Abstract:
A high volume suction tube for use in dentistry to remove detritus during oral procedures, such as providing a tooth filling, including a cap that alleviates tissue obstruction without impeding efficient suction and removal of the detritus.

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/066,573 filed Apr. 18, 2011. The patent application identified above is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a cap and a tube for high volume dental suction. One end of the tube is designed to fit the cap. 
     High volume evacuation (HVE) suction devices are used during dental procedures to remove saliva and particles, such as plaque, calculus, parts of existing fillings and decayed tooth material. Such HVE suction devices include a suction tube having a distal (upper) suction end and a proximal (lower) discharge end. The discharge end of the suction tube connected via a hose and hose valve to a vacuum source. The distal (upper) end of the suction tube is inserted into a patient&#39;s mouth. 
     The HVE suction tube is typically made of polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene. Such tips are hard and the edges rather sharp, which can irritate the tissue of a patient&#39;s mouth. 
     The suction draws material into the opening and down the tube. If the tip contacts the patient&#39;s mouth tissue, it can suck the tissue into the tip, obstructing the suction. This is uncomfortable and can cause damage to the patient&#39;s mouth and make it more difficult for the dental user. Such HVE suction tubes can require constant manual adjustments to maintain efficient suction while in use and cause unpleasant sensations, bruising and anxiety to patients. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a protective suction cap and the specially designed HVE tube onto which it fits; the invention overcomes the aforementioned difficulties with existing HVE suction tubes. 
     The HVE tube of the invention includes a tube having a suction end and a discharge end and which can be used with or without the protective cap attached. 
     The invention can also be produced as one piece, with the cap permanently attached to the HVE tube. In a one-piece embodiment, the entire tube and cap may be molded from a plastic material that is resilient or semi-resilient, such as polyethylene. 
     The cap provides a gap between the suction end of the HVE tube and the oral tissue to simultaneously allow tissue retraction and suction in the working area of an oral cavity without causing trauma to fragile tissue. 
     A dental suction tube including at a distal end a cage-like structure comprising at least four vanes, each vane having a question-mark-like shape with a generally straight proximal section and a curved distal section, the straight section proximal end supported on the end of the dental suction tube and the distal ends of the curved sections of each vane attached to one another. 
     A high-volume evacuation tube used in dental procedures including a cap, the cap comprising a crown-shape, cage-like structure including at least three struts, each strut having a generally convex shape, the proximal end of each strut attached to the distal end of the tube and the distal ends of the struts attached to one another. In another embodiment the cap may have three convex curved arms connected at proximal ends to the tube and the distal ends to one another such that the cross-sectional area between the curved arms is greater than the tube cross-sectional area. 
     A dental suction tube including at a distal end a cruciate structure comprising two orthogonal cross members, the suction tube distal end edge formed at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the tube, the cruciate structure lying substantially in a plane parallel to the distal end edge, each of the cross members extending radially beyond the edge of the tube distal end edge, the radial portion beyond the edge of the tube distal end edge having a round shape, the edge of each round shape of the cross members attached to the two distal end openings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a right side view of the crown-shaped cap; 
         FIG. 2  is a right side view of the HVE suction tube of the present invention specially designed to fit onto the crown shaped cap by pressing the cap into the suction end of the HVE tube; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the HVE suction tube with crown shaped tip permanently attached on the suction end as one piece; 
         FIG. 3A  is a close-up view of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 4  is another embodiment of the invention showing an alternative cap construction comprising a cruciate structure; 
         FIG. 5  is a first side elevation view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear elevation view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a second side elevation view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom end view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 12  is a side elevation view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention in the embodiments shown in the drawings dudes an HVE suction tube  1  having a suction or distal end  1   a  (see  FIG. 3 ), and a discharge or proximal end  1   b , the end  1   b  attached to flexible tubing that attaches to the source of suction. The distal end of the tube has a crown-shaped, cage-like cap or structure  2 . The cap-like structure may be detachably connected to tube  1  at the distal end  1   a  as shown best in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, in the embodiment shown best in  FIGS. 3 and 3A , the cage-like structure may be integral with the tube  1 , the tube and cap-like structure molded of plastic material such as polyvinyl fluoride or polyethylene, materials well known in the field of dentistry. The tube  1  typically has a length of 4-6 inches and an internal diameter of approximately ¼ inch with a wall thickness of approximately 1/32 inch. The distal end of tube  1 , as seen best in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , is terminated to form an edge  1   c  in a plane that is acute to the longitudinal axis of the tube  1 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the edge may have steps with corresponding and complementary steps formed in the short attachment section  2   g  of the cage-like structure  2  to provide a secure support for the cap  2  on tube  1 . 
     The cage-like structure or cap  2  as noted above has a short tubular section indicated at  2   g  fitted within the end of tube  1  in frictional engagement therewith. The cage-like structure  2  comprises in the embodiment shown four vanes or struts indicated at  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   d , and  2   e , although three vanes or struts may be employed depending on the plastic material chosen for forming the cap. 
     Each of the vanes or struts  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   d ,  2   e  has a question-mark shape which include a short straight or slightly curved proximal section  2   h  and curved convex distal section. The proximal end of the proximal sections are attached to and may be integral with the ring portion  2   g  of the cap-like structure  2  that attaches to the distal end  1   a  of tube  1  as shown in  FIG. 1  or at the tube edge as seen best in  FIG. 3A . At the distal end of each distal section  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   d  and  2   e , of the vanes or struts the ends are attached to the corresponding end of each of the other vanes or struts at  2   c . It will be understood that each of the vanes may be molded in plastic as an integral structure. Each of the vanes may have a circular cross section as shown in  FIG. 1  or a polygonal cross section as shown in  FIG. 3A . 
     The vanes or struts of the cage-like structure or cap  2  have a diameter, as measured in a plane that is transverse to the axis of the tube that is greater than the inner diameter and/or outer diameter of tube  1 . The cap-like structure or cap  2  extends axially or longitudinally from the distal end  1   a  of the tube  1   a  distance greater than the inner or outer diameter of tube  1 . 
     It will therefore be seen that the area as measured between each pair of vanes or struts, in the aggregate, is greater than the cross-sectional area of tube  1 . It will also be appreciated that the cage-like structure is slightly resilient such that when inserted into the patient&#39;s mouth, it may distort slightly but will prevent the oral tissue from blocking the distal open end of tube  1  or from being aggravated. The area is thus large enough for suction uptake of larger particles that may be generated during dental processes. 
     In operation, the distal end of the tube  1  with the cage-like cap  2  is inserted into the patient&#39;s mouth such that the cap is in contact with the patient&#39;s oral tissue. When suction is applied, the cap  2  will prevent or minimize any plugging of the end of the suction tube by tissue while still allowing suction to remove the unwanted materials from the oral cavity. The cap  2  thus eliminates the danger of the tissue being grabbed or forcibly pressed against the end of the tube which is frequent with existing dental suction tubes commonly used in dental practices today. 
     The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4-10  illustrates a tube, indicated at  51  that is substantially the same as tube  1  in the earlier embodiments. The tube has a cap indicated at  52  that may be integral with tube  51  or detachable (not shown). Cap  52  is positioned at the distal end  61  and comprises a cruciate structure indicated generally at  53  comprising two orthogonal cross members, struts, or arms  54 ,  55 . The members  54 ,  55  are arranged orthogonally to one another and connected at their central portions to one another. 
     Tube  51  has a proximal end that is attached to a vacuum source through flexible tubing and a valve in a manner ell known to those having ordinary skill in the art. The distal end  61  is terminated at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of tube  51  as seen best in  FIGS. 5 and 8 . The distal end  61 , which may be at an angle of 45 degrees, or less, defines a distal end edge  62  as seen best in  FIGS. 6 and 9 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4-10 , the distal tip of the distal end  61  may be cut off or straight at  60 . The structure  53  cross members, arms or struts lie in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane of distal end edge  62 . Each of the cross members, arms or struts in this embodiment, include a central straight portion  57  on strut  54  and a straight portion  58  on arm or member  55 . Arms or members  54 ,  55  have at each opposite end of the central portions  57 ,  58  curved or rounded portions as seen at  59 . As seen best in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  9 ,  10  the round portions of the arms or members  54 ,  55  extend radially outwardly or beyond the cylindrical edge  62  of distal end portion  61  of tube  51 . 
     It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the rounded ends of the cross members or arms  54 ,  55  will provide a surface that is in contact with the tissue in the oral cavity of the patient but because of the shape will not cause irritation or discomfort. Moreover, the cruciate shape of the cap will prevent the tissue in the patient&#39;s mouth from clogging or adhering to the open end of the tube  51  thereby assuring that particles or other detritus to be removed is not impeded. It will also be seen, for example from  FIG. 5 , that the central portion  57  of arm  54  is spaced from the plane of the edge  62  of distal end  61  of tube  51 . It should also be noted that the acute angle of the distal end  61  of tube  51  creates a cross-sectional area that is greater than the transverse cross-sectional area of the tube  51  thereby assuring that the area at the distal end  61  of the tube, notwithstanding the presence of the cross members or arms  54 ,  55  will not restrict the cross-sectional area of the tube  51  and cap  52  thereby retaining the complete suction (negative) pressure by not restricting the flow area. 
     In another embodiment shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the cruciate end cap structure  72  of tube  71  also comprises cross members, arms or struts  73 ,  74 . Cross member  74  comprises two segments or bars  75 ,  76  connected at the intersection with the second cross member  73 , one segment  75  comprising a straight bar lying in the plane parallel to the distal end edge and the other end segment bar  76  lying at an obtuse angle thereto as seen in  FIG. 12 . Accordingly, at the intersection of the segment  75 ,  76 , there is an apex  77  that assists in holding the tissue of the patient&#39;s mouth away from the distal end of the tube so as to prevent clogging or plugging injury due to the patient&#39;s tongue, cheek or lips while still allowing suction of larger particles. 
     The foregoing description is provided to enable any person skilled in the relevant art to practice the various embodiments described herein. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown and described herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described in this disclosure that are known or may become known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the claims. Nothing disclosed in this application is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.