阅读说明：本技术 用于加强患者面部骨骼和肌肉的设备及使用方法 (Apparatus for strengthening bones and muscles of a patient's face and method of use ) 是由 普伦蒂斯·卡普里·麦克吉 于 2019-06-10 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种用于面部肌肉和骨骼阻力训练的面部锻炼设备和使用方法。面部锻炼设备包括一个或更多个屈肌件臂和接口件稳定器,每个屈肌件臂和接口件稳定器连接至屈肌件头连接器。屈肌件臂从屈肌件头连接器向上、向下、向左或向右伸展,屈肌件臂具有放置患者唇部的轮廓,并且屈肌件臂提供从屈肌件头连接器向外的阻力。在使用中,患者将接口件稳定器放置并咬住接口件稳定器,沿着一个或更多个屈肌件臂的轮廓部分放置患者的唇部的一部分,并且将他们的唇部推向屈肌件头连接器的中心以抵抗屈肌件臂的阻力。当以规律的间隔进行并且增加阻力时,设备可以加强患者的面部肌肉和骨骼并且减少在其面部上的褶皱的美容外观。(A facial exercise device and method of use for facial muscle and bone resistance training. The facial exercise device includes one or more flexor arms and an interface stabilizer, each connected to a flexor head connector. The flexor arms extend upward, downward, leftward or rightward from the flexor head connectors, the flexor arms have contours to rest the lips of the patient, and the flexor arms provide resistance outward from the flexor head connectors. In use, the patient places and bites the interface stabilizer, places a portion of the patient's lips along the contoured portion of one or more flexor arms, and pushes their lips toward the center of the flexor head connector to resist the resistance of the flexor arms. When performed at regular intervals and increasing resistance, the device can strengthen the patient's facial muscles and bones and reduce the cosmetic appearance of wrinkles on their face.)

1. A facial exercise apparatus for performing a resistance exercise on at least a portion of a patient's lips, the apparatus comprising:

at least one flexor arm having an upper component contoured to surround at least one portion of the patient's lips, the upper component being perpendicularly connected to a flexion component capable of providing at least one level of resistance to the at least one lip portion;

at least one flexor head configured to receive the at least one flexor arm; and

an interface stabilizer having a size and shape sufficient to secure the apparatus on the patient's face when the patient bites on the interface stabilizer, the interface stabilizer being connectable to the flexor head.

2. The facial exercise apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least four flexor arms, wherein the flexor head is substantially cylindrical and is capable of receiving the at least four flexor arms radially at 90 degree intervals along the flexor head.

3. The facial exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexion component comprises an adjustable spring that is capable of adjusting a resistance to the at least one lip portion.

4. The facial exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexor head is rotatable about a connection to the interface stabilizer.

5. The facial exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interface stabilizer is molded from an impression of the patient's bite pattern.

6. The facial exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexor arm comprises at least one component of a component set comprising a base connector, an internal paddle lever, a lock, an internal spring, an aperture, a resistance adjuster, a housing, and a contoured lip retainer having a lip retainer back rear edge and a lip retainer top front edge.

7. The facial exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexor head comprises at least one component of a component group, the component group comprising a first connection port, a second connection port, a third connection port, a fourth connection port, an end cap, an end chamber, and a resistance dial panel.

8. The facial exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interface stabilizer comprises at least one zone of a zone group, the zone group comprising a tooth track, a tooth support, a right arm, a left arm, and an interface front plate, and the zone group further comprising an interface connector.

9. The facial exercise apparatus of claim 6, wherein a resistance measurement is viewable using the resistance regulator.

10. The facial exercise apparatus of claim 6, wherein the resistance can be adjusted using the resistance adjust gauge.

11. A method of strengthening facial muscles and reducing the appearance of wrinkles on a patient's face, the method comprising:

providing a patient with a facial exercise device comprising at least one flexor arm, a flexor head, and an interface stabilizer;

securing the facial exercise device within the patient's mouth by having the patient insert the interface stabilizer into the patient's mouth and bite into the interface stabilizer;

fitting the at least one flexor arm around at least one lip portion of the patient; and

instructing the patient to perform a set of resistance exercises by moving the at least one lip portion towards the flexor head connector.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one flexor arm comprises an upper member contoured to surround at least a portion of the patient's lips from the group consisting of: an upper lip, a lower lip, a left portion, and a right portion, the upper member vertically connected to a flex member, the flex member capable of providing at least one level of resistance to the at least one lip portion, the interface stabilizer capable of receiving the at least one flexor arm, and the interface stabilizer having a size and shape sufficient to secure the device within the mouth of the patient when the patient bites on the interface stabilizer, the interface stabilizer capable of connecting to the flexor head.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the facial exercise device further comprises a total of four flexor arms, wherein the flexor head is substantially cylindrical and is capable of radially receiving the total of four flexor arms at 90 degree intervals along the flexor head.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the flexure component comprises an adjustable spring capable of adjusting a resistance to the at least one lip portion.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the flexor head is rotatable about a connection to the interface stabilizer.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of molding the interface stabilizer from an impression of the patient's bite pattern.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one flexor arm comprises at least one component of a group of components, the group of components comprising a base connector, an internal compressor rod, a lock, an internal spring, an aperture, a resistance adjuster, a housing, and a contoured lip retainer having a lip retainer back rear edge and a lip retainer top front edge.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the flexor head comprises at least one component of a group of components, the group of components comprising a first connection port, a second connection port, a third connection port, a fourth connection port, an end cap, an end chamber, and a resistance dial face plate.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the interface stabilizer comprises at least one zone of a group of zones, the group of zones comprising a tooth track, a tooth support, a right arm, a left arm, and an interface front plate, and the group of zones further comprising an interface connector.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the method is for treating at least one condition from the group comprising: stroke paralysis, idiopathic facial paralysis, Bell paralysis, and cosmetic facial folds.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to exercise equipment, i.e. a device for strengthening the bones and muscles of the face of a patient already suffering from stroke, bell paralysis, idiopathic facial paralysis or for cosmetically reducing wrinkles by facial strengthening. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an adjustable device or apparatus that can be gripped by an exerciser's teeth and fitted around the exerciser's lips to facilitate exercise and thereby strengthen facial bones and muscles through routine exercise, and to increase resistance to the exerciser's lips through adjustment of the resistance of the apparatus.

Background

Patients who have suffered a stroke or a condition that suffers from Bell's palsy (or, as more properly called idiopathic facial paralysis) often suffer from facial defects that they or others may feel unaesthetic or asymmetric. These conditions affect thousands of adults each year, and may often continue to affect these individuals throughout their lives. Both of these pathologies can occur suddenly on an individual, often in the early stages of their life, exposing them to physical challenges and, if left untreated, to permanent facial defects. While various prophylactic and rehabilitative processes or techniques may be available, these conditions continue to affect countless individuals throughout their lives. Furthermore, an older individual may have unsightly folds in various places across their face as they age. Although the cause of any particular fold may be avoidable, as any individual ages, eventually they will begin to notice that these facial folds are present in their face and may wish to reduce or eliminate the appearance.

Idiopathic facial paralysis causes sudden weakness in the patient's facial muscles, most often causing the symptomatic half of the patient's face to sag less than the asymptomatic half. The smile of the patient may appear unilateral, the patient may be ported from the symptomatic side of their mouth, and the eyes on the symptomatic side of the patient may resist closing. Idiopathic facial paralysis may occur at any age, and the exact cause may not be known as its name indicates. Most studies indicate that it is the result of controlling nerve swelling and inflammation in the muscles on one side of the patient's face. Some cases appear to be due to or caused by viral infection. For most patients, idiopathic facial paralysis is temporary and symptoms can begin to improve within a few weeks with complete recovery within six months to a year. However, some patients continue to suffer from these symptoms throughout their life or relapse after recovery. In very rare cases, idiopathic facial paralysis may affect nerves on both sides of the patient's face.

Stroke is caused by disturbance of blood supply to the brain. Blood is supplied to the brain from four major arteries. These branches into many smaller arteries that supply blood to all brain regions. The area of the brain affected by blood supply disturbance during a stroke will determine the nature and extent of the damage of the stroke in the affected patient. In the most severe cases, loss of aortic supply can affect large brain areas and cause severe symptoms, even death. If a smaller branch artery is affected, it may cause a more subtle stroke, causing relatively minor symptoms. These disturbances in blood supply are most often caused by ischemia, blood clots, bleeding, or extravasation from blood vessels. A common but relatively minor symptom of stroke is facial weakness and/or paralysis. These symptoms are also common, although minor compared to other, sometimes fatal, consequences of stroke, and are often persistent in the survivors of stroke. Partial facial paralysis or facial/stroke paralysis in stroke patients is often the result of nerve damage within the brain. This is common in ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke due to this neural hypoxia, which can occur within minutes of the first sign of stroke. Typically, only the lower part of the face is affected and only on one side of the patient. Generally, unlike idiopathic facial paralysis, the eyebrows and upper eyelid of a patient remain functionally intact, although the lower eyelid may be pulled downward by the weight of the patient's cheek, especially if the patient's cheek loses muscle tone and strength after a stroke. Some patients report facial droops, similar to idiopathic facial paralysis. While they may still be able to smile spontaneously or involuntarily, patients with facial drops often reflect difficulty smiling voluntarily. Patients may have a side stream of mouth water with symptoms from their mouth, difficulty speaking clearly, and difficulty eating or drinking.

Various methods have been used to treat the unsightly or distorted symptoms of these conditions. For idiopathic facial paralysis, in particular, corticosteroids (such as prednisone, etc.) are known to reduce swelling of the facial nerve in order to make it more comfortable to fit within the bone tunnel around it. In addition, antiviral drugs may have some effect on the underlying cause, although it is debated whether they have any effect beyond that of just placebo. Paralyzed muscles may also contract and/or shorten due to neuropathy and atrophy, and physical therapy for paralyzed muscles has been studied using methods including massage and exercise to prevent the onset of or alleviate such symptoms. Surgery may be indicated in some patients, although decompression surgery for relieving pressure on facial nerves by opening bone tunnels has lost favor. Therefore, surgery is sometimes recommended only to correct persistent facial nerve problems. Other therapies that have been investigated with mixed success for patients with idiopathic facial paralysis include over-the-counter analgesics, home exercise, and alternative therapies (such as acupuncture and biofeedback training, etc.). Similar treatments and techniques are commonly used to treat patients who experience some form of facial paralysis after having a stroke, although again, these treatments may lack efficacy in a broad population and may each have their own risks and/or disadvantages.

While wrinkles may be considered a natural part of a person's aging, various factors may contribute to, accelerate, and even cause wrinkles to appear on a person's face. They often appear as creases, folds, or lines on the skin and may temporarily appear after taking a significant amount of time to come into contact with water. Sometimes only divided into two categories-superficial/thin lines and deep furrows-various folds can develop on the face of an elderly person and they can expand in number as the person ages. Generally, it is considered that the first wrinkles appear on the face of the person due to the common facial expression of the person. Other causes include, but are not limited to, sun damage, smoking, dehydration, medication, environmental factors, and genetic/genetic factors. Since maintaining a youthful appearance is a natural feature of humans, folds on the face are often an undesirable sign of aging. Therefore, billions of the world may spend on preventing and reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

The kind of prophylaxis and treatment of wrinkles will undoubtedly vary to a greater extent than the treatment of idiopathic, stroke or other facial paralysis, possibly due to commonality among all elderly persons. Many people go to great lengths to prevent other signs of aging by cleaning life and exercising, with only the same signs of aging on their faces as inexhaustible people. These individuals may seek and attempt various treatments to reduce these signs of aging on their faces. To be countless, they tend to fall into three main categories: topical treatment, ingestible treatment, and primary or secondary surgery. Topical treatments are usually presented in the form of creams or gels which are applied to the face of the patient at regular intervals. They may include moisturizers, botanicals, vitamins or other chemicals. Topical treatment is typically used for treatment of superficial/fine line wrinkles, and rarely (if ever) provides or even claims any benefit to patients with deep furrow wrinkles. While many topical treatments may suggest great promise, there are few modest, or not temporary, effects, let alone significant, substantial, or sustained success. The same is true for treatments in ingestible or pill form, although progress continues in this area with some moderate success. Finally, moderate treatments and surgery (such as dermabrasion, laser treatment, and chemical ablation) as well as more aggressive treatments (such as botulinum toxin and collagen injection or cosmetic surgery) may have more dramatic and immediate results, but at greater expense and risk, with diminishing results over time. Some have even reported that repeated treatments can lead to the development of a strong or even malformed-like facial appearance, which may be most commonly recognizable in some of the most prominent aging public characters. Because of the difficulty in reducing the appearance of wrinkles after they begin to appear, many people choose to adopt a technique or lifestyle to prevent them from occurring first. Health preserving regimens that prevent sun damage, stop smoking, avoid alcohol, and achieve good nighttime sleep with sun screens and protective clothing may help prevent facial wrinkles.

However, there may be methods of treating persistent symptoms of idiopathic and stroke paralysis by exercising muscles underlying the skin of a person's face, as well as methods of treating, minimizing, eliminating, or preventing the occurrence of wrinkles due to age. In addition, other effects of aging on the face (including muscle atrophy and skeletal degeneration) may similarly diminish with routine strength training of facial muscles. While there may be exercises and some instruments and techniques to assist in the exercises, part of the strength training regimen may not be present, and the strength training regimen may increase resistance over time to actually strengthen these facial bones and muscles.

Although the media generally depicts bones as inanimate scaffolding that merely holds the body together, bones are living, moving tissues that undergo constant remodeling. In humans and many animals, bones can have many functions. In addition to providing structural support, protecting vital organs, and promoting motility, they provide an environment for the blood marrow (in which blood cells are produced) and serve as a storage medium for minerals. At birth, humans have approximately 270 (mostly soft) bones that harden and sometimes fuse during development, especially in the skull. In adults, an anatomically complete person has 206 bones. Bone is comprised primarily of the protein collagen, which itself provides only a soft skeleton. When combined with mineral calcium phosphate, this collagen skeleton hardens, imparting strength thereto. A healthy individual feels firm when subjected to light pressure on his bones from outside the body. However, the inner bones have a honeycomb-like structure, so that they are rigid, but relatively light. During the process of continually reconstructing and remodeling bone in young and/or healthy individuals, bone tissue is broken down and reconstructed to maintain its rigid structure. While some cells and processes in the human body assist in building and strengthening bone tissue, other cells and processes are responsible for breaking them down and causing the release of the minerals contained therein. During development, this process may be largely inclined to bone-building cells and biological processes. During an adult, this process may reach equilibrium, with each occurring in relatively uniform amounts. As individuals age, both healthy individuals and individuals with disorders affecting these biological processes begin to tend to dissolve bone tissue rather than build bone tissue. Estrogens, although present in higher concentrations in premenopausal women, are important skeletal building hormones for both men and women. While estrogen generally remains at a healthy level throughout the life of men, women may begin to suffer from osteoporosis, a loss of bone tissue during menopause due to a decrease in this hormone. While it is of course important for women to monitor this process and to delay it from health and dietary considerations, elderly men may also be monitoring bone density and finding benefit from similar health and dietary considerations. Health and dietary considerations important for both the delay of osteoporosis and the increase in bone density include high or supplemented vitamin D and calcium diets, sun exposure and exercise. Other considerations may include smoking cessation, alcohol consumption moderation.

It is well known that a healthy diet and regular exercise contribute to a healthy and aesthetic physical constitution. Furthermore, it is well known that resistance exercises and weight training aid in the construction and determination of muscle mass. As resistance or weight increases during a conventional fitness regimen, muscle mass increases and becomes more pronounced. As muscle mass increases, they may tend to become more able to perform resistance exercises and weight exercises. As people perform these exercises routinely and within programs of increased resistance, muscles continue to grow naturally, becoming stronger and larger. Thus, the appearance of these growing and stronger muscles becomes visible on the appearance of the body, which is often a significant side benefit or possibly a major benefit, depending on the reason for the person's strength training. Unlike muscle, bone, as living tissue, benefits from strength and resistance training. Important components of skeletal building exercises are the performance of strength training and weight bearing exercises.

While there are many popular ways to exercise the body to build the strength of the bones and muscles (e.g., arms, legs, back, etc.), there are few, if any, popular exercises for building facial bones and muscles. Since a typical full person's face contains a total of 43 muscles and 14 bones, various exercises can help strengthen and build these bones and muscles. Muscles of particular interest for treating the above conditions may include, but are not limited to, left and right superior palpebral muscle (levator libii superioris), levator anguillaris muscle (levator angulus orius), zygomatic minor muscle (zygomatic minor), zygomatic major, orbicularis oculi (orbicularis oculi), smiling muscle (risorius), desorbtor anguillium, tricuspid (tricuspid), hypogastric (depressor labii inialis), and genius (mentis), and orbicularis oris (orbiculis larris). Bones of particular interest for treating the above conditions may include, but are not limited to, the zygomatic, maxilla and mandible bones. Providing an exercise machine that strengthens these muscles and bones in a controlled manner may help grow and strengthen these muscles, providing the benefit of increased mass and increased strength under the skin, thereby mitigating some of the effects of aging on patients suffering from wrinkles and rehabilitating patients suffering from stroke or idiopathic facial paralysis.

It is therefore readily apparent that there is a recognized unmet need for a facial bone and muscle strengthening device or apparatus that can apply precise resistance to specific muscles in a patient's face, and thereby allow a treating physician to increase the resistance in order to increase the patient's muscle volume, muscle strength, bone volume and bone density, thereby reducing the symptoms of bell and stroke paralysis, and minimize and even eliminate wrinkles in the patient's face by growing and strengthening the patient's subcutaneous tissue suffering from one or more of these conditions. The present disclosure is designed to address this need by an apparatus or device, and corresponding methods of using the same, that includes the device disclosed herein while addressing at least some aspects of the problems discussed above.

Disclosure of Invention

Briefly, in a potentially preferred embodiment, the present disclosure overcomes the above-described shortcomings and meets the recognized need for such devices by providing facial bone and muscle strengthening devices or apparatus that can apply precise resistance to specific muscles in an exerciser's face, and thereby allow the exerciser or its treating physician to increase the resistance in order to increase the exerciser's muscle volume, muscle strength, bone mass, and bone density, thereby reducing symptoms of idiopathic and stroke paralysis, and minimizing or even eliminating folds in the exerciser's face.

More specifically, an exemplary embodiment of a facial skeletal and muscle strengthening apparatus or device includes at least one flexor arm, a flexor head, and an interface stabilizer. The at least one flexor arm can be in various sizes, shapes, forms, and compositions, but in a potentially preferred embodiment, can have an upper member contoured to surround at least a portion of the patient's lips. In this embodiment, the upper member may be connected perpendicularly to the flexure member, which is capable of providing at least a level of resistance to the at least one lip portion. The ability to adjust the level of resistance of the flexion components is contemplated in order to provide a range of resistance to the lips of the patient, thereby facilitating the daily routine of strengthening and growing subcutaneous muscles and bones over a period of time. In a potentially preferred embodiment, the flexor head may have a size and shape sufficient to secure the assembled device to the patient's face. This may be accomplished in a variety of ways, including but not limited to shaping against typical contours of a typical patient's tooth or gum impression (for patients with or without teeth, respectively), or by creating a customized impression of an individual patient undergoing treatment based on an individual tooth or gum impression of the individual patient. In this embodiment, when the patient bites down on the interface stabilizer and the device is fully assembled, the interface stabilizer acts as an anchor to stabilize the entire device during daily exercise. In a potentially preferred embodiment, a flexor head may be present between the interface stabilizer and the one or more flexor arms. It is contemplated that the flexor head may form separate or inseparable portions of the interface stabilizer and flexor arm, which are described as separate components for convenience only. For example, the flexor head may include one or more pieces, and may be attached to both the flexor arm and the interface stabilizer, or it may be manufactured as an inseparable stretch of only the flexor arm or the interface stabilizer. In use, the device may be assembled and the interface stabilizer portion may be placed in the mouth of the patient, the patient may then bite into the interface stabilizer, one or more lips of the patient may fit around one or more contoured portions of the flexor arm, the resistance may be set to a desired level, and the patient may be instructed to exercise by moving his or her lips up, down, left or right, toward or away from the flexor head of the device. The order of this may be varied and should not be limited to this defined set order so as to be part of the disclosed exercise or use method.

In one exemplary embodiment, the device may include four or more flexor arms. In such an embodiment, the flexor head would have a corresponding number of points to which the flexor arms are attached. Furthermore, the size and shape of the contoured portion of each flexor arm will be of a size and shape sufficient to cover the patient's lips without interfering with each other when the patient's lips are fully retracted towards the flexor head. Another feature of this embodiment may be various mechanisms to increase the pressure pushing against the patient's lips and away from the flexor head. This may be accomplished by a variety of biasing means including adjustable springs, resistance bands, material selection or hydraulics. There may be tradeoffs among these options, including the requirement to power the device or to enable replacement of mechanical parts. In use, the exemplary embodiments can be adjusted to increase pressure and/or resistance to the patient's lips and away from the flexor head, and can be a key component in an exercise routine for strengthening muscles and bones of the patient's face with stroke paralysis or idiopathic facial paralysis, or for patients seeking cosmetic facial improvement and wrinkle reduction. The patient may consult a physician or medical professional who may adjust the disclosed apparatus and devices according to the treatment plan, or the patient may purchase or obtain the disclosed apparatus and adjust it according to a plan recommended by the physician or designed by the physician. Depending on the necessity of organized and supervised treatment, one skilled in the art can determine what level of organization and supervision may be necessary to properly achieve the desired results for the patient. Through routine procedures tested during development of the disclosed device, patients have been demonstrated to have increased facial strength in both their bones and muscles, have overcome symptoms of stroke and/or idiopathic facial paralysis, and have grown subcutaneous muscle and bone to increase volume, thereby reducing deep furrows and fine line folds. These results have been obtained in a limited number of visits, and it is expected that the desired results will be improved and/or maintained by continuing the disclosed exercise using the disclosed apparatus.

In another exemplary embodiment, the flexor arm may include a flexor arm lip retainer or contoured portion and a flexor arm body or portion that extends perpendicularly from the contoured portion and is designed to allow connection to or assembly with the flexor head. The contoured portions may be in the shape of a U or C or a split U or C, etc., or an inverted or rearward version of each shape, respectively, when viewed from the front of the device, depending on the orientation. When viewed from the side of the device, the contoured portion may assume a J-shape, as in the upper lip contour configuration, the higher portion of the contoured portion may face toward the patient's teeth and the lower portion may face away from the patient, thereby better securing the flexor arm to the patient's lips. This may be reversed if more comfort or other exercise is desired. These contoured portions may be constructed in a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate an individual's face of a particular size to accommodate various strength training exercises, or may be custom-constructed based on the individual or training program. The flexor arm body is a portion of the flexor arm, which may be the same part of the contoured portion of the flexor arm or a separate component. In this embodiment, the flexor arm body extends perpendicularly from the base of the contoured portion, and may be in the shape of a tube or orifice that provides a passage for resistance through the arm to the facial muscles. Although the flexor arms may be oriented at any angle around the flexor head, if placed such that the contoured portion rests below the patient's upper lip, the flexor arm body may be extended down to the flexor head. In this orientation, the bottom end of the tube may be secured to the flexor head in a variety of ways, including but not limited to threaded connection, fusing, gluing, or by integrally connecting and/or assembling as one component of the device. The flexor arms and their components may comprise various materials and may be manufactured in a variety of ways. In this embodiment, the contoured portion may comprise a material that is comfortable and suitable for placement against the lips of a patient, and the flexor arm body may comprise a material that is sufficiently strong to support its tubular design. Further, the flexor arm body may include multiple pieces to accommodate the feature of increasing resistance through adjustment, as well as any necessary structure and components to accomplish this.

In further exemplary embodiments, the flexor head or flexor head connector may comprise one or more components. The flexor connector body may include a cylindrical tube having a conduit channel leading to a plurality of chambers and a flexor head chamber. One end of the tube may be open and/or threaded and the other end may be capped or closed. The open end may provide sufficient range to accommodate a biasing element, such as a spring or an adjustable spring, to provide resistance outward from the interface stabilizer portion. This may require means to adjust the resistance and thereby increase the range and direction of potential exercises using the disclosed apparatus. The flexor head chamber may be radially positioned around a flexor head connector body, which may be cylindrical, and may be designed for connecting one or more flexor arms. The connector may be formed as a variety of devices including, but not limited to, threads. In a potentially preferred embodiment of the flexor head connector, there may be a total of four flexor head connector chambers, each configured for connecting to a flexor arm, and positioned radially at 90 degree intervals in the midday/midnight, three o ' clock, six o ' clock and nine o ' clock positions of the flexor head connector. Positioned and assembled in this manner, the patient may be able to perform a series of resistance exercises including, but not limited to, moving their upper and lower lips toward the flexor head connector and their left and right cheeks toward the flexor head connector.

In exemplary embodiments, the interface stabilizer may have a variety of shapes and sizes and comprise a variety of materials. The overall shape of such an embodiment may be U-shaped, similar to a protective tray or transparent orthodontic retainer. In general, the interface stabilizer may be used to anchor and stabilize the device during an exercise, similar to the way a supine push bench stabilizes the exerciser's back and body or the way a curling bench stabilizes the exerciser's buttocks, chest and upper arms to focus the exercise on multiple arm muscles. A component or region of the interface stabilizer may be located at the front of the patient where the anterior teeth will be located, and may be in the shape of a front plate and configured to connect with a flexor head connector. Alternatively, the flexor head connector may be fitted to the interface stabilizer through a hollow or threaded tube for connecting to the flexor head connector end chamber. While the composition of the interface stabilizer may vary and may include individual components to form a complete interface stabilizer, it may comprise a rigid and strong but flexible material sufficient to receive resistance during typical movements. Alternatively, it may be designed with a comfortable material that allows for better bite gripping and a separate and connected material for anchoring to the flexor head connector. In use, during resistance exercises, the interface stabilizer may be bitten by the patient to hold it in place and align the device.

The disclosed device may be used to exercise, and thereby strengthen and grow, many muscles and bones in a person's face. Muscles that may be strengthened by various exercises using the disclosed devices and that may thereby treat symptoms of idiopathic and/or stroke paralysis and may reduce or eliminate the cosmetic appearance of folds may include, but are not limited to, the left and right upper eyelid elevator, the levator angularis, the zygomatic minor, the zygomatic major, the orbicularis oculi, the laughing muscle, the deltoid (trigonal), the lower labial and genius muscles, and the orbicularis oris. Bones that may be strengthened by various exercises using the disclosed apparatus and that may thereby treat symptoms of idiopathic and stroke paralysis and/or may reduce or eliminate the cosmetic appearance of wrinkles may include, but are not limited to, zygomatic, maxilla, and mandible pairs. Positive patient effects of exercising using the disclosed apparatus may include, but are not limited to, reducing or preventing muscle atrophy due to aging, strengthening and tightening the facial muscles, building and growing the facial muscles, strengthening and tightening the facial bones, building and growing the facial bones, increasing total subcutaneous facial volume, preventing jaw drop and/or associated involuntary running water, causing production and release of hormones (hormones' ability to promote absorption of dietary or endogenous amino acids by facial muscles), immobilizing or reducing adipose tissue in the face, promoting muscle and bone growth, and reducing muscle and bone atrophy or breakdown. Cosmetic improvements that may be a result of conventional use of the disclosed apparatus in strength training regimens may include reducing the appearance of crow's feet, lacrimal ducts, nasolabial folds, marionette lines, sagging, or significant jaw and lip folds. Other cosmetic patients benefit from reduction/removal/elimination of wrinkles including, but not limited to, tightness and smoothness of the skin and nasolabial folds, jaw lines, marionette lines, crow's feet, lacrimal grooves, and lip folds. In addition, the patient may receive a positive cosmetic effect of promoting new facial skin cells by increasing facial blood circulation, maintaining skin elasticity, reducing pressure on the skin due to other environmental factors, and may receive an overall healthier or younger appearance due to a combination of the above benefits or any benefits not mentioned herein.

These and other features of the apparatus and method of use for strengthening facial bones and muscles in cosmetic, stroke, idiopathic facial paralysis patients will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the present summary and the following brief description of the drawings, detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof, and the claims when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings or figures.

Drawings

The present facial exercise apparatus and method of use will be better understood from a reading of the detailed description with reference to the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein like reference numerals represent like structures and refer to like elements throughout, and wherein:

FIG.1 is an angled perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the disclosed facial exercise apparatus;

FIG.2 is an anatomical diagram of an exemplary right half of a patient's skull and an exemplary left half of a patient's muscle from a front perspective cutaway view;

FIG.3a is a front view of a patient using a preferred embodiment of the disclosed facial exercise apparatus;

FIG.3b is a side cross-sectional view of a patient using a preferred embodiment of the disclosed facial exercise apparatus;

FIG.4a is a front view of a patient using a preferred embodiment of the disclosed facial exercise device with the four flexor arms in a decompressed position;

FIG.4b is a front view of a patient using a preferred embodiment of the disclosed facial exercise apparatus with the four flexor arms in a compressed position;

FIG. 5a is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the flexor arms of the disclosed facial exercise apparatus;

FIG.5b is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the flexor arms of the disclosed facial exercise apparatus;

FIG.6a is a top angled perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the flexor head connector of the disclosed facial exercise device;

FIG.6b is an angled bottom perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the interface stabilizer of the disclosed facial exercise apparatus;

FIG.7 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the interface stabilizer, when detached from the flexor head connector of the disclosed facial exercise device; and

FIG.8 is a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of securing the disclosed apparatus to a patient for performing the disclosed exercise.

It should be noted that the drawings presented are for illustrative purposes only and, thus, they are neither intended nor intended to limit the disclosure to any or all of the exact details of construction shown, except as they are deemed essential to the claimed disclosure.

Detailed Description

In describing exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity, as illustrated in fig. 1-7. However, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar function. The claimed embodiments may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The examples set forth herein are non-limiting examples and are merely examples, as well as other possible examples. In particular, the disclosed apparatus or device may include one or more components. The different features and components of the disclosed devices may be combined into one or more components such that they have the same or substantially similar characteristics and functions of the disclosed devices. The terms user, patient, and exerciser are used interchangeably to mean any living person having a face that is capable of using the apparatus or device as described herein. The method of use of the disclosed apparatus may be described as being used in an in-patient or out-patient setting or in a comfortable home or other comfortable or otherwise convenient setting for the patient. Further, the disclosed device may be manufactured in a highly customizable and therefore complex manner, such that supervised exercises may be appropriate, or it may be sufficiently versatile and simple, such that unsupervised exercises may be appropriate, or a combination thereof.

Referring now to fig.1, 3a, 3b, 4a, and 4b, by way of example and not limitation, an example embodiment of a facial exercise device 100 is illustrated therein. Facial exercise device 100 may be referred to herein simply as device 100. The apparatus 100 may be used to exercise the patient's face F. Although the patient face F is shown in the figures as female features similar to a healthy young adult female, the present disclosure is not so limited and the apparatus 100 may be used to exercise the face of any human patient, including but not limited to: male and female adults, male and female children, male and female elderly, or unhealthy and symptomatic people and combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the apparatus 100 may provide the following elements: flexor arms 110 (see fig.1, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, and 5b), interface stabilizer 120 (see fig.1, 3b, 4b, 6b, and 7), and flexor head 130 (see fig.1, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 6a, and 7). To further enhance its ability, the apparatus 100 may further include a plurality of flexor arms including an upper flexor arm 110a, a left flexor arm 110b, a lower flexor arm 110c, and a right flexor arm 110d (see fig.1, 4a, and 4 b). In addition, the one or more flexor arms 110 may include a plurality of components or parts including a flexor arm base connector 112, a flexor arm internal compressor lever 114, a flexor arm lock 116, a flexor arm internal spring 111, a flexor arm aperture 113, a flexor arm resistance adjustment meter 191, a flexor arm housing 119, and a flexor arm contour lip retainer 195, the flexor arm contour lip retainer 195 having a flexor arm lip retainer back edge 115 and a flexor arm lip retainer top front edge 117 (see fig. 5a and 5 b). The interface stabilizer 120 may include extents, regions, features, and/or components of the interface tooth track 128, the interface tooth support 121, the interface right arm 124, the interface left arm 126, the interface front plate 125, and the interface connector 122 (see fig.6b and 7). The flexor head 130 may include an upper flexor head connection port 135b, a left flexor head connection port 135a, a right flexor head connection port 135c, a lower flexor head connection port, a flexor head end cap 139, a flexor head end chamber 132, and a flexor head resistance adjustment gauge panel 192 (see fig.6a and 7). Various exercises, described in more detail below, may have the positive effect of strengthening the bones and facial muscles of the patient's face F, and may include the left and right bone pairs of the zygomatic bones B1, the maxillary bone B2, the mandibular bone B3, and the left and right muscle pairs of the orbicularis oculi M1, the levator palpebrae M2, the zygomatic muscle M3, the zygomatic muscle M4, the laughing muscle M5, the descending labial muscle M6, the lowering angulus M7, the genius muscle M8, and the orbicularis oris muscle M8 (see fig. 2). In some embodiments, to further enhance the capabilities of the apparatus 100, assembly or connection of the interface stabilizer 120 to the flexor head 130 may require or involve a flexor head connector rod 134 between the flexor head end chamber 132 and the interface connector 122, which flexor head connector rod 134 may fit within the flexor head connector spring 131 (see fig. 7). The device 100 may generally be assembled by connecting each of the one or more flexor arms 110 and interface stabilizer 120 to the flexor head 130 in the manner shown in fig. 1. Each of these component parts and components may be made of various materials and require various manufacturing methods to produce the device 100, and although examples of these component parts and compositions may be described above and below in detail, the disclosed device is not so limited.

In use, in an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed method, the apparatus 100 may be secured to the patient's face F by: the interface stabilizer 120 is first placed in the mouth of the patient's face F and becomes stable when the patient bites on the interface stabilizer 120 (see fig.3a, 3b, 4a, 4b and 8). Once so stabilized, the or each flexor arm 110 may be placed such that the flexor arm contour lip retainer 195 partially or substantially surrounds a portion of the lips of the patient's face F (see fig.3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, and 8). Before or after this point, in exemplary embodiments of the disclosed method, the resistance of the flexor arms 110 to the lips of the patient's face F may be adjusted, or measurements of the current resistance to the lips of the patient's face F may be observed using the flexor arm resistance adjustment 191. Exemplary exercises that may become possible as a result of the disclosed methods may be performed by one or more repeated movements of the lips of the patient's face F toward and away from the flexor head 130, whereby the lips of the patient's face F (such as opening and closing the lips, etc.) overcome the resistance created by the flexor arms 110 to contract and extend the flexor arms 110 (compare fig.4a and 4b or fig.4a and 4b) and engage various muscle, muscle group and bone pairs in a strength training exercise (see fig.3a, 3b, 4a, 4b and 8) as they are placed and/or fitted along the flexor arm contour lip holder 195 (fig. 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b and 8).

Referring now specifically to FIG.1, there is shown an angled perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus 100. The one or more flexor arms 110 and interface stabilizer 120 may be connected by a flexor head 130. Shown in fig.1 are an upper flexor arm 110a, a left flexor arm 110b, a lower flexor arm 110c, and a right flexor arm 110 d. One or more flexor arms 110 may be substantially T-shaped, wherein the horizontal portion of T may be so curved or contoured to comfortably fit a person's lips, and the vertical portion of T may be substantially straight, flexor arms 110 having a base with means for connecting to flexor head 130 and a contoured portion along the top that is designed and includes material for comfortably fitting around the lip portion of patient's face F. The interface stabilizer 120 may be U-shaped to comfortably and securely stabilize the apparatus 100 within the mouth of the patient's face F, wherein the device connected to the flexor head 130 may be placed at the portion of the interface stabilizer 120 facing the front of the patient's face F. When so assembled into the apparatus 100, the flexor head 130 may extend cylindrically outward from its connection with the interface stabilizer 120, and may contain one or more connections to accommodate one or more flexor arms 110 spaced about 90 degrees apart radially around its cylindrical portion. The device 100 may be assembled from one or more flexor arms 110, interface stabilizer 120, and flexor head 130, and each may be so removably connected, or each may be permanently fused or otherwise inseparably connected. Each of these component parts and components of the apparatus 100 may comprise a variety of materials and require a variety of manufacturing methods to produce the apparatus 100, and although such component parts and compositions may be described in detail above and below, the disclosed apparatus is not so limited. Various other components or subcomponents of the one or more flexor arms 110, interface stabilizer 120 and flexor head 130 of the apparatus 100, which may be preferred, may be identifiably illustrated in fig.1, which is described in more detail below according to a more detailed illustration.

Referring now specifically to fig.2, there is illustrated an anatomical view of an exemplary patient's face F, with the left half showing the right half of the patient's skull and the right half showing the left half of the patient's muscle, from an elevational perspective anatomical cut-away view. The anatomical diagram of fig.2 is provided for illustrative purposes, and the human face and its muscles and bones are not required as part of the apparatus 100, but may participate or require exercise in the performance of method steps 810-850. Starting from the top of the patient's face F, the right zygomatic bone B1, right maxilla B2 and right mandible B3 can be found on the left side of the anatomical diagram and on the right side of the patient's face F. Each of these bones is present in pairs in the skull of a typical patient's face F, each bone having a substantially similar but mirrored left-hand form. Starting from the top of the patient's face F, on the right side of the anatomical diagram and on the left side of the patient's face F, the left orbicularis oculi muscle M1, the left levator superior palpebrae muscle M2, the left zygomatic lesser muscle M3, the left zygomatic major muscle M4, the left laughing muscle M5, the left labial descending muscle M6, the left lowering corner muscle M7, the left genioglus muscle M8 and the muscle orbicularis oris muscle M8 can be found. Each left muscle shown in fig.2 is present in pairs in a typical patient's face F, with each right muscle having a substantially similar but mirrored right form. Each of these bones and muscles is important to provide structure, support, strength, and appearance to the human face. Through the use of apparatus 100 using method steps 810-850, the patient may be able to strengthen, clarify, and grow each of the various muscles shown in fig.2, thereby strengthening the structure of the patient's face F, increasing the support provided to the various features of the patient's face F, strengthening the bones and muscles of the patient's face F shown in fig.2, and improving the cosmetic appearance of the patient's face F by increasing and strengthening the subcutaneous volume beneath the skin of the patient's face F.

Referring now specifically to FIG.3a, there is shown a front view of a patient's face F using a preferred embodiment of the apparatus 100. The one or more flexor arms 110 and interface stabilizer 120 may be connected by a flexor head 130. Shown in fig.3a are the upper flexor arm 110a, the left flexor arm 110b, the lower flexor arm 110c, and the right flexor arm 110d, each of which is placed over the upper, left, lower, and right lip portions, respectively, of the patient's face F. One or more flexor arms 110 may be substantially T-shaped, wherein the horizontal portion of T may be so curved or contoured to comfortably fit the lips of a person, and the vertical portion of T may be substantially straight, flexor arms 110 having a base with means for connecting to flexor head 130 and a contoured portion along the top that is designed and includes material for comfortably fitting around the lip portion of patient's face F. The interface stabilizer 120 may be U-shaped to comfortably and securely stabilize the apparatus 100 within the mouth of the patient's face F, the apparatus 100 would be a protective or corrective interface in which the means for connecting to the flexor head 130 may be placed at the portion of the interface stabilizer 120 facing the front of the patient's face F. When so assembled into the device 100, the flexor head 130 may extend cylindrically outward from its connection with the interface stabilizer 120, and may contain one or more connections to accommodate one or more flexor arms 110 radially around its cylindrical portion. Each of these component parts and components of the device 100 may comprise a variety of materials and require a variety of manufacturing methods to produce the device 100, and although such component parts and compositions may be described in detail above and below, the disclosed devices are not so limited. Various other components or subcomponents of the one or more flexor arms 110, interface stabilizer 120 and flexor head 130 of the apparatus 100, which may be preferred, may be identifiably illustrated in fig.3a, which is described in more detail below according to a more detailed illustration.

Other combinations are contemplated herein, such as the flexor arm 110 and flexor head 130, etc., and are each placed on the upper, left upper, right upper, lower, left lower, and right lower lip portions, respectively, of the patient's face F.

Referring now specifically to FIG.3b, there is shown a side cutaway view of a patient's face F using a preferred embodiment of the apparatus 100. The one or more flexor arms 110 and interface stabilizer 120 may be connected by a flexor head 130. Shown in fig.3b are upper flexor arm 110a and lower flexor arm 110c, each placed over the upper and lower lip portions, respectively, of the patient's face F. One or more flexor arms 110 may be substantially T-shaped, wherein the horizontal portion of T may be so curved or contoured to comfortably fit the lips of a person, and the vertical portion of T may be substantially straight, flexor arms 110 having a base with means for connecting to flexor head 130 and a contoured portion along the top that is designed and includes material for comfortably fitting around the lip portion of patient's face F. The interface stabilizer 120 may be U-shaped to comfortably and securely stabilize the apparatus 100 within the mouth of the patient's face F, wherein the means for connecting to the flexor head 130 may be placed at a portion of the interface stabilizer 120 such that it faces outwardly from the interface stabilizer 120 from the front of the patient's face F. The patient may further secure the apparatus 100 to the patient's face F by biting on the interface stabilizer 120 and by doing so, causing its upper teeth T1 to move downwardly on the interface stabilizer 120 and its lower teeth T2 to move upwardly on the interface stabilizer 120, thereby creating a clamping force on the interface stabilizer 120 to further stabilize the apparatus 100. When assembled into the device 100, the flexor head 130 may extend cylindrically outward from its connection with the interface stabilizer 120, and may contain one or more connections to accommodate one or more flexor arms 110 radially around its cylindrical portion. The device 100 may be assembled from one or more flexor arms 110, interface stabilizer 120, and flexor head 130, and each may be so removably connected, or each may be permanently fused or otherwise inseparably connected. Each of these component parts and components of the device 100 may comprise a variety of materials and require a variety of manufacturing methods to produce the device 100, and although such component parts and compositions may be described in detail above and below, the disclosed devices are not so limited. Various other components or subcomponents of the one or more flexor arms 110, interface stabilizer 120 and flexor head 130 of the apparatus 100, which may be preferred, may be identifiably illustrated in fig.3b, which is described in more detail below according to a more detailed illustration.

Referring now specifically to fig.4a and 4b, there is shown a front view of a patient's face F using a preferred embodiment of the device 100, wherein the device 100 has flexor arms 110a, left flexor arm 110b, lower flexor arm 110c and right flexor arm 110d, the flexor arms 110a, left flexor arm 110b, lower flexor arm 110c and right flexor arm 110d each being placed over the upper, left, lower and right lip portions of the patient's face F, respectively, with each flexor arm 110 in an uncompressed position in fig.4a and in a compressed position in fig.4 b. As shown, one or more flexor arms 110 may be generally T-shaped, with the horizontal portion of the T so bent or contoured to comfortably fit the lips of a person, and the vertical portion of the T may be substantially straight, each flexor arm 110 having a base with means for connecting to flexor head 130 and a contoured portion along the top that is designed and includes material for comfortably fitting around the lip portion of a patient's face F. Because of the horizontal portion of the T-shaped flexor arm 110, the flexor arm lip holder assembly 118 can be designed such that it can extend and retract along the vertical portion of the T-shaped flexor arm 110, and each flexor arm 110 can extend outward from the flexor head 130 as shown in fig.4a or retract inward toward the flexor head 130 as shown in fig.4 b. The patient's face F may be exercised by moving one or more flexor arms 100 inwardly toward the flexor head 130, and moving one or more flexor arms 100 outwardly away from the flexor head 130. By doing so repeatedly, daily, and as part of a procedure, the strength, size, tension, and structure of the muscles of the patient's face F are increased. This repetitive or daily exercise routine may provide increasingly significant results by providing a mechanism to provide and/or increase resistance to outward movement of the flexor head 130 between the horizontal portion of the T or flexor arm lip retainer assembly 118 and the vertical portion of the T in one or more T-shaped flexor arms 110. Other components of the device 100 and their corresponding features may be important for securing the device 100 to the patient's face F to perform exercises using the device 100. The interface stabilizer 120 may be U-shaped to comfortably and securely stabilize the apparatus 100 within the mouth of the patient's face F, wherein the device connected to the flexor head 130 may be placed at the portion of the interface stabilizer 120 facing the front of the patient's face F. When assembled into the device 100, the flexor head 130 may extend cylindrically outward from its connection with the interface stabilizer 120, and may contain one or more connections to accommodate one or more flexor arms 110 radially around its cylindrical portion. Various components and materials may be employed to allow the horizontal portion of the T to travel along the vertical portion of the T in the T-shaped flexor arm 110, as can be seen in more specific detail covered in other figures below.

Referring now in particular to fig. 5a and 5b, there is shown an exploded view of the flexor arm 110 of the preferred embodiment of the device 100, as well as an assembled view thereof. As shown in the above figures, the device 100 may have one or more flexor arms 110, and the flexor arms 110 may be radially connected along the cylindrical portion of the flexor head 130. Each flexor arm 110 may also include component parts to perform the desired functions of the device 100. As shown in the disassembled state in fig. 5a and the assembled state in fig.5b, the preferred embodiment of these components of the flexor arm 110, from right to left in the drawing, may include a flexor arm base connector 112, a flexor arm inner compressor bar 114, a flexor arm lock 116, flexor arm biasing elements such as an inner spring 111, a flexor arm aperture 113, and a flexor arm lip retainer assembly 118. The flexor arm lip holder assembly 118 may also include the parts, components, portions and/or regions of the flexor arm resistance adjustment 191, the flexor arm housing 119 and the flexor arm contour lip holder 195, the flexor arm contour lip holder 195 having a flexor arm lip holder back rear edge 115 and a flexor arm lip holder top front edge 117. When viewed from the side, flexor arm lip retainer assembly 118 may appear generally J-shaped with one side extending higher than the other. Depending on the comfort and exercise desired by the patient, one of the higher sides may be placed closer to the teeth or closer to the outer lips, and the flexor arm 110 or flexor arm lip holder assembly 118 may be manufactured to allow rotation of the flexor arm 110 to accommodate such desire. When assembled, as shown in fig.5b, the flexor arm base connector 112 can secure a flexor arm inner compressor rod 114, which is then movably connected to a flexor arm lock 116. When the flexor arm inner spring 111 is placed through the flexor arm aperture 113, the flexor arm inner spring 111 may fit within the flexor arm housing 119 and against the flexor arm lock 116. When the lip portion of the patient's face F causes pressure against the flexor arm contour's lip retainer 195 and toward the flexor head 130, the resistance of the flexor arm 110 during its compression can be provided by the force generated by the flexor arm inner spring 111, thereby moving the moveable connection of the flexor arm lock 116 along the flexor arm inner compressor rod 114, thereby causing the flexor arm inner spring 111 to compress and generate a corresponding force. Additionally, a mechanism may be provided to allow the flexor arm internal spring 111 spring force to be increased or decreased by adjusting the flexor arm resistance adjustment 191, requiring a corresponding additional or decreased pressure against the flexor arm contour lip retainer 195 in order to move the flexor arm lip retainer assembly 118 toward the flexor head 130. Each flexor arm 110 can be individually adjusted to accommodate the exercise required for its corresponding lip portion. The flexor arm 110 and various components of the preferred embodiment as shown in fig. 5a and 5b may comprise or be manufactured from a number of contemplated compositions. By way of example and not limitation, the flexor arm contour lip retainer 195 may comprise a material that can comfortably rest on the patient's face F, such as a medical grade plastic or siliconized or rubber material, or the like. Further, flexor arm lip retainer assembly 118 may comprise one or more of a variety of materials, and may even be manufactured as a single component, if desired. While the preferred durable material for making the flexor arm inner spring 111 may be a flexible metal alloy, the flexor arm inner spring 111 may be made from any number of materials known to those skilled in the art to be suitable for making a spring. Each of the remaining components of flexor arm 110 may be fabricated from metal or plastic or other suitable materials and combinations thereof. It is contemplated that the flexor arm lock 116 and flexor arm lip retainer assembly 118, as well as the flexor arm inner compressor bar 114 and flexor arm base connector 112, may be formed as one piece, or may become inseparably fused during manufacture and/or assembly. Additionally, each of the components of flexor arm 110 may be connected or assembled in a variety of ways, including adhesion, male and female threads, or other methods of detachable or irreversible assembly known to those skilled in the art, and/or combinations thereof.

Referring now in particular to fig.6a and 6b, there is shown an angled bottom perspective view of the flexor head 130 and the interface stabilizer 120 of a potentially preferred embodiment of the device 100. In a potentially preferred embodiment shown in fig.6a, the flexor head 130 may include an upper flexor head connection port 135b, a left flexor head connection port 135a, a right flexor head connection port 135c, a lower flexor head connection port (not shown), a flexor head end cap 139, a flexor head end chamber 132, and a flexor head resistance adjustment gauge panel 192. The flexor head 130 may form a generally substantially cylindrical shape with the flexor end cap 132 facing away from the flexor end chamber 132. There may be one or more apertures radially around the flexor head 130, which are capable of receiving and/or connecting to the flexor arm 110. These orifices may include an upper flexor head connection port 135b, a left flexor head connection port 135a, a right flexor head connection port 135c, a lower flexor head connection port (not shown), a flexor head end cap 139. Each aperture may be connected to one or more flexor arms 110 by various means known to those skilled in the art, including but not limited to threads as shown. The flexor head 130 may also include a flexor head resistance adjustment gauge panel 192, which may allow for adjustment of the pressure outward from the interface stabilizer 120, as described below and shown in more detail in fig. 7. The flexor head adjustment gauge panel 192 may allow for monitoring of the force or pressure between the interface stabilizer 120 and the flexor head 130, or may be used to adjust the force or pressure between the interface stabilizer 120 and the flexor head 130. The flexor head 130 and its listed components or parts may be fabricated from materials known to those skilled in the art as being suitable for use in an exercise, medical or dental environment, including but not limited to medical grade metal alloys or plastics, and may each exist as separate assembled parts or may be fabricated as a single component, and/or combinations thereof. In a potentially preferred embodiment shown in fig.6b, the interface stabilizer 120 may include the extent, area, features and/or components of the interface tooth track 128, the interface tooth support 121, the interface right arm 124, the interface left arm 126, the interface front plate 125 and the interface connector 122. The mouthpiece stabilizer 120 may further include a small connecting portion protruding from the mouthpiece front plate 125, to which the mouthpiece connector 122 may be connected and/or attached. The mouthpiece stabilizer 120 may be substantially U-shaped and may be manufactured according to a size and shape that best accommodates a typical adult. Alternatively, the interface stabilizer 120 may be manufactured in a variety of shapes and sizes, and may even be custom manufactured for an individual patient based on a mold, molded impression, or other shaped impression of the patient's bite pattern, similar to the manner in which a custom denture or "invisible" orthodontic is manufactured, in order to better secure the device 100 during use. The extent, area, parts, and/or components of the interface stabilizer 120, which may include the interface tooth track 128, the interface tooth support 121, the interface right arm 124, the interface left arm 126, the interface front plate 125, and the interface connector 122, and the interface stabilizer 120 may be formed from separate parts and assembled as a unit, or may be manufactured as a component of the apparatus 100, and/or combinations thereof. The interface stabilizer 120 and its listed components may be manufactured from one or more suitable materials, including but not limited to medical or dental grade plastics or siliconized or rubber materials, such that manufacture may be preferred to provide increased comfort and stability to the patient during use. The flexor tip chamber 132 may be designed to receive and securely connect to the interface stabilizer 120 at the interface connector 122 by various mechanisms that may be apparent to those skilled in the art, including, but not limited to, screwing or pushing in and onto a locking mechanism having a concave recess within the flexor tip chamber 132 capable of receiving a correspondingly radially convexly disposed male portion of the interface connector 122. It is also contemplated that there may be more radially disposed female recesses within the flexor tip chamber 132 than radially convexly disposed male portions of the interface connector 122, thereby allowing for more disposition, i.e., rotational removal in increments of, for example, 45 degrees, of the radially extending one or more flexor arms 110. It is contemplated herein that the flexor head 130 and the interface stabilizer 120 may be manufactured as one component, or may include two or even several alternative components that may be assembled. While the flexor head 130 is substantially cylindrical, as described herein, it is contemplated herein that the flexor head 130 may have various three-dimensional shapes, including but not limited to triangular, rectangular, or other polygonal prisms. Further, while the flexor head 130 shown herein includes three flexor head connection ports shown and four total flexor head connection ports, one skilled in the art will recognize that the need for more or fewer such ports to accommodate more or fewer flexor arms 110 depends on various factors. The present disclosure is not so limited to the examples shown and the corresponding descriptions provided.

Referring now specifically to fig.7, there is shown an exploded view of an optional embodiment of the interface stabilizer 120, as detached from the flexor head 130 to expose optional included features of the optional embodiment. In an alternative preferred embodiment shown in fig.7, the flexor head 130 may include an upper flexor head connection port 135b, a left flexor head connection port 135a, a right flexor head connection port 135c, a lower flexor head connection port (not shown), a flexor head end cap 139, a flexor head end chamber 132, and a flexor head resistance adjustment gauge panel 192. The flexor head 130 may form a generally substantially cylindrical shape with the flexor head end cap 132 facing away from the flexor end chamber 132. There may be one or more apertures radially around the flexor head 130, which are capable of receiving and/or connecting to the flexor arm 110. These orifices may include an upper flexor head connection port 135b, a left flexor head connection port 135a, a right flexor head connection port 135c, a lower flexor head connection port (not shown), a flexor head end cap 139. Each aperture may be connected to one or more flexor arms 110 by various means known to those skilled in the art, including but not limited to threads as shown in fig.6 a. The flexor head 130 may also include a flexor head resistance adjustment gauge panel 192, which may allow for adjustment of the pressure outward from the interface stabilizer 120. The mouthpiece stabilizer 120 may be substantially U-shaped and may be manufactured according to a size and shape that best accommodates a typical adult. Alternatively, the interface stabilizer 120 may be manufactured in a variety of shapes and sizes, and may even be custom manufactured for an individual patient based on a mold or impression of the patient's bite pattern, similar to the way in which a custom denture or "invisible" orthodontic is manufactured, to better secure the device 100 during use. The interface stabilizer may include the interface connector 122, may be formed from separate pieces and assembled into a unit, or may be manufactured as a component of the apparatus 100, and/or combinations thereof. In a potentially preferred embodiment shown in fig.7, there may be a flexor head connector rod 134 between the flexor head 130 and the interface stabilizer 120, which flexor head connector rod 134 may fit within the flexor head connector spring 131 or press against the flexor head connector spring 131 when assembled, thereby creating a force either inwardly toward the interface stabilizer 120 or outwardly away from the interface stabilizer 120 depending on the configuration. The resistance adjustment gauge panel 192 may be configured to monitor the resistance generated by the patient during exercise, or to increase or decrease the resistance of the mechanism. With the optional feature, the patient can exercise additional muscle and skeletal structure of the patient's face F by performing additional exercises with and against inward or outward forces.

Referring now specifically to FIG.8, a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed exercise method is shown. Each step in the disclosed methods may be performed by a medical professional, dental professional, instructor, supervisor, or patient, herself or himself, and/or combinations thereof. At a first exercise method step 810, the patient may be provided with the apparatus 100 as described herein. The apparatus 100 may include one or more flexor arms 110, a flexor head 130, and an interface stabilizer 120. Then, in a second method step 820, the apparatus 100 may be secured within the mouth of the patient by having the patient insert the interface stabilizer 120 into the mouth of the patient's face F. In a third method step 830, securing or stabilizing the device 100 may be accomplished by instructing the patient to bite into the interface piece stabilizer 120. Once so secured, in a fourth method step 840, one can fit one or more flexor arms 110 around at least one lip of the patient's face F. Finally, at a fifth method step 850, anyone can instruct the patient to perform a set of resistance exercises by moving their lips or portions of the lips toward the flexor head 130, and the patient can do so that the facial exercises of the disclosed method are performed.

The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments. Having thus described the exemplary embodiments, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is merely exemplary and that various other substitutions, adaptations and modifications may be made within the scope of the present disclosure. Listing or numbering the steps of a method in only a certain order does not constitute any limitation to the order of the steps of the method. Many modifications and other embodiments will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments shown herein, but only by the following claims.