Tongue and Lingual Frenum Measuring Devices

This invention relates to oral measuring devices, and more particularly to devices adapted to measure the tongue and the lingual frenum.

This invention comprises a five-piece set of tongue rulers made of translucent plastic and calibrated in millimeters along the median portion thereof: a main ruler and four accessory rulers.

The main ruler is used for linear measurements of the tongue, the superior border of the lingual frenum and the median length of the lingual frenum.

accessory rulers I, II, III and IV are to be used to take the linear measurements of the inferior and anterior borders on the lingual frenum.

For each measurement, the ruler being used should be adjusted to the median line of the dental arch by using the green stripes on each ruler as a guide. The slotted portion of the ruler fits on the lingual frenum, and the strait aids in stabilizing the instrument for accuracy in measuring. The length of the patient's frenum determines which of the accessory rulers is used.

The main object of this invention is to provide convenience and uniformity in the accurate evaluation of the limitations of tongue movements and its frenular size.

Therefore, this invention has been designed to conform to standard conventions of manufacturing and to be simply constructed and easy to use.

This device will be affordable, durable, and practical for application by specialists in various medical fields including, but not limited to: oral and plastic surgery, general and every specialized dentistry and speech pathology. Its application relates to problems including, but not limited to: speech, dentition, oral musculature, mucogingival structures and orthodontic post-op.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description of it.

FIG. 1 shows both a top view of the main ruler and its thickness.

FIG. 2 shows top and lateral views of accessory ruler I.

FIG. 3 shows top and lateral views of accessory ruler II.

FIG. 4 shows top and lateral views of accessory ruler III.

FIG. 5 shows top and lateral views of accessory ruler IV.

FIG. 6 shows a front view of the oral cavity showing the anatomical positions of the ventral surface of the tongue, the lingual frenum, the salivary caruncles and the lower(mandibular) central incisors.

FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal cross sectional view of the tongue and the placement of the main ruler in two different positions for measuring the superior marginal length, linear measurements of the ventral surfaces and the median length of the lingual frenum.

FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal cross section of the tongue with the proper positioning of the accessory rulers used to measure the inferior border of the lingual frenum.

FIG. 9 shows a longitudinal cross section of the tongue with the proper positioning of the accessory rulers for the measurement of the anterior border of the lingual frenum.

FIGS. 1-5 illustrate the five different rulers which make up the tongue measuring device. The device comprises a main ruler (FIG. 1) and four accessory rulers (FIGS. 2-5). The body of each ruler (1) is made of translucent plastic material, has scale indicia calibrated in millimeters (2a and 2b), is slotted (4) at the anterior end where a strait (5) characterizes the opening of the slot. The median portion of each ruler is colored green (3) along each scale indicium, providing a contrasting background upon which the measurements can easily be read against the pink color of the oral cavity.

The main ruler (FIG. 1) is a flat plane. The accessory rulers (FIGS. 2-5) are bent at the 10 mm, 20 mm, 30 mm, and 40 mm marks (respectively) from the anterior end of the rulers. The angle of the bend is variable between 90 and 180 degrees.

FIGS. 2-5: Features 1, 2a, 2b, 3, 4 and 5 are described above for FIG. 1.

The sequencing of the numerals on the scale indicia (2a, 2b) for the accessory rulers (FIGS. 2-5) is reversed on either side of the median line.

FIG. 1 shows a top view of the main ruler (1) and a side view (6) representing its thickness, which is variable and dependent on the material of the ruler body. The anterior end of the ruler is positioned in the mouth and is fitted onto the lingual frenum via the slotted space (4). The strait (5) of the slot secures the ruler during the measurement.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the accessary ruler I and a side view representing its thickness and bend(7).

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the accessary ruler II and a side view representing it s thickness and bend(7).

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the accessary ruler III and a side view representing its thickness and bend(7).

FIG. 5 shows a top view of the accessary ruler IV and a side view representing its thickness and bend(7).

FIG. 6 shows the oral cavity of the mouth and establishes the anatomical relationships among the ventral surface of the tongue, the lingual frenum, the salivary caruncles and the lower(mandibular) central incisors.

FIG. 7 illustrates the method of measurement using the main ruler. For these measurements the tongue must be in the maximum voluntary anteriorly protruding tongue position. The ruler is positioned as described above (FIG. 1). Four measurements are shown: (t) is the maximum ventral length of the tongue; (t) is the linear measurement of the tongue tip from the lingual frenular attachment to the tongue tip when the tongue is at the maximum anteriorly protruding position voluntarily: (s) is the length of the superior border of the lingual frenum from the base of the tongue to the frenular attachment of the ventral surface of the tongue at the maximum anteriorly voluntary protruded tongue; (m) is the median length of the lingual frenum during the maximum mouth opening voluntarily. When measuring (m), the posterior portion of the ruler should touch the tip of the lower central incisors.

FIG. 8 illustrates the method of measurement using one of the accessory rulers. (i) is the length of the inferior border of the lingual frenum from the base of the tongue to the mucogingival junction of the lingual aspect of the lower anteriors when the tongue is at the maximum elevated position during maximum mouth opening. At the same time, the posterior portion of the ruler should touch the tip of the lower central teeth.

FIG. 9 illustrates the method of measurement using one of the accessary rulers to measure the anterior border of the lingual frenum (a) from the sublingual gland opening to the lingual frenular attachment of the ventral surface of the tongue during the maximum voluntary mouth opening.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention without departing form the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative rather than as limiting. Thus, the drawings will be appreciated as exemplary of a preferred embodiment of the invention.