Intra-oral device for protecting oral tissues during radiation treatment

摘要

An intra-oral device for positioning oral tissues during medical treatment, for example, radiation treatment. The device includes upper and lower dental arch members configured to engage the maxillary and mandibular teeth or edentulous arch(es) of a patient, respectively. The upper and lower dental arch members are operatively coupled to provide a dental arch assembly. A protective element to displace or depress a patient's tongue is secured at a suitable working position with respect to the dental arch assembly. In an embodiment, provision is made for three-dimensional spatial adjustment of the protective element to a desired location, at least during initial fitting and assembly. The device is then secured to allow consistent repetition of the oral tissue positioning from treatment to treatment. The protective element may be configured to engage the tongue of a patient so that the tongue may be selectively positioned for treatment and/or diagnostic procedures.

主权项

1. An intra-oral device for use in anti-cancer radiation treatment of the head and/or neck of a patient with or without maxillary and/or mandibular teeth, for positioning oral tissues in said patient, said device comprising:
(a) a dental arch assembly, said dental arch assembly comprising
an upper dental arch member having a first end and a second end, said upper dental arch member configured for engagement with the maxillary teeth or maxillary edentulous arch of said patient;a lower dental arch member having a third end and a fourth end, the lower dental arch member configured for engagement with the mandibular teeth or mandibular edentulous arch of the patient; andat least one strut including a first posterior strut and a second posterior strut that each couple the upper dental arch member to said lower dental arch member, said at least one strut comprising an anterior stmt, said at least one strut fixedly attaching said upper dental arch member and said lower dental arch member together into a fixed, spaced-apart position, and wherein one or more of said at least one strut further comprises an adjustable guide portion; and (b) a protective element, said protective element comprising a protective portion and a connector portion, said protective element coupled to said dental arch assembly, said protective element fixedly attachable to said at least one strut, said protective element configured to engage oral tissues of said patient; (c) whereby after said protective element is fixedly attached, said intra-oral device is adapted to position oral tissues of said patient so as to minimize exposure of said patient's oral tissues to radiation during said radiation treatment; and (d) a first posterior stabilizing rod connector, and wherein said adjustable guide portion is provided in at least one of the first posterior strut and the second posterior strut, and wherein said protective element further comprises a mount comprising a first ball joint configured to receive said first posterior stabilizing rod connector, and wherein said first posterior stabilizing rod connector provides a structural member between one of said adjustable guide portion and said first ball joint, so that at time of fabrication, said first stabilizing rod connector adjustably couples said protective element to said dental arch assembly.