Enhanced Dental Appliance System for Optimized Airflow and Comfort

Publication ID: 24-11857456_0006_PTD

Published: October 28, 2025

Category:Direct Improvements & Enhancements

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Enhanced Dental Appliance System for Optimized Airflow and Comfort,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857456_0006_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857456_0006_PTD

This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,456.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

An improved dental appliance system featuring adjustable mandibular advancement, lattice-structured frameworks, interchangeable modules, optimized CAD design, and integrated sensors for enhanced airflow, comfort, and treatment outcomes.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent for the 'Method and system for homogeneous dental appliance' addressed sleep apnea treatment limitations. However, it had inherent limitations, such as fixed mandibular advancement, material constraints, and lack of real-time feedback. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing novel gear-based mechanisms, lattice-structured frameworks, interchangeable modules, optimized CAD design, and integrated sensors.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The enhanced dental appliance system comprises a dental appliance with adjustable mandibular advancement achieved through a novel gear-based mechanism, allowing for fine-tuned adjustments to optimize airflow during sleep. The system also features 3D printed dental appliances with customized, lattice-structured frameworks that enhance airflow and reduce material usage. Additionally, a removable, interchangeable module enables patients to switch between different mandibular advancement settings, allowing for personalized adjustments and improved treatment outcomes. A novel CAD software optimizes dental appliance design for maximum airflow and comfort, taking into account patient-specific oral characteristics and treatment goals. Furthermore, integrated sensors monitor airflow, temperature, and humidity during sleep, providing real-time feedback to optimize treatment and improve patient outcomes.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new inventive concept introduces novel features that are not obvious from the original patent, including the gear-based mechanism, lattice-structured frameworks, interchangeable modules, optimized CAD design, and integrated sensors. These features provide a significant improvement in airflow, comfort, and treatment outcomes, making the new inventive concept a non-obvious advancement over the original patent.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the enhanced dental appliance system could include different gear-based mechanisms, lattice structures, or interchangeable modules. Additionally, the system could be adapted for use with different materials, such as metals or ceramics, or integrated with other sleep apnea treatment devices.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The enhanced dental appliance system has significant commercial potential in the sleep apnea treatment market, with potential applications in dental clinics, sleep centers, and home care settings. The system's ability to provide optimized airflow, comfort, and treatment outcomes makes it an attractive solution for patients and healthcare providers.

CPC Classifications

Section	Class	Group
A	A61	A61F5/56
A	A61	A61C7/08
A	A61	A61C7/36
B	B29	B29C45/00
B	B29	B29C51/10
B	B29	B29C64/00

Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)

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Field of Art

Dental and medical device engineering, focusing on sleep apnea treatment devices, additive manufacturing (3D printing), and biomechanical design of oral appliances

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer or dental device designer with expertise in CAD, 3D printing technologies, biomechanical design, and sleep apnea treatment solutions, holding advanced degrees and 3-5 years of professional experience

Obviousness Rationale

A person of ordinary skill would recognize that the published technical disclosure represents predictable variations and design optimizations of the source patent's core dental appliance technology. The PTD's proposed modifications leverage known engineering techniques and design principles commonly applied in medical device development. The incremental improvements in adjustability, manufacturing, and sensor integration would be considered routine problem-solving within the field of dental sleep apnea treatment devices.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element

Three-dimensional (3D) printed dental appliance using polymerizable resin compositions

PTD Variation

Lattice-structured 3D printed framework with enhanced airflow and reduced material usage

Obviousness Reasoning

A PHOSITA would find it obvious to optimize 3D printed geometries to improve structural performance and material efficiency, using well-established design for additive manufacturing principles

Source Patent Element

Dental appliance for mandibular advancement to treat sleep apnea

PTD Variation

Gear-based mechanism for fine-tuned mandibular position adjustments

Obviousness Reasoning

Mechanical adjustment mechanisms are a known technique for customizing medical devices, and a PHOSITA would recognize gear systems as a predictable solution for precise positional control

Source Patent Element

Dental appliance processing oral characteristic data

PTD Variation

Integrated sensors monitoring airflow, temperature, and humidity during sleep

Obviousness Reasoning

Adding monitoring capabilities to medical devices is a standard design approach for improving treatment outcomes, and sensor integration represents a predictable technological enhancement

Source Patent Element

Patient-specific dental appliance design

PTD Variation

Novel CAD software algorithm optimizing appliance design for maximum airflow and comfort

Obviousness Reasoning

Computational design optimization is a routine engineering practice, and developing specialized algorithms for medical device design would be an expected progression of existing design methodologies

Source Patent Element

Dental appliance with modular construction

PTD Variation

Removable, interchangeable module enabling different mandibular advancement settings

Obviousness Reasoning

Modular design is a common approach in medical device engineering to provide flexibility and customization, representing a predictable solution for personalized treatment approaches

35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11857456 and the published technical disclosure, a person having ordinary skill in the art would find the claimed variations obvious, as they represent predictable extensions of existing dental appliance technologies through routine engineering problem-solving and known design optimization techniques. The disclosed innovations constitute prima facie obviousness under 35 U.S.C. § 103, rendering potential patent claims in this domain anticipated by the combination of prior art references.

Original Patent Information

Patent Number	US 11,857,456
Title	Method and system for homogeneous dental appliance