Abstract:
An apparatus used during oral surgery having two major components: an absorbent gauze pad approved for use during oral surgery, and a means for retrieving the absorbent gauze pad attached to the absorbent gauze pad. The resulting retrievable gauze pad allows a patient having undergone oral surgery, or another person, to easily remove the retrievable gauze pad, especially if the patient accidentally aspirates the retrievable gauze pad.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0000]    
       
         
           
              1. The Field of the Invention  
           
         
       
     
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an apparatus used to absorb blood and other fluids during numerous types of oral surgery. The present invention also relates to dramatically increasing the patient&#39;s safety during oral surgery. 
        2. Brief Description of the Art        
 
         [0004]     Oral surgery of all forms presents a certain amount of risks and danger. A dentist performing oral surgery will use a number of gauze pads, sponges or combination of devices to absorb blood and other fluids naturally present in the oral cavity during surgery. The absorbent materials are available in a variety of designs and sizes.  
         [0005]     The general purpose for these absorbent materials is to prevent blood and saliva from seeping into the naso-pharynx, trachea and esophagus. Large pieces of absorbent material may restrict the airway. Small pieces of absorbent material may become dislodged and easily swallowed or aspirated. The absorbent material is usually packed into numerous areas of the oral cavity, and may be pushed deep into the naso-pharynx.  
         [0006]     Generally, the patient is told by the dentist to leave the absorbent material in their oral cavity for a relatively extended time after oral surgery is complete. The vast majority of dentists currently practicing do not attach anything that would assist a patient in removing the absorbent material packed into the patient&#39;s oral cavity. There are certain risks associated with this procedure.  
         [0007]     It is well understood by those skilled in the art that the oral cavity is greatly anesthetized during oral surgery. The anesthesia causes paresthesia of the mandible, or numbness or the hard palate, soft palate and root of the tongue. This resulting paresthesia suppresses the gag reflex, which reflex is located in the root of the tongue. The suppression of the gag reflex, and the paresthesia of the mandible, generally lasts six to eight hours after completion of oral surgery, but may last as long as twelve hours. The use of anesthesia may also cause a general, mental incoherence.  
         [0008]     While the patient is still anesthetized, and after the patient has left the dentist&#39;s office, it is not uncommon for the patient to swallow a piece of the absorbent material. The paresthesia of the mandible and the resulting suppression of the gag reflex allows a piece of absorbent material to work down, or travel, deep into the naso-pharynx without the knowledge of the patient. The patient simply cannot feel the absorbent material, or a piece thereof, during this period of recuperation.  
         [0009]     When a piece of absorbent material is swallowed by a patient, the paresthesia of the mandible prevents the patient from feeling the piece of absorbent material as it enters the patient&#39;s esophagus. The paresthesia does not allow the patient to control the voluntary muscles controlling the top of the esophagus. As the piece of absorbent material travels down the esophagus, involuntary muscles control the swallowing of the absorbent material. The patient will begin to feel the absorbent material as it travels further down the esophagus. While swallowing a piece of absorbent material may result in some discomfort for the patient, it is not considered dangerous for the patient.  
         [0010]     The fact that dentists do not consider swallowing a piece of absorbent material dangerous contributes greatly to the fact that the vast majority of dentists do not attach retrieval aids to the absorbent material used during oral surgery.  
         [0011]     While it is rare, patients with paresthesia of the mandible, and the resulting suppression of the gag reflex, have aspirated pieces of absorbent material left in the patient&#39;s oral cavity after oral surgery. Fatalities have occurred because a patient accidentally aspirated a piece of absorbent material. A patient who aspirates a piece of absorbent material has virtually no chance of receiving medical attention in time to save their life.  
         [0012]     A piece of absorbent material will travel deep into the patient&#39;s naso-pharynx, similar to when a patient swallows a piece of absorbent material, but the epiglottis will not close the trachea, or airway, and the piece of absorbent material will travel toward the lungs. The piece of absorbent material will become lodged in the trachea at the first branching of the trachea, known as the furcation of the lungs.  
         [0013]     Once a piece of absorbent material is lodged at the furcation of the lungs, the patient cannot breathe. Tragically, death is usually imminent because this chain of events has happened so quickly that the patient is probably not near any type of emergency facility.  
         [0014]     Despite the dire consequences, the possibility of a patient aspirating a piece of absorbent material during the period of recuperation immediately following oral surgery is considered negligible by most dentists. Therefore, the vast majority of dentists performing oral surgery do not attach any type of retrieval aid to absorbent material used during oral surgery.  
         [0015]     Those dentists that do attach a retrieval aid to absorbent material used during oral surgery generally tie a length of dental floss to the absorbent material. The dental floss helps ensure no individual piece of absorbent material is lost, and helps the patient remove all absorbent material remaining after oral surgery. However, the absorbent material becomes distorted and misshapen after the dental floss is tied to it, and it is possible the absorbent material slip out of the dental floss.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     The current invention is amazingly simple. A length of string is attached to a piece of gauze by sewing the string into the gauze. Generally, the gauze is non-woven, rayon/polyester formed gauze ( 8 ). This gauze is a specific type of gauze frequently used by dentists and approved by appropriate dental regulatory authorities. The string is usually durable, nylon string.  
         [0017]     Sewing the string into the gauze ensures the entire piece of gauze will be removed when the string is used to remove the gauze. Also, sewing allows the string to be attached to the gauze without distorting or misshaping the gauze.  
         [0018]     The fact that this invention will be readily available and easy to use may very well lead to this invention being designated as the standard of care for oral surgery. Currently, the vast majority of dentists do not use absorbent material having an aid for retrieval attached thereto. The most common reasons for this are: dentists do not consider a patient aspirating a piece of absorbent material very likely; dentists do not consider a patient swallowing a piece of absorbent material to be dangerous; and dentists do not want to take the time necessary to attach their own means of aiding retrieval to every piece of absorbent material used during oral surgery.  
         [0019]     Although non-woven, rayon/polyester formed gauze ( 8 ) and nylon string are designated here as the principal components of the apparatus, those skilled in the art will recognize that any means aiding retrieval may be attached to any absorbent material suitable for use in oral surgery.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the retrievable gauze apparatus.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the first step in production of the retrievable gauze apparatus, the unfolded sheet of gauze.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the second step in production of the retrievable gauze apparatus, the first fold of the sheet of gauze.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2C  is a perspective view of the third step in production of the retrievable gauze apparatus, the second fold of the sheet of gauze.  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of an individual showing the physical structures associated with use of the retrievable gauze pad. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]     It will be readily understood that the following detailed description of the embodiments of the retrievable gauze apparatus  10 , and the steps for using the retrievable gauze apparatus  10 , is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention.  
         [0026]     1. Structure of the Retrievable Gauze Pad  
         [0027]     The structure of the apparatus  10  is very simple. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the apparatus  10  has two primary components: an absorbent pad  20  (or means for absorbing fluids commonly found during oral surgery) and string  30  (or means for retrieving the means for absorbing fluids commonly found during oral surgery).  
         [0028]     The absorbent pad  20 , or means for absorbing fluids, is generally non-woven, nylon/polyester gauze ( 8 ). This is a specific type of gauze commonly used by dentists and approved for use by dental regulatory authorities. The retrievable gauze pad  10  is designed to be used during oral surgery, therefore, an absorbent pad  20  needs to be composed of absorbent material approved for such use by proper authorities.  
         [0029]     The absorbent pad  20  can be any suitable size or shape. Generally, the absorbent pad  20  is a piece of gauze four (4) inches wide by four (4) inches high which is folded in half twice, resulting in an absorbent pad  20  two (2) inches wide by two (2) inches high. However, a square, rectangular or circular piece of absorbent material would also be suitable. Any size convenient for use during oral surgery is also acceptable.  
         [0030]     The string  30 , or means for retrieving, is generally durable, nylon string. More than one string  30  may be attached to the absorbent pad  20 . The string  30  can be any material suitable for use during oral surgery. The color of the string  30  is generally chosen so as to contrast with the patient and associated fluids present during oral surgery, thus making the string easy to locate and distinguish. As previously mentioned, dental floss could be used as the string  30 . As will be discussed in greater detail, the string  30  must be at least fourteen (14) inches in length.  
         [0031]     The string  30  is generally attached to the absorbent pad  20  by sewing the string  30  into the absorbent pad  20 . As a result of the sewing process, stitching  32  can be seen vertically across the surface of the absorbent pad  20 . A sewing process called backstitching creates an area along the stitching  32 , designated as the backstitch  34 , located near the middle of the stitching  32 . Backstitching helps ensure the string  30  will not become separated from the absorbent pad  20 .  
         [0032]     As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, any suitable process for attaching the sting  30  to the absorbent pad  20  may be used. Sewing and weaving would be examples of means for attaching the string  30  to the absorbent pad  20 .  
         [0033]     2. Production of the Retrievable Gauze Pad  
         [0034]     The first step in producing a retrievable gauze pad  10  is to provide an unfolded sheet of gauze  40 , as shown in  FIG. 2A . The unfolded sheet of gauze  40  will have a top edge  42  and a bottom edge, each approximately four (4) inches. The unfolded sheet of gauze  40  will have a left edge  46  and a right edge  48 , each approximately four (4) inches.  
         [0035]     As shown in  FIG. 2B , the second step in production is to fold the unfolded sheet of gauze  40  basically in half. The first fold  50  may be performed by aligning the top edge  42  with the bottom edge  44 , resulting in a pad of gauze approximately four (4) inches wide and two (2) inches high.  
         [0036]     As shown in  FIG. 2C , the third step in production is to fold the pad of gauze a second time, basically in half. The second fold  52  may be performed by aligning the left edge  46  with the right edge  48 , resulting in a pad of gauze approximately two (2) inches wide and two (2) inches high. All the folding may be done by hand or by machine.  
         [0037]     The string  30  is attached to the folded pad by sewing the string  30  into the folded absorbent pad  20  along the median  54 . The resulting stitching  32  travels vertically along the surface of the absorbent pad  20 . The technique of backstitching is used to ensure the string  30  does not become separated from the absorbent pad  20 , and a backstitch  34  is seen in the approximate middle of the stitching  32 . Additional stitching  32  can be used as desired to more completely secure the string  30  to the absorbent pad  20 .  
         [0038]     The retrievable gauze pad  10  may be mass produced using different techniques. For example, four rolls of two inch wide gauze may be arranged so the four rolls supply each of the four layers of gauze used in a retrievable gauze pad  10 . The two inch wide gauze may be extended and the stitching  32 , including the backstitch  34 , sewn into the four layers of two inch wide gauze at two inch intervals. Then the layers of gauze will be cut between the intervals of stitching  32  resulting in retrievable gauze pads  10  approximately two inches wide by two inches high.  
         [0039]     Generally the retrievable gauze pad  10  is packaged in a manner that allows the user to readily sterilize the retrievable gauze pad  10  prior to use. However, it is possible to sterilize the retrievable gauze pad  10  after production and then deliver the retrievable gauze pad  10  to the user.  
         [0040]     3. Use of the Retrievable Gauze Pad  
         [0041]      FIG. 3  is intended to illustrate use of the retrievable gauze pads  10 . During oral surgery, a patient  58  may have numerous retrievable gauze pads  10  placed in their mouth  60 . The retrievable gauze pads  10  may be placed in numerous positions in the mouth  60 , including without limitation, between the cheek and gums, between the gums and tongue, over teeth, and near the root of the tongue  62 .  
         [0042]     The patient  58  may experience various types of anesthesia prior to and during oral surgery. A topical anesthesia may be used to prepare a patient  58  for anesthesia injections. The use of anesthesia may result in a condition known as temporary paresthesia of the mandible. Paresthesia of the mandible is characterized by numbness of the hard palate  64 , soft palate  66 , and root of the tongue  62 . The gag reflex is located in the root of the tongue  62  and the soft palate  66 . Paresthesia of the mandible causes suppression of the gag reflex.  
         [0043]     A dentist may perform a palatine block of the palatine nerve. When the palatine nerve is numbed, paresthesia of the hard palate  64  and soft palate  66  results. A dentist may also perform a mandibular block of the mandibular nerve, also known as the inferior alveolar nerve. When the mandibular nerve is numbed, paresthesia of the root of the tongue  62  results. During the mandibular block, the lingual nerve is also numbed resulting in the forward part of the tongue being numbed as well.  
         [0044]     As discussed earlier, a patient  58  experiencing oral surgery may have numerous retrievable gauze pads  10  placed in their mouth  60  during oral surgery. The patient  58  may need to leave the retrievable gauze pads  10  in their mouth for several hours after completion of the oral surgery. The retrievable gauze pads  10  may travel, or be forced, into the back of the mouth  60  and swallowed or aspirated by the patient  58 . All of this may occur unnoticed by the patient  58  due to the lingering effects of the paresthesia of the mandible.  
         [0045]     When a patient  58  swallows a retrievable gauze pad  10 , the absorbent pad  20  may travel to the back of the mouth  60 . The epiglottis  68  may close the opening to the trachea  72 , forcing the absorbent pad  20  into the esophagus  70 . As the absorbent pad  20  begins to travel down the esophagus  70 , involuntary muscles will eventually control the progress of the absorbent pad  20  down the esophagus  70 . As the absorbent pad  20  enters and travels down the esophagus  70 , the patient  58  may feel the absorbent pad being swallowed. The patient may be able to pull the string  30  attached to the absorbent pad  20 , thereby removing the absorbent pad  20  from the esophagus  70 . The patient  58  may also be able to choke or cough and hold the absorbent pad  20  in place long enough to locate the string  30  attached to the absorbent pad  20 , and then remove the absorbent pad  20  from the esophagus  70 .  
         [0046]     If the patient  58  swallows the retrievable gauze pad  10 , while an uncomfortable experience, generally, no physical danger will result. However, the retrievable gauze pad  10  may become lodged in the digestive tract, causing serious physical danger. For example, the circular esophageal muscle may spasm causing the retrievable gauze pad  10  to be lodged in the esophagus  70 , especially in elderly patients.  
         [0047]     When the patient  58  aspirates a retrievable gauze pad  10 , the absorbent pad  20  may travel to the back of the mouth  60 . The epiglottis  68  may remain over the opening to the esophagus  70 , allowing the absorbent pad  20  into the trachea  72 . As the absorbent pad  20  begins to travel down the trachea  72  toward the lungs  76 , it reaches the first branching of the trachea  72 , the furcation  74  of the lungs  76 . Generally, the furcation  74  of the lungs  76  is located approximately twelve (12) inches from the opening of the mouth  60 . As the absorbent pad  20  becomes lodged in the trachea  72  at the furcation  74  of the lungs  76 , the end of the string  30  will remain outside the mouth  60 , allowing the patient  58  to pull the string  30  attached to the absorbent pad  20 , thereby removing the absorbent pad  20  from the furcation  74  of the lungs  76 . Removing the absorbent pad  20  from the furcation  74  of the lungs  76  will open the trachea  72  and allow the patient  58  to breathe.  
         [0048]     If an absorbent pad  20  is aspirated by a patient  58 , that patient  58  will be unable to breathe, and the patient will likely die in a short amount of time. Obviously, the removal of an absorbent pad  20  lodged in the trachea  72  at the furcation  74  of the lungs  76  will likely save the life of the patient  58 .  
         [0049]     What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States letters patent is: