Device and method for improving breathing (US5954048)


	Parent Case:			CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/582,526, filed Jan. 3, 1996, by W. Keith Thornton and entitled "Device for Improving Breathing," abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/253,949, filed Jun. 3, 1994, by W. Keith Thornton and entitled "Combination Face Mask and Dental Device for Improved Breathing During Sleep," now U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,994. This application is also related to U.S. application Ser. No. 08/594,904, filed Jan. 31, 1996, by W. Keith Thornton and entitled "Device for Improving Breathing," pending, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/253,949, filed Jun. 3, 1994, by W. Keith Thornton and entitled "Combination Face Mask and Dental Device for Improved Breathing During Sleep," now U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,994. This application is also related to U.S. application Ser. No. 08,645,673, filed May 14, 1996, by W. Keith Thornton and entitled "Device for Improving Breathing," pending, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/253,949, filed Jun. 3, 1994, by W. Keith Thornton and entitled "Combination Face Mask and Dental Device for Improved Breathing During Sleep," now U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,994. This application is further related to U.S. application Ser. No. 08/828,523, filed Mar. 31, 1997, by W. Keith Thornton and entitled "Apparatus for Prevention of Snoring and Improved Breathing During Sleep," pending, which is a file wrapper continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/363,639, filed Dec. 24, 1994, by W. Keith Thornton and entitled "Apparatus for Prevention of Snoring and Improved Breathing During Sleep," now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/129,598, filed Sep. 29, 1993, by W. Keith Thornton and entitled "Apparatus for Prevention of Snoring and Improved Breathing During Sleep," now U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,117. This application is further related to U.S. application Ser. No. 08/410,325, filed Mar. 24, 1995, by W. Keith Thornton and entitled "Apparatus for Prevention of Snoring and Improved Breathing During Sleep," now U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,683, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/129,598, filed Sep. 29, 1993, by W. Keith Thornton and entitled "Apparatus for Prevention of Snoring and Improved Breathing During Sleep," now U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,117. This application is additionally related to U.S. application Ser. No. 08/787,529, filed Jan. 21, 1997, by W. Keith Thornton and entitled "Method and Apparatus for Adjusting a Dental Device," pending, which is a file wrapper continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/435,277, filed May 5, 1995, by W. Keith Thornton and Andrew O. Jamieson and entitled "Method and Apparatus for Adjusting a Dental Device," now abandoned, which is a file wrapper continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/218,719, filed Mar. 24, 1994, by W. Keith Thornton and Andrew O. Jamieson and entitled "Method and Apparatus for Adjusting a Dental Device," now abandoned. This application is additionally related to U.S. application Ser. No. 08/501,437, filed Sep. 18, 1995, by W. Keith Thornton and Andrew O. Jamieson and entitled "Apparatus for Adjusting a Dental Device," now U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,567, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/435,277, filed May 5, 1995, by W. Keith Thornton and Andrew O. Jamieson and entitled "Method and Apparatus for Adjusting a Dental Device," now abandoned, which is a file wrapper continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/218,719, filed Mar. 24, 1994, by W. Keith Thornton and Andrew O. Jamieson and entitled "Method and Apparatus for Adjusting a Dental Device," now abandoned.
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	First Claim: Show all 20 claims			What is claimed is: 1. A device for improving the breathing of a user, comprising: an upper arch adapted to receive at least some of the user's upper teeth; a lower arch adapted to receive at least some of the user's lower teeth; and a hook coupled to the upper arch and uncoupled from the lower arch until the device is inserted into the user's mouth, the hook operable to removably engage the lower arch after the device has been inserted into the user's mouth to adjustably position the lower arch forwardly relative to the upper arch.
	Background / Summary:			Show background / summary
	Drawing Descriptions:			Show drawing descriptions
	Description:			Show description
	Forward References:			Show 40 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one

U.S. References:

Go to Result Set: All U.S. references | Forward references (40) | Backward references (98) | Citation Link

Buy PDF	Patent	Pub.Date	Inventor	Assignee	Title
	USRE33442	1990-11	George		Nocturnal airway-patency appliance
	US746869	1903-12	Moulton		DEVICE FOR PREVENTING SNORING.
	US774446	1904-11	Moulton		DEVICE FOR PREVENTING SNORING.
	US885196	1908-04	Steil		ANTISNORING-SHIELD.
	US893213	1908-07	Whiteway		RESPIRATOR.
	US1076534	1913-10	Wallen		DENTAL INSTRUMENT.
	US1146264	1915-07	Kelly		DENTAL SPLINT.
	US1483694*	1924-02	Stukey
	US1649664	1927-11	Carter		Bite meter
	US1674336*	1928-06	King
	US2171695*	1939-09	Harper
	US2178128*	1939-10	Waite
	US2383649*	1945-08	Heidbrink
	US2424533*	1947-07	Faires
	US2521039	1950-09	Carpenter		Tooth guard
	US2521084	1950-09	Oberto		Mandible cushion for oxygen masks
	US2531222*	1950-11	Kesling
	US2574623*	1951-11	Clyde
	US2590118	1952-03	Oddo, Jr.		Mouthpiece
	US2627268*	1953-02	Leppich
	US2833278*	1958-05	Ross
	US2867212*	1959-01	Nunn, Jr.
	US2882893	1959-04	Godfroy		Combination mouth piece and air-way
	US3107668*	1963-10	Thompson
	US3124129*	1964-03	Grossberg
	US3132647*	1964-05	Corniello
	US3219033*	1965-11	Wallshein
	US3277892	1966-10	Tepper		Apparatus for correcting tongue thrust problems
	US3312216*	1967-04	Wallshein
	US3321832*	1967-05	Weisberg
	US3434470	1969-03	Strickland		SNORE INHIBITING DEVICE
	US3457916	1969-07	Wolicki		PROTECTIVE MOUTHPIECE
	US3513838	1970-05	Foderick et al.		TEETH PROTECTOR
	US3522805	1970-08	Wallshein		DENTAL APPLIANCES FOR INHIBITING TONGUETHRUSTING AND THUMB-SUCKING
	US3854208	1974-12	Arant		DENTAL FACE BOW ASSEMBLY
	US3864832	1975-02	Carlson et al.		THROW-AWAY TEETH PROTECTOR
	US3871370	1975-03	McDonald		Tongue-thrust correction appliance
	US3884226	1975-05	Tepper		Apparatus for correcting tongue thrust
	US4016650	1977-04	Leusner et al.	Bayer Aktiengesellschaft	Impression tray for dental purposes
	US4026024	1977-05	Tradowsky		Vise for transfer of check-bites
	US4114614	1978-09	Kesling		Athletic mouthguard
	US4169473	1979-10	Samelson		Anti-snoring and anti-bruxism device
	US4182312	1980-01	Mushabac		Dental probe
	US4227877	1980-10	Tureaud et al.	Black Knight Investments, Limited	Anatomical intra-orally moldable dental impression tray and method
	US4289127	1981-09	Nelson		Breathing apparatus stabilizer
	US4304227	1981-12	Samelson		Device for treatment of snoring, bruxism or for avoidance of sleep apnea
	US4376628	1983-03	Aardse	B.V. Gaba	Device for treating teeth
	US4382783	1983-05	Rosenberg		Intraoral dental appliance to correct retrusive mandibles orthopedically in the treatment of Class II malocclusions
	US4433956	1984-02	Witzig		Orthopedic corrector and method of correction of Class II malocclusion
	US4439147	1984-03	Magill et al.		Bite-taking device
	US4439149	1984-03	Devincenzo		Vertically-indexed posterior bite plates
	US4470413	1984-09	Warncke	Dr/a/ gerwerk Aktiengesellschaft	Protective breathing apparatus including a mask and mouthpiece
	US4495945	1985-01	Leigner		Bite block
	US4505672	1985-03	Kurz		Two-piece gnathologic orthodontic positioner
	US4553549	1985-11	Pope et al.		Oral orthopedic/orthodontic appliance for treating neuromuscular imbalance
	US4568280	1986-02	Ahlin		Craniomandibular appliance
	US4569342	1986-02	von Nostitz		Dental impression tray and process for the use thereof
	US4593686	1986-06	Lloyd et al.		Monitor for an anti-apnea device
	US4602905	1986-07	O'Keefe, III		Dental impression registration device
	US4639220	1987-01	Nara et al.	Nippon Avionics Co., Ltd.	Apparatus for determining the three-dimensional position and attitude
	US4655213	1987-04	Rapoport et al.	New York University	Method and apparatus for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea
	US4669459	1987-06	Spiewak et al.		Anti-snoring device
	US4676240	1987-06	Gardy		Tongue locking device to minimize effects of sleep apnea and to reduce snoring
	US4715368	1987-12	George		Nocturnal airway-patency appliance
	US4773853	1988-09	Kussick		Oral orthopedic appliance
	US4799500	1989-01	Newburg		Method of and apparatus for treatment of muscle imbalance
	US4862903	1989-09	Campbell	U.S. Divers Company, Inc.	Breathing mouthpiece for contacting upper palate and lower jaw of user's mouth
	US4901737	1990-02	Toone		Method and therapeutic apparatus for reducing snoring
	US4919128	1990-04	Kopala et al.	University Technologies International Inc.	Nasal adaptor device and seal
	US4932867	1990-06	Ueno	Chugoku Shiken Kabushiki Kaisha	Device and process for determining jaws position
	US4955393	1990-09	Adell	Trident Laboratories, Inc.	Mouthguard with conformable arch liners
	US5003994	1991-04	Cook		Oral appliance for improving breathing and methods of using and making same
	US5018533	1991-05	Hawkins		Apparatus for the reduction of apnaa in the edentulous
	US5028232	1991-07	Snow		Apparatus and method for calibrating physiologic dental occlusion and determining optimal individual orthodontic appliance prescription
	US5042506	1991-08	Liberati		Antisnoring training device
	US5046512	1991-09	Murchie		Method and apparatus for treatment of snoring
	US5052409	1991-10	Tepper		Oral appliance for tongue thrust correction
	US5056534	1991-10	Wright		Snore inhibiting device
	US5078600	1992-01	Austin		Multifunction mandibular movement measuring device
	US5092346	1992-03	Hays et al.	Hays & Meade, Inc.	Dental orthosis for alleviation of snoring
	US5103838	1992-04	Yousif		Dental night guard
	US5117816	1992-06	Shapiro et al.		Anti-snore device
	US5154184	1992-10	Alvarez		Adjustable anti-snoring apparatus
	US5154609	1992-10	George		Instrument for registration of the dental bite
	US5183057	1993-02	Syrop et al.		Fluid motion device (FMD) for exercising the temporomandibular joint
	US5188529	1993-02	Luth	Girrbach Dental GmbH	Device for static fixation of the jaw relation
	US5267862	1993-12	Parker		Intraoral appliance
	US5277202	1994-01	Hays	MB Hays, Inc.	Easy fit anti-snoring device
	US5284161	1994-02	Karell		Snopper-the snoring stopper anti-snoring mouth device
	US5313960	1994-05	Tomasi	Bernstein; Marc S.	Apparatus and method for reducing snoring and method of making same
	US5316020	1994-05	Truffer		Snoring prevention device
	US5365945	1994-11	Halstrom		Adjustable dental applicance for treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea
	US5373859	1994-12	Forney		Tongue positioning device
	US5409017	1995-04	Lowe	The University of British Columbia	Mandible repositioning appliance
	US5427117	1995-06	Thornton		Apparatus for prevention of snoring and improved breathing during sleep
	US5537994	1996-07	Thornton		Combination face mask and dental device for improved breathing during sleep
	US5566683	1996-10	Thronton		Apparatus for prevention of snoring and improved breathing during sleep
	US5755219	1998-05	Thornton		Device for improving breathing
* some details unavailable

Foreign References:

Publication	Date	IPC Code	Assignee	Title
EP0312368	1989-04	A61F 5/56	HAYS & MEADE, INC.	A device for preventing snoring
EP0359135	1990-03	A63B 71/08	SUNSTAR KABUSHIKI KAISHA	Mouthpiece
DE0156627	1904-12
DE2320501	1974-11	A61F 5/56	Stockfisch, Hugo, Dr.med.dent., 7000 Stuttgart	Vorrichtung zur Verminderung des Schlafatemgeraeusches
DE3543931	1987-06	A61M 16/04	Dinse, Ruediger, Dr., 8011 Kirchheim, DE	Beatmungsmaske
DE3707952	1988-09	A61M 16/04	Hoermann, Ernst, Dipl.-Ing., 8261 Mettenheim, DE	Beatmungsmaske fuer Langzeit-Betrieb
DE3719009	1988-12	A61M 16/04	Hoermann, Ernst, Dipl.-Ing., 8261 Mettenheim, DE	Beatmungsmaske mit einstellbarem Mund- und Nasenformstueck
GB1569129	1980-06	A61F 5/56	RATA M A	ANTI-SNORING DEVICE

Other Abstract Info:

DERABS G1996-039911 DERABS G1997-372572 DERABS G1998-568455

Other References:

Supplementary European Search Report, mailed Mar. 23, 1998.

Mayo Clinic Health Letter, vol. 13, No. 7, "Snoring," Jul. 1995.

Photocopies of 2-piece dental device manufactured by Currie-Gibson Dental Laboratory, Inc. prior to Apr. 13, 1993.

Farrar & McCarty, "A Clinical Outline of Temporomandibular Joint Diagnosis and Treatment," Normandie Study Group for TMJ Dysfunction, 1993, 3 pages.

Professional Positioners brochure "Dedicated to excellence", 4 pages (date unknown).

Great Lakes Orthodontics, Ltd., "Nocturnal Airway Patency Appliance.TM. (NAPA)," General Instructions, undated, 2 pages.

Schmidt-Nowara, et al., "Oral Appliances for Treatment of Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Review," Sleep, 18(6):501-51, 1995. (10 pages) Cited by 33 patents [ISI abstract]

George, "Treatment of Snoring and Obstsructive Sleep Apnea with a Dental Device," General Denistry, Jul.-Aug. 1993, 5 pages.

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