Carbon. has filed a patent for a polymer mouthguard that protects the wearer’s teeth. The mouthguard is made up of a lingual portion, a facial portion, and an occlusal portion, which together form a trough for the teeth. The facial and occlusal portions have a shock absorbing lattice. The mouthguard can be produced as a single object using additive manufacturing. GlobalData’s report on Carbon gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Carbon, spacecraft 3D Printing was a key innovation area identified from patents. Carbon's grant share as of September 2023 was 43%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Polymer mouthguard with shock absorbing lattice for teeth protection
A recently filed patent (Publication Number: US20230241486A1) describes a polymer mouthguard designed to protect the teeth of the wearer. The mouthguard consists of a lingual portion, a facial portion, and an occlusal portion that are connected in the shape of an arch, creating a trough to hold the upper or lower teeth. The facial portion and occlusal portion of the mouthguard may have a shock-absorbing lattice formed within them, providing additional protection against impacts.
The lingual portion of the mouthguard features a smooth comfort surface for enhanced wearer comfort. The mouthguard is produced as a single object using additive manufacturing, a process that involves inputting dental arch data into a computer and generating a mouthguard data file, which is then used to manufacture the mouthguard.
The shock-absorbing lattice within the mouthguard consists of repeating unit cells, and it may differ between the facial and occlusal portions, imparting different shock-absorbing properties to each area. The lattice may also have a stiffness gradient or be configured with multiple energy attenuation regions. Additionally, the lattice design promotes the flow of air and drainage of saliva during breathing and wear.
The mouthguard includes radiused edge and corner portions for added comfort and safety. It can be customized to fit individual wearers by incorporating a conforming lattice facing the upper and/or lower trough. This lattice aids in fitting the mouthguard to the wearer and retaining it during sports or athletic activities.
The mouthguard is made from a flexible or elastic polymer, ensuring flexibility and comfort during use. The computer-implemented method of manufacturing the mouthguard allows for customization based on user preferences. User preference data, such as stiffness, weight, impact absorption, breathability, saliva drainage, surface texture, size, and color, can be inputted into the computer and used to modify the mouthguard data file and manufacturing process accordingly.
Overall, this patent describes a polymer mouthguard with a shock-absorbing lattice and customizable features, offering enhanced protection, comfort, and fit for wearers during sports or athletic activities. The use of additive manufacturing allows for efficient production and customization based on user preferences.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
