FIN SLEEVES FOR A MANDIBULAR ADVANCEMENT DEVICE AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME

1 . A sleeve for use with a fin of a mandibular advancement device, the sleeve comprising:

a shell, having a wall defining a hollow interior,

wherein the wall encloses the hollow interior on all sides except one, leaving an opening at one end of the body;

the wall has a thickness in the range of from about 1 nm to about 5 mm;

the hollow interior comprises approximately the same size and dimensions as the fin of the mandibular advancement device;

a locking mechanism;

the sleeve has a rake angle and the fin has a rake angle, wherein the rake angle of the sleeve is the same as, or different than, the rake angle of the fin, and wherein the rake angle of the sleeve is between about 20° to about 80°, or is between about 100° to about 160°;

the closed end of the sleeve is curved away from the plane normal to the plane defined by the rim of the open end.

2 . A mandibular advancement device comprising:

a splint;

at least one fin connected to the splint;

a sleeve configured to fit over the fin, the sleeve comprising:

a shell, having a wall defining a hollow interior,

wherein the wall encloses the hollow interior on all sides except one, leaving an opening at one end of the body;

the wall has a thickness in the range of from about 1 nm to about 5 mm;

the hollow interior comprises approximately the same size and dimensions as the fin of the mandibular advancement device.

3 . A sleeve for use with a fin of a mandibular advancement device, the sleeve comprising:

a shell, having a wall defining a hollow interior,

wherein the wall encloses the hollow interior on all sides except one, leaving an opening at one end of the body;

the wall has a thickness in the range of from about 1 nm to about 5 mm;

the hollow interior comprises approximately the same size and dimensions as the fin of the mandibular advancement device.

4 . The sleeve of claim 3 , wherein the sleeve has a rake angle and the fin has a rake angle, and the rake angle of the sleeve is the same as, or different than, the rake angle of the fin.

5 . The sleeve of claim 2 , wherein the rake angle is between about 20° to about 80°, or is between about 100° to about 160°.

6 . The sleeve of any one of claims 3 - 5 , wherein when worn over the fin, the open end of the sleeve abuts the splint, whereas the closed end is distal to the splint.

7 . The sleeve of any one of claims 3 - 6 , wherein the fit between the sleeve and the fin is such that when the sleeve is placed over the fin, the sleeve is substantially immobile with respect to the fin.

8 . The sleeve of any one of claims 3 - 7 , wherein the closed end of the sleeve is curved away from the plane normal to the plane defined by the rim of the open end.

9 . The sleeve of any one of claims 3 - 8 , wherein the thickness of the wall is uniform throughout the perimeter of the sleeve.

10 . The sleeve of any one of claims 3 - 9 , wherein the thickness of the wall varies from location to location on the sleeve.

11 . The sleeve of any one of claims 3 - 10 , wherein the sleeve comprises a locking mechanism.

12 . The sleeve of claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism is a friction lock mechanism.

13 . The sleeve of claim 12 , wherein the sleeve comprises one or more grooves to increase the friction.

14 . The sleeve of claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism is a key-tab mechanism.

15 . A plurality of sleeves each according to claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the wall varies from one sleeve to another.

16 . The plurality of sleeves of claim 15 , wherein one sleeve nests within another sleeve, and the combination of nested sleeves fits over the fin of the mandibular advancement device.

17 . A method of treating a patient with a mandibular advancement device (MAD), the method comprising:

identifying a patient in need thereof;

providing the patient with a set of one upper splint and one lower splint of the MAD, each splint having at least one fin;

providing the patient with a plurality of sleeves for each fin, comprising a first sleeve and a second sleeve for each fin;

instructing the patient to place the first sleeve of each fin over the corresponding fin and use the device to advance the mandible;

if the result of using the MAD with the first sleeve was unsatisfactory, then instructing the patient to place the second sleeve of at least one of the fins over the first sleeve of the corresponding fin, place the combination over the corresponding fin, and use the device to advance the mandible.

18 . A method of treating a patient with a mandibular advancement device (MAD), the method comprising:

identifying a patient in need thereof;

providing the patient with a set of one upper splint and one lower splint of the MAD, each splint having at least one fin;

providing the patient with a plurality of sleeves for each fin, comprising a first sleeve and a second sleeve for each fin;

instructing the patient to place the first sleeve of each fin over the corresponding fin and use the device to advance the mandible;

if the result of using the MAD with the first sleeve was unsatisfactory, then instructing the patient to place the second sleeve of at least one of the fins over the corresponding fin and use the device to advance the mandible.