Frenulum spreader

• US 10,524,813 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2016
• Issued: 01/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAM Medical Ltd.
• Original Assignee: BAM Medical Ltd.
• Inventors: Botzer, Eyal, Agassi, Or, Marko, Reuven, Keren, Avishay
• Primary Examiner(s): Bates, David W
• Application Number:
  US15/131,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20160302809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/24 for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00; Tongue scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00907 for light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 Blunt dissectors blunt suture needles A61B2017/06085
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/345 for introduction into a natural body opening

Abstract

An apparatus for spreading tissues. The apparatus includes a sheath member including an open end, a closed end, and a barrel extending between the open end and the closed end; and at least one flap-tip for engaging with tissues, wherein the at least one flap-tip is attached to the sheath member, each flap-tip projecting from the sheath member, wherein the at least one flap-tip is moved in response to movement of the sheath member.

Claims

1. An apparatus for spreading tissues, comprising:

a sheath member including an open end, a closed end, and a barrel extending between the open end and the closed end; and

a plurality of flap-tips arranged for engaging with tissues, wherein the plurality of flap-tips is attached to the sheath member and spreads the tissues upon movement of the sheath member, each flap-tip projecting from the sheath member coplanar with respect to each other flap-tip of the plurality of flap-tips, each flap-tip having a surface, wherein the surface of each flap-tip of the plurality of flap-tips is at least partially flat in shape such that the at least partially flat surface of each of the plurality of flap-tips is essentially coplanar with the at least partially flat surface of each other flap-tip of the plurality of flap-tips; and

a plurality of tines, wherein at least one of the plurality of tines is attached to each of the plurality of flap-tips.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of flap-tips has a length, wherein each of the plurality of flap-tips is split at least partially along the length.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tines is made from at least a carrier.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the carrier includes an anesthetic, wherein the anesthetic releases in response to epidermal contact.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the carrier includes a healing material, wherein the healing material releases in response to epidermal contact, wherein the healing material is at least one of an antibacterial substance, a sanitizing substance, and a disinfectant substance.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sheath member is transparent, further comprising:

a light source disposed within the sheath member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one flap-tip is detachable from the sheath member, wherein the sheath member is adapted to allow for replacement of the at least one flap-tip with at least one replacement flap-tip when the at least one flap-tip is detached.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flap-tips are designed to spread oral frenula.

9. An apparatus for spreading tissues, comprising:

a tubular member including a first open end, a second open end, and a barrel extending between the first open end and the second open end; and

a plurality of flap-tips arranged for engaging with tissues and for spreading the tissues upon movement of the tubular member, wherein the plurality of flap-tips is attached to the tubular member, each flap-tip of the plurality of flap-tips projecting from the tubular member coplanar with respect to each other flap-tip of the plurality of flap-tips, wherein the plurality of flap-tips is moved in response to movement of the tubular member, each flap-tip having a surface, wherein the surface of each flap-tip of the plurality of flap-tips is at least partially flat in shape, wherein the at least partially flat surface of each of the plurality of flap-tips is essentially coplanar with the at least partially flat surface of each other flap-tip of the plurality of flap-tips; and

a plurality of tines, wherein at least one of the plurality of tines is attached to the plurality of flap-tips.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of flap-tips is attached to the second open end.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of flap-tips has a length, wherein each of the plurality of flap-tips is split at least partially along the length.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of tines is made from at least a carrier.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the carrier includes an anesthetic, wherein the anesthetic releases in response to epidermal contact.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the carrier includes a healing material, wherein the healing material releases in response to epidermal contact, wherein the healing material is at least one of an antibacterial substance, a sanitizing substance, and a disinfectant substance.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the tubular member is transparent, further comprising:

a light source disposed within the tubular member.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one flap-tip is detachable from the tubular member, wherein the tubular member is adapted to allow for replacement of the plurality of flap-tips with at least one replacement flap-tip when the plurality of flap-tips is detached.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the barrel further includes a sheet having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge having at least one overlapping position and a non-overlapping position.

18. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the tubular member is designed to allow for insertion of at least one finger through the first open end, wherein the at least one flap-tip stretches an oral frenulum when the at least one flap-tip is in contact with the oral frenulum and the at least one finger is inserted through the first open end and moving within the barrel.