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Vacuum pump apparatus for use with saliva control devicesRelated Patent Categories: Dentistry, Apparatus, Having Suction OrificeVacuum pump apparatus for use with saliva control devices description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070042318, Vacuum pump apparatus for use with saliva control devices. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Related Applications [0002] The present application 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 disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. [0003] 2. The Field of the Invention [0004] 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. [0005] 3. The Relevant Technology [0006] 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. [0007] 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. [0008] 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. [0009] 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. [0010] 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. [0011] 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. [0012] 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 [0013] The present invention is directed to an integral hand-held vacuum pump apparatus for use 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. [0014] 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 in the hollow suction tube. Release of the plunger releases the vacuum. [0015] 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 [0016] 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, no external connection is needed, and the necessary vacuum is generated within the hand-held apparatus itself (e.g., by squeezing the lever). [0017] 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. [0018] These and other benefits, advantages and features of the present invention will become more full apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] In order that the manner in which the above recited and other benefits, advantages and features of the invention are obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: [0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary saliva control device; [0021] FIGS. 2A and 2B are top and bottom views, respectively, of an alternative saliva control device; Continue reading about Vacuum pump apparatus for use with saliva control devices... Full patent description for Vacuum pump apparatus for use with saliva control devices Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Vacuum pump apparatus for use with saliva control 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. 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