US3225444A

US3225444A - Chin-secured dental aspirator

Info

Publication number: US3225444A
Application number: US298657A
Authority: US
Inventors: William B Greenman
Original assignee: INSTRO DYNAMICS CORP
Current assignee: INSTRO DYNAMICS CORP
Priority date: 1963-10-14
Filing date: 1963-10-14
Publication date: 1965-12-28
Anticipated expiration: 1982-12-28

Description

Dec. 28, 1965 w, GREENMAN 3,225,444

CHIN-SECURED DENTAL ASPIRATOR Filed Oct. 14, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

WILLIAM B. GREENMAN A TTORNE Y Dec. 28, 1965 w, GREENMAN 3,225,444

CHIN-SECURED DENTAL ASPIRATOR Filed Oct. 14, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WILLIAM B. GREENMAN BME'WM ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,225,444 CHIN-SECURED DENTAL ASPIRATOR William B. Greenman, La Mesa, Calif, assignor to lustro- Dynamics Corporation, San Diego, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Oct. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 298,657 4 Claims. (Cl. 32-33) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application entitled Dental Aspirator, Serial No. 134,410, filed August 8, 1961, and now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to dental instruments known as aspirators operable from a suction line to withdraw saliva from a patients mouth. More particularly, the invention is directed to improvements in a chin-secured type aspirator having provision for reducing operating time, increasing operating effectiveness, and promoting patients comfort.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an aspirator of the aforedescribed type which secures comfortably to the patients chin in supported relation to his teeth for evacuation of water coolant and saliva from the entire area of a selected quadrant of his mouth, thereby to maintain the entire quadrant in dry condition to facilitate and shorten operating procedures in that region of the mouth and without requiring aid of a dental assistant.

The aspirator of the present invention is thus of a type to provide impetus to the prevalent trend toward shortening of the in-chair time of the patient and closer scheduling of dental appointments, thereby to conserve time as well as to reduce stress of both the dentist or operator and his patient.

Close scheduling of appointments, of course, enables the busy practitioner to conserve his time and energy so that he can extend his professional services to a maximum number of patients. This becomes possible, however, only through increased effectiveness of dental instruments and opreating procedures which substantially reduce inchair time while also increasing the patients comfort.

From the operators viewpoint, this means avoidance of the need for dependence on the patients cooperation, forbearance, and fortitude notwithstanding the extreme stress and discomfort which the patient may be experiencing. It also means the minimizing of delays occasioned by the patients discomfort. Also important to the operator are such other factors as visibility and operability, that is, the advantages of having a mouth work area which is maintained in dry condition, clear of debris, and clearly within view of the operator at all times.

From the viewpoint of the patient, important factors are the alleviation of the aggravation of purely preparatory and remedial procedures such as rinsing and expectoration, as well as the elimination of the annoyance and exasperation, and at times near desperation, due to choking during the operating procedures.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention are achieved to a large degree in the use of the chin-secured aspirator hereinafter more fully to be described which comprises a hollow stem, the lower end of which has provision for connection to a flexible hose, in turn, connected to a source of sub-atmospheric pressure. The upper end of this hollow stem supports a removable head having upwardly and outwardly extending lingual and buccal tubes formed integrally as a unit with the head. The arrangement and configuration of the tubes is such that, upon insertion into the patients mouth, the lingual tube engages the lower front teeth to be supported thereby and also engages the top of the tongue to hold the same down. The buccal tube enters and rests within the right or left corner of the 3,225,444 Fatented Dec. 28, 1965 month, depending on whether the head is a right or a left, and also becomes positioned along the teeth and between the row of teeth and the cheek on the right or left side of the mouth, as the case may be.

The open end portions of the lingual and buccal tubes are interconnected by a length of perforated clear plastic tubing which is flexibly positioned in the mouth and directed from the lingual tube rearwardly around the back tooth in the row of teeth being treated and thence forwardly along the row to the buccal tube, thus making it possible to remove the saliva and/ or coolant from an entire quadrant of the mouth at one time.

The upper end of the stem and the head have matching tapered surfaces, that of the head being an outer surface and that of the stem being inwardly and downwardly, for limited insertion of the head into the stem.

A chin rest is carried by the stem and is provided with an integral sleeve which is slidably mounted on the stem. The stem is provided with a shoulder, in the form of a collar intermediate the top and bottom thereof, which collar serves the purpose of limiting the downward movement of the chin rest on the stem.

The advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the instrument, parts thereof being shown in longitudinal cross section; I

FIG. 2 is a view looking in the direction of arrow 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view of the head and showing the perforated plastic tubing in position on the lingual and buccal tubes;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the plastic tubing taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a View of the instrument indicating the manner in which it is applied to the patient.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, the instrument is shown at 20 and comprises a hollow metal stem 22. The lower end of this stem 24 is smaller in diameter than the main or upper portion thereof and is connected with a pipe or flexible tube, such as a rubber tube or synthetic rubber tube 26. The upper end of the stem is formed with a recess 28 which is axially aligned with the passage 30 in the stem. This recess is tapered inwardly and downwardly. The stem 22 is provided with a shoulder 32 disposed intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof. This shoulder is in the form of an outwardly extending, circumferential collar.

In a preferred arrangement, lower portion 24 and collar 32 of the stem are formed separately therefrom, as disclosed in FIG. 2. In this arrangement, integrally formed

members

24 and 32 are also formed integrally with a threaded upper portion or extension 70 which makes threaded engagement with the lower portion of stem 22 which, for this purpose, is internally threaded. In this form, member 22 is a simple length of tubing, internally tapered at one end and internally threaded at the other end. This makes for simplicity in the manufacture, assembly, cleaning and sterilization of the instrument 20.

A metal head 34 is arranged to be received by the recess 28 in the stem 22 and the lower end of this head is provided with a taper 36 which complements the taper in the recess 28. The top of head 34 is closed except for openings for receiving the upwardly extending

tubes

38 and 40. The lower ends of these tubes are secured as by brazing to head 34 and are in open communication with the passage 42 in head 34 and consequently in open communication with the passage 30 in the stem 22. These tubes include upwardly extending and diverging

portions

44 and 46, respectively, the portion 44 being extended upwardly more than the portion 46.

Tubes

38 and 40 also include outwardly extending

portions

48 and 50, respectively, which proceed from their

respective portions

44 and 46 along arcs of greater and lesser curvature, respectively. The terminal end portion of outwardly extending portion 48 is reversely curved such that the terminal end portions of

tubes

38 and 40 are similarly directed and lie generally in a common plane.

The outwardly extending

tube portions

48 and 50 have the ends of a length of clear plastic tubing 71 slipped thereover, FIG. 4, and together with the tubing, are inserted and received in the mouth of the patient in the manner disclosed in FIG. 6, as will hereinafter be more fully described. Tubing 71 is provided with a plurality of perforations 72 which are spaced along the length thereof and radially directed, as best appears in FIG. 5. The saliva and/or coolant water in the mouth pass through openings 72 and thence into the open ends of

tubes

38 and 40, from whence they pass into stem 22 and finally into the suction line 26.

The arcuate portion of tube 38 rests on the patients lower front teeth 73, FIG. 6, and the arcuate portion of tube 40 rests on the patients lower lip in the left corner 74 of his mouth. Outwardly extending portion 48 of tube 38, and the end portion of tubing 71 thereon, rest on top of the patients tongue 75 to hold the same down, as indicated at 76 in FIG. 6. The outwardly extending portion 50 of tube 40, and the end portion of tubing 71 leading therefrom, lie along the row of teeth 78 on the left side of the patients mouth and inwardly of his left cheek 77. Tubing 71 thus extends from a position on top of tongue 75 rearwardly into the mouth and behind and around tooth 79 which is the last or rearmost tooth in the row of teeth 78. The tubing 71 then extends forwardly between this row of teeth and cheek 77 to make connection with the end portion 50 of tube 40. Tubing 71 thus covers an entire quadrant of the mouth and may be adjusted for length to suit each arch merely by slipping more or less of the tubing over the end portions of the lingual and

buccal tubes

38 and 40. The perforations in the tubing, moreover, being of small size and being of large number, do not produce an appreciable suction on the sensitive tissues of the mouth and tongue while nevertheless, in the aggregate, effectively aspirating the entire quadrant of the mouth. Tubing 71 may be cleaned, sterilized and reused. On the other hand, the tubing may be considered as expendable, and supplied cut to length, or cut to length from a supply reel, as required.

It will be understood that whereas a left head 34 and its associated

tubes

38 and 40 are disclosed herein, a similar head and its diverging lingual and buccal tubes may be employed as a right head interchangeably with left head 34 and seated removably in the tapered recess of stem 22 when dental work is to be performed on the right side of the patients mouth. In this case, i.e., to form a right head, the positions of

tubes

38 and 40, as viewed in FIG. 2, are interchanged such that tube 40 for this purpose is positioned to the right of tube 38 for entry into the right corner of the patients mouth, tube 38 being positioned on the patients lower teeth and tongue, as in the case of the left head.

A metal chin rest 52 is provided for holding the lingual and buccal tubes 38 and 49 in position in the patients mouth, the chin rest being curved to fit the underside of the chin, and the lower jaw of the patient being clamped between the chin rest and the

tubes

38 and 40, as depicted in FIG. 6.

Tubes

38 and 40 preferably are formed of metallic material such as thin wall stainless steel tubing that can be flexed under pressure and retain the position to which it is flexed so that the tubes may be adjusted to fit the patients mouth. Such tubes, however, must have sufficient inherent stability so as to support the instrument when the

tubes

38 and 40 and the tubing 71 thereon are positioned in the patients mouth.

Suitable clamping means is provided for holding the chin rest 52 in vertical adjusted position on stem 22. As herein shown, the chin rest is provided with an integral sleeve 54 which is split longitudinally as at '56 to form a groove, and a cam 58, pivotally carried by the pivot pin 60, is disposed in the groove. This cam is provided with two

handles

62 and 64 formed integrally therewith so that when the fingers of one hand grasp the stem 22 with the forefinger positioned beneath the chin rest 52 and the thumb positioned in the arcuate hollow of

handles

62 and 64, handle 62 may be pressed by the tip of the thumb to release the chin rest for sliding adjustment on the stem, as by manipulation of the thumb and forefinger with respect to the rest of the hand which continues to grasp the stem. When the chin rest is adjusted as desired, that portion of the thumb in engaging position on handle 64 may be pressed to clamp the chin rest to the stem. The other hand all the while may be free to adjust the

tubes

38 and 40 in the patients mouth, as well as the tubing 71, as may be required.

As will be seen more clearly from FIG. 1, when the handle 62 is moved in the counterclockwise direction, as by pressing handle 64, the cam will cause the sleeve to be pulled to the left into clamped engagement with the right side of the stem 22. When the handle 62 is moved in the clockwise direction, as by pressing the handle 62, the cam is released, whereby the sleeve together with the chin rest can be moved vertically. The lower end of the sleeve functions as a shoulder. The shoulder or collar 32 on the stem, lies in the path of movement of the shoulder 66 on the sleeve, and thereby prevents the sleeve from being displaced from the stem when the cam is released.

Thus it is apparent that there has been provided a simple instrument which can be made at a relatively low cost and readily operated by the dentist, by a student nurse, or by the patient. Also since the head 34 is removable, such head and its lingual-buccal tube combination may readily be interchanged, a right for a left, or a left for a right, as the case may be, without shutting down the suction line. Once the head is removed from the stem, moreover, the chin rest may be removed from the stem at that end thereof. Or the adaptor comprising

lower stem parts

24, 32 and 70, FIG. 2, may be removed from the stem to free the chin rest from that end. An adaptor such as 24, 32, 70, is advantageous since different type suction lines frequently require connector portions 24 of varying diameters and configurations. The complete disassembly of the parts including the tubing 71furthermore, provides ready access of the same for cleaning and sterilization.

While the form of embodiment herein shown and described constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms may be adopted which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. As an article of manufacture for a chin-secured aspirator which uses a hollow elongated stem, a chin support formed of stainless steeland comprising a contoured chin rest, a sleeve secured to said chin rest integrally therewith and slidable on said stem, said sleeve having a slot and spaced lateral extensions disposed on said sleeve on opposite sides of said slot, and a manipulatable cam disposed between said extensions and pivot-- ally secured thereto and extended through said slot for engagement with the stem to lock the same to the chin support or selectively to release the same therefrom as the cam is rocked on its pivot.

2. A chin-secured dental aspirator operable from a suction line and comprising, in combination, a hollow stem, adapter means at one end of said stem for removably connecting the same to said suction line, a chin rest sleeved on said stem and having means for releasably securing the chin rest to the stem in adjusted position therealong, a hollow head detachably secured to the opposite end of said stem in communication therewith, said hollow head and said opposite end of said stem having interfitting surfaces for detachably securing the same together, diverging lingual and buccal tubes formed as a unit with said head and extended therefrom in open communication therewith, and a loop of perforated flexible tubing interconnecting said lingual and buccal tubes, said means for releasably securing the chin rest to the stem comprising a cam pivotally secured to the chin rest and engagable with the stem when the cam is pivoted, and an engagable actuator for said cam extended longitudinally of said stern and to either side of the pivotal support for the cam for pivoting the same as either of the actuator extensions is depressed toward the stem.

3. A dental aspirator as in claim 2, said actuator extensions being directed angularly with respect to the axis of the stem, the upper extension being engaged and depressed to rock the cam and release the chin rest from the stem, the lower extension of the cam actuator being engaged and depressed to rock the cam to engage the stem and lock the chin rest thereto.

4. A chin-secured dental aspirator operable from a suction line and comprising, in combination, a hollow stem, adapter means at one end of said stem for removably connecting the same to said suction line, a chin rest sleeved on said stem and having means for releasably securing the chin rest to the stem in adjusted position therealong, a hollow head detachably secured to the opposite end of said stem in communication therewith, said hollow head and said opposite end of said stern having interfitting surfaces for detachably securing the same together, at least one tube formed as a unit with said head and extended therefrom in open communication therewith, said means for releasably securing the chin rest to the stem comprising a cam pivotally secured to the chin rest and engagable with the stem when the cam is pivoted, and an engagable actuator for said cam extended longitudinally of said stem and to either side of the pivotal support for the cam for pivoting the same as either of the actuator extensions is depressed toward the stem.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 969,922 9/1910 Tracy 3233 1,353,587 9/1920 Heck 3233 1,742,080 12/1929 Jones 3233 2,561,622 7/1951 Grubb 3233 2,595,666 5/1952 Hutson 3233 2,603,870 7/1952 Nordin 3233 2,644,234 7/ 1953 Scott 3233 2,830,371 4/1958 Dahl 3233 2,859,518 11/1958 Cohn 3233 2,873,528 2/1959 Thompson 3233 3,078,578 2/1963 White 3233 FOREIGN PATENTS 62,755 7/ 1940 Norway.

OTHER REFERENCES Advertising Sheet by Central Vacuum Corporation, Los Angeles 23, Calif. (both sides relied upon).

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner,

Claims

4. A CHIN-SECURED DENTAL ASPIRATOR OPERABLE FROM A SUCTION LINE AND COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A HOLLOW STEM, ADAPTER MEANS AT ONE END OF SAID STEM FOR REMOVABLY CONNECTING THE SAME TO SAID SUCTION LINE, A CHIN REST SLEEVED ON SAID STEM AND HAVING MEANS FOR RELESABLY SECURING THE CHIN REST TO THE STEM IN ADJUSTED POSITION THEREALONG, A HOLLOW HEAD DETACHABLY SECURED TO THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID STEM IN COMMUNICATION THEREWITH, SAID HOLLOW HEAD AND SAID OPPOSITE END OF SAID STEM HAVING INTERFITTING SURFACES FOR DETACHABLY SECURING THE SAME TOGETHER, AT LEAST ONE TUBE FORMED AS A UNIT WITH SAID HEAD AND EXTENDED THEREFROM IN OPEN COMMUNICATION THEREWITH, SAID MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING THE CHIN REST TO THE STEM COMPRISING A CAM PIVOTALLY SECURED TO THE CHIN REST AND ENGAGABLE WITH THE STEM WHEN THE CAM IS PIVOTED, AND AN ENGAGEABLE ACTUATOR FOR SAID CAM EXTENDED LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID STEM AND TO EITHER SIDE OF THE PIVOTAL SUPPORT FOR THE CAM FOR PIVOTING THE SAME AS EITHER OF THE ACTUATOR EXTENSIONS IS DEPRESSED TOWARD THE STEM.