Surgery – Miscellaneous
Patent
1998-11-13
2000-10-31
Lacyk, John P.
Surgery
Miscellaneous
433 19, 128848, A61B 1724
Patent
active
061386790
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method suitable for influencing the ingestion of food via the mouth cavity of humans, wherein connecting means are provided between the upper jaw and the lower jaw, which connecting means impede the opening movement of the lower jaw. The invention furthermore relates to means for carrying out said method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
From SU-A-1,602,507 a device for limiting the width of the mouth opening is known, wherein two rings are provided between the upper teeth and the lower teeth, which rings limit the degree to which the lower jaw can be opened. These rings may be used in the treatment of badly functioning lower jaw joints.
In modern times, where slimness is considered an ideal and obesity constitutes a major problem for many people. Obesity is furthermore a problem which may jeopardize people's health.
A large number of therapies are known for reducing the amount of weight and help people to slim down. Many of these therapies are based on following certain diets, whereby it is attempted either to reduce the amount of food that is being ingested, or to regulate the ingestion of food in such a manner that particular foodstuffs are avoided. Other known therapies are based on the use of pharmaceutical agents which act on the digestive system.
A drawback of these known therapies is the fact that it is often difficult for people to follow or keep up a diet. Another drawback is the fact that in many cases undesirable substances are introduced into the body along with said pharmaceutical agents, which substances may have less desirable side effects.
Assuming that in many cases obesity is to a large degree caused by excessive ingestion of food, it is known to render the jaws of bulimia patients immovable, after which food can only be ingested in a very special manner and in liquid form. Of course such a method cannot be used for normal people who wish to slim down or reduce their weight.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is based on the consideration that in order to reduce an amount of weight it is desirable to influence the amount of food to be ingested via the mouth cavity. An object of the invention is to provide a method by which the ingestion of food can be made more difficult.
In order to accomplish this objective the method according to the invention is characterized in that said connecting means co-operate with further means present in the mouth cavity, so that when the lower jaw is opened beyond a predetermined limit, a signal is generated, as a result of which the lower jaw is prevented from opening any further. The invention is thereby based on the insight that many people who suffer from obesity, often eat too quickly and too greedily, consequently the ingestion of food takes place in too short a time, as a result of which they do not experience a feeling of satisfaction.
By limiting the degree to which the lower jaw can be opened, it is accomplished that food and beverages can only be taken in small bites and sips, as a result of which the total time spent on the ingestion of food is increased and the digestive system is given the chance to adjust to the food being ingested, so that a sense of hunger will disappear, in spite of a reduced amount of food being ingested, and the need for ingesting large amounts of food will disappear. It has become apparent that all this has a very advantageous effect with regard to achieving the proper body weight. Furthermore it has become apparent that because there is no longer any quick ingestion of large amounts of food, the glucose level in the blood will no longer exhibit a peak but instead will obtain a much more constant trend.
Another advantageous aspect of the invention is the fact that the swallowing pattern is influenced by the reduced mouth opening, in the sense that it is no longer possible to swallow large amounts of food at a time, so that swallowing must take place in small measures. It has become apparent that when the method according to the invention is used, the person
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patent: 2604093 (1952-07-01), Orth
patent: 4472139 (1984-09-01), Rosenberg
patent: 4727867 (1988-03-01), Knoderer
patent: 4842519 (1989-06-01), Dworkin
patent: 5284161 (1994-02-01), Karell
patent: 5490520 (1996-02-01), Schaefer et al.
Linders Renatus Wilhelmus G.
Renders Johannes Bonefatio Th. M.
Cadugan Joseph A.
Lacyk John P.
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