Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A suction adapter for use with a dental instrument having a pair of roll-retaining members for supporting a number of absorbent rolls and a frame for supporting the roll-retaining members within the mouth of a patient, each absorbent roll having a central bore therethrough for engagement with a suction tube, the suction adapter comprising: a body having a suction face and an attachment face; engagement means in said body for removably engaging the frame of the dental instrument between the pair of roll-retaining members with said suction face oriented toward the mouth of the patient, whereby said body is supported by the frame when the dental instrument is in use and removable therefrom when the instrument is not in use; a number of passages extending through said body, one end of each of said number of passages opening in a suction orifice at said suction face of said body, wherein said suction orifice of said number of passages is exposed for fluid connection to a suction source; and means at another end of each of said number of passages for sealingly engaging a suction tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A suction adapter for use with a dental instrument having a pair of roll-retaining members for supporting a number of absorbent rolls and a frame for supporting the roll-retaining members within the mouth of a patient, each absorbent roll having a central bore therethrough for engagement with a suction tube, the suction adapter comprising: a body having a suction face and an attachment face; engagement means in said body for removably engaging the frame of the dental instrument between the pair of roll-retaining members with said suction face oriented toward the mouth of the patient, whereby said body is supported by the frame when the dental instrument is in use and removable therefrom when the instrument is not in use; a number of passages extending through said body, one end of each of said number of passages opening in a suction orifice at said suction face of said body, wherein said suction orifice of said number of passages is exposed for fluid connection to a suction source; and means at another end of each of said number of passages for sealingly engaging a suction tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The suction adapter of claim 1, wherein said engagement means includes an outwardly opening slot defined in said body at one of said attachment face or said suction face.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The suction adapter of claim 1, wherein said means for sealingly engaging a suction tube includes a tube attachment bore defined in each of said number of passages and opening at said attachment face, said tube attachment bore having a diameter large enough to receive an end of the suction tube therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The suction adapter of claim 1, wherein said body is formed of a plastic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
234 words
A combination comprising: a number of absorbent rolls, each having a central bore therethrough; an absorbent roll holder having means for removably retaining said number of absorbent rolls and a frame for supporting said number of rolls within the mouth of a patient; a number of suction tubes, each of said number of suction tubes having a lumen extending therethrough and a number of apertures at one end communicating with said lumen, said one end being engagable within said central bore of a corresponding one of said number of absorbent rolls to support said one end when said corresponding one of said number of absorbent rolls is retained by said absorbent roll holder; and means at the opposite end of said number of suction tubes for providing intermittent connection of said number of suction tubes to a suction source, wherein said means for providing intermittent connection includes a suction adapter including: a body; engagement means in said body for removably engaging said frame of said roll holder to support said body thereon; a number of passages defined through said body, one end of said number of passages opening in a suction orifice exposed at one face of aid body for fluid connection to a suction source; and means at another end of said number of passages for sealingly engaging a corresponding one of said number of suction tubes at another face of said body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
234 words
A combination comprising: a number of absorbent rolls, each having a central bore therethrough; an absorbent roll holder having means for removably retaining said number of absorbent rolls and a frame for supporting said number of rolls within the mouth of a patient; a number of suction tubes, each of said number of suction tubes having a lumen extending therethrough and a number of apertures at one end communicating with said lumen, said one end being engagable within said central bore of a corresponding one of said number of absorbent rolls to support said one end when said corresponding one of said number of absorbent rolls is retained by said absorbent roll holder; and means at the opposite end of said number of suction tubes for providing intermittent connection of said number of suction tubes to a suction source, wherein said means for providing intermittent connection includes a suction adapter including: a body; engagement means in said body for removably engaging said frame of said roll holder to support said body thereon; a number of passages defined through said body, one end of said number of passages opening in a suction orifice exposed at one face of aid body for fluid connection to a suction source; and means at another end of said number of passages for sealingly engaging a corresponding one of said number of suction tubes at another face of said body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein said engagement means includes an outwardly opening slot defined in said body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein said means for sealingly engaging one of said suction tubes includes a tube attachment bore defined in each of said number of passages and opening at said another face, said tube attachment bore having a diameter large enough to receive an end of one of said suction tubes therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein said body is formed of a plastic material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
148 words
A combination comprising: a number of absorbent rolls, each having a central bore therethrough; an absorbent roll holder having means for removably retaining said number of absorbent rolls and a frame for supporting said number of rolls within the mouth of a patient; a number of suction tubes, each of said number of suction tubes having a lumen extending therethrough and a number of apertures at one end communicating with said lumen, said one end being engagable within said central bore of a corresponding one of said number of absorbent rolls to support said one end when said corresponding one of said number of absorbent rolls is retained by said absorbent roll holder; and means at an opposite end of said number of suction tubes for providing intermittent connection of said number of suction tubes to a suction source, wherein said absorbent roll holder is a Garmers device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
148 words
A combination comprising: a number of absorbent rolls, each having a central bore therethrough; an absorbent roll holder having means for removably retaining said number of absorbent rolls and a frame for supporting said number of rolls within the mouth of a patient; a number of suction tubes, each of said number of suction tubes having a lumen extending therethrough and a number of apertures at one end communicating with said lumen, said one end being engagable within said central bore of a corresponding one of said number of absorbent rolls to support said one end when said corresponding one of said number of absorbent rolls is retained by said absorbent roll holder; and means at an opposite end of said number of suction tubes for providing intermittent connection of said number of suction tubes to a suction source, wherein said absorbent roll holder is a Garmers device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
The combination of claim 9, wherein: said combination includes a plurality of absorbent rolls and a corresponding plurality of suction tubes; and said means for providing intermittent connection includes a suction adapter tube having a central lumen therethrough and a first end adapted to abuttingly engage the suction source for the application of suction through said central lumen, wherein said opposite end of each of said plurality of suction tubes is engaged within said central lumen at an opposite second end of said suction adaptor tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination of claim 10, further comprising means slidably disposed about each of said plurality of suction tubes for drawing each of said plurality of suction tubes into immediate adjacent relationship at adjustable locations along the lengths of said plurality of suction tubes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
The combination of claim 10, wherein said means for providing intermittent connection further includes a hollow guide tube engaged within said central lumen at said first end of said suction adaptor tube, said guide tube being sized to be slidably received within a suction hose of the suction source to guide the suction hose into abutting engagement with said first end of said suction adaptor tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
230 words
A combination comprising: a plurality of absorbent rolls, each having a central bore therethrough; an absorbent roll holder having means for removably retaining said plurality of absorbent rolls and a frame for supporting said plurality of rolls within the mouth of a patient; a plurality of suction tubes, each of said plurality of suction tubes having a lumen extending therethrough and a number of apertures at one end communicating with said lumen, said one end being engagable within said central bore of a corresponding one of said plurality of absorbent rolls to support said one end when said corresponding one of said plurality of absorbent rolls is retained by said absorbent roll holder; and means at an opposite end of said plurality of suction tubes for providing intermittent connection of said plurality of suction tubes to a suction source, wherein said absorbent roll holder is a Garmers device having a buccal roll retaining member, a lingual roll retaining member and a bar interconnecting said roll retaining members; one of said plurality of suction tubes is engaged in an absorbent roll supported by said buccal roll retaining member; and another of said plurality of suction tubes is engaged in an absorbent roll supported by said lingual roll retaining member; said one and said another of said plurality of suction tubes passing on opposite sides of said bar of said Garmers device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
230 words
A combination comprising: a plurality of absorbent rolls, each having a central bore therethrough; an absorbent roll holder having means for removably retaining said plurality of absorbent rolls and a frame for supporting said plurality of rolls within the mouth of a patient; a plurality of suction tubes, each of said plurality of suction tubes having a lumen extending therethrough and a number of apertures at one end communicating with said lumen, said one end being engagable within said central bore of a corresponding one of said plurality of absorbent rolls to support said one end when said corresponding one of said plurality of absorbent rolls is retained by said absorbent roll holder; and means at an opposite end of said plurality of suction tubes for providing intermittent connection of said plurality of suction tubes to a suction source, wherein said absorbent roll holder is a Garmers device having a buccal roll retaining member, a lingual roll retaining member and a bar interconnecting said roll retaining members; one of said plurality of suction tubes is engaged in an absorbent roll supported by said buccal roll retaining member; and another of said plurality of suction tubes is engaged in an absorbent roll supported by said lingual roll retaining member; said one and said another of said plurality of suction tubes passing on opposite sides of said bar of said Garmers device.