Patent Publication Number: US-6908308-B2

Title: Intraoral device and method of using the same

Description:
This is a continuation of prior U.S. application Ser. 10/006,732, filed Nov. 15, 2001, now U.S. Pat. 6,575,746, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/777,491, filed Feb. 5, 2001, now U.S. Pat. 6,338,627, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/490,923, filed on Jan. 25, 2000, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/193,916, filed on Nov. 17, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,214, all of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates, in general, to dental appliances, and, in particular, to dental appliances for illuminating the mouth of a dental patient for examination and/or operative purposes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Illuminating the interior of a dental patient&#39;s mouth during dental examination and/or operation is difficult because the patient&#39;s mouth must be illuminated through a narrow opening, i.e., the patient&#39;s mouth, and the dentist must work in close proximity to the mouth, often blocking the light source. Proper illumination is essential for dental examination and/or operation. 
     The oral cavity is typically illuminated by a focused light source mounted approximately two to three feet above a dental chair that the patient rests on. The light source is configured to direct light onto and into the patient&#39;s mouth. The amount of light entering the oral cavity using this type of lighting is somewhat limited due to the fact that the light source is remote from the patient&#39;s mouth. Additionally, the dentist or oral surgeon must often position oneself or his or her instruments between the light source and the patient&#39;s mouth to properly view the patient&#39;s mouth, blocking light from entering the mouth. The blocking of light casts an effective shadow in the patient&#39;s mouth or in areas of the patient&#39;s mouth such as certain teeth. 
     In order to inhibit this blocking or shadowing, fiber optic lighting has been incorporated into handheld dental instruments. Typically, one or two fiber optic strands extend longitudinally along the instrument and include a light outlet end configured to direct light towards the end of the instrument. However, this type of lighting has a number of drawbacks. Light is only directed on a limited area in the mouth and does not provide illumination for the entire oral cavity. Additionally, the presence of this type of lighting, typically as an add-on feature on the instrument interferes with the comfortable and proper use of the instrument. The fiber optic bundles also degrade over time because the fiber optics and instrument go through autoclaving numerous times. Components of the instrument, e.g., turbines, may be easily changed once degraded, but the fiber optic bundles can not. 
     Other devices have been designed specifically for illuminating a patient&#39;s teeth, but these devices suffer from any or all of the following drawbacks: inadequate illumination of the patient&#39;s teeth, and interference with other dental instruments used during the examination and/or operation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention involves an intraoral illumination device for illuminating the interior cavity of a patient&#39;s mouth during a medical procedure that eliminates the problems with shadowing mentioned above. The illumination device includes a bite block adapted to be engaged by a patient&#39;s teeth for resting the patient&#39;s jaw during the medical procedure and fixing the device within the patient&#39;s mouth. An arcuate light dispersion piece is connected to the bite block so that, in use, the light dispersion piece is orientated in a rear, central part of the interior cavity of the patient&#39;s mouth so that dispersed light can be transmitted outward from the rear, central part of the oral cavity. A tongue and cheek retractor is adapted to retract and protect the patient&#39;s tongue and adjacent cheek tissue during the medical procedure. Multiple fluid evacuation channels are carried by the device and are adapted to communicate with the interior cavity of the patient&#39;s mouth for removing fluids from the oral cavity during the medical procedure. 
     Other, more particular features and advantages of the inventions are set forth in the following detailed description and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings illustrate both the design and utility of preferred embodiments of the present invention, in which similar elements are referred to by common reference numbers, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the intraoral illumination device of the present invention shown inside a patient&#39;s mouth; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the components of the intraoral illumination device illustrated in  FIG. 1  in a disassembled state; 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the intraoral illumination device illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the intraoral illumination device illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the intraoral illumination device illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of the intraoral illumination device illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an end view of the intraoral illumination device illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  are cross-sectional views of the intraoral illumination device illustrated in FIG.  1  and illustrate the evacuation of fluids through the evacuation system of the device; 
         FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of an alternative preferred embodiment of the intraoral illumination device; 
         FIG. 10  is a rear perspective view of the intraoral illumination device illustrated in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11   a  is a partial perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an integrated light carrier and vacuum tube connector; 
         FIG. 11   b  is a partial perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an integrated light carrier and vacuum tube that the integrated light carrier and vacuum tube connector illustrated in  FIG. 11  may be connected with; 
         FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of an alternative preferred embodiment of the intraoral illumination device and shows the intraoral illumination device in conjunction with a preferred embodiment of a multi-lumen tube; 
         FIG. 13  is a rear, top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a light dispersion piece that may be used with the intraoral illumination device illustrated in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a cross sectional view of a connection section of the intraoral illumination device and an end portion of the multi-lumen tube; 
         FIG. 15  is a cross sectional view of the multi-lumen tube taken along lines  15 — 15  of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a transition mechanism that may be used to transition a separate light carrier and vacuum tube into the single multi-lumen tube; and 
         FIG. 17  is perspective view of an embodiment of a connector that may be used to couple the transition mechanism to the multi-lumen tube. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a preferred embodiment of an intraoral illumination device, indicated generally by the reference numeral  20 , will now be described. The intraoral illumination device  20  generally includes a tongue and cheek retractor  22 , a dispersion piece  24 , and a bite block or piece  26 . The tongue and cheek retractor  22  is a disposable piece, and the dispersion piece  24  and bite piece are sterilizable for reuse. The dispersion piece  24  is coupled to a light carrier such as a fiber optic bundle  28  and extraoral light source  30  for illuminating the dispersion piece  24 . A fluid evacuation tube  32  is in communication with the bite block  26  and a fluid evacuation system  34  of the device  20  for evacuating fluids from a patient&#39;s mouth  36 . 
     The intraoral illumination device  20  will now be described generally in use. The patient opens his or her mouth  36  and a health care provider inserts the device  20  into an intraoral cavity  38  of the patient&#39;s mouth  36  between the patient&#39;s upper jaw  40  and lower jaw  42 . The patient rests his or her jaws  40 ,  42  during the process to be performed by gently biting on the bite block  26  with his or her rear teeth  44 . To help isolate the area of the mouth  36  being worked on and protect the patient&#39;s mouth from being injured by the dental tools, the tongue and cheek retractor  22  urges the patient&#39;s cheek and tongue away from the area of isolation. Fluids produced in the patient&#39;s mouth  36  during the process are removed through the fluid evacuation system  34  of the device  20  and vacuum tube  32 . Light transmitted through the light carrier  28  to the dispersion piece  24  is dispersed outward from the dispersion piece  24 , towards the front of the patient&#39;s mouth, from a rear, central part of the intraoral cavity  38  flooding the patient&#39;s mouth with light. Illuminating the area of interest in the patient&#39;s mouth in this manner eliminates the aforementioned problems with blocked light or shadowing. 
     Although this invention has been described in connection with illuminating, isolating, and removing fluids from a patient&#39;s mouth for dentistry, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art how the present invention may have other mouth-related applications where illumination in the mouth is required other than dentistry such as, but not by way of limitation, oral surgery. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-7 , each of the components of the device  20  will now be described. 
     The tongue and cheek retractor  22  is made of a single molded piece of soft, flexible, biocompatible material such as Pebax, santoprene, or a molded vinyl material. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that other soft, flexible materials could be used. The tongue and cheek retractor  22  is preferably produced by a gas-assist injection molding process in order to produce the internal vacuum channels described below. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that other molding processes such as an injection molding process could also be used. As discussed in more detail below, the tongue and cheek retractor  22  may be a separate piece that can be easily added to or removed from the dispersion piece  26 . The tongue and cheek retractor  22  also may come in two different main configurations, depending on the side of the mouth being examined and/or operated on, i.e., left side, right side, and different sizes for different size and shaped mouths. The retractor  22  has an inner surface  46  and an outer surface  48 . The retractor  22  includes a curved main body portion  50  and a cheek retractor portion  52 . 
     The main body portion  50  includes an upper roof portion  54  configured to rest against the roof of the patient&#39;s mouth  36  during use and a lower tongue retractor portion  56  to keep the tongue protected and retracted. The lower tongue retractor portion  56  helps to isolate the area of interest in the mouth  36  and protect the tongue from instruments such as dental drills during the dental procedure. The tongue retractor portion  56  includes internal evacuation channels  58 . Evacuation holes  60  on both the inner surface  46  and outer surface  48  of the tongue retractor portion  56  communicate with the evacuation channels  58 . The evacuation channels  58  terminate at an upper part of the tongue retractor portion  56  at a main receiving channel  62 . The main receiving channel  62  includes a lip  64  for slidably receiving the dispersion piece  24 . A pair of shallow evacuation channels  66  extend along a portion of the main receiving channel  62 . Evacuation holes  66  allow communication of the evacuation channels  58  with the outer surface  48  of the retractor  22 . 
     The cheek retractor portion  52  has a curved, fish-tail shape and includes a pair of evacuation channels  68  exposed to the outer surface  48  of the retractor  22  that communicate with the evacuation channels  66 . The cheek retractor portion  52  protects adjacent cheek tissue during the dental procedure and helps to isolate the area of interest of the mouth  36  during the dental procedure by retracting the cheek tissue. 
     The dispersion piece  24  is an illumination member and is preferably made of a single, injection-molded piece of light-dispersive, biocompatible, sterilizable material. The dispersion piece  24  may be made of a rigid material such as acrylic or a flexible material such as a molded flexible urethane. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that other clear, flexible or rigid materials may be used. The dispersion piece  24  preferably has an arcuate, semi-circular shape and includes a generally U-shaped dispersion lens  70 , a fluid evacuation portion  72 , and a pivot portion  74 . 
     The dispersion lens  70  includes a flange  76  that is slidably received by the lip  64  of the main receiving channel  62  for attaching the dispersion piece  24  to the tongue and cheek retractor  22 . The dispersion lens  70  may have a composition that is varied, e.g., graduated, to control the amount of dispersion in different areas of the lens  70  and evenly distribute the overall lumination. This helps prevent “hot spots” in the dispersion lens  70 , i.e., areas of the lens  70  that emit a greater concentration of light. These “hot spots” make it difficult to for the health care provider to observe the patient&#39;s mouth. For example, in the area where the fiber optic bundle  28  connects with the dispersion lens  70 , there may be a less textured composition to inhibit the breaking up of internal reflections, and a progressively more textured composition as one approaches the opposite end of the lens  70 . It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the tongue and cheek retractor  22  or other covering may have a similar varied composition to control dispersion of light in a similar manner. The dispersion lens  70  optically communicates with the light carrier  28  through a stem  78  and a separate connector  79 . The light carrier  28  is preferably adapted to be directly connected to a commercially available illumination source as those found in most dentist offices or adapted to be connected to such sources through a connector or transition mechanism (not shown). Alternatively, the stem  78  and connector  79  may be a single integrated molded piece. The stem  78  serves as a light coupling between the light carrier  28  and dispersion lens  70 . 
     In use, light shines outward from the lens  70  and is scattered by the lens  70  to illuminate the patient&#39;s mouth  36 . When in place, the configuration of the device  20  causes light to be transmitted by the dispersion lens  70  from a central, rear part of the intraoral cavity, substantially between the patient&#39;s rear teeth  44 . The U-shaped dispersion lens  70  has a generally 180° arcuate shape. This generally 180° arcuate shape and the dispersional qualities of the lens  24  spreads the total area of illumination. Illuminating the mouth from the central, rear part of the intraoral cavity and the above-described attributes of the lens  24  eliminates shadows caused by a single-point light source, and shadows caused by the health care provider or equipment used by the health care provider. The intraoral illumination device  20  may replace or be used with dental instruments including fiber optic lighting. 
     The fluid evacuation portion  72  includes a first main evacuation channel  80  and a second main evacuation channel  82  for evacuating fluids from the device  20 . 
     The pivot portion  74  includes a first well  84  and a second well  86  that respectively communicate with the first and second main evacuation channels  80 ,  82 . A first recess  88  and second recess  90  are used to further communicate the wells  84 ,  86  with the fluid evacuation tube  32  in a manner to be described. Respective pivot pins  92  extend from each well  84 ,  86 . 
     The bite block  26  is made of a single piece of biocompatible, sterilizable material such as rubber. The bite block  26  may be formed by a compression molding process, a transfer molding process, a casting process, an injection molding process, or similar process. The bite block  26  includes ribs  94  and ridges  96  along opposite faces  98  of the bite block  26 . The ribs  94  and ridges  96  help to prevent the bite block  26  from slipping between the molar and bicuspid teeth  44  of the patient. When held or engaged between the patient&#39;s teeth, the bite block  26  functions to hold the dispersion lens  70  in a rear, central part of the interior cavity of the patient&#39;s mouth so that light can be transmitted outward therefrom for illuminating the interior cavity. 
     A pivot portion  100  of the bite block  26  includes opposite receiving grooves  102 . The receiving grooves  102  receive the pivot pins  92  of the dispersion lens  70  for pivotally connecting the dispersion piece  24  and tongue and cheek retractor  22  to the bite block  26 . This pivoting ability allows the health care provider to adjust, i.e., swivel, the dispersion piece  24  and tongue and cheek retractor  22  to accommodate patients with different arch widths. 
     The intraoral illumination device  20  may also come in different sizes and to accommodate different mouth sizes and shapes. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the device ( FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  12 ), the dispersion piece  24  and bite piece  26  are not pivotally connected to each other, i.e., the connection is fixed. If the connection is fixed, it is especially important to provide the intraoral illumination device  20  in different configurations and sizes to accommodate the different mouth sizes and shapes. Likewise, if the device ( FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  12 ) is disposable it is important to provide the device in different configurations and sizes to accommodate the different mouth sizes and shapes. Likewise, if the device ( FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  12 ) is disposable it is important to provide the device in different configurations and sizes to accommodate the different mouth sizes and shapes. 
     The bite block  26  includes an internal evacuation channel  104  in communication with the first and second main evacuation channels  80 ,  82  through the first and second recesses  88 ,  90 , respectively, for evacuation fluids from the patient&#39;s mouth  36  during the procedure. The recesses  88 ,  90  are sized to allow constant sealed communication of the internal evacuation channel  104  with the main evacuation channels  80 ,  82 , regardless of the pivoted position or articulation of the dispersion piece  24  and tongue and cheek retractor  22 . External evacuation channels  106  are located on the outside of the bite block  26  and are in communication with the internal evacuation channel  104  for further removal of fluids from the mouth  36 . Fluids are vacuumed from the internal evacuation channel  104  of the bite block  26  through an exit port  108 . 
     During use, the patient rests his or her jaws  40 ,  42  on the faces  98  of the bite block  26 , eliminating the need to strain one&#39;s jaw muscles to keep the mouth open. This resting of the jaws  40 ,  42  causes the bite block  26  to hold the dispersion piece  24  and tongue and cheek retractor  22  in the rear, central part of the oral cavity. The bite block  26  also serves as an evacuation exit for fluids and as a means for positioning and holding the dispersion piece  24  and tongue and cheek retractor  22  in the oral cavity. 
     Before inserting the intraoral illumination device  20  in the patient&#39;s mouth  36 , the heath care provider ensures that the intraoral illumination device  20  is configured for examining and/or operating on the specific area of the patient&#39;s mouth of interest, i.e., right side, left side. If the device  20  includes a replaceable tongue and cheek retractor  22 , the tongue and cheek retractor  22  used with the device  20  should be the proper configuration and size for the area of the patient&#39;s mouth of interest. A tongue and cheek retractor  22  specific to the size and area of the mouth of interest is added to the dispersion piece  24  by sliding the flange  76  of the dispersion lens  70  into the main receiving channel  62  of the tongue and cheek retractor  22 . Alternatively, if the device is disposable ( FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  12 ), a device specific to the size and area of the mouth of interest is used. The device is then inserted into the patient&#39;s mouth  36  in the manner described above. If the provider desires to examine the opposite side of the patient&#39;s mouth  36 , the health care provider removes the device  20  from the patient&#39;s mouth, removes the tongue and cheek retractor  22  from the dispersion piece  24  by sliding the retractor  22  off of the flange  76 , flips the bite block  26  and dispersion piece  24 , which are common for both sides of the mouth  36 , adds a new tongue and cheek retractor  22  configured for use with the opposite side of the mouth  36 , and places the device  20  back into the patient&#39;s mouth  36  so that bite block  26  resides in the opposite side of the patient&#39;s mouth  36 . Alternatively, if the device is disposable, the health care provider must ensure that a device adapted for use with the size and side of the mouth being examined is used. After use of the intraoral illumination device  20 , the tongue and cheek retractor  22  is disposed and the bite piece  26  and dispersion piece  24  are autoclaved or sterilized by a similar method. If a disposable intraoral illumination device is used, the device is simply disposed of in a proper biohazardous receptacle. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the fluid evacuation system  34  of the intraoral illumination device  20  will now be described in greater detail. During dental examination and/or operation, a number of fluids, e.g., saliva from the parotid gland, blood, water from the dental equipment, are produced in the patient&#39;s mouth  36 . It is important to remove these fluids for the comfort of the patient, to prevent fluids and material from being aspirated into the throat or lungs of the patient, and to assist the health care provider in observing and/or operating within the patient&#39;s mouth  36 . The fluid evacuation system  34  removes fluids from all areas of the mouth, e.g., operating side, vestibule area on the operation side, the lingual vestibule (along the side of the tongue), contra-lateral side vestibule, eliminating the need for constant patient mouth rinsing and the need for a dental assistant to aspirate debris. 
     The fluid evacuation system  34  is comprised of the aforementioned evacuation channels and holes located in fluid evacuation members such as the tongue and cheek retractor  22 , dispersion piece  24 , and bite block  26 . As used herein, the term “fluid evacuation member” refers to a piece that includes one or more evacuation channels for removing fluids from the patient&#39;s mouth. For example, as illustrated in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , fluid is drawn from the tongue area through the evacuation holes  60  and evacuation channels  58  in the tongue retractor portion  56 . This fluid is further drawn through the second main evacuation channel  82  of the dispersion piece  24 , and the bite block  26 , and out the vacuum tube  32 . The suction drawing the fluids and debris out the vacuum tube  32  is provided by a vacuum source  110  (FIG.  1 ). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , an intraoral illumination device  112  constructed in accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described. Elements of the intraoral illumination device  112  similar to those described above with respect to the intraoral illumination device  20  are referred to by common reference numbers, but with an “a” suffix, e.g., dispersion piece  24   a.  The intraoral illumination device  112  is similar to the intraoral illumination device described above, except it is adapted for use as a disposable unit, eliminating the need for sterilization and the associated costs and spread-of-disease risks. The device  112  includes an integrated bite block and light carrier/fluid evacuation tube connector  114 . The connector  114  is an over-molded piece, has a bi-lumen configuration, and is configured to extend significantly outside of the mouth of the patient where it connects with a combined bi-lumen light carrier and vacuum tube  116 . Because this connection between the connector  114  and combined light carrier and vacuum tube  116  is substantially outside of the patient&#39;s mouth, the combined light carrier and vacuum tube  116  can be re-used, i.e., does not have to be disposable and does not need to be autoclaved, avoiding degradation, especially of the light carrier, e.g., fiber optic bundle. As discussed above, the bite block  26   a  and dispersion piece  24   a  may be fixed relative to each other. Alternatively, as discussed above, the dispersion piece  24   a  may be pivotally connected to the bite block  26   a  in order to accommodate different size arch widths. Regardless, the bite block  26   a,  dispersion piece  24   a,  and tongue and cheek retractor  22   a  together form a single, integrated disposable piece. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 11A and 11B , an alternative embodiment of an integrated bite block and light carrier/fluid evacuation connector  118  and combined light carrier and vacuum tube  120  are shown. In this embodiment, the light carrier portions and fluid evacuation portions are coaxially aligned. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , an intraoral illumination device  122  constructed in accordance with an additional preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described. Elements of the intraoral illumination device  122  similar to those described above with respect to the intraoral illumination devices  20 ,  112  are referred to by common reference numbers, and with a “b” suffix. Similar to the intraoral illumination device  112  described above, the intraoral illumination device  122  is adapted for use as a disposable unit, eliminating the need for autoclaving and the associated costs and spread-of-disease risks. The device  112  preferably has a two-piece, integrated construction. The device includes a dispersion piece  124  surrounded by a tongue and cheek retractor  126 . 
     The dispersion piece  124  is preferably made of single, rigid, light-dispersive material such as acrylic or a flexible material such as a molded flexible urethane. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that other clear, flexible or rigid materials may be used. The dispersion piece  124  has an arcuate, light-dispersing section  128 , a bite block section  130 , and an optical connection section  132 . The light-dispersing section  128  is received within a main receiving channel  134  of the tongue and cheek retractor  126 . The light-dispersing section  128  may have a composition that is varied, e.g., graduated, to control the amount of dispersion in different areas of this section  128  and evenly distribute the overall rumination. The bite block section  130  includes a generally rigid support structure for the bite block. The optical connection section  132  is configured to optically connect the light-dispersing section  128  to the light source through a light carrier such as a fiber optic bundle. 
     The tongue and cheek retractor  126  includes a main body section  50   b,  a cheek retractor portion  52   b,  an upper roof portion  54   b,  and a tongue retractor portion  56   b.  Fluid evacuation channels (not shown) within the tongue and cheek retractor  126  communicate with the outside of the tongue and cheek retractor (such as through evacuation holes  60   b ) to remove fluids from the patient&#39;s mouth. The fluid evacuation channels communicate with the main evacuation channel  134 . The tongue and cheek retractor  126  includes a bite block  136  and a connection section  138 . The connection section  138  is configured to extend outside of a patient&#39;s mouth and attach to a multi-lumen tube  140 . The connection section  138  includes a retention barb  142 . The connection section  138  also houses a pair of fluid evacuation channels  144  and the optical connection section  132 . 
     The multi-lumen tube  140  includes fluid evacuation lumens  146  in order to communicate the fluid evacuation system in the device  122  with a vacuum source and a light carrier  148  in order to optically couple the dispersion piece  124  with a light source. The multi-lumen tube  140  includes a connector  150  for attaching the intraoral illumination device to the multi-lumen tube  140 . A slot  152  in the connector  150  is configured to receive and retain the retention barb  142  when the connection section  138  is fully engaged with the multi-lumen tube  140 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 16 , an embodiment of a transition mechanism  154  to transition a pre-existing light carrier  156  and a vacuum tube  158  at the health care provider&#39;s into the single, multi-lumen tube  140  is shown. The transition mechanism  154  includes the appropriate connections for attachment to pre-existing light carriers  156  and vacuum tubes  158  or may include separate connectors for interfacing between light carriers  156  and vacuum tubes  158  and the transition mechanism  154 . In an alternative pre-embodiment, the transition mechanism  154  may include a light source and/or a vacuum source, eliminating the need to connect with a light carrier  156  and/or vacuum tube  158 . With reference to  FIG. 17 , a special connector  160  may interface between the transition mechanism  154  and the multi-lumen tube  140  to further transition the transition mechanism  154  into the multi-lumen tube  140 . However, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art how transitioning devices such as the special connector  160  may be located within the transition mechanism  154 , eliminating the need for a special connector. 
     Together, the intraoral illumination device  122 , multi-lumen tube  140 , transition mechanism  154 , and light source form an intraoral illumination system and the intraoral illumination device  122  in conjunction with one or more of the following form an intraoral illumination kit: the multi-lumen tube  140 , the transition mechanism  154 , the light source, the vacuum source, the special connector  160 , and separate connector(s) for attaching light carrier  156  and/or vacuum tube  158  to the transition mechanism  154   
     The method of manufacturing the intraoral illumination device will now be described. The intraoral illumination device is manufactured in a two-step process known as multi-shot injection molding. The acrylic dispersion piece  124  is molded first in a two-piece mold including a first mold having a first mold cavity and a second mold having a second mold cavity, and, then, the second mold is removed. The second mold is replaced by a third mold having a third mold cavity that has the details of the tongue and cheek retractor  126 . Next, rubber is injected over the dispersion piece  124  to form the tongue and cheek retractor  126 . A gas-assist injection molding process is then used to produce the fluid evacuation channels and cavities within the tongue and cheek retractor  126 . Fluid evacuation holes are created in various locations of the tongue and cheek retractor  126  to provide specific area suction within a patient&#39;s mouth. The fluid evacuation holes may be created by a laser cutting process, or similar cutting process. 
     The multi-lumen tube  140  is extruded with the light tube  148  enclosed within the tube  140 . The light tube  148  is made from a semi-flexible, solid-core plastic, optical material such as a fiber optic bundle and is covered with a cladding such as Teflon before extrusion. With reference to  FIG. 15 , the multi-lumen tube  140  is extruded so as to have an elliptical shape with the light tube  148  in the center. The tube  140  is extruded so that a portion of the light tube  148  extends beyond the distal end of the multi-lumen tube  140 . After extrusion, the multi-lumen tube  140  is over-molded with a custom connector  150 . Alternatively, the connector  150  may be a separate piece made of a material such as stainless steel and fixed to the end of the tube  140 . The connector  150  is configured to inhibit leakage and ensure a tight connection with the connection section  138  of the intraoral illumination device  122 . 
     Thus, the intraoral illumination device of the present invention eliminates the problem of shadowing resulting from an overhead light sources, single-point light sources, or other illumination sources of the past by transmitting dispersed light outwards from a rear, central part of the intraoral cavity, generally between the patient&#39;s rear teeth. The generally 180° arc of the dispersion piece spreads the area of illumination, eliminating shadows caused from a single point light source. The fluid evacuation system of the device vacuums oral fluids, water delivered by a dental handpiece, and debris. The fluid evacuation system prevents these fluids and debris from being aspirated or swallowed down the throat of the patient, improves the comfort of the patient, eliminates the need of the patient to continually rinse his or her mouth, and reduces the amount of spray emitted from the patient&#39;s mouth. The tongue and cheek retractor retracts and protects the cheek and tongue of the patient, helping to reduce interference between these parts of the mouth and the procedure. The bite block allows the patient to rest the muscles of mastication, eliminating the need to strain to keep his or her mouth open. Because the device simultaneously removes fluids and debris, isolates the area of interest in the mouth, and illuminates the area of interest, the time of the procedure and the need for an assistant is greatly reduced. 
     Although this invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art are also within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is intended to be defined only by the claims that follow.