Abstract:
A holder for safely securing a gauze pad for use in a post-surgical area in the intraoral cavity of a patient in order to allow a blood clot to form in safe, hygienic and sanitary conditions. The holder provides a holding cavity wherein the gauze pad is secured and held. It also requires a handle section that allows the external control of the gauze pad by the patient. Embodiments having holding sections with different ergonomic shapes according to the particular position of the intraoral surgical area requiring placement of the gauze pad are described.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to gauze pad holders. More particular, the invention is directed to gauze pad holders useful in securing and holding a gauze pad at a particular area of the mouth after a surgical procedure has been performed in the intraoral cavity. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Surgical procedures inside the mouth, such as tooth extractions, generally cause more bleeding than a skin wound due to the difficulty associated with the process of drying out the gums and thus retardation of the blood clot formation. In order to control the bleeding after the intraoral surgical procedure is performed; a common practice is to place a gauze pad over the dental extraction site and bite on it for about 30 minutes, so that pressure is applied to surgical area in order to maintain a dry field an allow a blood clot to form. 
     Said procedure has a series of disadvantages. For instance, said gauze pad is usually inserted in the postsurgical intraoral area by healthcare personnel, personal assistants or by the patient himself, generally by introducing their hands into the mouth. This represents a poor hygienic practice that exposes the surgical area to potential pathogens such as bacteria, increasing the chances of opportunistic infections and other postsurgical complications. Indeed, presently, infections involving antibiotic resistant bacteria are a real challenge to treat, thus new preventive measures with the aim of avoiding exposure of such bacteria are an essential part of the standard of care process. 
     Another potentially dangerous situation is due to the fact that the gauze pad is not secured by any means inside the oral cavity of a patient who is generally under some kind of sedation, said gauze pad may be displaced from the surgical area to the patient&#39;s pharynx, causing an obstruction of the patient&#39;s airway; thus representing and asphyxiation or choking hazard. 
     Furthermore, since the patient has no direct visual contact of the surgical site&#39;s exact location, there is a high chance that he or she may not be able to place and maintain the gauze pad in the proper location, thus the effect of applying pressure over the desired and specific intraoral area may not be achieved. In a similar manner, after using said gauze pad, it is uncomfortable and unpleasant to remove it from the mouth, since it is soaked with blood and saliva. Furthermore, in order for the gauze pad to be effective in the postsurgical intraoral area, the gauzes should be folded properly in a square shape by folding the gauzes in half twice so that the resulting gauze pad is ideal for the placement over the extraction site. Therefore, there is a need to provide a suitable hygienic and sanitary gauze pad holder that allows the control of a gauze pad over a particular and specific postsurgical intraoral area. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a gauze pad holder that allows placing gauze pads properly in a post-surgical intraoral area in safe, hygienic and sanitary conditions. It is another object of the invention to provide a preventive measure with the aim of avoiding exposure of antibiotic resistant bacteria during and after intraoral surgical procedures. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a gauze pad holder that eliminates the need of using direct hand contact in order to properly place said gauze pad in the oral cavity of a patient. Another object of the invention is to provide a gauze pad holder that allows maintaining said gauze pad over the post-surgical intraoral area providing a safe positioning that avoids the gauze pad displacement from said particular area in order to increase the effectiveness of the gauze pad in stopping the gums bleeding and avoiding potential choking of the patient caused by said gauze pad. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a gauze pad holder that allows external patient control of the pad by the patient, eliminating the need of inserting fingers in the patient&#39;s oral cavity to re-accommodate said pad, thus providing a sense of security and comfort to the patient. Another object of the invention is to provide a gauze pad holder that allows maintaining the proper folding and shape of the pad during the process that said pad is used in order to ensure ideal contact of said pad over the surgical site. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a gauze pad holder with an extra holding mechanism of securing the gauze pad in place by providing toothed elements that are inserted through the gauze pad fibers. Still another object of the invention is to provide a gauze pad holder that is ergonomically designed in order to be comfortably positioned over a post-surgical intraoral area according to the nature and surroundings of said intraoral area. Thus, embodiments having different shapes are presented, preferably to be used in molar or premolar positions. In yet another object of the invention is to provide a gauze pad holder for intraoral use that is easy to be removed or substituted after being used without the need of inserting fingers into the oral cavity. In yet another object of the invention is to provide an already disinfected, sanitary gauze pad in its proper individual holder, ready to be used in safe, hygienic and sanitary conditions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description considered with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a diagrammatical representation in a perspective view of one embodiment of the gauze pad holder according to the invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a diagrammatical representation in a frontal view of the embodiment according to the invention showed in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a diagrammatical representation, in a perspective view of one of the gauze pad holder embodiments according to the invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a diagrammatical representation in a frontal view of the embodiment according to the invention showed in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  show a diagrammatical representation in a perspective view of two other embodiments of the gauze holder according to the invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a diagrammatical representation in a frontal view of any of the embodiment according to the invention already showed in  FIG. 5 or 6 . 
         FIG. 8  shows a diagrammatical representation in perspective view of the embodiment types illustrated in  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 3  holding a gauze pad. 
         FIG. 9  shows a diagrammatical representation in perspective view of the embodiment types illustrated in  FIG. 5  or  FIG. 6  holding a gauze pad. 
         FIG. 10  shows a diagrammatical representation in perspective view of the post-surgical use of the embodiment types of the gauze pad holder illustrated in  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 11  shows a diagrammatical representation in perspective view of the post-surgical use of the embodiment types of the gauze pad holder illustrated in  FIG. 5  or  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 12  shows a diagrammatical representation in perspective view of the post-surgical use of any of the embodiment types of the gauze pad holder according to the instant invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description illustrates the invention and a variety of embodiments by way of example and is not limited to the particular limitations presented herein as principles of the invention. This description is directed to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention by describing embodiments, adaptations, variations and alternatives of the invention. Any potential variations of the limitations herein described are within the scope of the invention. 
     In general terms, the instant invention is directed to a gauze pad holder, useful in holding a gauze pad, which is intended to be pressed or bitten in a post-surgical precise location inside the mouth, just after a surgical dental procedure has been performed. Thus, a section of the holder has been intended to be used intraoral and for instance, after tooth extraction. The instant invention comprises different embodiments able to adapt to the particular intraoral postsurgical location due to the curvature of the oral cavity and different elements may be included to further secure said gauze pad firmly in a particular mouth area after a surgical procedure. 
     The first embodiment of the invention  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . A second embodiment of the invention  25  is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Embodiments  10  and  25  are very similar, as explained below and are intended to be used in any tooth extraction process, but are particularly more convenient to be used after molar and premolar extractions at the intraoral cavity. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of embodiment  10  while  FIG. 2  illustrates a frontal view of said embodiment  10 . It comprises a handle  11 , which is illustrated having a preferably flat, oval shape with a concave center surrounded by round edges; although it may have any other suitable shape. Extending from handle  11 , there is connecting unit  12 , which has an elongated body  14 , having a preferably cylindrical shape. It has a first end  15 , wherein it is connected to handle  11  and a second end  16 , wherein it is connected to a first C-shaped holding unit  17 , which since it is connected at such end  16  is thus aligned or substantially aligned to handle  11 . 
     Embodiment  10  also comprises a flat supporting section  18 , which is connected to and extending outwardly from the right side near said second end  16  of the connecting unit  12 . Flat supporting section  18  preferably has a rectangular or near rectangular shape having the back right corner  19  preferably round and a thin width without having any sharp edges. It also comprises a front right corner  20  wherein a second C-shaped holding unit  21  is connected. Said second holding unit  21  is located in a parallel position to the first C-shaped holding unit  17 . In this manner, first C-shaped holding unit  17  and second C-shaped holding unit  21  creates cavity  22 , wherein a set of gauze pad  23  may be securely held, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . Said first and second C-shaped holding units  17  and  21  are preferably identical in shape and size and their bodies are preferably cylindrical having its ends  23  pointing to near the interior of cavity  22 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     A second embodiment  25  according to the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view while  FIG. 4  illustrates a frontal view of embodiment  25 . The difference between embodiment  10  and embodiment  25  is that embodiment  25  comprises a series of multiple sharp pointed projections  26 , coming from the top and bottom internal surface of each of the first and second holding units  17  and  21 , respectively, to the interior of said C-shaped structures simulating teeth; thus providing or creating cavity  27  as a toothed cavity. Projections  26  provides an additional support to a gauze pad  24 , since such projections  26  impale the fibers of the gauze pad  24 , providing an extra secure holding to said gauze pad  24 . 
     The instant invention also comprises embodiments  30  and  45 , which are illustrated diagrammatically in a perspective view in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Embodiment  30 , illustrated in  FIG. 5  comprises handle section  31  preferably having a flat, oval shape with a concave center surrounded by round edges even though it may have any other suitable shape. Extending from handle  31 , there is connecting unit  32 , which has an elongated body  33 , having a preferably cylindrical shape. It has a first end  34 , wherein it is connected to handle  31  and a second end  35  having a flat round shape comprising a lower surface  36  and an upper surface  37 . On said lower surface  36  is connected a C-shaped holding unit  38 , which, since it is connected at such lower surface  36  of second end  35 , being thus aligned or substantially aligned to handle  31 . Main body of the C-shaped structure  38  is preferably cylindrical and has its ends  39  pointing inwardly to the interior space  40  of said C-shaped holding unit  38  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Said internal space  40  is suitable to hold and firmly secure a set of gauze pad  24  as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
     On the other hand, the instant invention also comprises embodiment  45  which is illustrated in  FIG. 6  as a perspective view. It is similar to embodiment  30  however it comprises a series of multiple sharp pointed projections  46 , coming from the top and bottom internal surface of the interior of said C-shaped holding unit  38  which simulate teeth; thus providing or creating cavity  47  as a toothed cavity. As previously indicated for embodiment  25 , projections  46  as in the case of projections  26  provides an additional support to a gauze pad  24 , since such projections  46  impale the fibers of the gauze pad  24 , providing an extra secure holding to said gauze pad  24 , as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
     The herein disclosed embodiments may be made of any suitable strong material, such as plastic, foam, or noncorrosive metal, preferably plastic via suitable known in the art molding techniques. Even more preferably such embodiments may be made of plastic or noncorrosive metal. It is contemplated that the embodiments may have different sizes since the holder may be used in patients of different ages. It is contemplated that the herein disclosed holder may be for disposable use or alternatively, it may be for non-disposable use after being properly disinfected or sterilized. 
     In operational terms, gauze pad  24  is properly folded and assembled to the holder and after the surgical procedure has been performed, it is introduced and placed over the surgical area inside the patient&#39;s mouth using the handle section of the holder, thus avoiding introducing the fingers inside the oral cavity of the patient.  FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrated the accommodation of the holder and gauze pad  24  in the patient&#39;s mouth  50 .  FIG. 10 , illustrates the embodiment type  10  and  25  after an extraction or surgical procedure has been done in a molar tooth site. Alternatively,  FIG. 11  shows the use of embodiment types  30  and  45  after a surgical procedure or extraction has been performed in a premolar tooth site. As indicated previously, each type of embodiment is ergonomically designed according to the anatomy of the oral cavity and the surroundings of the given surgical site. After the pad is accommodated on the pertinent surgical area, and the patient presses the gauze pad by closing the jaws as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , using embodiment  10  as an example, said pad should be maintained in the surgical area for about 30 minutes to maintain a dry field and allow the blood clot to form. 
     While the patient is using the herein described holder, the patient may secure said holder at any given time if necessary by holding the handle section, thus the patient may even talk carefully without the gauze pad being displaced from its holder. If necessary, the gauze pad  24  may be substituted by a new one by just repeating the described process. 
     Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that such description is for purposes of illustration and example and it is not intended to be taken by way of limitation. For instance, some sections of the gauze holder such as the elongated body, the handle and the holding unit may have alternatives shapes and/or configurations and still be within the spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is recognized that multiple variations exist, including both narrowing and broadening variations of the appended claims.