Patent Number: 042232295
Section: claims

1. An oral radiation protector appliance for protecting human anatomy against harmful side effects of radiation therapy comprising an intraoral portion and an extraoral portion, said portions being formed of material substantially impervious to penetration therethrough of radiation rays, said intraoral portion substantially covering and protecting the frontal, upper and rear surfaces of the teeth, the gingiva and periodontal bone, the extraoral portion covering extraoral areas of the face and protecting the parotid and sublingual and salivary glands. 2. An oral radiation protector as claimed in claim 1, said intraoral portion being substantially U-shaped to encompass the teeth and adjacent anatomy areas of a patient. 3. An oral radiation protector as claimed in claim 1, said intraoral portion including substantially U-shaped upper and lower sections joined in back to back relationship to encompass the upper and lower teeth and adjacent anatomy areas of a patient. 4. An oral radiation protector as claimed in claim 1, said material in said intraoral portion including a layer of radiation shielding material and a covering of a plastic material. 5. An oral radiation protector as claimed in claim 1, said material in said intraoral portion including a lead sheet and a coating of a plastic material thereover. 6. An oral radiation protector as claimed in claims 1 or 5, said material of said extraoral portion including a lead sheet. 7. An oral radiation protector as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein said intraoral portion includes a projection thereon extending forwardly and external of the mouth of a patient, said extraoral portion having an opening therethrough for detachable mounting attachment of said extraoral portion on said projection. 8. An oral radiation protector appliance for protecting teeth, gingiva, periodontal or alveola bone, salivary glands, and adjacent body areas, of a patient against harmful radiation therapy side effects comprising an intraoral member and an extraoral member, said extraoral member being selectively attachable to and detachable from said intraoral member for selected combined appliance usage, or for separate use of said intraoral member, said intraoral member substantially covering the teeth, gingiva, periodontal or alveolar bone, and said extraoral member substantially covering extraoral anatomy of the face to protect the parotid and sublingual and salivary glands. 9. An appliance as claimed in claim 8, said intraoral and said extraoral members respectively having coacting means for joining said members externally of a patients mouth. 10. An appliance as claimed in claim 9, said coacting means comprising a projection on said intraoral member adapted for extension externally of a patient's mouth and an opening through said extraoral member into which said projection is insertable to thereby mount and attach said extraoral member on said intraoral member. 11. A radiation protective shield for preventing direct impingement of radiation rays on teeth, dentine, alveolar bone, and adjacent body tissues of a person being subjected to radiation therapy, comprising an intraoral shield portion and an extraoral shield portion, said intraoral portion including at least in part a radiation shielding material, having a shape conforming to the curvilinear configuration of a human dentition and adapted for disposition within the mouth of the person, and with at least a front portion thereof interposed between the inner sides of the mouth lip portions and forward sides of the teeth and associated gingiva and alveolar bone, the intraoral shield having a depth serving to substantially cover the upper and lower sets of dentitions and tissues and bone associated with the teeth, said extraoral shield, consisting of a curvilinear shaped sheet of radiation shielding material and being selectively attachable to and supportable by said intraoral shield and disposed thereby externally of the mouth of the person, said extraoral portion being of shape and size to cover a substantial area of the extraoral anatomy of the face of the person to thereby intercept rays and prevent direct and/or stray impingement thereon. 12. A radiation protective shield as claimed in claim 11, said intraoral shield including upper and lower channel shaped members adapted to substantially contain within the physical dimensions thereof the upper and lower gingival, teeth, aleveolar bone and adjacent areas of a user person, the channel shaped members being medially connected and opening respectively upwardly and downwardly, and thereby engageable over and encompassing the upper and lower teeth sets. 13. A radiation protective shield as claimed in claim 12, said intraoral shield having a frontal projection thereon adapted for external projection from the persons mouth, said extraoral shield having an opening therein engageable with said projection and constituting a support for said extraoral shield. 14. A radiation protective shield as claimed in claim 13, said material including a lead sheet, said intraoral shield being coated with a plastic material to prevent tooth and internal mouth contact with the lead material. 15. A radiation protective shield as claimed in claim 14, the plastic material coating on said intraoral shield being of soft and resilient texture but of a strength to normally prevent penetration by the teeth of the person.