Method and device for improving temporomandibular joint range of motion and strengthening/massaging jaw muscles

摘要

A therapeutic exercising device that can simultaneously increase temporomandibular joint range of motion and strengthen jaw muscles comprises two bite members with bite portions for insertion between a user's teeth and a bellows between the bite members that moves them relative to each other toward an open position that separates the user's upper and lower jaws. A spring exerts a predetermined opening force on the bite members open, and one or more elastic members attached between the bite members exert an opposing closing force. A user-operated pneumatic pump introduces air under pressure into the bellows to open the bite members when the closing force is sufficient to overcome the opening force. The device can be used with air bladders that massage the jaw muscles, with the optional application of heat or cold. The device is usable with a mandible translation adapter to exercise a user's mandible in the posterior-anterior direction.

主权项

1. A mandibular translation apparatus for translating a user's mandible in an anterior direction, the apparatus comprising;
a mandible frame including a mandible actuating plate and a mandible actuating arm having a mandible retainer at the distal end thereof adapted for engaging the user's mandible; a maxilla frame including a maxilla bearing plate and a maxilla contacting arm having at a distal end thereof a maxilla retainer for engaging the user's maxilla, wherein the mandible frame and the maxilla frame are connected for relative movement of the mandible retainer and the maxilla retainer in a first direction toward a position wherein the user's mandible is protruded anteriorly relative to the user's maxilla; an adjustable biasing arrangement for exerting a force determined by the user on the mandible frame and maxilla frame in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and an actuating device for moving the mandible frame and maxilla frame relative to each other in the first direction, the actuating device comprising: two actuating members, each having a portion for insertion between the mandible actuating plate and the maxilla bearing plate, an expandable enclosure that expands and contracts between the actuating members when air is introduced into and released from the interior of the enclosure, wherein expanding the enclosure exerts an opening force on the actuating members for moving the mandible retainer and the maxilla retainer in the first direction, and a user-operated pneumatic pump connected to the expandable enclosure for introducing air under pressure into the expandable enclosure to move the mandible retainer and the maxilla retainer in the first direction against the force exerted thereon in the second direction.