System and method for treating a patient with obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract

A method for treating obstructive sleep apnea includes providing MAD therapy via an adjustable mandibular advancement device structured to advance the position of the patient's lower jaw, providing CPAP therapy via a mask system structured to deliver a supply of pressurized air to a patient, and selectively adjusting the mask system and/or the mandibular advancement device to alternate and/or balance between CPAP therapy and MAD therapy.

1 . A mandibular advancement device, comprising:
 a first anchor provided to one or more of a patient's lower teeth;   a second anchor supported at a position spaced from the first anchor; and   a biasing arrangement to couple the first and second anchors and provide a biasing force to advance the position of the patient's lower jaw.   
   
   
       2 . The mandibular advancement device according to  claim 1 , wherein the biasing arrangement includes a spring or elastic member. 
   
   
       3 . The mandibular advancement device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first anchor is attached to one or more of the patient's lower teeth. 
   
   
       4 . The mandibular advancement device according  claim 1 , wherein the second anchor is attached to one or more of the patient's upper teeth. 
   
   
       5 . The mandibular advancement device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second anchor is an external anchor provided outside the patient's mouth. 
   
   
       6 . The mandibular advancement device according to  claim 1 , wherein the biasing arrangement includes a magnetic arrangement. 
   
   
       7 . The mandibular advancement device according to  claim 6 , wherein the first anchor is a dental insert or mouthpiece and the second anchor is an external device provided outside the patient's mouth, the dental insert being magnetically coupled to the external device. 
   
   
       8 . A system for treating obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:
 a mask system adapted to deliver a supply of pressurized air to a patient; and   a mandibular advancement device according to  claim 1 .   
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the mask system includes a nasal mask, full-face mask, nasal and mouth mask, and/or nasal prongs. 
   
   
       10 . A method for treating obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:
 providing a pillow; and   positioning the pillow behind the patient's neck to tilt the patient's head back to a position that opens the patient's airway to facilitate breathing.   
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 providing one or more protrusions to the pillow; and   positioning the pillow so that the one or more protrusions push up against the back of the patient's jaw in order to advance the position of the patient's lower jaw.   
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising providing an upper portion or cradle to the pillow to effectively cradle the patient's head in use. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising providing an inflatable bladder to the pillow and inflating the pillow to force the patient to a specific position. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising delivering CPAP therapy to the patient. 
   
   
       15 . A method for treating obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:
 providing a mask system with an air delivery conduit that extends over the patient's head;   fitting the mask system to the patient's head; and   adjusting the mask system to promote opening of the patient's upper airways.   
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein adjusting the mask system includes adjusting the mask system to tilt the patient's head back. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising reducing the length of the air delivery conduit that extends over the patient's head to tilt the patient's head back. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein adjusting the mask system includes forcing the mask system away from the patient's lower jaw. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising adjusting the position of the patient interface to cause the angle of the patient's neck to change. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising raising the patient interface to cause the upper airway to open. 
   
   
       21 . A method for treating obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:
 providing MAD therapy via an adjustable mandibular advancement device structured to advance the position of the patient's lower jaw;   providing CPAP therapy via a mask system structured to deliver a supply of pressurized air to a patient; and   selectively adjusting the mask system and/or the mandibular advancement device to alternate and/or balance between CPAP therapy and MAD therapy.   
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein selectively adjusting includes manual and/or automatic adjustment. 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein selectively adjusting includes selectively adjusting the position of the patient's lower jaw provided by the adjustable mandibular advancement device based on the delivery pressure provided by the mask system. 
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein selectively adjusting includes selectively adjusting the delivery pressure provided by the mask system based on the position of the patient's lower jaw provided by the adjustable mandibular advancement device. 
   
   
       25 . A pillow for treating obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:
 a main body adapted to be positioned behind the patient's neck to tilt the patient's head back to a position that opens the patient's airway to facilitate breathing in use.   
   
   
       26 . The pillow according to  claim 25 , wherein the includes one or more protrusions, the one or more protrusions adapted to push up against the back of the patient's jaw in order to advance the position of the patient's lower jaw in use. 
   
   
       27 . The pillow according to  claim 25 , wherein the pillow includes an upper portion or cradle adapted to effectively cradle the patient's head in use. 
   
   
       28 . The pillow according to  claim 25 , wherein the pillow includes an inflatable bladder that is inflatable to force the patient to a specific position in use. 
   
   
       29 . A system for treating obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:
 a mask system adapted to deliver a supply of pressurized air to a patient; and   a pillow according to  claim 25 .   
   
   
       30 . The system according to  claim 29 , wherein the mask system includes a nasal mask, full-face mask, nasal and mouth mask, and/or nasal prongs. 
   
   
       31 . A system for treating obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:
 a mask system adapted to deliver a supply of pressurized air to a patient; and   an adjustment mechanism provided to the mask system and adapted to promote opening of the patient's upper airways in use.   
   
   
       32 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the mask system includes a nasal mask, full-face mask, nasal and mouth mask, and/or nasal prongs. 
   
   
       33 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the mask system includes an air delivery conduit that extends over the patient's head. 
   
   
       34 . The system according to  claim 33 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is coupled to the air delivery conduit, the adjustment mechanism structured to reduce the length of the air delivery conduit to tilt the patient's head back. 
   
   
       35 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is structured to adjust the mask system to tilt the patient's head back. 
   
   
       36 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is structured force the mask system away from the patient's lower jaw. 
   
   
       37 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is structured to adjust the position of the mask system to cause the angle of the patient's neck to change. 
   
   
       38 . The system according to  claim 37 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is structured to raise the mask system to cause the upper airway to open. 
   
   
       39 . A system for treating obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:
 an adjustable mandibular advancement device to provide MAD therapy;   a mask system to provide CPAP therapy; and   a control system to selectively adjust the mask system and/or the mandibular advancement device to alternate and/or balance between CPAP therapy and MAD therapy.   
   
   
       40 . The system according to  claim 39 , wherein control system provides manual and/or automatic adjustment. 
   
   
       41 . The system according to  claim 39 , wherein the control system is structured to selectively adjust the position of the patient's lower jaw provided by the adjustable mandibular advancement device based on the delivery pressure provided by the mask system. 
   
   
       42 . The system according to  claim 39 , wherein the control system is structured to selectively adjusting the delivery pressure provided by the mask system based on the position of the patient's lower jaw provided by the adjustable mandibular advancement device. 
   
   
       43 . The system according to  claim 39 , wherein the mask system includes a nasal mask, full-face mask, nasal and mouth mask, and/or nasal prongs.