Patent ID: 6309218
Filing Date: 2001-10-30
Classification: A61C

Abstract:
A device for isolating a focus tooth of a patient from saliva during dental procedures, the focus tooth being one of a plurality of teeth oriented in an arcuate line in a patient's mouth, at least one anchor tooth in the arcuate line being located adjacent to the focus tooth, each of the teeth having an inner lateral surface facing inwardly from the arcuate line and an outer lateral surface facing outwardly from the arcuate line, the device comprising:a bow member for extending about a portion of a tooth of a patient, the bow member being substantially U-shaped, the bow member having a central axis, the bow member including:a transverse portion for extending above a portion of the arcuate line of teeth, the transverse portion extending transverse to the central axis of the bow member; anda pair of side portions each being for extending adjacent to lateral surfaces of the tooth, the side portions extending substantially parallel to the central axis of the bow member, each of the side portions having a root end connected to the transverse portion and a free end opposite the root end, the side portions of the bow member being resiliently flexible;a pair of suction pads each being adapted for positioning adjacent to one of the lateral sides of the anchor tooth and the focus tooth, each of the suction pads being mounted adjacent to a lower surface of one of the side portions of the bow member, each of the suction pads having a proximal and a distal end, a bore being formed in the proximal end of each of the suction pads and extending toward the distal end of the suction pad; anda pair of suction conduits each being adapted for suctioning fluid from one of the suction pads, each of the suction conduits extending into one of the suction pads through the bore in the suction pad, each of the suction conduits having a lumen extending along the length of the suction conduit, each of the suction conduits having a plurality of apertures through the suction conduit for permitting fluid communication between the lumen and an exterior of the suction conduit.