Patent ID: 6974321
Filing Date: 2005-12-13
Classification: A61C

Abstract:
1. A one-piece, injection-molded intraoral device, comprising: a one-piece, flexible, injection molded body made of a single homogeneous material, the body including a spine, an upper front flap including an upper edge, an upper rear flap including an upper edge separated from the upper edge of the upper front flap by a gap, a lower front flap including a lower edge, a lower rear flap including a lower edge separated from the lower edge of the lower front flap by a gap, the upper flaps joined along the spine to form an upper open pocket and the upper edges of the upper flaps configured to be sealed together by an upper part of a patient's mouth and form an upper evacuation channel when the body is disposed within the patient's mouth, the lower flaps joined along the spine to form a lower open pocket and the lower edges of the lower flap configured to be sealed together by a lower part or tongue of a patient's mouth and form a lower evacuation channel when the body is disposed within the patient's mouth, one or more evacuation holes in at least one of the upper flaps and in communication with the upper evacuation channel, one or more evacuation holes in at least one of the lower flaps and in communication with the lower evacuation channel, a connection section in communication with the upper evacuation channel and the lower evacuation channel and configured to extend outside of the patient's mouth to connect with a vacuum source for evacuating fluid from the patient's mouth through the evacuation holes and the evacuation channels.