Cancer Treatment Innovation: KSU Medical City Patents “Multi-Functional Oral Device”
A multidisciplinary medical team at King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC) has secured a U.S. patent (US012310812B1) for a groundbreaking multi-functional oral device. Designed for use during radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, this innovative tool serves a dual purpose: it protects and stabilizes vital tissues and holds/delivers liquid medications to manage radiation-related complications. The expert team includes Dr. Saif Aljbab (Oncology/Radiation Therapy), Dr. Abdullah Al-Soghair (Oral Medicine), and Mr. Abdrabbuh Qumawi (Dental Technology).
Dr. Saif Aljbab provided the technical details, explaining the device is an internal oral splint with two custom-fitted pieces (upper and lower). It features fixation edges to stabilize teeth and a spacer to maintain jaw distance. Crucially, the upper piece includes a reservoir for liquid medications, and a barrier is built-in to keep the tongue out of the radiation field. This design effectively reduces damage to healthy tissues and improves the accuracy of radiation targeting.
This device offers a new hope for head and neck cancer patients. Radiation therapy often causes severe side effects that significantly reduce their quality of life, including tissue stiffness, inflammation, dry mouth, and difficulty swallowing or moving the tongue (potentially leading to jawbone death). Dr. Aljbab affirmed that the oral device helps limit these complications without affecting the cancer treatment's effectiveness, promising better therapeutic results and a much-improved quality of life for patients after treatment.
Beyond patient care, the device is expected to significantly reduce healthcare costs and patient visits by mitigating severe side effects across specialized fields like oncology and oral medicine. Dr. Aljbab noted that this patent highlights King Saud University's advanced medical research, boosting the Kingdom's standing in oral health and radiation therapy internationally.
