THERAPEUTIC MOUTHGUARD SYSTEM
A therapeutic mouthguard system including a delivery component is configured to provide a therapeutic agent to the wearer of a mouthguard. In some instances, the delivery component includes a flavor material to encourage its continued use. The mouthguard includes a chamber formed within the mouthguard that is configured to accommodate the delivery component. In some instances, the wearer can replace the delivery component as it loses it therapeutic agent or flavor material.
1 . A therapeutic mouthguard system comprising:
a mouthguard having an inner surface configured to face into a mouth of a user and an outer surface configured to face out from the mouth of the user, and the mouthguard defining a first leg configured to reside on a first side of the mouth of the user, a second leg configured to reside on a second side of the mouth of the user, and a front portion interconnecting the first and second legs and configured to reside toward the front of the mouth of the user, the mouthguard including:
an inner portion configured to be received behind teeth of a user,
an outer portion configured to be received over of teeth of the user, and
a lower portion configured to be received below the teeth of the user, the lower portion extending between the inner and outer portions to define a channel for receiving the teeth of the user, the mouthguard having a chamber formed within at least one of the inner portion, the outer portion, and the lower portion of the mouthguard; and
an delivery component including a therapeutic agent, the delivery component received within the chamber such that the therapeutic agent is deliverable from the delivery component to the user.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the mouthguard further includes a portal through the inner surface of the mouthguard that is in communication with the chamber.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the mouthguard further includes a portal through the outer surface of the mouthguard that is in communication with the chamber.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the mouthguard defines a downward surface configured to face downward away from the teeth of the user, the mouthguard further including a portal through the downward surface of the mouthguard that is in communication with the chamber.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the mouthguard defines an upward surface configured to face upward toward the teeth of the user, the mouthguard further including a portal through the upward surface of the mouthguard that is in communication with the chamber.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the mouthguard is elastically deformable to enlarge the chamber to accept the delivery component and to secure the delivery component within the chamber.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the mouthguard further includes a portal that is in communication with the chamber, the mouthguard being elastically deformable to enlarge the portal to accept the delivery component for insertion of the delivery component into the chamber.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the mouthguard further includes a portal that is in communication with the chamber, the portal having a bottom, and further wherein the chamber defines a recessed portion that is recessed below the bottom of the portal.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the delivery component is formed of an injectable material.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the delivery component is removably received in the chamber.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the delivery component is a polymeric insert that includes the therapeutic agent, the polymeric insert being removably received in the chamber of the mouthguard.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the delivery component is dissolvable.
13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the delivery component includes an injectable gel into which the therapeutic agent is dispersed.
14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the mouthguard is formed of a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate having about 18 to about 25 weight percent vinyl acetate within the copolymer.
15 . The system of claim 1 , including a moldable material formed on the lower portion, the moldable material comprising a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate having at least about 33 weight percent vinyl acetate within the copolymer.
16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the delivery component includes a therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of an electrolyte, a vitamin, a carbohydrate, a stimulant, a medicament, and combinations thereof
17 . A therapeutic mouthguard system comprising:
a mouthguard having an inner surface configured to face into a mouth of a user and an outer surface configured to face out from the mouth of the user, and the mouthguard defining a first leg configured to reside on a first side of the mouth of the user, a second leg configured to reside on a second side of the mouth of the user, and a front portion interconnecting the first and second legs and configured to reside toward the front of the mouth of the user, the mouthguard including:
an inner portion configured to be received behind teeth of a user,
an outer portion configured to be received over of teeth of the user, and
a lower portion configured to be received below the teeth of the user, the lower portion extending between the inner and outer portions to define a channel for receiving the teeth of the user, the mouthguard having a porous material formed within at least one of the inner portion, the outer portion, and the lower portion of the mouthguard; and
an delivery component including a therapeutic agent, the delivery component received within the porous material such that the therapeutic agent is deliverable from the delivery component to the user.
18 . The mouthguard of claim 17 , wherein the therapeutic agent includes one or more of an electrolyte, a vitamin, a stimulant, or a medicament.
19 . The mouthguard of claim 17 , wherein the porous material comprises an insert that is disposed within the mouthguard base.
20 . The mouthguard of claim 17 , wherein the porous material forms the lower portion of the mouthguard.