A respiratory status examination apparatus and method, and a sleep disorder control device and method are proposed. The apparatus may include at least one image capturing unit that is movably arranged to adjust a distance with respect to a subject and configured to obtain a thermal image by photographing the subject. The apparatus may also include a motion sensor unit configured to detect a motion of the subject to generate motion information, and a temperature information extracting unit configured to specify at least one examination region from the thermal image obtained by the image capturing unit and extract temperature information from the examination region. The apparatus may further include a respiratory status examining unit configured to determine a respiratory status of the subject based on the temperature information extracted by the temperature information extracting unit and the motion information generated by the motion sensor unit.

A medical apparatus for the treatment of one or more sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea in a patient is provided. The apparatus has an elongate member with a middle portion, a first fixation element and a second fixation element. The middle portion applies a force to a segment of a patient's airway.

An oral appliance having an upper tray, a lower tray, and axial inserts attached to either the upper tray or lower tray to adjust the relative position of a user's upper jaw and lower jaw in order to treat sleep apnea and/or snoring while at the same time allowing orthodontic treatment of the subject.

An oral appliance having an upper tray, a lower tray, and axial inserts attached to either the upper tray or lower tray to adjust the relative position of a user's upper jaw and lower jaw in order to treat sleep apnea and/or snoring while at the same time allowing orthodontic treatment of the subject.

A procedure for minimizing snoring and apnea in a human by properly positioning the tongue, the procedure being done using local anesthesia, and allowing for subsequent adjustment of tension on device both immediate and delayed.

The new and improved mouth guard of the invention comprises a flexible mouth guard having a channel for one's teeth and an integral flexible bubble that protrudes from the upper or lower front teeth. The bubble is positioned around and under the upper two to four front teeth or around and above the lower two to four front teeth. The flexible bubble preferably of flexible polymer or plastic material prevents the upper and lower posterior teeth from engaging thereby preventing the clenching and grinding of bruxism. The multiple bubbles absorb shock and assists in preventing trauma and dental issues.

Devices for treating obstructive sleep apnea include appliances for securing to one or more teeth of a patient and connected to a lingual bridge configured to change shape and apply pressure to a patient's tongue, preventing backward movement of the tongue and blockage of the patient's airway. The lingual bridge is composed of a shape memory alloy to allow the bridge to change shape once deployed in a patient's oral cavity and exposed to increased temperature in the patient's mouth. Pulse generators and electrodes are included to electrically stimulate the nerves and muscles of the tongue to assist in keeping the tongue from moving backward in the mouth during sleep.

An oral appliance covers maxillary dentition of a wearer and includes tongue tamers or spikes projecting posteriorly, and a lingual resting platform defining an aperture therethrough configured to receive a tip of the wearer's tongue. The oral appliance eliminates an anterior resting posture of the tongue and an abnormal anterior motion of the tongue, and deters noxious oral habits.

A pillow for treating snoring and/or sleep apnea features at least one head recess having a bottom area for receiving and supporting a lateral side of a user's face, and a peripheral area spanning upwardly from the bottom area at a perimeter thereof. A neck channel extends from the head recess. The peripheral area of the head recess includes a chin region that reaches laterally outward from the neck channel at an angle and orientation such that the user's cervical spine resides in a relaxed non-extended state, and the user's mandible is maintained in a closed position. In embodiments for couples, first and second head recesses in the top of one pillow face inwardly toward one another, and third and fourth head recesses in either the bottom of the same pillow or the top of a separate pillow bottom surface face outwardly away from one another.

A pillow for treating snoring and/or sleep apnea features at least one head recess having a bottom area for receiving and supporting a lateral side of a user's face, and a peripheral area spanning upwardly from the bottom area at a perimeter thereof. A neck channel extends from the head recess. The peripheral area of the head recess includes a chin region that reaches laterally outward from the neck channel at an angle and orientation such that the user's cervical spine resides in a relaxed non-extended state, and the user's mandible is maintained in a closed position. In embodiments for couples, first and second head recesses in the top of one pillow face inwardly toward one another, and third and fourth head recesses in either the bottom of the same pillow or the top of a separate pillow bottom surface face outwardly away from one another.