Jaw brace

Abstract

A brace that includes at least one chin rest for stabilizing a patient's jaw in a fixed relative position. More specifically, the at least one chin rest is itself supported in its fixed position using additional mechanisms such as a chest plate or one or more arms that can be attached to a dental or oral surgical chair. The brace is used to stabilize a patient's jaw when the patient's jaw is supported by the at least one chin rest.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A jaw brace comprising:
 a head rest mount configured to adjustably attach to a dental chair headrest;   a first arm connected to the head rest mount and comprised of a first set of a plurality of ball joints and ball sockets connected in line, wherein each ball joint is at least partially enclosed within a ball socket;   a second arm connected to the head rest mount and comprised of a second set of a plurality of ball joints and ball sockets connected in line, wherein each ball joint is at least partially enclosed within a ball socket;   a magnetorheological fluid located between each of the plurality of ball joints and ball sockets; and   at least one chin rest connected to a distal end of the first arm, wherein the chin rest is comprised of resilient, flexible material.   
     
     
         2 . The jaw brace of  claim 1 , further comprising a second chin rest connected to a distal end of the second arm. 
     
     
         3 . The jaw brace of  claim 2 , further comprising an electromagnet enabled to create a magnetic field to control the magnetorheological fluid. 
     
     
         4 . A jaw brace comprising:
 a head rest mount configured to attach to a dental chair;   a first arm having a proximal end connected to the head rest mount;   a second arm having a proximal end connected to the head rest mount; and   at least two chin rests;   wherein:
 a first chin rest is attached to the first arm; 
 a second chin rest and is attached to the second arm; 
 the first chin rest is attached to the distal end of the first arm via a first ball joint; 
 the second chin rest is attached to the distal end of the second arm via a second ball joint; and 
 the first and second ball joints enable rotation of the first and second chin supports. 
   
     
     
         5 . The jaw brace of  claim 4 , wherein the head rest mount is configured to attach to a dental chair headrest post. 
     
     
         6 . The jaw brace of  claim 4 , wherein the first arm and the second arm each include a plurality of ball joints and ball sockets. 
     
     
         7 . The jaw brace of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of ball joints and ball sockets on each arm are connected in line. 
     
     
         8 . The jaw brace of  claim 7 , wherein the arms have a full range of motion. 
     
     
         9 . The jaw brace of  claim 8 , wherein the first chin rest is comprised of resilient, flexible material. 
     
     
         10 . The jaw brace of  claim 9 , wherein the resilient, flexible material of the first chin rest is foam. 
     
     
         11 . The jaw brace of  claim 6 , further comprising a magnetorheological fluid located between each of the plurality of ball joints and ball sockets. 
     
     
         12 . The jaw brace of  claim 11 , further comprising an electromagnet enabled to create a magnetic field to control the magnetorheological fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The jaw brace of  claim 12 , wherein the electromagnet is controlled by a foot control pedal. 
     
     
         14 . The jaw brace of  claim 12 , wherein the head rest mount includes a first ball joint and ball socket on a first end and a second ball joint and ball socket on a second end. 
     
     
         15 . The jaw brace of  claim 14 , wherein the first ball joint and ball socket of the head rest mount connects to the first arm and the second ball joint and ball socket of the head rest mount connects to the second arm.