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  Salivary duct constriction systems and devicesUSPTO Application #: 20070281271Title: Salivary duct constriction systems and devices Abstract: Systems and devices for controlling saliva production by a salivary duct. An exemplary system includes a saliva control device and means for applying a vacuum to a salivary duct to allow attachment of the device over a salivary duct. One such means comprises a hand-held manually actuable pump apparatus. The apparatus can be operated using a single hand. One embodiment of the saliva control device includes an elastic body comprising at least one elastomer and a constriction hole formed through the elastic body. The stiffness of the elastic body and/or the diameter of the constriction hole are configured to provide a degree of constriction to a salivary duct sufficient to prevent a flow of saliva from the duct without cutting off blood flow to tissue surrounding the salivary duct. (end of abstract)
Agent: Workman Nydegger - Salt Lake City, UT, US Inventor: Bernard W.S. Odenkirchen USPTO Applicaton #: 20070281271 - Class: 433094000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Dentistry, Apparatus, Having Suction Orifice, And Clamp Or Positioner The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070281271. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/468,696, filed Aug. 30, 2006 and a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/468,705, filed Aug. 30, 2006 which is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/208,897, filed Aug. 22, 2005 and entitled "VACUUM SEALED SALIVA CONTROL DEVICE", the disclosures of each of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. The Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to saliva control devices and an integral hand-held vacuum pump apparatus for use in attaching one or more of the saliva control devices over a salivary duct so as to reduce or eliminate the flow and production of saliva. The saliva control devices and associated vacuum pump apparatus are particularly useful for a dental practitioner or oral surgeon (hereinafter practitioner) when performing a procedure within the oral cavity. [0004] 2. The Relevant Technology [0005] When performing various procedures within the oral cavity, it is often desirable or necessary for the practitioner to slow or at least divert the flow of saliva produced by the salivary ducts. There are four principal salivary ducts within the oral cavity. The two parotid salivary ducts are located inside the mouth and near each ear. There are also two submandibular salivary ducts located on the floor of the mouth, near the base of the tongue. The vast majority of saliva produced enters a patient's mouth through these principal salivary ducts. A minor amount also enters through other auxiliary salivary ducts. Several devices and techniques have been employed in order to prevent saliva from interfering with a practitioner's work inside the oral cavity. [0006] Rolls of cotton have been used in an attempt to prevent saliva produced by the principal salivary ducts from interfering with the work of a practitioner within the oral cavity. Cotton rolls are placed below the parotid salivary ducts and/or over the submandibular salivary ducts. As saliva is produced, it drains downward, and is absorbed by the cotton. One disadvantage of using cotton rolls is that they are rather large and can restrict the ability of the practitioner to work within the oral cavity because they take up considerable space. In addition, they can quickly become saturated, necessitating removal and replacement of the cotton during the procedure. It is often difficult to maintain the cotton roll in the position placed. Finally, cotton rolls can be uncomfortable for the patient. [0007] Rubber dams have also been used for isolating an area of the mouth from saliva. Rubber dams are difficult to use as they must be assembled, which can take a significant amount of time. In addition, when using a rubber dam, the patient cannot completely close his or her mouth. This makes it difficult for the practitioner to check the patient's occlusion, and is generally uncomfortable for the patient. [0008] Dental suction tubes have also been used to remove excess saliva produced by the salivary ducts. Generally, the suction tube is inserted periodically to remove excess saliva as it pools in the patient's mouth. This either requires an assistant to periodically insert the suction tube, or it requires interrupting the practitioner's work. [0009] Systemic medications (e.g., scapolquinine and atropine) have been used to control the production of saliva. While useful in arresting saliva production, side effects include disorientation, amnesia, and lingering dry mouth. Furthermore, such medications typically require several minutes time after administration to begin working. [0010] Improved saliva control devices have been developed by one of the present inventors which can be easily employed by a practitioner with a minimum of discomfort to the patient. Such devices are disclosed in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/208,897, filed Aug. 22, 2005, previously incorporated by reference. Generally, these saliva control devices are attached over the salivary duct and act to minimize or prevent the production and/or flow of saliva. The saliva control devices remain in place during the course of the practitioner's work within the oral cavity and are easily removed once work is completed. [0011] During attachment of some of the saliva control devices over a salivary duct, a vacuum is needed in order to facilitate attachment of the device over the salivary duct. As such, it would be an improvement in the art to provide a specially designed hand-held vacuum pump apparatus for use in attaching saliva control devices over a salivary duct. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] The present invention is directed to systems including one or more saliva control devices and related methods for attaching the saliva control device to a salivary duct of a saliva producing salivary gland. The attached saliva control device advantageously prevents production and flow of saliva from a salivary duct while a practitioner works within the oral cavity of a patient. [0013] The inventive system includes a saliva control device and means for applying a vacuum to a salivary duct so as to facilitate positioning of the saliva control device over the salivary duct. The saliva control device includes an elastic body comprising at least one elastomer and a constriction hole formed through the elastic body for constricting around a salivary duct. The stiffness of the elastic body and/or the diameter of the constriction hole advantageously are configured to provide a degree of constriction to a salivary duct upon attachment sufficient to prevent a flow of saliva without substantially cutting off blood flow to the tissue surrounding the salivary duct. In this way, saliva flow is blocked without damaging the tissue surrounding the salivary duct. [0014] The inventive system and method allow a practitioner to position and attach a saliva control device over one or more selected principal salivary ducts located within a patient's mouth. Positioning and attachment of the saliva control devices is relatively quick and simple, and allows the practitioner to stop the production and flow of saliva while performing dental surgery or another procedure where the elimination of saliva within the oral cavity would be beneficial. The inventive system and method are improvements over existing suctioning, wicking, or absorbent devices used to remove saliva from the mouth, dams used to confine saliva to certain areas within the mouth, or drugs that biochemically stop the production and flow of saliva. [0015] The means for applying a vacuum to a salivary duct so as to allow attachment of the saliva control device over the salivary duct may include a hollow suction tube and one of a plunger, a vacuum pump, or a hand-operated vacuum gun for producing a vacuum within the hollow suction tube. The hollow suction tube may be used to suction the raised nub of tissue surrounding a selected salivary duct into a distal end of the hollow suction tube so as to allow the practitioner to more easily position and attach the saliva control device over the salivary duct. The hollow suction tube may be inserted through the constriction hole so as to temporarily enlarge the constriction hole as the saliva control device is placed on the tube. The saliva control device may then be slid distally off the end of the hollow suction tube, in place over the salivary duct. In another method, the saliva control device may be friction fitted or held by vacuum force against the distal end of the hollow suction tube while the raised nub of tissue is suctioned through the constriction hole and into the hollow suction tube. In either case, because of the elasticity of the elastic body surrounding the constriction hole, the elastic body springs closed around the salivary duct so as to prevent production and flow of saliva from the salivary duct. [0016] The saliva control device may remain in place as long as necessary, typically between about 10 minutes and about 3 hours, after which the saliva control device is removed. The elastic body of the saliva control device may comprise a substantially flat disc, and in order to more easily facilitate removal of the device, the elastic body may further include one or more ear-like protrusions, one or more slits, or one or more cut-outs to provide an edge which can be more easily gripped by the practitioner so as to allow for easy removal of the device when desired [0017] An integral hand-held vacuum pump apparatus may be used in attaching one or more saliva control devices over one or more selected salivary ducts. The vacuum pump apparatus can be operated by a single hand of a practitioner in order to adhere a saliva control device, e.g., by drawing a portion of a salivary duct into an orifice of a saliva control device by suction. [0018] The pump apparatus includes a body having a grippable handle and a support member, a hollow suction tube that is supported by the support member of the body, a plunger slidably disposed within the hollow suction tube, and means for moving the plunger proximally within the hollow suction tube in response to squeezing a practitioner's hand and/or at least one finger. An example of such means includes a finger grippable lever which when squeezed causes the plunger to slide proximally within the hollow suction tube so as to create a vacuum within the hollow suction tube. Release of the plunger releases the vacuum. [0019] At least a portion of the finger grippable lever is spaced apart from the grippable handle of the body, and the lever is also movably mounted to the grippable handle such that the lever may be selectively squeezed or otherwise moved relative to the handle. The lever is operatively coupled to the plunger so as to cause the plunger to slide proximally within the hollow suction tube when the lever is squeezed, resulting in the creation of a vacuum suction force within the hollow suction tube. Depending on the configuration of the saliva control device to be attached, the vacuum can advantageously be used to vacuum adhere the device over a salivary duct, or in another embodiment, the vacuum can advantageously be used to suction up the nub of tissue surrounding the salivary duct, after which the saliva control device can be positioned so as to constrict around the salivary duct, effectively cutting off saliva flow. The vacuum is released (e.g., by releasing force on the lever), after which the pump apparatus is detached from the saliva control device and removed from the patient's mouth [0020] The integral hand-held vacuum pump apparatus advantageously requires no connection to an external vacuum source. In other words, no cords or tubes run from the apparatus at one end to an external vacuum source at another end as in, e.g., a corded dental suction tool. The elimination of cords or tubes greatly improves the maneuverability of such an apparatus relative to devices that require connection to an external vacuum source. This maximizes the ability of the practitioner to manipulate the device into a desired one of many possible positions so as to ensure proper placement of the saliva control device. Because the apparatus is self-contained and manually actuable to create a vacuum, no external connection is needed, and the necessary vacuum is generated within the hand-held apparatus itself (e.g., by squeezing the lever). [0021] The hollow suction tube may be detachable from the rest of the apparatus to facilitate changing of the tube between patients (e.g., the hollow suction tube may be disposable) so as to prevent or minimize the possibility of cross-contamination between patients. The remainder of the apparatus advantageously may be easily washed or disinfected by autoclaving, as needed. Continue reading... Full patent description for Salivary duct constriction systems and devices Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Salivary duct constriction systems and devices patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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