Surgery – Instruments – Oral pacifier
Patent
1996-07-23
1998-09-29
Buiz, Michael
Surgery
Instruments
Oral pacifier
606235, 606236, A61J 1700
Patent
active
058140743
ABSTRACT:
A new and improved oral appliance for infants and toddlers is disclosed. The appliance comprises an outer shield, an inner shield, a connector element and a nipple element. The outer shield is supported on the connector element and, in use, rests against the outside of the cheeks. The inner shield is also supported on the connector element so that it is spaced from the outer shield a distance such that an infants cheeks and lips are easily received therebetween. The inner shield is adapted to be positioned between an infant's gums and cheeks and is configured to prevent the cheeks, during sucking, from collapsing and exerting undesirable pressure on the maxilla. The nipple element is shorter than nipple elements in conventional pacifiers and is substantially flattened to provide better tongue positioning and to resist undesirable tongue thrusting. The connector element which, in use, is received between a child's upper and lower lips, is flattened to allow for a more normal lip closure than nipple elements in conventional pacifiers. In a toddler embodiment of the appliance of the instant invention, there is provided a tapered bite ridge which extends inwardly from the inner shield and is thicker adjacent to the nipple than it is at its ends. In use, the bite ridge is positioned between the upper and lower surfaces of erupted teeth and the variation in thickness of the bite ridge promotes the establishment of a level bite plane between the teeth.
REFERENCES:
patent: D231033 (1974-03-01), Sofro
patent: D245335 (1977-08-01), Meeker
patent: D273515 (1984-04-01), Fabjancic
patent: D300059 (1989-02-01), Pier
patent: 4545378 (1985-10-01), Chrones
patent: 5300089 (1994-04-01), Sassin
patent: 5334218 (1994-08-01), Johnson
Brochures on Oral Screens by Great Lakes Orthodontics.
"Int. J. Ped. Otorbin", vol. 29, pp. 121-127 (1994), (English Abstract).
Buiz Michael
Purdue David C.
Purdue John C.
Shai Daphna
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