The present invention relates to an auxiliary mouth opening device for oral care. In particular, it provides the mouth opening device for oral care of patients. It provides the patient compliant and user friendly mouth opening device.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION:
Trismus, also sometimes called lockjaw, is a painful condition in which the chewing muscles of the jaw become contracted and sometimes inflamed, preventing the mouth from fully opening. Commonest reason for trismus in India is rampant use of Areca-nut (Supari) with or without tobacco. The Arecholic acid from areca-nut causes submucosal fibrosis - thereby reducing the elasticity of the buccal mucosa. The mouth opening capacity of the person gradually decreases over a period of time. Unfortunately, this is an irreversible condition and the person has to suffer throughout the life. The only way of opening the mouth is by mechanical device forcing the mouth to open. The person needs to do this exercise on a regular basis through-out life. The Submucous fibrosis persists even after the person quits tobacco and areca nut. For these people the only way of keeping the mouth open is by mechanical pressure on both the jaws to forcefully open in opposite directions. It is observed that Sub mucous fibrosis is very common with the people having habits of chewing tobaccos due to rampant use of chewing tobacco. The users usually from poor social strata who cannot afford the costly and not easily available devices. In a rough estimation about 266.7 million people use tobacco both chewing and smoking - with these the estimated number of Sub mucous fibrosis (SMF) only in India is estimated to be around 160 million.
In addition reduced mouth opening can occur as a result of trauma to the jaw, oral surgery, infection, cancer, or radiation treatment for cancers of the

head and throat. The medical condition of the patient in above both diseases is such that their oral muscles are not able to contract and so have difficulty in opening the mouth at certain degrees. For the oral surgeries to operate effectively and efficiently it is important that the patient's mouth opens up to specific angle. Also the patients with trismus requires some tools for their day to day activity. This shall indeed require aids to open the mouth of such patients.
There are many conventional devices already available in the market that aids to open the mouth of the patient. One such device is the conventional screw type device which is quite difficult to use and is also not stable in the mouth of the patient. Further the estimation of the mouth opening degree can also be not made through the use of this device. This causes the problem to the surgeon for surgeries not having the sufficient area to operate. Moreover the conventional screw type devices are generally made up of plastics. The plastic can cause the friction between the teeth and screw ultimately leading to scratch the plastic and hence the shelf life as well as stability is quite low. The major drawbacks of such screw type devices is that it injures the patient and are also not cost effective.
Another conventional device available consist of the arms made up specifically with steel in a V shape angular position. However the major drawback is that the device is made up of steel and thus can be bulky and not easy to use. The screw in the device is also not efficiently placed which ultimately cannot estimate the degree to which the mouth is opened. It is too cumbersome to use by self. It further causes serious injuries to patients and is not cost effective. Yet another conventional mouth opening device made of plastic with measuring device is also not user friendly. The screw is wrongly place which resist the mouth opening. The mouth opening depends on the pressure by the hand. Cannot sustain pressure to break the fibers. The oral end breaks with too much pressure hence is not stable and

has substantial low shelf life. Also another device conventionally available made up of plastics causes friction between teeth and the device. Also the opening depends upon the hands of the user and the device is also not able to sustain pressure. It is cumbersome to use. The screw is placed on reverse direction to mouth opening, it resists mouth opening. The device is not stable and has low shelf life breaks in case of excess pressure which may again cause injuries to patient.
PRIOR ART AND ITS DISADVANTAGES:
One of the US granted patent US7238144B2 discloses A facial and neck muscle exercising device for positioning against opposite corners of a person's mouth at the opening thereof to strengthen and tone facial and neck muscles. The exercising device includes a pair of mouth spreading arms each having an elongate slide member and an end member contoured to engage the opposite corners of the person's mouth. The slide members are slidably connected together longitudinally and an arm retaining device connected thereto controls sliding movement and resistance of the mouth spreading arms. Versions of the arm retaining device elastically bias the end members against the corners of the person's mouth in an adjustable manner, allow adjustment of the length or range of motion of the exercising device, retain the exercising device at a fixed length, or a combination thereof.
However, said device is for oral examination and lacks the stretching exercisers that is required for sub mucosal fibrosis. Further the mouth opening extent cannot be recorded by the same.
Another patent application CNl 11329602 discloses an auxiliary mouth opening device for oral care, which comprises two side plates (1) which are arranged in parallel, wherein the upper end and the lower end of each side plate (1) are fixedly connected into a whole through a top plate (2), mouth

opening brackets (3) which are symmetrically arranged up and down are arranged at an opening at one side of each side plate (1), a driving device for driving the mouth opening brackets (3) to open and close is arranged in each side plate, and a liquid collecting device is arranged below each side plate (1); the driving device comprises an electric push rod (4), and first driving rods (5) which are rotatably connected and matched with the electric push rod (4) are respectively installed at two ends of the electric push rod (4). The mouth opening degree adjusting device is simple in structure, nursing of the mouth opening degree of the next stage can be automatically adjusted by medical staff according to the current mouth opening degree of a patient, the overall working efficiency and the applicability are improved, meanwhile saliva generated in the mouth opening exercise process can directly flow into the liquid accumulating box, the later-stage cleaning work is facilitated, and the nursing intensity of the medical staff is greatly reduced. However, said device disclosed is used as an aid to surgery, keeping the mouth open during surgery and is for use in hospital setting. It is not for stretching the mouth.
DISADVANTAGES OF PRIOR ART:
The conventional mouth opening devices suffers from at least all or any of the following disadvantages:
• Most of the prior at fails to provide mouth opening device for oral care of Trismus patients.
• They fail to provide a stable mouth opening device for oral care.
• They do not provide a mouth opening device with substantially high shelf life.
• Many of them are complex to use and are not user friendly.

• Generally the conventional mouth opening device are made up of plastics. The plastic causes friction between the teeth and the device ultimately depleting the shelf life of the device.
• Many of them works on electric power thus are not energy efficient or patient compliance.
• Many of them are made up of steel, this leads to bulky devices and are also not easy to handle.
• Most of them fails to estimate the degree of mouth opening.
• Most of the devices of prior art causes injuries to patients.
• Conventional devices are majorly related to mouth opening devices for oral surgeries.
• They do not provide a patient friendly device which is stable efficient and is cost effective.
• None of the device is able to quantify the progress of mouth opening.
Thus there is an unmet need to provide the mouth opening device to aid trismus patients in daily life.
OBJECTS OF INVENTION:
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a mouth opening device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide the mouth opening device which facilitates oral care in trismus patients.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide the stable mouth opening device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the mouth opening device with substantially high shelf life.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide the mouth opening device that is not bulky and easy to operate.
Another object of the present invention is to provide the mouth opening device, which does not cause injuries to the patients while use.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide the mouth opening device that effectively opens up the mouth and estimates the degree of mouth opening.
Another object of the present invention is to provide the mouth opening device that effectively distributes the pressure exerted and is stable.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide the mouth opening device that enables the patient himself to use the device to monitor the progress.
Another object of the present invention is to provide the cost effective mouth opening device.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide the mouth opening device that obviates the disadvantages of prior art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:
Fig. 1: Shows the fragmented view of the present mouth opening device Fig. 2: Shows the front view of the present Mouth opening Device

Meaning of reference numerals as disclosed in the complete specification:

p Present invention A mouth opening device
1 Lower Jaw plate with scale and screw nut
2 Upper Jaw Plate with marker and screw tip
3 Screw
4 Rivet
5 Measuring scale
6 Arrow
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention (P) provides a mouth opening device that facilitates to open the jaws in trismus patients.
Referring to Fig. 1 and 2, said device comprises:
• A lower Jaw plate (1),
• An upper Jaw Plate (2),
• A screw (3),
• A rivet (4),
• A measuring scale (5),
• An arrow (6);
Wherein,
Said lower plate (1) and upper plate (2) are made of hard fiber material which resists the stress encountered to release trismus. They are assembled with the rivet (4) at one end opposite to the end that is to be placed between the lower and upper jaws of the patient. The oral ends of

both plates is coated with silicon or any other material to decrease injury to health.
Said screw (3) is placed in the lower side of the lower plate (1) which helps to open the gap between the jaws with pressure. It is inserted on the lower plate (1) and the tip moves in the grove area provided on the upper plate (2). The tip of the assembled plates is to be inserted and kept between the teeth on both jaws of the patient. Each turn of the screw (3) gives pressure on the muscles and fibrotic cheek and releases the fibers to increase the mouth opening and each screw rotation corresponds to 1 mm of mouth opening.
Said Rivet (4) assembles both the lower plate (1) and the upper plate (2), which is the fulcrum point for the device.
Said measuring scale (5), is fixed to the lower plate (1) and arrow (6) is fixed to the upper plate (2). The mouth opening is measured on the measuring plate (5) on the lower plate (1) against the arrow (6) on the upper plate (2). (The measuring scale (5) and the arrow (6) are not shown in Figure).
WORKING OF THE INVENTION:
Referring to Fig. 1 and 2, the lower plate (1) and the upper plate (2) being assembled with the rivet (4) at one end opposite to the end that is to be placed between the upper and lower jaws of the patient. The screw (3) is inserted on the lower plate (1) and the tip of the screw moves in the grove area provided on the upper plate (2) and opens the gap between the two plates. The rivet (4) assembles both the lower plate (1) and the upper plate (2).The measuring plate (5) fixed to the lower plate (1) and the arrow (6) fixed to the upper plate (2), helps in measuring the opening of the mouth.

EXAMPLES: Example 1:
A 42 year old poor patient who had a mouth opening restricted to 1.5 cm due to beetle nut and tobacco chewing for more than 20 years. He was examined and was found to have submucosal fibrosis affecting both the buccal mucosa. He had no other disease. The patient was guided for quitting tobacco and beetle nuts. He was provided with this device for regular use. Following the use of this device, the mouth opening of the patient increased by 6 mm in 3 months. The patient is advised for regular use of this device. The patient uses this at home and also at workplace, the placement of the screw is such that it is easy to use by the patient ensuring compliance of use.
Example 2:
A 36 years old patient operated for cancer of the oral cavity. Following surgery the patient had a limited mouth opening. Patient was advised to use this device (TrisCaRe). The mouth opening gradually increased by around 1 cm within one month.
Example 3:
The patient who had old surgery done for early buccal mucosa cancer developed fibrosis at the site of surgery following healing after excision of the lesion. This patient has been advised regular to use the innovative mouth opening device on a regular basis. The mouth opening of the patient has increased by 1 cm and has almost full mouth opening of 3.5 cm.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION:
There are many advantages of the present invention over the prior art:
• The present invention provides the mouth opening device for oral care in trismus patients.
• It effectively opens up the mouth and estimates the degree of mouth opening.
• It enables the patient himself to use the device to monitor the progress of mouth opening.
• It does not cause injuries to the teeth.
• It is easy to operate and cost-effective.

WE CLAIM,
1. A mouth opening device for oral care of patients, wherein said device
comprises:
• A lower Jaw plate (1),
• An upper Jaw Plate (2),
• A screw (3),
• A rivet (4),
• A measuring scale (5),
• An arrow (6);
Wherein,
Said lower plate (1) and upper plate (2) of hard fiber material, are configured to resist the stress encountered to release trismus and assembled with the rivet (4) at one end opposite; Said screw (3) is placed in the lower side of the lower plate (1) and inserted on the lower plate (1); Said Rivet (4) is configured to assemble both the lower plate (1) and the upper plate (2); Said measuring scale (5), is fixed to the lower plate (1) and arrow (6) is fixed to the upper plate (2).
2. The mouth opening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each turn of said screw (3) is configured to rotate such that it gives pressure on the muscles and fibrotic cheek and releases the fibers increasing mouth opening.
3. The mouth opening device as claimed in claim 1 and 2, wherein said screw (3) rotation corresponds to 1 mm of mouth opening.