Saliva ejector

• US 20060088800A1
• Filed: 10/21/2005
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Andreas Neff, Marc Gierich
• Original Assignee: Andreas Neff, Marc Gierich
• Inventors: Gierich, Marc, Neff, Andreas
• Application Number:
  US11/254,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20060088800A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/91
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/08 Aspiration nozzles

Abstract

A device for removing fluids and solid substances by suction from the mouth and oral cavity area during dental-medical treatments is provided. The device includes a first tube segment, a first end of which can be charged with low air pressure, and to the second end of which a sleeve-like ejector tip is attached. By a relative movement of the ejector tip on the tube segment, the ejector tip can be alternated between a first suctioning position and a second suctioning position. In the second suctioning position, only the opening on the upper front side of the second end of the tube segment functions as a suction opening to allow point-focused suctioning with high suction force. In contrast thereto, in the first suctioning position, a plurality of additional suction openings is provided around the circumference to remove fluids from the mouth and oral cavity area by suction. Thus, it is possible to alternate between both suctioning positions without having to disassemble the saliva ejector.

Claims

1. A device for removing suction fluids and solids by from a mouth and oral cavity area during dental-medical treatments, the device comprising:

a tube segment, a first end of which being charged with a low air pressure, the tube segment further including a second end; and

a sleeve shaped ejector tip having at least one suction opening on a peripheral side thereof, the ejector tip being attached to the second end of the tube segment so that in a first suctioning position, a first longitudinal segment of the ejector tip overlaps with the second end of the tube segment in an axial direction and with a second longitudinal segment extending beyond the second end of the tube segment,

wherein, for changing to a second suctioning position, the ejector tip is axially or spirally slidable on the tube segment, and

wherein, in the second suctioning position, the second longitudinal segment of the ejector tip overlaps with the second end of the tube segment, and only an upper front opening on the second end of the tube segment functions as a suction opening.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein at its second end, the tube segment is provided with a position stop for the first suctioning position and/or the second suctioning position.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein, in its first suctioning position and/or its second suctioning position, the ejector tip can be locked into place.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein, in an axial movement on the tube segment, the ejector tip has a restrictive guide.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the restrictive guide includes a groove that engages with a projection.

6. The device according to claim 4, wherein the restrictive guide is arranged axially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tube segment.

7. The device according to claim 4, wherein the restrictive guide is arranged spirally around the tube segment.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein at a half turn, a spacing of the spiral turns is equal to a length of the ejector tip.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second longitudinal segment of the ejector tip includes a plurality of longitudinal arms, which are arranged at a mutual lateral distance to form elongated slits for the at least one suction opening.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the longitudinal arms are elastic and converge toward their free ends.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the free end of the longitudinal arms is bent toward the longitudinal axis of the ejector tip.

12. The device according to claim 9, wherein the longitudinal arms are tapered conically toward their free end.

13. The device according to claim 9, wherein the ejector tip is provided with six longitudinal arms, which are evenly distributed around circumference of the ejector tip.

14. The device according to claim 9, wherein on an upper front end of the second longitudinal segment, the ejector tip has an opening.

25. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the tube segment is constructed of two parts, the first part being formed by the tube segment, to which the second part is attached, and wherein only the second part interacts with the ejector tip.

15. A device for removing fluids and solids by suction from a mouth and oral cavity area during dental-medical treatments, the device comprising:

a tube segment, a first end of which being charged with low air pressure, the tube segment further including a second end; and

a sleeve shaped ejector tip having at least one suction opening, the second end of the tube segment being provided with, on a circumferential side thereof, at least one suction opening, an end of the ejector tip being open and movable on the second end of the tube segment,

wherein, on the basis of an execution of a relative movement on the tube section, the ejector tip can be changed from a first suctioning position with overlapping suction openings to a second suctioning position with suction openings that do not overlap.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the relative movement is an axial and/or rotational movement with respect to the axis.

17. The device according to claim 15, wherein, during the relative movement on the tube segment, the ejector tip includes a restrictive guide.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the restrictive guide has a groove that engages with a projection.

19. The device according to claim 17, wherein the restrictive guide is arranged axially parallel, spirally, or annular with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tube segment.

20. The device according to claim 17, wherein the restrictive guide extends annularly or spirally along one-fourth of a circumference of the tube segment.

21. The device according to claim 15, wherein;

on the second end, the tube segment is provided with a position stop for the first suctioning position and/or the second suctioning position.

22. The device according to claim 15, wherein, in the first suctioning position and/or the second suctioning position, the ejector tip is locked in place.

23. The device according to claim 15, wherein, on an upper front side of the device, a locking mechanism is arranged.

24. The device according to claim 23, wherein the locking mechanism includes at least two plane-parallel cover disks arranged in a radial plane, the cover disks being changed from an overlapping to a non-overlapping position by rotation.

26. The device according to claim 15, wherein the second end of the tube segment is constructed of two parts, the first part being formed by the tube segment, to which the second part is attached, and wherein only the second part interacts with the ejector tip.

27. A saliva ejector comprising:

an ejector tip being movably attached to an end of a tube segment, the ejector tip being moveable between a first suction position and a second suction position, the ejector tip including suction openings formed on a circumferential side of the ejector tip and including at least one direct suction opening formed in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tube segment,

wherein, in the first suction position, the suction openings formed on the circumferential side of the ejector tip facilitate suctioning of saliva, and

wherein, in the second suction position, only the direct suction opening facilitates suctioning of saliva.

28. The saliva ejector according to claim 27, wherein the suction openings are longitudinal apertures and/or longitudinal slits.