JP2005237983A

JP2005237983A - Mouth guard and method of manufacturing dry gel for mouth guard

Info

Publication number: JP2005237983A
Application number: JP2005136950A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Sadami Tsutsumi; 定美堤; Makoto Ota; 信太田; Jiyoukiyuu Gen; 丞烋玄; Hitoo Okano; 仁夫岡野
Original assignee: Kansai Technology Licensing Organization Co Ltd
Current assignee: Kansai Technology Licensing Organization Co Ltd
Priority date: 2005-05-10
Filing date: 2005-05-10
Publication date: 2005-09-08

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inexpensively provide a mouth guard having proper hardness, and superior in moldability and a wearing feeling. <P>SOLUTION: A 30 % solution is formed by dissolving polyvinyl alcohol powder having a polymerization degree of 1,700 and a saponification degree of 80 or more in a solvent including at least water and including DMSO when necessary by heating, and then, the solution is gelled by cooling. The solvent is removed and dried, and cut when necessary after heat treatment, and is dissolved by reheating together with a predetermined quantity of water so that the moisture content becomes 60 to 80 %, particularly, 70 %, and next, is re-gelled by cooling in a mouth guard-shaped mold. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

この発明は、口腔内の衝撃を緩和するマウスガードとその製造方法に属する。 The present invention belongs to a mouth guard that mitigates impact in the oral cavity and a method for manufacturing the same.

従来、マウスガードの材料には、酢酸エチルビニル（ＥＶＡ）やシリコンゴムが用いられてきた。 Conventionally, ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) or silicone rubber has been used as a mouth guard material.

しかし、シリコンゴムは高価であるし、ＥＶＡは硬すぎてしかも一旦湯中などで軟化させてから加圧成形しないと装着できない等の難点を有する。そして、いずれも共通して成形性及び装着感が悪い。
それ故、この発明の課題は、適度な硬さで、成形性及び装着感に優れたマウスガードを安価に提供することにある。 However, silicon rubber is expensive, and EVA is too hard and has a drawback that it cannot be attached unless it is once softened in hot water and then pressure-molded. And all have a bad moldability and a feeling of mounting.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive mouth guard having an appropriate hardness and excellent moldability and wearing feeling.

その課題を解決するために、この発明の方法によって製造されるマウスガードは、水溶性ゲルを構成材料とする。
この発明のマウスガードは、水溶性ゲルを構成材料とするので、唾液で濡れる口腔内で唾液とゲル中の水とが平衡状態となって良く馴染み、装着感に優れる。 In order to solve the problem, the mouth guard manufactured by the method of the present invention comprises a water-soluble gel as a constituent material.
Since the mouth guard of this invention uses a water-soluble gel as a constituent material, the saliva and the water in the gel are well balanced in the oral cavity wetted with saliva, and are excellent in wearing feeling.

前記水溶性ゲルとしては、コンニャク、寒天、ゼラチンなどの天然物が例示されるが、必須とされるのはポリビニルアルコール（ＰＶＡ）のゲルである。ＰＶＡゲルは簡単且つ安価に製造可能であるし、含水率に基づいてヤング率、伸び、破断強度などの物性を所望値に調整することができるからである。 Examples of the water-soluble gel include natural products such as konjac, agar, and gelatin, but what is essential is a gel of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). This is because the PVA gel can be easily and inexpensively manufactured, and physical properties such as Young's modulus, elongation, and breaking strength can be adjusted to desired values based on the moisture content.

そして、ＰＶＡゲルの含水率は、一般に４０％以上、好ましくは６０％以上８０％以下、特に好ましくは６５％以上７５％以下である。含水率が４０％に満たないとマウスガードにとって最も大切な物性であるヤング率が５ＭＰａを超えることとなり、マウスガードとしては硬すぎるからである。含水率を６０％以上８０％以下に調整することにより、ヤング率が１ＭＰａ〜５ＭＰａとなり、適度な硬さとなるからである。
また、前記水溶性ゲルは油を含むとよい。水溶性ゲルの乾燥収縮が抑制され、保存がしやすくなるからである。油としてはビタミンＥが好ましい。人体に無害であるし、むしろ栄養源となるからである。 The water content of the PVA gel is generally 40% or more, preferably 60% or more and 80% or less, and particularly preferably 65% or more and 75% or less. If the water content is less than 40%, the Young's modulus, which is the most important physical property for the mouth guard, exceeds 5 MPa, and it is too hard for the mouth guard. This is because by adjusting the water content to 60% or more and 80% or less, the Young's modulus becomes 1 MPa to 5 MPa, and the hardness becomes appropriate.
The water-soluble gel may contain oil. This is because drying shrinkage of the water-soluble gel is suppressed, and storage becomes easy. Vitamin E is preferred as the oil. It is harmless to the human body and is rather a nutrient source.

更にまた、前記水溶性ゲルは香辛料及び／又は調味料を含むとよい。装着中に味覚を楽しむことができるからである。尚、水溶性ゲルにハッカ油を含ませると、前記の油を含ませたときの作用と香辛料を含ませたときの作用を一挙に発揮するうえ、防菌作用をも発揮する。 Furthermore, the water-soluble gel may contain spices and / or seasonings. This is because the taste can be enjoyed while wearing. In addition, when mint oil is included in the water-soluble gel, the effect when the oil is included and the effect when the spice is included are exhibited at once, and also the antibacterial effect is exhibited.

よって、この発明のマウスガード製造方法は、
ポリビニルアルコール粉末を少なくとも水を含む溶媒に溶かし、続いて溶液をゲル化させ、脱溶媒し、乾燥し、熱処理することによってマウスガード用乾燥ゲルを得る。その後、所定量の水とともに再度溶解し、次いで型内で再ゲル化させることを特徴とする。 Therefore, the mouth guard manufacturing method of the present invention is
Polyvinyl alcohol powder is dissolved in a solvent containing at least water, and then the solution is gelled, desolvated, dried, and heat-treated to obtain a dried mouth guard gel. Then, it is characterized by dissolving again with a predetermined amount of water and then regelling in a mold.

この方法によれば、熱処理後のゲルを保存しておき、必要時に取り出して水と共に再溶解し、所望の形状に再ゲル化させることができる。従って、歯科医師はもちろん、マウスガード装着者自身であっても乾燥ゲルと型さえ所有していれば自宅でマウスガードを制作することができる。
上記の如くビタミンＥなどの油や香辛料あるいは調味料を添加する場合は、ＰＶＡ粉末を溶媒に溶かす段階で添加すると良い。熱処理はゲルの酸化防止のために真空中で行うのが好ましい。この熱処理の温度と時間を制御することにより、含水率の粗調整ができる。そして、熱処理後に含水率を所定値に調整する。この調整は、例えば熱処理したゲルに吸水させることによりなされ、含水率はゲル／水の比率で決まる。吸水しやすいようにゲルを細かく切断しておくと良い。 According to this method, the gel after heat treatment can be stored, taken out when necessary, re-dissolved with water, and re-gelled into a desired shape. Therefore, a mouth guard can be produced at home as long as he / she owns a dry gel and a mold as well as a dentist.
As described above, when adding oil such as vitamin E, spices or seasonings, it is preferable to add them at the stage of dissolving the PVA powder in a solvent. The heat treatment is preferably performed in a vacuum in order to prevent oxidation of the gel. The water content can be roughly adjusted by controlling the temperature and time of this heat treatment. Then, the moisture content is adjusted to a predetermined value after the heat treatment. This adjustment is made, for example, by allowing the heat-treated gel to absorb water, and the water content is determined by the gel / water ratio. It is good to cut the gel finely so that it can absorb water easily.

以上のように、成形性及び装着感に優れ、適度な硬さのマウスガードが安価に得られるので、ボクシングやアメフトのみならず広い利用範囲への利用を期待できる。 As described above, since a mouth guard having an excellent moldability and a feeling of wearing and having an appropriate hardness can be obtained at a low cost, it can be expected to be used not only for boxing and American football but also in a wide range of usage.

−実施例１−
鹸化度８６〜９０で、表１に示す重合度のＰＶＡ粉末をジメチルスルフォオキシド（ＤＭＳＯ）／水＝８０／２０重量比の混合溶媒とともに１００〜１４０℃、１．２気圧で加熱して溶かし、冷却によりゲル化させ、脱溶媒し、乾燥し、真空中１５０℃で熱処理した。 Example 1
PVA powder having a saponification degree of 86 to 90 and a polymerization degree shown in Table 1 was dissolved by heating at 100 to 140 ° C. and 1.2 atm with a mixed solvent of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) / water = 80/20 weight ratio. The solution was gelled by cooling, desolvated, dried, and heat-treated at 150 ° C. in vacuum.

次に、熱処理後のゲルを押し出し機で押し出して板状に圧縮した後、ペレット状に切断した。得られたペレット群を所定量の水と混合して加熱により再溶解し、型に流し込んで型内で４℃に数分間冷却し、次いで−２０℃に２４時間冷凍することにより、ゲル化させた。ゲルの含水率はペレット／水の比率で決めた。尚、型に流し込むＰＶＡ溶液の濃度が高すぎて、流動性が悪くて流し込み困難な場合は、水との混合後、１４０℃数百気圧にて型内に射出成形した。 Next, the heat-treated gel was extruded with an extruder and compressed into a plate shape, and then cut into pellets. The obtained pellet group is mixed with a predetermined amount of water, redissolved by heating, poured into a mold, cooled to 4 ° C. for several minutes in the mold, and then frozen at −20 ° C. for 24 hours to be gelled. It was. The moisture content of the gel was determined by the pellet / water ratio. In addition, when the density | concentration of the PVA solution poured into a type | mold was too high and flowability was bad and it was difficult to pour, it injected into the type | mold at 140 degreeC several hundred atmospheres after mixing with water.

得られたＰＶＡゲルのヤング率、破壊伸び及び破断強度を測定した結果を図１〜図８に示す。図中、I.C.P.Sは、ＰＶＡ粉末を混合溶媒中に溶かしたときの初期濃度を意味する。 The results of measuring the Young's modulus, breaking elongation, and breaking strength of the obtained PVA gel are shown in FIGS. In the figure, I.C.P.S means the initial concentration when the PVA powder is dissolved in the mixed solvent.

図１〜８に見られるように、初期濃度、重合度及び成形法によらず、最終的にゲルの含水率だけが物性に影響することが判った。 As can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 8, it was finally found that only the moisture content of the gel affects the physical properties regardless of the initial concentration, the degree of polymerization and the molding method.

−実施例２−
表２に示す市販のＰＶＡ粉末（いずれもユニチカ製）を準備した。各ＰＶＡ粉末を個別に水とともに圧力容器に入れ、１２０℃で２０分間加熱することにより溶解し、冷却することによりゲル化させ、乾燥し熱処理した。 -Example 2-
Commercially available PVA powders (all manufactured by Unitika) shown in Table 2 were prepared. Each PVA powder was individually put in a pressure vessel together with water, dissolved by heating at 120 ° C. for 20 minutes, gelled by cooling, dried and heat-treated.

一方、マウスガード形状のワックスを石膏内に埋没させ、脱ロウすることにより石膏型を作製した。上記ＰＶＡの乾燥ゲルを所定量の水と混合し、加熱により溶解し、石膏型に流し込んで常温まで冷却し、続いて−２０℃で冷凍することによりＰＶＡ溶液をゲル化させ、ＰＶＡ製マウスガードを完成した。
得られたマウスガードの含水率、ヤング率及び装着感を評価した結果を表２に示す。尚、装着感は男性４人による感想のうち２人以上が一致した感想である。 On the other hand, a gypsum mold was prepared by burying mouthguard-shaped wax in gypsum and dewaxing. The PVA dry gel is mixed with a predetermined amount of water, dissolved by heating, poured into a plaster mold, cooled to room temperature, and then frozen at −20 ° C. to gelate the PVA solution. Was completed.
Table 2 shows the results of evaluating the moisture content, Young's modulus, and wearing feeling of the obtained mouth guard. In addition, a feeling of wearing is an impression in which two or more of the impressions by four men agree.

上記の通り、ゲル化前の段階では重合度２０００以下、濃度４０％未満が最適であった。そして、ゲルの含水率は７０％が最適であった。 As described above, the degree of polymerization was 2000 or less and the concentration was less than 40% at the stage before gelation. The optimal moisture content of the gel was 70%.

重合度１７００のＰＶＡを用いて射出成形法により得られたゲルの含水率とヤング率の関係を示すグラフである。It is a graph which shows the relationship between the moisture content and the Young's modulus of the gel obtained by the injection molding method using PVA with a polymerization degree of 1700. 濃度３０％のＰＶＡ溶液から得られたゲルの含水率とヤング率の関係を示すグラフである。It is a graph which shows the relationship between the moisture content of the gel obtained from the PVA solution with a concentration of 30%, and Young's modulus. 重合度８８００のＰＶＡを用いて射出成形法により得られたゲルの含水率とヤング率の関係を示すグラフである。It is a graph which shows the relationship between the moisture content and the Young's modulus of the gel obtained by the injection molding method using PVA with a polymerization degree of 8800. 重合度８８００のＰＶＡを用いて押し出し成形法により得られたゲルの含水率とヤング率の関係を示すグラフである。It is a graph which shows the relationship between the moisture content of the gel obtained by the extrusion molding method using PVA with a polymerization degree of 8800, and Young's modulus. 重合度５０００のＰＶＡゲルの含水率と破壊伸びとの関係を示すグラフである。It is a graph which shows the relationship between the moisture content of a PVA gel with a polymerization degree of 5000, and breaking elongation. 重合度５０００のＰＶＡゲルの含水率と破断強度との関係を示すグラフである。It is a graph which shows the relationship between the moisture content of a PVA gel with a polymerization degree of 5000, and breaking strength. 重合度８８００のＰＶＡゲルの含水率と破壊伸びとの関係を示すグラフである。It is a graph which shows the relationship between the moisture content of a PVA gel with a polymerization degree of 8800, and breaking elongation. 重合度８８００のＰＶＡゲルの含水率と破断強度との関係を示すグラフである。It is a graph which shows the relationship between the moisture content of a PVA gel of polymerization degree 8800, and breaking strength.

Claims

ポリビニルアルコール粉末を少なくとも水を含む溶媒に溶かし、続いて溶液をゲル化させ、脱溶媒し、乾燥し、熱処理することを特徴とするマウスガード用乾燥ゲルの製造方法。 A method for producing a mouthguard dry gel, comprising: dissolving polyvinyl alcohol powder in a solvent containing at least water; and subsequently gelling the solution, removing the solvent, drying, and heat treatment.

前記ポリビニルアルコール粉末は、重合度２０００以下で、溶液濃度が４０％未満である請求項１に記載の製造方法。 The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol powder has a degree of polymerization of 2000 or less and a solution concentration of less than 40%.

請求項１又は２の製造方法で製造された乾燥ゲルを、所定量の水とともに再度溶解し、次いで型内で再ゲル化させることを特徴とするマウスガードの製造方法。
A method for producing a mouth guard, wherein the dried gel produced by the production method according to claim 1 or 2 is dissolved again together with a predetermined amount of water and then re-gelled in a mold.