BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), hypopnea, and upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) are among a variety of known disorders characterized by episodes of complete or partial upper airway obstruction during such as sleep, anesthetization, or post anesthesia. OSA, hypopnea, and UARS cause intermittent interruption of ventilation during sleep with the consequence of potentially severe oxyhemoglobin desaturation. Typically, those afflicted with OSA, hypopnea, and/or UARS experience repeated, frequent arousal from sleep in response to the oxygen deprivation. The arousals result in sleep fragmentation and poor sleep continuity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect provides herein an oral device for eliminating air space in oral cavity comprising a shield situated between lips and front teeth, a tube passing through the shield, and a negative pressure deliverable part connected to the shield or the tube, wherein the negative pressure deliverable part is situated at the space between tongue and upper palate conformable to the contour of the upper palate, whereby the oral device delivers negative pressure via the negative pressure deliverable part to the oral cavity to eliminate air space between the tongue and the upper palate.

In some embodiments, the shield is flexible. In some embodiments, the shield comprises a bendable structure which is conformable to the shape of front teeth and lips. In some embodiments, the shield further functions as a seal. In some embodiments, the shield further comprises at least one air vent. In some embodiments, the at least one air vent is in place at positions that allow the lips cover the air vent. In certain embodiments, the air vent comprises a one-way vale. In certain embodiments, the flexible tube comprises 1-20 middle openings. In certain embodiments, the flexible tube comprises two middle openings.

In some embodiments, the negative pressure deliverable part comprises a flexible tube. In some embodiments, the flexible tube comprises an anterior end to connect to a vacuum source. In certain embodiments, the vacuum source is delivered by a negative control system. In some embodiments, the flexible tube comprises a bendable middle part, which is conformable to the contours of the upper palate and the tongue. In some embodiments, the middle part is thinner than the rest part of the tube. In some embodiments, the flexible tube has a wider structure near the posterior end to provide rigidity of the tube. In certain embodiments, the wider structure near the posterior end has a curved edge. In some embodiments, the oral device further comprises a tongue protector to prevent direct impingement of teeth on the tip of the tongue hi certain embodiments, the tongue protector is disposed between the bottom of the tongue tip and the back side of the lower front teeth. In certain embodiments, the tongue protector further comprises an indentation to accommodate the shape of tongue frenulum.

In some embodiments, the flexible tube and the shield are detachable. In some embodiments, the detachable shield part has an inner chamber to accommodate part of a bendable middle part of the detachable flexible tube part. In certain embodiments, the detachable tube part has an outer surface which contacts with an inner surface of the detachable shield part to form a sealing interface to maintain negative pressure environment within oral cavity. In certain embodiments, the detachable tube part and detachable shield part have different sizes and are interchangeable to accommodate different anatomy of patients. In some embodiments, the flexible tube is slidable. In certain embodiments, the oral device further comprises a shield with multiple anchor stops in different positions. In certain embodiments, the flexible tube further comprises open channels along the flexible tube. In some embodiments, the number of open channels is corresponding to the number of middle openings on the flexible tube. In certain embodiments, the flexible tube comprises two open channels on the flexible tube.

In some embodiments, the flexible tube comprises a bendable middle pan. In some embodiments, the bendable middle part is thinner than the rest part of the tube. In some embodiments, the tube has a wider structure than the rest of the tube near the posterior end. In certain embodiments, the structure near the posterior end has a curved edge. In certain embodiments, the open channels are extended to the posterior end of the flexible tubes. In certain embodiments, the section of the flexible tube having said open channels is solid. In certain embodiments, the flexible tube further comprises 1 to 20, 1 to 15, 1 to 10, or 1 to 7 support means to support the open channel from collapsing during the application of negative pressure.

In some embodiments, the negative pressure deliverable part comprises an extended tongue protector conformable the contour of the upper palate and is connected to the shield. In some embodiments, the extended tongue protector comprises at least one open channel. In some embodiments, the extended tongue protector is pre-shaped to conform the shape of upper palate. In some embodiments, the at least one open channel is connected to the at least one middle opening. In some embodiments, the tongue protector is integrated on the negative pressure deliverable part.

In another aspect provides herein an oral device for eliminating air space in oral cavity comprising a shield to be situated between lips and front teeth, and a tube passing through the shield, wherein the tube comprises a flexible negative pressure deliverable part to be situated at the space between tongue and upper palate conformable to the contour of the upper palate, whereby the oral device delivers negative pressure via the negative pressure deliverable part to the oral cavity to eliminate air space between the tongue and the upper palate. In some embodiments, the flexible negative pressure deliverable part further comprises at least one open channel along the flexible negative pressure deliverable part whereby the oral device delivers negative pressure via the negative pressure deliverable part and the at least one open channel to front and back of the oral cavity to eliminate air space between the tongue and the upper palate. In some embodiments, the shield has fold lines allowing the shield to be pliable and compliant to the tooth orientations and shapes. In some embodiments, the shield has recesses near the joint where the tube passing through allowing the tube to bend freely.

In another aspect provided herein are systems for eliminating air space in oral cavity comprising the invention oral device and a negative pressure control system providing a vacuum source. In some embodiments, the shield is flexible. In some embodiments, the shield comprises a bendable structure which is conformable to the shape of front teeth and lips. In some embodiments, the shield further functions as a seal. In some embodiments, the shield further comprises at least one air vent. In some embodiments, the at least one air vent is in place at positions that allow the lips cover the air vent. In certain embodiments, the air vent comprises a one-way vale. In certain embodiments, the flexible tube comprises 1-20 middle openings. In certain embodiments, the flexible tube comprises two middle openings. In some embodiments, the negative pressure deliverable part comprises a flexible tube. In some embodiments, the flexible tube comprises an anterior end to connect to a vacuum source. In certain embodiments, the vacuum source is delivered by a negative control system. In some embodiments, the flexible tube comprises a bendable middle part, which is conformable to the contours of the upper palate and the tongue. In some embodiments, the middle part is thinner than the rest part of the tube. In some embodiments, the flexible tube has a wider structure near the posterior end to provide rigidity of the tube. In certain embodiments, the wider structure near the posterior end has a curved edge. In some embodiments, the oral device further comprises a tongue protector to prevent direct impingement of teeth on the tip of the tongue. In certain embodiments, the tongue protector is disposed between the bottom of the tongue tip and the back side of the lower front teeth. In certain embodiments, the tongue protector further comprises an indentation to accommodate the shape of tongue frenulum. In some embodiments, the flexible tube and the shield are detachable. In some embodiments, the detachable shield pan has an inner chamber to accommodate part of a bendable middle pan of the detachable flexible tube part. In certain embodiments, the detachable tube part has an outer surface which contacts with an inner surface of the detachable shield part to form a sealing interface to maintain negative pressure environment within oral cavity. In certain embodiments, the detachable tube part and detachable shield part have different sizes and are interchangeable to accommodate different anatomy of patients. In some embodiments, the flexible tube is slidable. In certain embodiments, the oral device further comprises a shield with multiple anchor stops in different positions. In certain embodiments, the flexible tube further comprises open channels along the flexible tube. In some embodiments, the number of open channels is corresponding to the number of middle openings on the flexible tube. In certain embodiments, the flexible tube comprises two open channels on the flexible tube. In some embodiments, the flexible tube comprises a bendable middle part. In some embodiments, the bendable middle part is thinner than the rest part of the tube. In some embodiments, the tube has a wider structure than the rest of the tube near the posterior end. In certain embodiments, the structure near the posterior end has a curved edge. In certain embodiments, the open channels are extended to the posterior end of the flexible tubes. In certain embodiments, the section of the flexible tube having said open channels is solid. In certain embodiments, the flexible tube further comprises 1 to 20, 1 to 15, 1 to 10, or 1 to 7 support means to support the open channel from collapsing during the application of negative pressure. In some embodiments, the negative pressure deliverable part comprises an extended tongue protector conformable the contour of the upper palate and is connected to the shield. In some embodiments, the extended tongue protector comprises at least one open channel. In some embodiments, the extended tongue protector is pre-shaped to conform the shape of upper palate. In some embodiments, the at least one open channel is connected to the at least one middle opening. In some embodiments, the tongue protector is integrated on the negative pressure deliverable part.

In another aspect provided herein are methods for eliminating air space in oral cavity comprising attaching the invention oral device to the mouth of a patient; and applying a negative pressure by a negative control system on the middle openings and/or the posterior end of the flexible tube to both front and back of the oral cavity of the patient to eliminate air space between the tongue and the upper palate. In some embodiments, the shield is flexible. In some embodiments, the shield comprises a bendable structure which is conformable to the shape of front teeth and lips. In some embodiments, the shield further functions as a seal. In some embodiments, the shield further comprises at least one air vent. In some embodiments, the at least one air vent is in place at positions that allow the lips cover the air vent. In certain embodiments, the air vent comprises a one-way vale. In certain embodiments, the flexible tube comprises 1-20 middle openings. In certain embodiments, the flexible tube comprises two middle openings. In some embodiments, the negative pressure deliverable part comprises a flexible tube. In some embodiments, the flexible tube comprises an anterior end to connect to a vacuum source. In certain embodiments, the vacuum source is delivered by a negative control system. In some embodiments, the flexible tube comprises a bendable middle part, which is conformable to the contours of the upper palate and the tongue. In some embodiments, the middle part is thinner than the rest part of the tube. In some embodiments, the flexible tube has a wider structure near the posterior end to provide rigidity of the tube. In certain embodiments, the wider structure near the posterior end has a curved edge. In some embodiments, the oral device further comprises a tongue protector to prevent direct impingement of teeth on the tip of the tongue. In certain embodiments, the tongue protector is disposed between the bottom of the tongue tip and the back side of the lower front teeth. In certain embodiments, the tongue protector further comprises an indentation to accommodate the shape of tongue frenulum. In some embodiments, the flexible tube and the shield are detachable. In some embodiments, the detachable shield part has an inner chamber to accommodate part of a bendable middle part of the detachable flexible tube part. In certain embodiments, the detachable tube part has an outer surface which contacts with an inner surface of the detachable shield part to form a sealing interface to maintain negative pressure environment within oral cavity. In certain embodiments, the detachable tube part and detachable shield part have different sizes and are interchangeable to accommodate different anatomy of patients. In some embodiments, the flexible tube is slidable. In certain embodiments, the oral device further comprises a shield with multiple anchor stops in different positions. In certain embodiments, the flexible tube further comprises open channels along the flexible tube. In some embodiments, the number of open channels is corresponding to the number of middle openings on the flexible tube. In certain embodiments, the flexible tube comprises two open channels on the flexible tube. In some embodiments, the flexible tube comprises a bendable middle part. In some embodiments, the bendable middle part is thinner than the rest part of the tube. In some embodiments, the tube has a wider structure than the rest of the tube near the posterior end. In certain embodiments, the structure near the posterior end has a curved edge. In certain embodiments, the open channels are extended to the posterior end of the flexible tubes. In certain embodiments, the section of the flexible tube having said open channels is solid. In certain embodiments, the flexible tube further comprises 1 to 20, 1 to 15, 1 to 10, or 1 to 7 support means to support the open channel from collapsing during the application of negative pressure. In some embodiments, the negative pressure deliverable part comprises an extended tongue protector conformable the contour of the upper palate and is connected to the shield. In some embodiments, the extended tongue protector comprises at least one open channel. In some embodiments, the extended tongue protector is pre-shaped to conform the shape of upper palate. In some embodiments, the at least one open channel is connected to the at least one middle opening. In some embodiments, the tongue protector is integrated on the negative pressure deliverable part.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

