Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A device for preventing egress of aerosols and the like from the mouth of a dental patient comprising: a. a cheek retractor; and b. aspirator means on said cheek retractor having a single orifice opening located in the patient''s mouth between the planes defined by the biting surfaces of the upper and lower teeth and directed generally towards the geometric center of the oral cavity of the patient.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
68 words
A device for preventing egress of aerosols and the like from the mouth of a dental patient comprising: a. a cheek retractor; and b. aspirator means on said cheek retractor having a single orifice opening located in the patient''s mouth between the planes defined by the biting surfaces of the upper and lower teeth and directed generally towards the geometric center of the oral cavity of the patient.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
105 words
A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said aspirator means comprises: a. a tube member, said single orifice defining a first end of said tube member; b. said tube member being adapted to lie along the outside of the patient''s cheek and having a bent portion including said first end for positioning said single orifice within the patient''s mouth between the biting surfaces of the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is open and directing said single orifice generally towards the geometric center of the oral cavity; and c. means connecting the second end of said tube member to a vacuum source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said tube member bent portion comprises said cheek retractor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cheek retractor is bifurcate with said tube member being carried by said cheek retractor between the prongs thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device as set forth in claim 2 comprising; a. a pair of said tube members, one for each corner of the patient''s mouth; and b. adjustable means connecting said tube members and passing around the back of the patient''s head.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
171 words
A device for preventing egress of aerosols and the like from the mouth of a dental patient comprising: a. a pair of aspirator tubes each adapted to lie along the outside of a patient''s cheek; b. each aspirator tube having a single orifice defining a first end of said tube, a portion of said end being bent to position said orifice in the patient''s mouth between the planes formed by the biting surfaces of the upper and lower teeth and directed generally towards the geometric center of the oral cavity; c. said aspirator tube bent portions forming cheek retractor means adapted to hook each corner of the patient''s mouth; d. tensioning means for attaching said aspirator tubes to the patient; and e. means for attaching the second end of each aspirator tube to a vacuum source for drawing aerosols and aerosol bore particles created in the mouth of the patient during a dental procedure directly into said orifice, whereby discharge of such aerosols from the mouth of the patient is prevented.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
171 words
A device for preventing egress of aerosols and the like from the mouth of a dental patient comprising: a. a pair of aspirator tubes each adapted to lie along the outside of a patient''s cheek; b. each aspirator tube having a single orifice defining a first end of said tube, a portion of said end being bent to position said orifice in the patient''s mouth between the planes formed by the biting surfaces of the upper and lower teeth and directed generally towards the geometric center of the oral cavity; c. said aspirator tube bent portions forming cheek retractor means adapted to hook each corner of the patient''s mouth; d. tensioning means for attaching said aspirator tubes to the patient; and e. means for attaching the second end of each aspirator tube to a vacuum source for drawing aerosols and aerosol bore particles created in the mouth of the patient during a dental procedure directly into said orifice, whereby discharge of such aerosols from the mouth of the patient is prevented.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
A device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said last mentioned means comprises: a. a Y-fitting having a first branch in releasible communication with the second end of one of said aspirator tubes, a common branch communicating with said vacuum source, and a second branch, said Y-fitting being adjacent one of said aspirator tubes; and b. a flexible tube for connecting said second Y-fitting branch to the other of said aspirator tubes, said flexible tube being adapted to pass generally beneath the chin of the patient.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein: a. said flexible tube comprises two sections joined with a T-fitting; and b. one of said aspirator tubes being connected to the third leg of said T-fitting, said tube having its bent portion positionable over the mandible of the patient and an Orifice in said bent portion opening generally towards the center of the oral cavity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as set forth in claim 7 comprising: a. a saliva ejector positionable over the mandible of the patient; and b. a flexible saliva ejector line connecting said saliva ejector to said flexible tube, said line having a smaller diameter than said tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as set forth in claim 9 comprising a slip-ring slidably positioned over said tube, said ring frictionally engaging said line to permit adjustment of the tension on said flexible saliva ejector line.