WO2014003642A1

WO2014003642A1 - Disposable absorbent product for use in oral cavity of patient

Info

Publication number: WO2014003642A1
Application number: PCT/SE2013/050751
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kristina FRISK
Original assignee: Caresumables Ab
Priority date: 2012-06-26
Filing date: 2013-06-20
Publication date: 2014-01-03
Also published as: SE536520C2; SE1250682A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for a disposable product (2) for absorption of saliva and/or blood in the mouth of patients, above all under the tongue. The product (2) exhibits substantially semilunar peripheral shape. Superabsorbent material (6) is enclosed in a liquid transporting wrapping (7) folded in two, whereby the folding edge (8) of the wrapping is provided at the straight edge (9) of said product. A number of recesses (12, 13) extend through the superabsorbent material (6).

Description

Disposable absorbent product for use in oral cavity of patient

The present invention relates to a disposable product for absorption of saliva and/or blood in the mouth of patients, above all under the tongue, with superabsorbent material enclosed in a liquid transporting wrapping folded in two.

It is well known to use products, which absorb liquid and blood in connection with dental treatment in the mouths of patients in order to collect saliva and blood to increase the possibilities of effective dental and mouth treatment, and also to make it more com- fortable for the patients.

As examples the following can be

mentioned :

US 4,817,632 A, which shows an absorbent material enclosed in a container. US 5,749,729 A, which shows a flat highly absorbent body with a contoured shape to be used for example under the upper lip during dental treatment for fluid absorption. US 5.071, 349 A, which shows a similar product and the method of producing the same by punching and pressing or rolling up of the edges. SE 426 020 B, which shows absorbing bodies shaped as number tickets and collected into rolls. US 3,468,030 A, which shows a triangular combined protective and absorbing body adapted to be placed inside the cheek of the patient, and which is formed by a layer of foil and absorbing material.

US 2003/0014038 Al , which illustrates a superabsorbent article to be used during dental works among other things and which comprises an envelope, in which the superabsorbent material is enclosed.

Drawbacks with the known products are that the shape of the product after absorption causes that the product is not always adapted to the hollows of the oral cavity. Furthermore, the shape is not optimum to fit the anatomical shaping of the oral cavity, especially the region under the tongue. An important property of the product is the ability to be expanded to the sufficient extent without bursting or changing the shape so much that it will obstruct the work in the mouth, especially to be able to collect the saliva effectively in the region of the orifice of the lower jaw under the tongue and prevent the saliva from reaching the oral cavity, where it has to be sucked away.

The main object of the present invention is, therefore, in the first place to solve at least a number of the above described problems in an effective and secure way.

Said object is reached by means of a device according to the present invention, which is mainly characterized in that the product exhibits substantially semilunar peripheral shape, whereby the folding edge of the wrapping is provided at the straight edge of said product, and a number of recesses are extending through the superabsorbent material .

Above all the product solves the problem with the collection of the large production of saliva under the tongue, where about 75% of the saliva is produced, in order to prevent saliva contamination for example at the application of cement when teeth are repaired . Most products on the market cannot be used under the tongue, and the few products which can be used there are badly designed from an ergonomic/anatomical point of view or are designed in such a way that super- absorbent grains reach the oral cavity when the product is used .

The product according to the present invention prevents more effectively saliva contamination due to salivation under the tongue, since it collects the saliva directly at the orifice of the salivary glands and thereby prevents it from reaching the oral cavity, in contrast to suction instruments, where the saliva is first accumulated in the oral cavity and then sucked up.

The invention is described in the follow- ing with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is a perspective view obliquely from above of an absorbent body according to the invention in unused state,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the absorbent body, partly cut away,

Fig. 3 is a lateral view of the product in question,

Fig. 4 shows various embodiments of the product ,

Fig. 5 shows the product with different embodiments ,

Fig. 6 shows the product in active position in the mouth of a patient and under the tongue of the patient ,

Figs. 7 and 8 show a variant of the product ,

Figs. 9-11 show the product in used liquid-absorbed ready position, and Figs. 12-14 show disposable products according to the invention as they are preferably designed and constituted.

A device 1 for a disposable product 2 adapted to make effective absorption of saliva and/or blood in the mouth 3 of patients 4, above all under the tongue 5 of the patient 4, possible involves among other things that the product exhibits substantially semilunar peripheral shape. Furthermore, said products are formed by superabsorbent material 6 of known kind, which is enclosed in a liquid transporting wrapping 7 folded in two.

Thereby, the folding edge 8 of the wrapping is located at the straight edge 9 of said product.

The arched edge 10, which is located oppo- site to said straight edge 9, is welded together, preferably through ultrasonic welding, and the arched edge of the wrapping exhibits a straight or slightly waved outer edge region 11.

A number of cuttings 12 or recesses 13 extend through the superabsorbent material 6. These are formed by one, two or more slot-shaped cuttings 12 or of corresponding number of wedge-shaped recesses 13 extending through the straight edge region 14 of said superabsorbent material at a relative distance A from one another. Sui- tably, cuttings 12 or recesses 13 are provided in pairs at the straight edge region 14 of the superabsorbent material 6 with their openings 12A, 13A facing out therefrom and distributed at a relative distance A from one another, as is illustrated in the drawings, or that a centrally provided cutting 12 or wedge-shaped recess is provided with its opening 12A facing out from the straight folding edge 8 of the wrapping. The core forming superabsorbent body, which consists of superabsorbent material 6, exhibits a flat cross section in dry state and, thus, before said disposable product 2 is put into the mouth 3 of the patient .

In order to make said disposable product 2 even more ergometrically adapted to the shape of the oral cavity and the parts therein, it is advantageous, in the area opposite to a said recess 12, 13 through the super- absorbent material 6, which is enclosed in the wrapping 7, to provide a slotted or cut opening also through the wrapping 7. Thereby, the said opening through the wrapping 7 exhibits closed edges in direction inwards towards the inner space of the wrapping.

Important properties and further advantages and fields of application of the product are among other things :

• Disposable product for absorption of saliva and blood in the mouth, above all under the tongue. · Collects the saliva directly at the orifice of the gland of the lower jaw under the tongue and, thus, prevents the saliva from reaching the oral cavity.

• Collects an amount of saliva and blood, which exceeds its own size several times.

• Shapes itself comfortably to the anatomy of the oral cavity.

• Keeps the tongue away thanks to the elasticity of the absorbent material.

· Has a good collecting capacity without reguire- ing more horizontal space in the mouth thanks to its recesses. Holds liquid also under pressure.

Does not contain any harmful components.

Is soft and comfortable to the patient thanks to

- its weld which is retracted from the outer edges ,

- its softly waved outer edges, and

- its folded edge abutting the root of the tongue .

Keeps the oral cavity clean from saliva when cement is applied.

An important property is the ability to be expanded to the sufficient extent without bursting or changing the shape so that it will obstruct the work.

Thanks to the expansion surfaces, partly round the absorption core and partly retracted wedges in the absorption core, the product is on one hand expanded inwards itself, on the other as far as the outer wrapping permits. This means that the product does not require more space horizontally in the mouth and it does not obstruct the work of the dentist during the 5-7 minutes required for the operation.

The semilunar shape of the product is ergonomically adapted to the anatomical shape of the oral cavity in the region under the tongue.

The manufacture of the products 2 is effected by means of a method, where a flat, superabsor- bent, semilunar core material 6, which is provided with slot 12 or recess 13, is enclosed by folding a liquid transporting wrapping 7 in two, whereupon said wrapping 7 is welded together along its for example arched free edges 10 by means of for example a ultrasonic welding machine. Wanted products 2 are cut from a band folded in two at the same time as welding is performed.

Thus, the manufacture is effected by means of a superabsorbent, semilunar, flat and elastic material, which is enclosed in a liquid transporting material, which is folded in two and welded together by means of a ultrasonic welding machine, which is somewhat bigger than the absorbent material, and where the weld is retracted from the cut wave-shaped double edge.

The semilunar absorbent material may have several recesses in order to improve its adaption to the shape of the oral cavity during the absorption.

The product does not have any plastic layer on one of its sides, which other saliva absorbent products have. The advantage of that is that the product cannot be placed by the dentist with the wrong side downwards in the mouth. It is, however, not impossible that such a thin plastic layer could be provided if wished and needed.

The product can be manufactured in several sizes, which are adapted to different inner sizes of the mouth. The recesses may also be placed at different locations in the absorbent body.

By adapting the semilunar shape and make it more or less extended, it is also possible to make products for use at other locations in the mouth, as at the orifice of the parotid gland further back in the mouth. In this way it is possible to manufacture a family of products for complete control of the saliva in the mouth and offer the user a kit in the form of a combination of products having various functions.

The height H of the product can vary between 60-80% of the width B of the product and, preferably, the wrapping is welded together round the arched extension of said number of recesses 12, 13.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are possible, especially as far as the nature of the different parts is concerned, or by using equivalent technique, without departing from the scope of the invention as it is defined in the patent claims .

By the expression "straight" is to be understood that "substantially straight" is to be included thereby .

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Disposable product (2) for absorption of saliva and/or blood in the mouth (3) of patients (4), above all under the tongue (5), with superabsorbent material (6) enclosed in a liguid transporting wrapping (7), characterized in that the product exhibits

substantially semilunar peripheral shape, whereby the folding edge (8) of the wrapping is provided at the straight edge (9) of said product, and a number of

recesses (12, 13) are extending through the superabsorbent material ( 6 ) .

2. Disposable product (2) according to

Claim 1, characterized in that said recesses are formed by slot-shaped cuttings (12) or wedge-shaped recesses (13) through the edge region (14) of said superabsorbent material (6) .

3. Disposable product (2) according to

Claim 2, characterized in that cuttings (12) or recesses (13) are provided in pairs at the straight edge region (14) of the superabsorbent material (6) with their openings (12A, 13A) facing out therefrom and distributed at a relative distance (A) from one another.

4. Disposable product according to Claim 2, characterized in that a centrally provided cutting (12) or wedge-shaped recess is provided at the straight edge region (14) of the superabsorbent material (6) with its opening (12A) facing out therefrom.

5. Disposable product (2) according to anyone of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the arched edge (10) of the wrapping is welded together, preferably through ultrasonic welding.

6. Disposable product (2) according to anyone of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the arched edge (10) of the wrapping exhibits a slightly waved outer edge region (11).

7. Disposable product according to anyone of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the height (H) of the product is between 60-80% of the width (B) of the product .

8. Disposable product (2) according to anyone of the preceding Claims, characterized in that a core forming superabsorbent body exhibits a flat cross section in dry state and before it is put into the mouth (3) of the patient (4 ) .

9. Disposable product according to anyone of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the wrapping is welded together round the arched extension of said number of recesses (12, 13) .

10. Disposable product according to anyone of the preceding Claims, characterized in that at the area opposite to a said recess (12, 13) through the super- absorbent material (6) the wrapping (7) is slotted or cut and exhibits closed edges in direction inwards towards the inner space of the wrapping.