Abstract: A therapeutic implant apparatus adapted for installation in the mouth of a maxillomandibularly fixated patient to facilitate oral feeding of the patient. The apparatus is installed in the patient's mouth and where it remains throughout the fixation therapy. The apparatus comprises an arched member having a tubular conduit provided therein. The tubular conduit includes an inlet port adapted for connection to a feeding tube and at least one outlet port for discharging liquid conveyed by the feeding tube into the patient's mouth. The arched member is preferably U-shaped in configuration to correspond substantially to the arrangement of the patient's dentition and is desirably fabricated from flexible material to accommodate the topography of the patient's teeth.

Abstract: A method of contouring bone plates or other bone fixation element is set forth comprising the steps of making a molded impression of the surface of the area to which the bone plate is to be fixed, appropriately positioning the bone plate to be contoured relative to the molded impression of the molding material to contour the bone plate to the molded impression when sufficient compressive force is applied to the bone plate, and applying sufficient compressive force to the bone plate to contour the bone plate to the shape of the molded impression, thereby contouring the bone plate to the surface of the fixation area. An apparatus for contouring bone plates with substantial accuracy is also set forth comprising a means for forming a molded impression of the surface of the area to which the bone plate is to be fixed, a compression member, and a means for applying sufficient compressive force to the compression member to contour the bone plate to the molded impression of the mold forming means.