Tongue locking device to minimize effects of sleep apnea and to reduce

Abstract

A device is provided for positioning within the mouth of a user to hold the tip of the tongue forward of the teeth so as to increase pharyngeal airflow passageway and provide oral airflow passageway and thus mimimize sleep apnea effects and signifcantly reduce snoring. The device is an integrally molded body of pliable elastomeric material universally fitted to most tongue sizes when the tongue is inserted into a rearwardly-opening central vacuum chamber, it displaces the air in the chamber. Then, when the tongue relaxes in the deep stages of sleep it is held forward in the vacuum chamber by the vacuum it automatically creates as it attempts to retract since it is sealed by means of internal ridges around all sides of the tongue and located closer to the rear of the vacuum chamber. The tongue retractive force is reacted through the device by teeth engaging portions of the device. When the tongue is thus held forward of its usual restive postion behind the dental arches, the dimension of air passage around the soft palate, the uvula, and the posterior pharyngeal wall is increased and breathing is facilitated through the naso-pharynx, and also, through the oro-pharynx by means of perforations provided alongside the vacuum chamber to provide communication between the mouth cavity and the external environment to allow oral breathing and lower breathing pressure. The device substantially improves breathing through both the nose and mouth, automatically during sleep thus minimizing the effects of sleep apnea and reducing snoring.