Dental suction tubing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A dental suction tube comprising:
- a proximal portion having a substantially hollow interior for the allowance of movement of material therethrough due to suction, the proximal portion configured for attachment to a suction source;
a substantially straight distal portion having a distal portion longitudinal axis and being connected to and extending distally from the proximal portion and having a substantially hollow interior for the allowance of movement of material therethrough due to suction, the distal portion defining a distal end having an opening, the proximal portion and the distal portion together defining the entire length of the dental suction tube;
an outer wall extending along the entire length of the dental suction tube and having a bend at a junction of the proximal portion and the distal portion; and
a plurality of apertures extending through the outer wall of the distal portion, the plurality of apertures being disposed along an imaginary helical line which is at an angle of between 25° and
30°
with respect to the distal portion longitudinal axis, the percentage of the total cross-sectional area of all of the apertures extending through the outer wall to the cross-sectional area of the distal end opening being in the range of about 40% to about 70%, at least a majority of the plurality of apertures being proximal to the opening of the distal end.
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Abstract
A dental suction tube having a plurality of apertures in a distal portion of the tube is provided. The apertures are provided in a pattern to allow suction performance even when a portion of the distal end of the tube is abutting a portion of the mouth or other item during a dental procedure.
30 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A dental suction tube comprising:
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a proximal portion having a substantially hollow interior for the allowance of movement of material therethrough due to suction, the proximal portion configured for attachment to a suction source; a substantially straight distal portion having a distal portion longitudinal axis and being connected to and extending distally from the proximal portion and having a substantially hollow interior for the allowance of movement of material therethrough due to suction, the distal portion defining a distal end having an opening, the proximal portion and the distal portion together defining the entire length of the dental suction tube; an outer wall extending along the entire length of the dental suction tube and having a bend at a junction of the proximal portion and the distal portion; and a plurality of apertures extending through the outer wall of the distal portion, the plurality of apertures being disposed along an imaginary helical line which is at an angle of between 25° and
30°
with respect to the distal portion longitudinal axis, the percentage of the total cross-sectional area of all of the apertures extending through the outer wall to the cross-sectional area of the distal end opening being in the range of about 40% to about 70%, at least a majority of the plurality of apertures being proximal to the opening of the distal end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A dental suction tube comprising:
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a proximal end; a distal end; a proximal portion which is substantially tubular and having a wall, the wall defining a first substantially hollow interior for the conveyance of material therethrough, the wall of the proximal portion being free of apertures; and a distal portion in fluid communication with the proximal portion and having a second substantially hollow interior for the conveyance of material therethrough, the distal portion having a total longitudinal length and defining a distal portion longitudinal axis, the distal end defining a distal opening therein configured to receive materials from a dental procedure site for aspiration therethrough and to the second hollow substantially interior, the distal portion having at least one wall having an outer surface and having between ten and thirty apertures therein, the apertures being disposed along an imaginary helical line which is at an angle of between 25° and
30°
with respect to the distal portion longitudinal axis, the apertures each spaced from a closest positioned aperture a distance of between about 5% and about 15% of the total length of the distal portion, at least one of the apertures defining a cylindrical portion through the wall and having a chamfer which intersects the outer surface of the wall,wherein the proximal portion and the distal portion are joined together at a bend and together make up the entirety of the dental suction tube. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification