EP-4739253-A1 - A DENTAL DEVICE FOR FACILITATING EVACUATION OF FLUIDS FROM AN ORAL CAVITY OF A PATIENT

Abstract

A dental device for facilitating evacuation of fluids from an oral cavity of a patient, the dental device comprising a bore (6), a connector portion (2), an external portion (3) and an internal portion (4) comprising a fluid inlet (9): the internal portion comprising a reverse bend (38), the connector portion (2) comprising a first connector portion (10) and a second connector portion (11) of a larger diameter; or the fluid inlet (9) arranged in a front facing mouth (9) having an upper lip (39) and a lower lip (40) providing a tapered entrance to said fluid inlet (9); or a preformed U-bend having an oval bore (6) therethrough; or wherein the dental device is formed from two parts (50, 51), each part defining a semi-circular part of said bore (6), each part (50, 51) comprising connection parts which clip together to form the bore (6).

Inventors

• JACKSON, Kiley

Assignees

• Hyg Hub Ltd

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240703

Claims (19)

1. 1 . A dental device for facilitating evacuation of fluids from an oral cavity of a patient , the dental device comprising a bore ( 6) for conveying fluids , a connector portion (2 ) , an external portion (3) and an internal portion (4 ) comprising a fluid inlet ( 9) , the internal portion comprising a reverse bend (38) .
2. 2 . A dental device as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the internal portion (4 ) further comprises a substantially straight portion (238 ' ) between the reverse bend (38) and the fluid inlet ( 9) .
3. 3 . A dental device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 , further comprising a U-bend portion (5) for linking the external portion (3) to the internal portion (4 ) .
4. 4 . A dental device as claimed in Claim 1 , 2 or 3 , wherein the bore ( 6) runs through the connector portion (2 ) , the external portion (3) and the internal portion (4 ) leading to the fluid inlet ( 9) .
5. 5 . A dental device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein external portion (3) and internal portion ( 4) double back on each other to an angle of greater than 180 degrees and optionally more than 185 degrees , the reverse bend (38) having a portion leading from the fluid inlet ( 9) at an angle to the external portion (3) of less than 180 degrees and optionally less than 175 degrees .
6. 6 . A dental device as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a front facing mouth (35) having upper lip (39) and lower lip (40) about opening ( 9) .
7. 7 . A dental device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the fluid opening ( 9) is oval .
8. 8 . A dental device for facilitating evacuation of fluids from an oral cavity of a patient , the dental device comprising a bore ( 6) for conveying fluids , a connector portion (2) , an external portion (3) and an internal portion (4) comprising a fluid inlet (9) , the external portion comprising an anti-rocking plate (23) .
9. 9. A dental device for facilitating evacuation of fluids from an oral cavity of a patient, the dental device comprising a bore (6) for conveying fluids, a connector portion (2) , an internal portion (4) comprising a fluid inlet (9) and at least one aerosol control opening (32,33) .
10. 10. A dental device for facilitating evacuation of fluids from an oral cavity of a patient, the dental device comprising a bore (6) having at least one diameter for conveying fluids, a connector portion (2) , an external portion (3) and an internal portion (4) comprising a fluid inlet (9) , the connector portion (2) comprising a first connector portion (10) and a second connector portion (11) of a larger diameter .
11. 11. A dental device for facilitating evacuation of fluids from an oral cavity of a patient, the dental device comprising a bore (6) for conveying fluids, a connector portion (2) , an external portion (3) and an internal portion (4) comprising a fluid inlet (9) , said fluid inlet (9) arranged in a front facing mouth (9) having an upper lip (39) and a lower lip (40) providing a tapered entrance to said fluid inlet (9) .
12. 12. A dental device for facilitating evacuation of fluids from an oral cavity of a patient, the dental device comprising a bore (6) for conveying fluids, a connector portion (2) , an external portion (3) and an internal portion (4) comprising a fluid inlet (9) and a preformed U-bend having an oval bore (6) therethrough.
13. 13. A dental device for facilitating evacuation of fluids from an oral cavity of a patient, the dental device comprising a bore ( 6) for conveying fluids , a connector portion (2 ) , an external portion (3) and an internal portion (4 ) comprising a fluid inlet ( 9) , wherein said dental device is formed from two parts (50 , 51) , each part defining a semi-circular part of said bore ( 6) , each part (50 , 51) comprising connection parts which clip or push together to form said bore ( 6) .
14. 14 . A dental device as claimed in Claim 13 , further comprising a tab (379, 479) to link the two parts (350 , 351 ; 450 , 451) , optionally the tab comprises at least a portion which is flexible to allow bending therebetween to act as a hinge about which the two parts can move or folded to facilitate assembly
15. 15 . A dental device as claimed in Claim 13 or 14 , wherein at least one of the two parts comprises a tongue projecting therefrom and the other comprises a corresponding slot , said tongue comprising at least one tooth and the slot comprises at least one ledge, such that upon insertion of said tongue into said slot , said tooth engages said ledge .
16. 16. A dental device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the connector portion (2 ) further comprises a grip portion .
17. 17 . A dental device for facilitating evacuation of fluids from an oral cavity of a patient , the dental device comprising a bore ( 6) for conveying fluids , a connector portion (2 ) , an external portion (3) and an internal portion (4 ) comprising a fluid inlet ( 9) , at least the internal portion (4 ) made from a material comprising Polypropylene (PP) and Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) .
18. 18 . A dental device for facilitating evacuation of fluids from an oral cavity of a patient , the dental device comprising a bore ( 6) for conveying fluids , a connector portion (2) , an external portion (3) and an internal portion (4) comprising a fluid inlet (9) , wherein said dental device is formed from two parts (50,51) with a tab therebetween, each part (50,51) comprising connection parts which clip together to form said bore (6) , wherein the tab has a flexible or hinge portion to allow the two parts be folded to be clipped together and optionally, allow the two parts to be unclipped and unfolded.
19. 19. A dental device for facilitating evacuation of fluids from an oral cavity of a patient, the dental device comprising a bore (706) for conveying fluids, a connector portion (702) , an external portion (703) and an internal portion (704) comprising at least one fluid inlet (709,709'709") , said at least one fluid inlet arranged in a bulb (735) .

Description

A DENTAL DEVICE FOR FACILITATING EVACUATION OF FLUIDS FROM AN ORAL CAVITY OF A PATIENT BACKGROUND The present invention relates to a dental device for facilitating evacuation of fluids from an oral cavity of a patient . To ensure dental procedures are as safe and comfortable as possible, clinical practitioners try to prevent excess volumes of fluids , such as saliva, blood, water and particles from pooling in the mouth of a patient . Evacuating the oral cavity of excessive fluids is a common part of dental treatment . It is essential that this be done optimally so as not to compromise the patient ' s health and reduce potential cross contamination risks for clinical staff . Numerous pieces of equipment used in dental treatments produce large volumes of water and generate aerosols . These aerosols can mix with patients ' saliva and blood which can contain pathogenic bacteria, fungi, or viruses which in turn could spread infectious diseases . Limiting the production of these aerosols help prevent disease transmission in a dental setting . Such fluid and aerosol generating equipment examples include ultrasonic cleaning devices , fast handpieces (drills) for fillings , airflow machines and three-in-one sprays . These fluids and aerosols need continuous removal during treatments to ensure the patient is safe and comfortable, cross contamination risks to clinical staff are reduced and treatment is successful . During dental procedures patients are often unable to swallow and excess fluids build up within the mouth, patients may not also want to swallow, therefore there is a need for an effective fluid evacuation device to control and reduce these volumes of fluids that build up . Repetitive daily dental treatments are dependent on having an adequate fluid control measure in place to complete dental treatments effectively and safely . Examples of such common dental treatments include ultrasonic teeth cleaning and teeth restorations , such as fillings , crowns , veneers and root-canal procedures to name a few . Many other dental treatments also rely upon adequate fluid and aerosol removal . Currently, lone working dental clinicians , such as hygienists , use a device called a dental saliva ejector — a straw-like suction tube defining a lumen or bore having an inlet at one end through which fluids are evacuated from the mouth . These saliva ejectors are connected to an additional connector /adaptor part which is then connected to a suction pump handle . While saliva ejectors have been around for many years , there are risks involved with their use that most patients aren' t aware of . When the patient tightens their lips around the tip of the ejector and the pressure in their mouth becomes less than that of the saliva ejector, backflow can enter their mouth, in a similar way to how liquid flows back into your cup after sucking through a straw . The problem is that this backflow may be hazardous . These currently used saliva ejectors are also very difficult to pre-bend before use without kinking the suction tube, which renders the saliva ejector useless as it can no longer aspirates fluids effectively as the lumen often collapses . Patients ' Soft tissues are also continuously sucked into its inlet meaning the clinician must continuously stop treatment to adjust the saliva ejector to ensure the patient isn' t struggling with excess fluids pooling in the mouth . Saliva ejectors are placed deep at the back of the mouth making them an ineffective measure to reduce potential harmful aerosols . Recommendations for reducing fluids and aerosols is to use a high-volume suction apparatus device, these currently commonly used saliva ejectors are categorised as a low- volume aspirating device . Clinicians are aware of this guidance However, since lone workers have very limited alternative suitable ergonomic options available the current Saliva ejector is still predominantly used despite its many flaws . SUMMARY AND STATEMENTS OF INVENTION The inventor has observed that the currently available dental devices for evacuating fluids from an oral cavity of a patient do not control aerosol sprays . The inventor has observed that the currently available dental devices for evacuating fluids from an oral cavity are not adequate for larger volumes of fluid removal . The inventor has observed that the currently available dental devices for evacuating fluids from an oral cavity of a patient are awkward to fit and to use . In particular, such a device generally comprises a clear flexible plastic tube with a copper wire running therethrough . The clear plastic tube is cut to length and bent with a single continuous 180 degree bend by a dental clinician during or immediately before a dental procedure to loop over the corner of a patient ' s mouth . This is time consuming, often requiring re-bending to remove kinks and does not provide a dental device which keeps its orientation and evacuation inlet in place, requiring continuous monitori