise system, the system comprising:
 (a) a liquid container;   (b) a lid removably coupleable to the liquid container; and   (c) an exercise device removably coupleable with the lid, the exercise device comprising:
 (i) a device body comprising a mouthpiece; 
 (ii) a lumen defined within the device body; and 
 (iii) at least one distal opening defined in the device body and in fluidic communication with the lumen, wherein the at least one distal opening comprises:
 (A) a restricted configuration in which the user must apply at least a first amount of negative pressure to create a first flow rate of the fluid; and 
 (B) a less restricted configuration in which the user must apply at least a second amount of negative pressure to create a second flow rate of the fluid, wherein the second amount of negative pressure is greater than the first amount, and wherein the second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate and increases exponentially as the second amount of negative pressure continues to be applied; and 
 
   
     
     
         13 . The exercise system of  claim 12 , wherein the device body comprises an attachment structure, wherein the attachment structure is configured to sealably couple with an opening defined in the lid. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise system of  claim 12 , further comprising an elongate tube removably coupleable with the device body. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one distal opening is a slit defined in a distal end of the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         16 . An oropharyngeal exercise device, the device comprising:
 (a) a device body comprising a distal extension comprising a pliable material;   (b) a lumen defined within the device body; and   (c) at least one distal opening defined in the distal extension and in fluidic communication with the lumen, wherein the at least one distal opening comprises:
 (i) a first, restricted configuration configured to allow flow of liquid therethrough at a first flow rate; and 
 (ii) a second, open configuration configured to allow liquid to flow therethrough at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate, 
 wherein the at least one distal opening is urged into the second, open configuration when the user has applied a predetermined amount of compressive force to external walls of the distal extension via a tongue of the user, wherein the pliable material facilitates formation of the second, open configuration. 
   
     
     
         17 . The exercise device of  claim 16 , further comprising a proximal opening defined in the device body, wherein the proximal opening is in fluidic communication with the lumen. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise device of  claim 16 , wherein the distal extension is a mouthpiece configured for insertion into a user's mouth. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise device of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one distal opening is defined in a distal end of the distal extension. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise device of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one distal opening comprises a plurality of distal openings.