ORAL REHABILITATION DEVICE

Abstract

An oral rehabilitation device includes a first lip support having first outer and inner bearing walls, a first bearing face formed on the first inner bearing wall for stopping against the patient's upper lip and a plurality of first openings capable of undergoing elastic deformation for enabling the first bearing face to be constantly kept in contact with the patient's upper lip, a second lip support having second outer and inner bearing walls, a second bearing face formed on the second inner bearing wall for stopping against the patient's lower lip and a plurality of second openings capable of undergoing elastic deformation for enabling the second bearing face to be constantly kept in contact with the inner side of the patient's lower lip.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to oral rehabilitation technology and more particularly, to an oral rehabilitation device, which is elastically deformable to fit the oral cavities of different patients and to keep in close and gentle contact with the mucous membranes of the mouth, facilitating positive movement of facial muscles.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many oral and facial nerve rehabilitation implements are commercially available for assisting a patient with facial nerve damage to train the orbicular muscle of the mouth in exercising the surrounding facial muscles. By means of training the facial muscles, restoration and maintenance of the oral function can be achieved. However, when a conventional oral or facial nerve rehabilitation implement is put in the mouth of a patient for muscle training, it simply acts upon the muscles around the lips without imparting any pressure to the junctions between the mucous membranes of the mouth and the gums. During the lip motion, the oral or facial nerve rehabilitation implement may be forced to rub against the junctions between the mucous membranes of the mouth and the gums, causing oral injury or making the patient feel uncomfortable. Further, if the oral or facial nerve rehabilitation implement does not fit the user's oral cavity, it will not be kept in positive contact with the junctions between the mucous membranes of the mouth and the gums, causing the border areas of the mucous membranes of the mouth unable to be continuously exercised.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide an oral rehabilitation device for putting in the oral cavity of a patient for training the muscles of the lips, which has an elastic return structure to keep the oral rehabilitation device in positive contact with the junctions between the mucous membranes of the mouth and the gums, reducing friction.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, an oral rehabilitation device comprises a first lip support, which comprises first outer and inner bearing walls respectively upwardly extended from two opposite sides thereof, a first bearing face formed on the distal end of the first inner bearing wall for stopping against the inner side of the patient's upper lip and a plurality of first openings cut through the first inner bearing wall and capable of undergoing elastic deformation for enabling the first bearing face to be constantly kept in positive contact with the inner side of the patient's upper lip, a second lip support, which comprises second outer and inner bearing walls respectively downwardly extended from two opposite sides thereof, a second bearing face formed on the distal end of the second inner bearing wall for stopping against the inner side of the patient's lower lip and a plurality of second openings cut through the second inner bearing wall and capable of undergoing elastic deformation for enabling the second bearing face to be constantly kept in positive contact with the inner side of the patient's lower lip, and a connection portion connected between the first lip support and the second lip support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an oral rehabilitation device in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 corresponds to FIG. 1 when viewed from another angle.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an oral rehabilitation device in accordance with a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of an oral rehabilitation device in accordance with a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of an oral rehabilitation device in accordance with a fourth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, an oral rehabilitation device in accordance with the present invention is shown for putting in the mouth of a patient to train the muscles of the tongue and throat. The oral rehabilitation device comprises a first lip support 1 and a second lip support 4 oppositely arranged at different elevations for supporting the upper lip and the lower lip respectively, and two elastically recoverable elastic connection portions 7 bilaterally connected between the first lip support 1 and the second lip support 4. In this embodiment, the two elastic connection portions 7 are smoothly arched.

The first lip support 1 comprises a first outer bearing wall 2 and a first inner bearing wall 3 respectively upwardly extended from two opposite sides thereof, a first bearing face 31 formed on the distal end of the first inner bearing wall 3, a plurality of first openings 32 cut through the first inner bearing wall 3 and being capable of undergoing elastic deformation, and a plurality of elastic ribs 33 respectively disposed between each two adjacent first openings 32. In this embodiment, the first openings 32 are arranged in two symmetrical series in an equally spaced manner.

The second lip support 4 comprises a second outer bearing wall 5 and a second inner bearing wall 6 respectively downwardly extended from two opposite sides thereof, a second bearing face 61 formed on the distal end of the second inner bearing wall 6, a plurality of second openings 62 cut through the second inner bearing wall 6 and being capable of undergoing elastic deformation, and a plurality of elastic ribs 63 respectively disposed between each two adjacent second openings 62. In this embodiment, the second openings 62 are arranged in two symmetrical series in an equally spaced manner.

During application of the oral rehabilitation device, the patient's upper lip and lower lip are respectively rested on the first lip support 1 and the second lip support 4, enabling the first inner bearing wall 3 and the second inner bearing wall 6 to be respectively secured between the mucous membranes of the mouth and the gums and the elastically recoverable elastic connection portions 7 to be stopped between the left and right cheeks inside the oral cavity. When the patient closes the lips, the first bearing face 31 of the first lip support 3 and the second bearing face 61 of the second lip support 6 will be stopped between the mucous membranes of the mouth and the gums. The large area contact between the first bearing face 31 and second bearing face 61 of the oral rehabilitation device and the mucous membranes and gums of the patient makes the patient's mouth feel soft and comfortable. Thus, when making a lip-closing motion, the junctions between the mucous membranes of the mouth and the gums can be positively and continuously moved, and, when the first bearing face 31 and the second bearing face 61 are compressed during the lip motion, the first openings 32 and the second openings 62 are elastically deformed, causing the first elastic ribs 33 and the second elastic ribs 63 to impart different return force to the first bearing face 31 and the second bearing face 61 respectively. Thus, the first bearing face 31 of the first lip support 3 and the second bearing face 61 of the second lip support 6 are constantly kept in close contact with the junctions between the mucous membranes of the mouth and the gums during the lip motion, avoiding friction between the oral rehabilitation device and the inner side of the patient's mouth. When the patient opens the lips, the elastic restoration ability of the elastically recoverable elastic connection portions 7 facilitates reciprocating motion of the first lip support 1 and the second lip support 4 to stretch the orbicular muscle of the mouth in dragging the surrounding facial muscles. Thus, by means of stopping the first inner bearing wall 3 and the second inner bearing wall 6 against the border areas of the mucous membranes of the mouth for enabling the return force of the first elastic ribs 33 and the second elastic ribs 63 to be positively acted upon the border areas of the mucous membranes of the mouth, the vertical and horizontal reciprocating motion of the orbicular muscle of the mouth can effectively drag all the facial muscles to stimulate the facial nerve.

FIG. 4 illustrates an oral rehabilitation device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. This second embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exception that the oral rehabilitation device of this second embodiment further comprises a first operating portion 21 outwardly extended from the first outer bearing wall 2, a retaining loop 22 located on the distal end of the first operating portion 21 remote from the first outer bearing wall 2, a second operating portion 51 outwardly extended from the second outer bearing wall 5, and a retaining tab 52 located on the distal end of the second operating portion 51 remote from the second outer bearing wall 5. After put the oral rehabilitation device into the mouth of the patient and plugged the retaining tab 52 at the second operating portion 51 into the retaining loop 22 at the first operating portion 21, the patient can push and pull the first operating portion 21 and the second operating portion 51 to move the muscles around the lips, thereby dragging all the facial muscles.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of an oral rehabilitation device in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. According to this third embodiment, an elastic return member (for example, curved spring plate) 8 is connected between the first outer bearing wall 2 and the second outer bearing ball 5 to substitute for the aforesaid elastically recoverable elastic connection portions 7 and for automatically returning the first outer bearing wall 2 and the second outer bearing ball 5 to move the orbicular muscle of the mouth in dragging all the muscles around the lips after the first outer bearing wall 2 and the second outer bearing ball 5 having being compressed during the patient's lip motion.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of an oral rehabilitation device in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. According to this fourth embodiment, two elastic return members (for example, compression springs) 9 are connected in parallel between the first lip support 1 and the second lip support 4 to substitute for the aforesaid elastically recoverable elastic connection portions 7 and for automatically returning the first lip support 1 and the second lip support 4 to move the orbicular muscle of the mouth in dragging all the muscles around the lips after the first lip support 1 and the second lip support 4 having being compressed during the patient's lip motion.

In conclusion, the invention provides an oral rehabilitation device, which is characterized in that the first lip support 1 comprises a plurality of first openings 32 cut through the first inner bearing wall 3 and capable of undergoing elastic deformation, and a plurality of elastic ribs 33 respectively disposed between each two adjacent first openings 32; the second lip support 4 comprises a plurality of second openings 62 cut through the second inner bearing wall 6 thereof and capable of undergoing elastic deformation, and a plurality of elastic ribs 63 respectively disposed between each two adjacent second openings 62; when the first inner bearing wall 3 and the second inner bearing wall 6 are compressed, the first openings 32 and the second openings 62 enable the first bearing face 31 of the first lip support 1 and the second inner bearing wall 6 of the second lip support 4 to be elastically deformed to fit the curvature of the oral cavity positively, and the elastic ribs 33 and 63 of the of the first lip support 1 and second lip support 4 and the elastically recoverable elastic connection portions 7 can automatically return the first lip support 1 and the second lip support 4 to assist the patient in opening the lips, and therefore the orbicular muscle of the mouth can be positively moved to effectively drag all the facial muscles in stimulating the facial nerve during the patient's lip motion.

Claims

1. An oral rehabilitation device for putting in the oral cavity of a patient for training the facial muscles of the patient, comprising:

a first lip support comprising a first outer bearing wall and a first inner bearing wall respectively upwardly extended from two opposite sides thereof; and

a second lip support comprising a second outer bearing wall and a second inner bearing wall respectively downwardly extended from two opposite sides thereof;

wherein said first lip support further comprises a first bearing face formed on a distal end of said first inner bearing wall for stopping against an inner side of the upper lip of the patient, and a plurality of first openings cut through said first inner bearing wall and capable of undergoing elastic deformation for enabling said first bearing face to be constantly kept in positive contact with the inner side of the upper lip of the patient during a lip motion of the patient.

2. The oral rehabilitation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first openings are arranged in two symmetrical series in an equally spaced manner; said first lip support further comprises a plurality of elastic ribs respectively disposed between each two adjacent said first openings.

3. The oral rehabilitation device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising two elastically recoverable elastic connection portions bilaterally connected between said first lip support and said second lip support.

4. The oral rehabilitation device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said elastically recoverable elastic connection portions are smoothly arched.

5. The oral rehabilitation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second lip support further comprises a second bearing face formed on a distal end of said second inner bearing wall for stopping against an inner side of the lower lip of the patient, a plurality of second openings cut through said second inner bearing wall and capable of undergoing elastic deformation for enabling said second bearing face to be constantly kept in positive contact with the inner side of the lower lip of the patient during a lip motion of the patient.

6. The oral rehabilitation device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second openings are arranged in two symmetrical series in an equally spaced manner; said second lip support further comprises a plurality of elastic ribs respectively disposed between each two adjacent said second openings.

7. The oral rehabilitation device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an elastic return member connected between said first outer bearing wall and said second outer bearing ball for automatically returning said first outer bearing wall and said second outer bearing ball after said first outer bearing wall and said second outer bearing ball having been moved.

8. The oral rehabilitation device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising two elastic return members connected in parallel between said first outer bearing wall and said second outer bearing ball for automatically returning said first outer bearing wall and said second outer bearing ball after said first outer bearing wall and said second outer bearing ball having been moved.

9. The oral rehabilitation device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first operating portion outwardly extended from said first outer bearing wall and terminating in a retaining loop, a second operating portion outwardly extended from said second outer bearing wall and terminating in a retaining tab fastenable to said retaining loop.