Oral Heating Apparatus For Gum Disease Treatment

Abstract

The present invention is an oral heating element designed to apply heat and increase blood circulation along the gums to prevent and treat gum disease. The oral heating apparatus is designed to fit inside the mouth for extended periods of time. The heating element has a heating filament encased in a food safe plastic sheath capable of transmitting heat evenly along the surface of the sheath facing the gums.

Claims

1. An oral heating element adapted for treatment of inflammation of gums of a patient, the patient having a gumline at a junction between the gums and teeth, the gums having an interior portion facing inwards and an exterior portion facing outwards, the oral heating element comprising: a mouthpiece having an upper wall, a lower wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall, wherein the upper wall, the lower wall, and the first and second side walls are integrally formed with one another, and adapted to be positioned so as to cover the gums; at least one border frames at least one window opening, the at least one border formed by the upper wall, the lower wall, and the first and second side walls, and wherein the at least one border adapted to be positioned adjacent to the gumline such that the at least one window opening extending horizontally through the mouthpiece thereby exposes the teeth; an energy adaptor formed in one of the upper wall, the lower wall, and the first and second side walls; and at least one heating filament extending within at least one of the upper wall, the lower wall, and the first and second side walls, wherein the at least one heating filament having a leading edge connected to the energy adaptor and a trailing edge disparate from the leading edge.

2. The oral heating element of claim 1 wherein the upper wall, the lower wall, and the first and second side walls further comprising an external peripheral edge, and when the first side wall is bent backwards towards the second side wall, an angle of curvature of the mouthpiece is 180 degrees.

3. The oral heating element of claim 1 wherein the upper wall, the lower wall, and the first and second side walls have a wall thickness of between 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm.

4. The oral heating element of claim 1 wherein at least one heating filament has a thickness of between 0.1 mm and 0.3 mm.

5. The oral heating element of claim 1 further comprising a detachable cord adaptor capable of releasably engaging and disengaging with the energy adaptor.

6. The oral heating element of claim 1 further comprising a rechargeable power source.

7. The oral heating element of claim 1 wherein the mouthpiece extending from an upper edge of the upper wall to a lower edge of the lower wall having a height of between 50 mm and 30 mm.

8. The oral heating element of claim 1 wherein the mouthpiece, extending from a first edge of the first side wall to a second edge of the second side wall opposite the first side wall, having a length of between 12 cm and 30 cm.

9. The oral heating element of claim 1 further comprising a second window opening extending horizontally through the mouthpiece.

10. The oral heating element of claim 1 further comprising interior walls having an interior upper wall and an interior lower wall, the interior walls adapted so as to extend along the interior portion of the patient's gums; wherein the upper wall, the lower wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall are exterior walls which are adapted so as to extend along the exterior portion of the patient's gums; and wherein the first side wall and the second side wall integrally connect the interior walls and the exterior walls.

11. The oral heating element of claim 9 wherein the first side wall and the second side wall each further comprising: a first vertically extending portion connecting the respective exterior upper wall and the respective exterior lower wall; a second vertically extending portion connecting the respective interior upper wall and the respective interior lower wall; and a third laterally extending portion connecting the first vertically extending portion and the second extending portion; whereby the respective interior upper wall and the respective interior lower wall, the first and second side walls are integrally formed with one another.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the heating element of the present invention in use by a patient.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of illustrating a partial cross-section of FIG. 1.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a further front perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a partial frontal cross-section of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial frontal cross-section of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 as in use by a patient.

[0022] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a further embodiment of the heating element of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 7 is a partial frontal cross-section of the further embodiment shown in FIG. 6.

[0024] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a further embodiment of the heating element of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 9 is a partial frontal cross-section of the further embodiment shown in FIG. 8.

[0026] FIG. 10 is an upper perspective view of an embodiment similar to those shown in FIGS. 1-9, shown in an open mouth as worn by a user.

[0027] FIG. 10a is an upper perspective view of a further embodiment shown in an open mouth as worn by a user.

[0028] FIG. 11 is an upper front perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10.

[0029] FIG. 12 is an upper front perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] A first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-5. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of this first embodiment of the heating element 100 of the present invention in use by a patient or other user 2. FIG. 2 is a perspective view which illustrates a partial cross-section Cl of FIG. 1, which shows how the heating element 100 fits within the oral cavity 8 of a user 2. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate various components of the heating element 100. FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged partial frontal cross-section of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 as in use by a patient.

[0031] As shown in these figures, the present invention is an oral heating element 100 has several basic components to fit the overall concept: to apply heat and increase blood circulation along the gums to prevent and treat gum disease. The oral heating apparatus 100 is designed to fit inside a user's mouth for extended periods of time. Most embodiments of the heating apparatus 100 then have a heating filament 120 encased in a food safe plastic sheath 110 capable of transmitting heat evenly along the surface of the sheath facing the gums of the patient.

[0032] When in use, an upper wall 106 of the sheath fits under the upper lip 6 and the philtrum 4, along the upper gingiva/gums 14. A lower wall 110 of the heating apparatus 100 fits under the lower lip 10 and mentolabial sulcus 12 along the lower gum 18. The walls 106, 108, 110 form a pair of windows 112 which leave the crown 20 portion of the patient's teeth exposed.

[0033] The partial cross-section illustrated in FIG. 5 shows the position of the lower wall 110 of the heating element 100 with respect to a single tooth under the lower lip 10. As shown here, the crown 20 of the tooth is exposed to the air through the window 112. Thus, the window 112 has a total height of between 15 mm and 35 mm, and more preferably, in a range of 20 to 22 mm, so that the crown 20 of both the upper and lower teeth are exposed to the air.

[0034] To facilitate this, the internal peripheral wall 118 of the window 112 extends proximate to or along the upper portion or gumline 19 of the gums 18. In this way, an upper portion of the enamel 22, reflecting the majority of the enamel 22, is above the gumline 19 (see, for example, FIG. 5). An upper portion of the dentin 24 and an upper portion of the pulp cavity 26 is also above the gumline 19.

[0035] However, the height of the lower wall 110 is such that the majority of the blood and nerve vessels 28, both extending through the root canal (lower pulp cavity 26) and the bone 30, are coplanar with the lower wall 110, and extend below the window edge 118 of the heating element 100. The height of the lower wall 110 should not extend so low into the junction between the internal cheek surface and the lower gum wall of a patient 2 causing discomfort. However, the height of the lower wall 110 should be such that, when used, the lower peripheral edge 111 of the lower wall 110 extends below the average position of the blood and nerve vessels 28 extending through the lower portion of the jawbone 30 of a user 2. This ensures the maximum amount of increased thermal activity along the blood and nerve vessels 28 thereby increasing the likelihood of stimulating and improving the innate and adaptive immune responses of the infected gums 18 of the user 2.

[0036] While shown in use while sleeping with an electrical cord 102 extending between the mouthpiece and the AC adaptor 101. A detachable cord adaptor 114 allows reversible engagement with the female cord adaptor 104 which leads to a rechargeable button battery 115. This allows a user 2 to use the mouthpiece for intermittent smaller periods of time during the day as well as when plugged in during the night for extended periods of time.

[0037] A leading edge 120 of the heating filament contacts the battery 115 and is integral with an upper portion 122 of the heating filament which extends along an upper wall 106. A vertically extending portion of the heating filament extends along a first rear wall 108 and then a horizontally extending portion 124 of the heating filament extends along a lower wall 110. A second vertically upward extending portion of the heating filament then extends along a second rear wall 108 and then a final horizontally extending upper portion 122 of the heating filament extends along the upper wall 106 until ending in the trailing portion 126 of the heating filament.

[0038] A preferred material for forming the walls 106, 108, 110 of the heating element 100 may be a plastic such as ENGAGE™ 8804 Polyolefin Elastomer produced by Dow. Inc., or another similar food-safe plastic such as those listed under FDA Drug Master File 4251. In addition to being safe for placing in the oral cavity of a user, the material must also be capable of significant flexibility. At the very least, the walls need to be capable of reaching an angle of curvature (reference number 130) of 180 degrees from a first rear wall 108 to a second rear wall 108. A thickness 132 of the walls 106, 108, 110 is between 10 mm and 2 mm, and more preferably, around 5 mm.

[0039] A preferred material for forming the heating filament may be a 5:2 28 AWG copper wire or other similar filament capable of providing heating sufficient to provide increased thermal activity in a range of between 97.9° F. (36.6° C.) to 180° F. (82° C.). More particularly in a range of between 100.4° F. (38° C.) to 135° F. (57.2° C.). A minimum temperature then being around body temperature 97.9° F. (36.6° C.)-100.4° F. (38° C.), and a maximum temperature output being of about 135° F.-180° F. (57.2° C.-82° C.). A thickness 134 of the heating filament is preferably between 2 and 0.01 mm, and more preferably, around 0.5+/−0.2 mm.

Further Embodiment—Single Window

[0040] Further embodiments of the present invention are similar in most basic principles as those discussed above. A few differences in one further embodiment of the present invention will now be discussed. In this embodiment, the window 112 may extend fully from the first side wall 108 to the second side wall 108. In this embodiment, a leading edge 120 of the heating filament contacts the cord adaptor 104 directly. The leading edge 120 extends into a first lower horizontal portion 124. A vertical extending portion 125 then extends upwards into a first upper portion 122 of the heating filament which extends along the upper wall 106. A second vertically extending portion of the heating filament then extends downwards along a second rear wall 108. A second horizontally extending portion 124 of the heating filament then extends along the lower wall 110 until ending in the trailing portion 126 of the heating filament.

Further Embodiment—Multiple Windows

[0041] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, multiple windows 112 may extend partially between the first side wall 108 and the second side wall 108. In this embodiment, a first leading edge 120 of the heating filament contacts a first portion of the cord adaptor 104 directly. The first leading edge 120 extends into a first lower horizontal portion 124 along the lower wall 110 until ending in a first trailing portion 126 of the heating filament. A second leading edge 120 of the heating filament contacts a second portion of the cord adaptor 104 directly. The second leading edge 120 extends into a second lower horizontal portion 124 along the lower wall 110 until ending in a second trailing portion 126 of the heating filament.

[0042] A third leading edge 120 of the heating filament contacts a third portion of the cord adaptor 104 directly. The third leading edge 120 extends into a third lower horizontal portion 124 along the upper wall 106 until ending in a third trailing portion 126 of the heating filament. A fourth leading edge 120 of the heating filament contacts a fourth portion of the cord adaptor 104 directly. The fourth leading edge 120 extends into a fourth lower horizontal portion 124 along the upper wall 106 until ending in a fourth trailing portion 126 of the heating filament.

Further Embodiment—Interior and Exterior Walls

[0043] FIGS. 10-12 illustrate the differences and similarities between and among additional embodiments. For example, in previous embodiments the mouthpiece 107 has an upper wall 106 and lower wall 110 along exterior portions of the upper and lower gum 14, 18. Further embodiments additionally have an upper wall 106′ and lower wall 110′ along interior portions of the upper and lower gum 14′, 18′.

[0044] The rear wall 108′ in this embodiment has three segments. A first vertical segment extends as before between the horizontally extending upper wall 106 and lower wall 110. A second vertical segment similarly extends between the horizontally extending upper wall 106′ and lower wall 110′. A third bridge segment extends laterally between the first and the second vertical segments, connecting the outer walls 106, 110 and the inner walls 106′, 110′.

LIST OF REFERENCED ELEMENTS

[0045] The following reference numbers are adhered to within the specification to refer to those referenced elements within the drawings of the present application.

TABLE-US-00001 C1 cross-section of FIG. 1 C3 cross-section of FIG. 3 C6 cross-section of FIG. 6 C8 cross-section of FIG. 8  2 patient/user  4 upper space above the lip  6 upper lip  8 oral cavity  10 lower lip  12 lower space above lower lip  14 upper gingiva  16 rear gingiva  18 lower gingiva  20 crown  22 enamel  24 dentin  26 pulp cavity  27 root canal  28 blood and nerve vessels  30 bone 100 Heating Element 101 AC Adaptor 102 Cord 104 Cord adaptor 105 Battery pack 106 Upper wall 106′ Upper wall 107 Mouthpiece 108 Rear wall 110′ Lower interior wall 110 Lower wall 111 Lowest peripheral edge 112 Window 114 Detachable cord adaptor 116 External edge of side wall 118 Peripheral window wall 120 Leading edge of heating filament 121 Vertically extending portion of heating filament 122 Upper portion of heating filament 124 Lower portion of heating filament 126 Trailing portion of heating filament 130 Angle of curvature 132 Width of element walls/windows 134 Width of heating filament 135 Length of heating element 136 Length of window 137 Height of Element 138 Height of window

CONCLUSION

[0046] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Further modification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.