Patent ID: 6877513

Claim:
An apparatus for enhancing patency of a user's airway comprising: a first member adapted to contact a portion of a user; a flexible sleeve adapted to be received at least partially within such a user's oral cavity and adapted to receive a portion of such a user's tongue therein, wherein the flexible sleeve is of sufficient flexibility that, during use, the flexible sleeve readily collapse about the portion of such a user's tongue upon application of a vacuum within the flexible sleeve, and wherein application of such a vacuum within the flexible sleeve fixes the flexible sleeve to the portion of such a user's tongue in the without distending such portion of a user's tongue so that a position of such a user's tongue is controllable by controlling a position of the flexible sleeve; and a first connecting assembly cooperable with the first member and the flexible sleeve to maintain a fixed position between the first member and the flexible sleeve during use of the apparatus.