Saliva management system with continuous flow through oral device
Inventors
Podmore, Jonathan • Vitale, Nicholas R. • Crowe, John Edwards • Vaska, Matthias
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10245175-B2
Publication Date
2019-04-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems for maintaining a vacuum in a patient's oral cavity comprises an oral device, a vacuum control system, and an assembly including first and second tubes for connecting the vacuum control system to the oral device. The oral device has an internal plenum, and a vacuum is drawn in the plenum by a vacuum pump connected by a first tube of the tubular assembly. The vacuum is maintained by an air source which is connected to the plenum by the second tube of the tubular assembly. By maintaining a constant circulating air bleed through the oral device and the connecting tubes, saliva may be removed from the system and collected in a saliva trap located before the vacuum pump.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an oral device and a saliva-management vacuum control system for managing saliva using vacuum while providing a controlled continuous air-bleed. A vacuum pump draws vacuum through an internal oral plenum, and a controlled continuous air-bleed is supplied via an air source to maintain circulation through the oral device and connecting tubes. This is described as reducing saliva stagnation and preventing unpredictable pressure drops associated with saliva accumulation and void changes.
The oral device includes a base adapted to be held between a patient’s upper teeth and lower teeth, the base having an anterior end, a posterior end, and a cross-member extending across the posterior end. The base includes an internal plenum that extends within the base from an air inlet on the anterior end to the cross-member and returns to an air outlet on the anterior end. Air entering the air inlet is routed through the cross-member before exiting the air outlet, and at least one vacuum port is formed in a wall of the cross-member.
Alternative plenum flow paths are described, including bypass outlet and barrier arrangements, and a multi-leg design with bypass outlets and barriers. In these configurations, the plenum extends from the air inlet to a bypass outlet while a barrier is disposed between the bypass outlet and the vacuum ports to isolate regions. Additional structural details include divided lumen segments separated by barriers to maintain continuous bleed while isolating portions of the plenum flow and vacuum ports.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims define two main categories of inventive subject matter: (i) an oral device with a specific internal plenum routing air through the cross-member and vacuum ports in the cross-member wall, and (ii) an oral device that additionally includes a bypass outlet and a barrier isolating the bypass outlet from the vacuum ports. The independent claims include a total of two principal inventive feature sets, with dependent claims further narrowing structural and sealing arrangements.
Internal plenum air routing through a posterior cross-member with vacuum port(s) formed in the cross-member
An oral device in which a plenum extends within the base from an air inlet on the anterior end to the cross-member and returns to an air outlet on the anterior end, with the air inlet and air outlet fluidly connected by the plenum so that air entering the air inlet flows through the cross-member before exiting the air outlet, and wherein at least one vacuum port is formed in a wall of the cross-member.
Bypass outlet isolated from vacuum port(s) by a barrier
An oral device in which the plenum extends from the air inlet to a bypass outlet and a barrier is disposed between the bypass outlet and the vacuum ports.
Across the independent claims, the inventive core is the internal plenum routing air through the cross-member with vacuum port(s) formed in the cross-member wall, and the second independent claim further adds a bypass outlet separated from the vacuum ports by a barrier.
Stated Advantages
Reduces saliva stagnation.
Reduces unpredictable pressure drops.
Maintains circulation through the oral device and connecting tubes.
Helps manage vacuum pressure behavior by providing a controlled continuous air-bleed.
Documented Applications
Saliva-management vacuum system for oral devices, using an oral device and a vacuum control system that draw vacuum through an internal oral plenum while supplying a controlled continuous air-bleed.
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