Today’s Patent – Devices for Positioning a Patient’s Mandible

The said invention (US12201551B2) was invented by Avi Kopelman, and patented by USPTO on July 27^th, 2023. Currently, it stands assigned to the Align Technology Inc.

This invention relates to an intraoral device designed to reposition a patient’s jaw dynamically, based on sensor feedback, for therapeutic purposes such as treating sleep apnea. The device includes a body configured to fit within the mouth, a first advancement structure attached to one jaw (typically the lower), and a second structure coupled to the opposite jaw. An intraoral actuator, connected to the first structure, displaces the lower jaw from its habitual position to a modified position—either advanced or retracted—depending on real-time data received from one or more sensors monitoring physiological or positional parameters.

The device body may be fabricated using methods like 3D printing, stereolithography, or thermoforming, and may include appliance shells shaped for each dental arch. The actuator may work through various mechanical arrangements, such as between a rotor and a follower or a movable and fixed component, enabling precise control over jaw displacement in increments ranging from 0.05 mm to 8 mm. This adjustable, sensor-driven mechanism allows for customized, minimally invasive treatment of conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea by modulating the patient’s jaw position during sleep.