Preformed surgical sponge

Claim 2

A preformed surgical sponge for use after extraction of a tooth comprising a body having a pressure-receiving side of a length sufficient to substantially span three adjoining teeth, said body having a pressure-exerting side oppositely disposed with respect to said pressure-receiving side and having a length substantially equal to a cavity from which a tooth has been extracted, said pressure-exerting side being formed with a longitudinally extending trough adapted to receive a portion of the gum containing said cavity.

Claim 3

The sponge of claim 1 wherein said trough has facing walls that are inwardly tapered toward each other, whereby as the sponge is emplaced at the site of an extraction, the sides of the gum are compressed toward each other and toward the supporting jaw by the wedging action of the tapering trough walls.

Claim 4

The sponge of claim 2 wherein said pressure receiving side includes a portion projecting therefrom and having a length substantially equal to the length of said pressure-exerting siDe, whereby the sponge may be retained in place by pressure exerted thereon by contact of said projecting portion with an edentulous ridge that is opposite said cavity.

Claim 5

The sponge of claim 3 wherein the width of said projecting portion is less than the width of said pressure-receiving side.

Claim 6

A preformed surgical pad for treatment of an extraction site after oral surgery comprising a body of resilient material having a width greater than the width of a gum and having a length substantially equal to the extent of the extraction site between adjoining teeth on either side thereof, said body having a pair of integrally formed furcations each extending for the full length thereof from oppositely disposed edge portions of the body, said furcations tapering outwardly from each other to provide a widening trough adapted to receive and compress toward each other the sides of an extraction cavity, and a pair of clamping flanges integrally formed with said body; each flange extending from respectively opposite ends of the body for a distance sufficient to permit secure clamping of the flange between a first tooth adjoining the extraction site and a second tooth opposed thereto.

Claim 7

A preformed surgical pad for treatment of an extraction site after oral surgery comprising a body of resilient material having a width greater than the width of a gum and having a length substantially equal to the extent of the extraction site between adjoining teeth on either side thereof, said body having a pair of integrally formed furcations each extending for the full length thereof from oppositely disposed edge portions of the body, said furcations tapering outwardly from each other to provide a widening trough adapted to receive and compress toward each other the sides of an extraction cavity, and a pair of clamping flanges integrally formed with said body; each flange extending from respectively opposite ends of the body for a distance sufficient to permit secure clamping of the flange between a first tooth adjoining the extraction site and a second tooth opposed thereto.

Claim 8

The pad of claim 5 including a protuberance integrally formed with said body and extending therefrom between said flanges in a direction opposite to the extent of said furcations, whereby the pad may be retained in place by pressure exerted thereon by contact of said protuberance with an edentulous ridge that is opposite said cavity.

Claim 11

The method of claim 7 including the step of refrigerating said formed sponge body before fitting the body to the extraction site, whereby the gum at the extraction area is also cooled by the walls of said trough.

Claim 12

A preformed surgical pad for treatment of an extraction site after oral surgery comprising a body of resilient material having a width greater than the width of a gum and having a length substantially equal to the extent of the extraction site between adjoining teeth on either side thereof, said body having a pair of furcations each extending for the full length thereof from oppositely disposed edge portions of the body, said furcations tapering outwardly from each other to provide a widening trough adapted to receive and compress toward each other the sides of an extraction cavity, said body having a depth greater than the distance that teeth adjoining the extraction site extend from the gum whereby said sponge body when wet will expand over adjoining teeth at the extraction site and provide a pair of clamping flanges extending from respectively opposite ends of the body to at least partly overlap said adjoining teeth so that an opposing tooth may press upon said body and force it against said cavity and against said adjoining teeth.

Claim 13

A preformed surgical pad for treatment of an extraction site after oral surgery comprising a body of resilient material having a width greater than the width of a gum and having a length substantially equal to the extent of the extraction site between adjoining teeth on either side thereof, said body having a pair of furcations each extending for the full length thereof from oppositely disposed edge portions of the body, said furcations tapering outwardly from each other to provide a widening trough adapted to receive and compress toward each other the sides of an extraction cavity, said body having a depth greater than the distance that teeth adjoining the extraction site extend from the gum whereby said sponge body when wet will expand over adjoining teeth at the extraction site and provide a pair of clamping flanges extending from respectively opposite ends of the body to at least partly overlap said adjoining teeth so that an opposing tooth may press upon said body and force it against said cavity and against said adjoining teeth.

Claim 14

The pad of claim 9 wherein said pad is formed of a strip having a thickness of about one half the length of said body, said strip having both of its opposite end portions formed with a trough defining first and second pairs of legs, sAid strip being folded in two so that said end portion troughs are aligned with each other and said pad body is thereby formed of a single strip of folded material.

Claim 15

The pad of claim 9 wherein said body has a second pair of furcations each extending for the full length thereof from oppositely disposed edge portions of the body, each extending in a direction opposite to the extent of said first mentioned pair of furcations and toward a second extraction site that is directly opposed to said first mentioned extraction site, the furcations of said second pair tapering outwardly from each other to provide a widening trough adapted to receive and compress toward each other the sides of said second extraction site.

Claim 16

A preformed surgical pad for treatment of an extraction site after oral surgery comprising a strip of sponge material adapted to be folded in two and applied to the extraction site, said strip comprising a body having a width greater than the width of the gum at the extraction site, having a length greater than the sum of the length of said site and twice the distance that teeth adjoining said site extend from the gum, and having a thickness of about one half the length of said site, said strip having opposite ends thereof each having a central portion cut away to form a trough bounded by first and second legs, whereby when said strip is folded in half said troughs and legs at opposite ends are aligned with each other to form a unitary trough adapted to receive a portion of the gum at the extraction site, and whereby the central portion of said strip extends beyond the teeth adjoining said site so as to be subject to compression against the site and against adjoining teeth by pressure of a tooth opposite said site.

Claim 17

A preformed surgical pad for treatment of an extraction site after oral surgery comprising a strip of sponge material adapted to be folded in two and applied to the extraction site, said strip comprising a body having a width greater than the width of the gum at the extraction site, having a length greater than the sum of the length of said site and twice the distance that teeth adjoining said site extend from the gum, and having a thickness of about one half the length of said site, said strip having opposite ends thereof each having a central portion cut away to form a trough bounded by first and second legs, whereby when said strip is folded in half said troughs and legs at opposite ends are aligned with each other to form a unitary trough adapted to receive a portion of the gum at the extraction site, and whereby the central portion of said strip extends beyond the teeth adjoining said site so as to be subject to compression against the site and against adjoining teeth by pressure of a tooth opposite said site.