Pain management model

[0002] The invention relates to a physical model for demonstrating relief of pain, particularly referred pain, in the craniofacial region.

[0003] Physical models are helpful to simulate the cause and effect of various orthopedic and neuromuscular processes. Abnormalities in these processes often result in pain. Because of the complex physical and physiological relationships among the vascular, neuromuscular, and orthopedic systems, models are useful to locate and visualize the intricate interplay among these systems in an attempt to correct the abnormality and thus relieve the pain.

[0004] Models are particularly useful to demonstrate relationships in the craniofacial and upper body areas, where structures are more compact and the interdependence of these structures is more readily visualized. For example, craniofacial muscle stress is a result of changes in torque or force vectors in the muscles and ligaments between the jaw and cranium. An example of one such muscle that may be stressed is the trapezius muscle. A stressed trapezius muscle refers pain to the head, leading to symptoms such as headache and joint pain. The trapezius muscle, located in the shoulder and neck and serving to support the head from the back, contains trigger points. Trigger points are one or more sites of irritable muscle tissue which are especially tender to squeezing or pressure. The trigger points usually cause the phenomenon of referred pain recognized at a position removed from their own location.

[0005] Referred pain is defined as pain in which an abnormality in a particular location results in pain being felt in a location distant from the source. The concept is complicated and is difficult for many individuals to comprehend. An example of referred pain is the pain in the left arm that is felt by an individual suffering a heart attack. While it is cardiac muscle (that is, the heart) that is deprived of oxygen, the pain is experienced in the arm. Less drastic muscle aggravation than that provoking a heart attack, for example skeletal muscle aggravation, can result from strenuous exercise, sudden movement, improper positioning for an extended duration, and so on. The aggravated muscles in one area of the body thus lead to muscle tension and pain in other areas of the body resulting from a complex series of elements, culminating in referred pain. If these elements can be relieved, the tension in muscles having trigger points will also be relieved and therefore will not refer pain to other areas of the body. The end result is that pain in other areas of the body, or referred pain, will be relieved.

[0006] Physical models of various body regions in general, and of the craniofacial region in particular, are well known. However, all suffer from the drawback that they do not demonstrate the phenomenon of referred pain. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,376,645 discloses a demonstration device that simulates proper and improper dental occlusion and its effect on the temporomandibular joint. The device includes bas-relief planar facsimiles of the human upper and lower jaws which are mounted on a planar support. The upper jaw is fixed while the lower jaw is removable and is adapted to pivot about the temporomandibular joint. By substituting alternative lower jaw facsimiles representing various malformations, including improper bite or occlusion, sliding or shifting of the lower jaw fore and aft can simulate the effect of the temporomandibular joint and muscles and ligaments in the face, head and neck.

[0007] Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,616,537 discloses a demonstration device that includes upper and lower plates having representations of an upper and lower jaw and temporomandibular joint. The plates include slots and pins which may be adjusted to simulate different occlusions and their effect on the function of the temporomandibular joint.

[0008] As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,807 is a planar demonstration device similar to that disclosed in the aforementioned '645 patent but including a series of rubber bands to simulate various muscles that support the lower jaw. The device also includes a series of replaceable inserts to represent different improper bites or occlusions, and which cause movement at the temporomandibular joint. Another series of inserts function to correct an improper bite or occlusion and to move the temporomandibular joint back to its proper position.

[0009] As still another example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,373 discloses a three-dimensional model of the human craniomandibular system. A cranium is pivotally mounted to the first cervical vertebra, and a series of rubber bands simulate various muscle functions. Insert or enlargement pieces may be added to or removed from the lower jaw to simulate Angle Class I, II and III situations. Inserts may also be used to simulate patients in which the lower jaw is either horizontal or parallel to the upper jaw, or is upwardly or downwardly inclined with respect to the upper jaw.

[0010] Each of these models fails to account for the common effects leading to referred pain. For example, one source of referred pain is pain triggered by a trigger point in the trapezius muscle which is tensed or aggravated due to the non-coincident central occlusion of the teeth and central relation of the temporomandibular joint. The cranium in each of these models is fixed and cannot pivot or tilt downwardly, thus the models do not take into account, and hence do not simulate, normal and abnormal trapezius muscle function. Although the '373 patent uses rubber bands to simulate the effect of various muscles, it is a complicated three-dimensional device that does not account for the effects of coincident central relation and central occlusion, and furthermore does not show the effect of treatment of this problem. Because the concept of referred pain is difficult for many individuals to grasp, a visual model would be particularly useful in demonstrating the physiology underlying this complex phenomenon.

[0011] Muscles are cumulatively the largest single body organ and account for over forty percent of the body weight. Given the amount of stress and strain muscles endure, it is not surprising that many individuals suffer muscle pain. However, X-rays and other imaging techniques do not provide images of muscles. Thus, models demonstrating these complex relationships would have advantages in educating patients, physicians, therapists and other professionals who institute and monitor patient treatment, and in treating the patients who endure referred pain.

[0012] While a patient may not be able to grasp the complexities inherent in standard medical models, a model that clearly depicts the interrelatedness between abnormalities in craniofacial structures and sites of referred pain would facilitate a patient's understanding and education. This, in turn, would likely motivate and assist a patient in taking corrective action to alleviate the problem. Such a model is therefore needed.

[0013] The invention includes a model of a human craniofacial region functional to demonstrate relief of referred pain. A head comprises a cranium that is pivotally joined to a neck supported on a base. A jaw is connected to the cranium at a joint that simulates the temporomandibular joint. Tensionable connectors, for example rubber bands or springs, represent muscles such as the trapezius muscle and jaw muscle. Tension can be varied in these connectors to demonstrate effects between the positions of the cranium, jaw and muscles that can result in pain. The model also contains teeth and can demonstrate the teeth and temporomandibular joint in various positions. The model may be a physical model and may also include a device such as a splint inserted between the teeth to demonstrate how pain may be relieved.

[0014] The invention also includes a method for physically demonstrating a source of pain, particularly referred pain. A model is provided of a human cranium hinged to a base and a jaw jointed to the cranium to simulate the temporomandibular joint, containing teeth, and having tensionable connectors representing a state of muscle tension. The method includes varying the position of the head and teeth, varying the tension on the connectors, and/or inserting a splint to demonstrate the effect of jaw position and trapezius irritation as a source of pain, and the relief thereof.

[0015] There is thus briefly summarized a craniofacial model that is both easy to use and easy to understand, and methods of using the model to demonstrate the effect of source and relief of pain involving these structures. The invention will be further appreciated in light of the following drawings and detailed description.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a front view of a model profile of a normal head.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a front view of a model profile of a head having non-coincident central relation and central occlusion.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a front view of a model profile of a head during treatment for non-coincident central relation and central occlusion.

[0019] With reference to FIG. 1, a model 10 demonstrating the normal position of the craniofacial region is shown. The model 10 comprises a human head 12 and neck 14 in profile. The head 12 and neck 14 are generally planar (i.e., ½″ to 1″ or so thick, for example) but could be of lifelike three dimensional configuration.

[0020] The model 10 is supported on a base 16 by neck member 14. Head 12 is pivoted to neck support member 14 by hinge 13. The hinge 13 defines a space S between members 13a, 13bat an angle A of about 45°. The space S permits the head 12 of the model 10 to tilt forward decreasing angle “A”, for example, when it is desired to have the model simulate a stressed state of the muscles.

[0021] The model head 12 has at least a jointed jaw 18 separably connected to a replica cranium 20. The jaw 18 and cranium 20 are connected at the temporomandibular joint, illustrated at 22, by any type of tensionable connectors 24 such as rubber bands, elastic members, springs, etc. The tensionable connectors 24a-hrepresent muscles or muscle groups and can simulate either an uncontracted or relaxed state of the muscle, as well as a contracted or tensed state of the muscle. When trigger points in the neck muscles, such as the trapezius muscle, are activated, they refer pain as described above. In many cases the tension is caused by contraction of the jaw muscles such as represented by tensionable connectors 24b, 24dby, for example, a “bad bite”, nighttime clenching of the jaw 18, nighttime grinding of the teeth 26, or other actions causing the jaw muscles to contract. The result is that the model head 12 reacts as a physiological specimen would react and tilts forward (F) as illustrated in FIG. 2, causing the neck muscles to contract even more to offset the extra tension in the jaw muscles to hold the head level. This extra tension in the neck muscles activates the trigger points in the neck 14, which then refer pain to the head. Manipulation of the model 10 fully demonstrates these relationships and the relief of pain caused thereby by reason of return to the central occlusion (CO) and central relation (CR) positions of the elements described above, respectively. For example, the model 10 may be used to demonstrate dysfunction in the craniofacial region 25 (with jaw and teeth in respective noncoincidental CR and CO positions, as will be described), which can spark trigger points in a muscle of the neck 14 and/or shoulder to then refer pain to the temple, side of the head, and/or above the eyes.

[0022] Any desired amount of tension in the muscles may be illustrated by tension in the respective tensionable connectors 24a-h, up to the point at which the stretched tensionable connector 24a-hwill snap. This type of model 10 is thus useful when instructing patients in the consequences of their actions and/or craniofacial positions in terms of a partial or total relief from pain. As will be described with respect to FIG. 3, a splint returning the jaw and teeth to CR and CO eliminates excess muscle tension and trigger point activation, alleviating or relieving referred pain.

[0023] In one embodiment of the model of FIG. 1, upper teeth 26aand lower teeth 26bare included in the mouth 27. The top of the head 12 is substantially horizontal (horizontal line (T1)) when angle A is about 45°. In the normal state of the craniofacial region 25, the temporomandibular joint 22 assumes a CR position, where the joint 22 is centered and the upper and lower teeth 26a, 26bare meshed or engaged, defining a CO position. This results in the CO position of teeth 26a, 26band CR position of the temporomandibular joint 22 being coincident, i.e., the joint 22 is properly seated in its socket and the teeth 26a, 26bare properly meshed. There is no muscle pain, since the muscles represented by tensionable connectors 24a-hneed not strain in an attempt to attain these positions, and likewise there is no referred pain.

[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates the physical condition of body components wherein the upper and lower teeth 26a, 26bare not meshed in CO but overlapped, the joint 22 is unseated or out-of-socket and there is noncoincidental CR and CO. FIG. 2 illustrates the same muscle set as depicted in FIG. 1 but shows the increased amount of tension placed on the tensionable connectors 24a, 24band a slackening of tension on the tensionable connectors 24e, 24h, just as in the human circumstance. This may be caused, for example, by stress and stress induced lower jaw positioning away from the unstressed position, illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, this tension in the jaw muscles modeled at 24a, 24bcauses the head 12 to tilt forward F, decreasing angle A and increasing tension in tensionable connector 24grepresenting the trapezius muscle of the neck 14 and back in stretch or strain.

[0025] The trapezius muscle normally helps to stabilize the head 12 during head and neck movements such as chewing. It also pulls the head 12 backward and helps lift the arms. When the muscle is tensioned, such as by the tilting of the head 12 described above, it aggravates trigger points therein and pain is referred to the lateral portion of the head 12. The tension in the neck muscle, simulated as tension in the tensionable connectors 24f, 24g, activates the trigger points in the neck 14, which in turn refer pain to the temple, side of the head and above the eyes. Thus, to offset the tension in the tensionable connector 24bsimulating the jaw muscle, and in an effort to return the head from a forward tilted position (T2) back to a substantially horizontal position (T1), the tensionable connector 24gsimulating the trapezius muscle in the back, and the tensionable connector 24fsimulating the muscle in the side of the neck are observed to contract. The forward tilt (T2) reaction of the head in response to noncoincidental CO and CR resulting from jaw muscle stress results in tension of connectors 24fand 24gillustrating the resulting tension in the neck and trapezius muscle. As shown in FIG. 2, this is clearly illustrated in the model 10 by the head 12 tilting forward (T2), stretching the tensionable connectors 24gin the back of the neck 14 representing the trapezius muscle and 24frepresenting the neck muscles.

[0026] Thus, in summary, when the CR and CO are not coincident, as when the teeth 26a, 26bare unmeshed and the joint 22 is unseated, the abnormal condition places a stress on the trapezius muscle, represented in the model as the tensionable connector 24g. While a natural urge in an unstressed position is to have the upper and lower teeth 26a, 26bmesh, meshing of the teeth 26a, 26bin a stressed condition results in the temporomandibular joint 22 being pulled out of CR. The temporomandibular joint 22 out of CR stresses muscles and causes the head 12 to tilt forward (T2). This position of the head 12 places a stress or tension on the tensionable connectors 24gand 24frepresenting the trapezius muscle and the neck muscle respectively, which in turn sets off trigger points to refer pain to the head 12.

[0027] With reference to FIG. 3, to relieve the tension on the trapezius muscle and concomitantly to relieve the cause of the pain, a splint 30 is inserted into the mouth 27. The splint 30 allows the upper and lower teeth 26a, 26bto return to a mesh position (CO), with the temporomandibular joint 22 being in CR. Thus, the splint 30 restores the normal state of having a coincident CO and CR. As is easily visualized by the model 10 as shown in FIG. 3, the head 12 is horizontal (T1) and is not torqued or forced to tilt forward, so that the trapezius muscle and the neck muscle, represented by the tensionable connectors 24gand 24frespectively, are not tensed. Since the trapezius and neck muscles are not tensed, their trigger points are not aggravated, no pain is referred, and the referred pain that was manifested as a headache or a joint ache is relieved.

[0028] The model 10 may be a physical model that is life sized, less than life sized, or greater than life sized. The model 10 may be made out of any material that can be easily and fixedly connected by tensionable connectors 24 such as rubber bands to simulate muscles in a contracted, relaxed or normal state. Such materials include but are not limited to natural products such as wood, synthetic products such as hard plastic, styrofoam or other suitable material, and combinations of the above. The connections 32 that secure the tensionable connectors 24 to the model 10 or base 16 may be secured by any means that allow maximum elasticity of the tensionable connectors 24 without destroying their integrity. Examples of connectors 32 include, but are not limited to, hooks, pins, staples, clips, etc.

[0029] Furthermore, the model may be a computer-generated model depicting normal and stressed conditions of muscles graphically or visually.

[0030] From the above disclosure of the general method of the present invention and the preceding summary of the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which the present invention is susceptible without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, applicant desires to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.