US2436040A - Saliva ejector and reflector - Google Patents

Description

Feb. l?, 1948. H. FRIEDMAN 2,436,040

SALIVA EJECTOR AND REFLEQTOR Filed Feb. 21, 1947 v mvr-:NToR l' 9 k HENRY FRIEDMAN ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 17, -1948 OFFICE SALIVA EJECTOR AND REFLECTOR Henry Friedman, Chicago, Ill. Application February 21, 1947, Serial No. 729,953

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a saliva drain or ejector of the type commonly placed in a patients mouth during a dental operation. y.

The heretofore used type of saliva ejectors usually comprised a bent tube, one end of which was placed in the patients mouth, the other end being connected to a vacuum system contained in the dental unit. The open end of the tube, which was placed in the patients mouth, usually drew into the mouth of the tube a part of the soft tissue contained' in the mouth and caused extreme discomfort and, further, completely or partially blocked the tube opening and consequently, preventing entirely, or greatly impeding, the passage of saliva through the tube. The heretofore used ejectors were a one-purpose instrument and oiferedno aid to the dental operation except to remove the saliva from the patients mouth. It was to overcome these and other inherent defects that the present invention was conceived.

, The main objects of `this invention are to provide a saliva ejector which will prevent the soft tissue in the mouth from being drawn into the instrument when placed in a patients mouth during use; to provide a device of this character which will act as a reflector; to provide a device of this character which vwill also function as a tongue retractor; to provide a device of this character having a highly polished front and back surface, both of which will act equally well as a mirror or reflector; to provide a device of this vcharacter having a baille plate in front of the saliva intake apertures; to provide a device of this character having the saliva intake end thereof offset from the handle portion; to provide a device of this character having no exposed sharp or rough edges; to provide a device of this character which can be easily and readily sterilized; and to provide a device of this character which is relatively simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

A .speciilc embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing a portion thereof broken away and in cross section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the saliva intake and mirrored end of the device.

Fig. 4 is an edge view of the device.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 1.

2 Fig. 7 is'an enlarged edge View ofthe head, part of the drain tube being shown broken away.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the lmproved saliva ejector comprises a metal tube, bent substantially in L-shape having a relatively long leg I and a laterally extending shorter leg-2. A metal handle or hand grip memberV 3,` almost completely enveloping the leg I, is square shaped in cross section and tapered toward the leg 2 and integrally secured to the leg I intermediate the ends thereof in any suitable manner, s'uch as by Welding, soldering or the like. Scored depressions or nger grips 1 and 8 are positioned on either side of the forward end of the body 3 adjacent the collar 6. The free end of the short leg 2 is provided with a diagonal face as indicated generally by the-'numeral 9 and clearly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 7.

The drain or saliva-receiving head is formed from a piece of metal tubing I 0 and is of the same diameter as the leg 2. The tube Ill is preferably bent in oval form and has the free ends thereof joined to form a continuous passage. The tube I 0 is provided with an Velongated aperture Il, positioned on one side thereof. The `free end of tube leg 2 is secured to the margin of the aperture lII in any suitable manner, such as by weldingfsoldering or the like, whereby a continuous passage is formed between the oval shaped tube I0 and the tubular legs I and 2. It Vwill be apparent that the tube I0, when secured tothe end 9 of leg 2, will be oiis'et in a diagonal plane from the longitudinal plane of the leg 2 land will depend therefrom.

A plurality of diagonally positioned ports I 2 are positioned in the tube I0 and in the portion directly opposite to the portionv at which the leg 2 is attached thereto, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. A baille plate I3, preferably formed of a 'non'- corroding metal, having a plurality of apertures, or perforations I4 therein, is rigidly secured to the face of the drain tube I0 in any suitable manner, such as by welding, or the like, and covers a portion thereof. As illustrated, the baille plate is positioned on the tube I0 adjacent the point containing the ports I2.

' A thin ilat disc or wafer I5, preferably formed of a non-corroding metal and highly polished on both surfaces to form a double mirror or rellector, is rigidly secured Within the inner area of the oval-shaped tube I0 and thereto, in any suitable manner such as by welding or brazing or the like.

In the operation. the free end of the leg I is attached to the drain tube of the vacuum system. which is a part of all standard dental units, in the conventional manner. The oval-shaped tube I is placed in the patents mouth so that the body thereof lies under and retracts the patients tongue and between and below the lower gums of the patient. Accumulated saliva in this pocket will flow over the top of the baffle plate I3 and/or through the perforations N and into the ports l2, whereby it will be drawn out of the mouth by Athe vacuum ssystern through 'the legs l and 2 Vand tube wand disposed of in the usual manner. It will be understood that the leg 2 rests on the lower teeth of the patient and-the leg l depends therefrom in substantially a ver tical plane, as is usual with all types of saliva ejectors.

It will be apparent that since thesuction action takes place at the ports I2 and these ports are completely housed behind the baille :plate l, the soft tissues in the mouth cannot be drawn intojithe .ports l2. .-It willalso .beseen `that all salivarpassing -ever ,the Ytcp edge of the "baille ,plate -l er through the gperforations .f4 vwill .aczcumulate :in -the pocket 4farmed :by .the .tube lll, lthe faceepfithe disc .15 and-*the rear :face ofthe matite Vlplate '4.3 -Whereby .it will :readily rbc drawn zintorthemcrts -I2.

- The polished=disc IrSfmayV-be usedas :a rccnvenetionalidental mirror cr vmay -.be .used r`as `a. `reflecftor l.te concentrate ,more .light Sin the Epatents .'mouth, as'willibe apparent.

It :is sto .be understood that ...all 4minis V.confnecting ithe #various parts o Vthe vdevice l.together .are sallgperfectly `.smcoth .soithat there willbe .no sdarrgercof-.cuttingtnr .tearing thezrnouth or .lips .fand-rtiispreferredthattheentire devicebe coated with sa trust-.resisting polished material such as chrome plate or the like, wherebymashing and s-sterilization fof 1the yinstrument :may be jaciiiztated.

Althoughfbut Vone specicl-embodimenthasy been sshownfandfdescribed, itfis to be understood that k:details .may be altered oromitted without departing fromzthe spirit cf .this invention. ias Ide- :fined-.by ,theffollowiug claims.

LA 'device of -the character described )come .prising -a :relatively dong =tube .a .relatively short ftube .integrally ysecured to one .end -of said 'long =ztube= extendnglaterallytherefrom and-.communifcating with .the interior Ythereof; .annual-.shaped dubesecuredtothe. freeL end of said shorttube. said tubes .having ai continuous unintt rrupted gpassage therethrough, said oval-shaped tube-havngfa .plurrality .af ports located '.diametricallyopposite `.the .point of attachment `of said -short tube vto :said .oyaleshaped gtube; Aa pclished` disc Vrigidly secured medially Vto the :inner-.marginal edge of said oval- `shaped:tube a-.at :baiile;plate havingia plurality of spaced perforations therein rigidly secured to the face of said oval-shaped tube and extending thereacross at a point immediately adjacent said ports.

2. A device of the character described comprislng a relatively long tube, a laterally extending short tube communicating with and attached at one end to said long tube, a third tube bent in oval-shape and having a plurality of ports there- "in, fthefreefend o-f said Vshort ltube "being rigidly secured 'to ysaidfoval tube yat a point diametrlcally opposite said ports, allof said tubes having a common passageway therethrough communicat- ,ing iwithreach other, a polished disc, the marginal edges thereof rigidly secured to the inner iperipheral .edges of said oval-shaped tube; a baille plate integrallysecured to and across a portion of said 4oval tube 4adjacent to and in front of rsaidjports, and a hollow 'tapered handle integrally secured to said .long tube intermediate of v.the ends thereaf. K

114A device `of the .character described comprising .a hollow handle .having an `outlet `port therein, a laterally extending tube, one endthereof being .integrally secured to .the :end of `said -handleoppos'te .said outlet .port andhaving communicaticn'therewith,reilectingimeans rigidlysecure'd'to the vfree end .of said tube; hollowmeans on .said reflecting means 'having communication with said tube whereby .a continuous 5passageis 'formed'tosaid outlet port, a drain .port 1in .said hollow means, 'and abeille plate securedinfront of said drainvport and tc said'hollow means.

f4. 'A 'device of v.the character .described .comprising 'in/combination with a retractor means, .a reflector, and Na saliva-carrying means combinedin a unitarystructure; ahollow 'handlesecured to said saliva-.carrying means, apassage-y way 'in said saliva-carrying means communi- 'cating'withthe interior of saidhandle, .said handle having van outlet in .one end thereof, .a drain port in said saliva-'carrying means, and a Abaille lplate in front ofsaid port andi-secured to .said saliva-'carrying means, said baiflieplatelying par `tially. acrossAsaid-.re'flecton HENRY LERIEDMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The vfollowing Vreferences are of record .in -the

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