ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 12 -- United States Patent no. 12,295,877, issued on May 13.
"Mandibular advancement device and method" was invented by David Si Gergen II (Peoria, Ill.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A mandibular advancement device is disclosed. An upper component and a lower component are used as splints on the maxilla and mandible. A wire may be mounted to the lower components at the molar buccal sides. The wire passes through a channel on the anterior of the upper component, in a slidable fashion. The channel may be circular or have a cross-sectional shape including a flat side. A forward shield cushions or protects the interior of the oral cavity as the wire may move back and forth....