Patents by Inventor Leonard W. Halstrom

Leonard W. Halstrom has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7832403
    Abstract: A pharyngeal airway adjuster, or mandible positioning device, has a maxillary dentition engagement component and a mandibular dentition engagement component, each on opposite sides of a plane extending therebetween. An adjustable connection couples the maxillary dentition engagement component with the mandibular dentition engagement component. The adjustable connection has a first adjustment screw having a longitudinal axis parallel to the plane and a second adjustment screw having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the plane. The first and second adjustable screws are independently adjustable and structured to effect horizontal and vertical displacement, respectively, of the maxillary dentition engagement component relative to the mandibular dentition engagement component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Respironics, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard W. Halstrom, Elias G. Diacopoulos
  • Patent number: 7448388
    Abstract: A mandible positioning device or pharyngeal airway adjuster has upper and lower bite blocks and a connection between the upper and lower bite blocks, the connection being manually adjustable for displacing the lower bite block relative to the upper bite block. The adjustable connection protrudes forwardly from the upper and lower bite blocks so that, in use of the device, the manually adjustable member is located and accessible in front of a patient fitted with the mandible positioning device. The manually adjustable connection has screws which are adjustable independently of one another for effecting relative horizontal and vertical displacement, respectively, of the upper and lower bite blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Inventor: Leonard W. Halstrom
  • Patent number: 5365945
    Abstract: A dentally retained intra-oral appliance worn at night for treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. The appliance maintains the patient's mandible in an anterior, protruded position to prevent obstruction of the pharyngeal airway. The appliance allows a limited degree of lateral movement of the mandible relative to the upper jaw in the protruded position to prevent aggravation of the patient's tempromandibular joint and associated muscles and ligaments. The appliance preferably consists of an upper bite block conforming to the patient's maxillary dentition, a lower bite block conforming to the patient's mandibular dentition, and a connecting assembly secured to an anterior region of the upper and lower bite blocks for adjustably coupling the upper and lower bite blocks together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Inventor: Leonard W. Halstrom