Certain configurations of removable oral devices are described. In some instances, the removable oral device includes a palatal element. In certain configurations, the palatal element may comprise a variable hardness at different areas, e.g., edges can be softer than other areas of the removable oral device. In other instances, the removable oral device may comprise two or more individual palatal elements which together can form the palatal element and permit user adjustment of the oral volume. Various materials used in the palatal element are described. Sensors and other on-board devices are also described.

An oral weight control device that inhibits the mastication and swallowing of food is provided. The oral weight control device is a dental appliance that includes upper and lower retainers, where each retainer covers the lingual, palatal and buccal side of the teeth to inhibit mastication of food. The dental appliance further includes left and right flexible food barriers extending from the upper retainer to the lower retainer on the lingual side of the teeth to prevent food that a user may attempt to masticate between the upper and lower retainers from being passed to the tongue of the user to ingest. The upper and lower retainers may be customized to fit on each user and may cover all the upper and lower teeth of the wearer on the lingual, palatal and buccal sides of the teeth. The retainers may be removable or semi-permanently secured to the teeth. The flexible material is made of an elastic material and/or is sized to allow the jaws of the wearer to be fully opened and closed when the dental appliance is worn.

The invention relates to a device suitable for influencing the intake of food through the oral cavity of a human, comprising anchoring means which can be applied to one or several teeth of both the upper and the lower jaw, at least one elongated element that can be placed around the front of the upper or lower jaw and that can be coupled adjacent its two element ends to the anchoring means applied to the respective jaw, and connecting means that can be provided between the upper and the lower jaw and that can be coupled at one end to the elongated element and at the other end to the anchoring means applied to the other jaw, such that an opening of the jaws causes the connecting means to pull the elongated element against the front of the jaw, which results in an unpleasant or pain sensation.

Various embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a system. The system having an appetite control device for covering a plurality of teeth, wherein the appetite control device comprises an arcuate shape having an outer sidewall, an inner sidewall and a top wall connecting the inner sidewall and outer sidewall to form a channel, wherein the channel is configured for receiving a plurality of teeth, wherein the appetite control device includes a larger width at ends and a narrower width at a front. The system further includes a user device having a memory and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to receive data associated with usage of the appetite control device and determine an output data associated with appetite information of the user based on analysis of the received data using a pre-trained machine learning model.

The invention provides methods to prepare protein conjugates from proteins having at least two cysteines. In one embodiment, a protein with a disulfide linkage is reduced to provide two free cysteines for reaction with a 1,3-dihaloacetone or similar reactant, linking the sulfur atoms of the two cysteines together. The ketone inserted between the sulfur atoms is then used to form a Schiff base to an aminated payload molecule, thus conjugating the protein to a payload. In another embodiment, two cysteine residues are tied together by reaction with a 1,3-dihaloacetone or similar reactant. The linkage between the sulfur atoms in each case holds the protein or peptide in a constrained conformation, while also providing a convenient place for attaching a payload with good specificity and efficiency.

The invention relates to a device suitable for influencing the intake of food through the oral cavity of a human, comprising anchoring means which can be applied to one or several teeth of both the upper and the lower jaw, at least one elongated element that can be placed around the front of the upper or lower jaw and that can be coupled adjacent its two element ends to the anchoring means applied to the respective jaw, and connecting means that can be provided between the upper and the lower jaw and that can be coupled at one end to the elongated element and at the other end to the anchoring means applied to the other jaw, such that an opening of the jaws causes the connecting means to pull the elongated element against the front of the jaw, which results in an unpleasant or pain sensation.

The invention provides methods to prepare protein conjugates from proteins having at least two cysteines. In one embodiment, a protein with a disulfide linkage is reduced to provide two free cysteines for reaction with a 1,3-dihaloacetone or similar reactant, linking the sulfur atoms of the two cysteines together. The ketone inserted between the sulfur atoms is then used to form a Schiff base to an aminated payload molecule, thus conjugating the protein to a payload. In another embodiment, two cysteine residues are tied together by reaction with a 1,3-dihaloacetone or similar reactant. The linkage between the sulfur atoms in each case holds the protein or peptide in a constrained conformation, while also providing a convenient place for attaching a payload with good specificity and efficiency.

A retainerless orthodontic dental implant system for positioning the mandible forward relative to the maxilla and for facilitating optimal airflow during sleep and a method of using such a system.

Described herein are intra-oral prostheses that can help replace or augment the function of the native tongue, such as to assist with swallowing. Disclosed prostheses can provide mechanical force, based on the power of mastication, to propel a food bolus into the pharyngeal phase of swallowing. Disclosed prostheses can be used to enhance swallowing rehabilitation as a temporary aid and/or can be used to permanently replace lost tongue functionality. Also disclosed are other anatomical prostheses, such as to provide power for the articulation of dysfunctional extremities, by transforming mechanical force from another nearby functioning muscle group.

An intra-oral device for weight management includes a carrier having a resiliently deformable protuberance on its outer surface. The protuberance may comprise a bite-pad having a height that varies along its length, with the apex being aligned with a first molar of a dental arch of the user. The protuberance may comprise a planar ridge structured and arranged to increase resistance to lateral movement of the user's jaw during a normal chewing cycle. Multiple resiliently deformable protuberances may include a bite-pad and a planar ridge on a buccal side of the bite-pad. Either or both of the bite-pad and planar ridge may be provided with an uneven, textured exterior surface. A method for promoting weight management may include positioning the carrier over an arch of teeth of the user instead of eating. The method may further include chewing on the carrier so as to deform the protuberance.