Mandible cushion for oxygen masks

Sept. 5, 1950

W. T. OBERTO

MANDIBLE CUSHION FOR OXYGEN MASKS

Filed Sept. 1, 1949

2,521,084

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INVENTOR.

T Oberto

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Patented Sept. 5, 1950

2,521,084

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,521,084

MANDIBLE CUSHION FOR OXYGEN MASKS

William T. Oberto, Denver, Colo.

Application September 1,1949, Serial No. 113,617

Claim. (Cl. 128—141)

This invention relates to a mouth prop or mandible cushion. In modern therapy for the treatment of certain psychological conditions, electric shocks are given the patient. The shocks cause an involuntary contraction of the muscles, resulting in a closing and clamping of the patient’s jaws with such force that damage is often done to the teeth and tongue. Cushioning devices have been used to prevent such tooth contacts. These devices occasionally result in suffocation of the patient, and often prevent proper administration of oxygen for resuscitation purposes.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a mandible cushion which will efficiently and effectively prevent injury to the teeth and tongue of a patient; which will provide a free open-air passage for breathing purposes; and which can be quickly and easily attached to a conventional oxygen mask for the administration of oxygen or other gases.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a conventional oxygen mask, illustrating the improved mandible cushion attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the improved mandible cushion;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section, taken on the line 4—4, Fig. 2.

The conventional oxygen mask is formed with a flexible nose enclosure 10 and a mouth chamber 11 from which an expansible breathing bag 12 depends. A nipple 13 is provided for the attachment of an oxygen hose 14. Such masks are usually provided with a microphone cavity 15 opening to the mouth chamber 11 through a flexible opening 16.

The improved mandible cushion is designed to be inserted through the flexible opening 16 into the microphone chamber 15, and to be held in place in the mask by the inherent elasticity of the peripheral portions of the opening 16.

The improved mandible cushion is formed from a single, unitary piece of resilient material, such as relatively soft, molded rubber. It consists of a V-shaped tooth pad having two leg portions 17 joined by a connecting bridge portion 18. A curved lip guard 19 extends around the forward 5 portions of the leg portions 17 and the connecting bridge portion 18 and projects upwardly and downwardly therefrom.

An air passage 28 extends completely through the middle of the lip guard 19 into a tubular 10 stem 21. The stem 21 terminates in a bulbous, enlarged extremity 22. An inwardly extending, arcuate notch 23 is formed in the bridge portion 18 opposite the air passage 20 to allow free communication with the latter passage. Two oppo15 sitely positioned ports 24 are formed in the tube 2( between the enlarged extremity 22 and the lip guard 19.

In use, the device is placed in the mouth of the patient, with the tooth pad between the upper 20 and lower mandibles, and with the lip guard extending into the labial cavities between the teeth and the lips. The tube 21 projects forwardly from between the lips.

It will be noted that it is impossible for the 25 lips or the tongue to come between the teeth, so that injury to both is prevented. It will also be noted that there is an open air passage through the tube 21, the ports 24, the passage 20, and the notch 23 leading to the distal sides of the teeth ₃₀ so that free breathing through the mouth is pos^υ sible at all times. It is impossible for the lips or tongue of the patient to block the opening of the notch 23.

Should it be necessary to apply a gas mask to „„ the patient, the enlarged extremity 22 is simply ⁰ slipped through the microphone opening 16 into the microphone cavity 15 of the mask. The latter is then strapped or otherwise attached over the face of the patient and the oxygen from the ₄₀ hose (4 flows freely through the ports 24 without interference and without it being necessary to remove the device from the patient’s mouth.

The attachment through the resilient opening 16 is sufficiently adherent so that in all ordinary 45 cases the mandible cushion will be removed with the mask as a unitary part thereof. Should the mandible cushion, however, be so tightly gripped by the teeth that its removal is difficult, the mask can simply be withdrawn therefrom, allowing the 50 resilient opening to snap from the enlarged extremity 22.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be 55 varied, within the scope of the appended claim,

2,621,084 without departing from the spirit of the invention.