Patent Abstract:
the invention relates to a dental chair side wastewater collection system for dental - unit wastewater for sample analysis or collection and management of dental - unit wastewater hazardous materials . the system is small enough to be installed chair side to permit collection of an entire days wastewater or wastewater from a single patient for immediate disposal or for sample collection . collected wastewater can then be easily emptied and stored elsewhere until disposed .

Detailed Description:
the invention contemplates a simple dental wastewater collection system intended for placement in - line with an existing high vacuum evacuation ( hve ) suction line in dental units that is capable of collecting wastewater and dental waste particulate matter . the inventive apparatus is capable of collecting dental waste , chair side , without waste flowing from the apparatus into the vacuum line and drainage system . an example of the inventive apparatus is illustrated in fig1 and 3 . the apparatus contains a container ( 1 ) capable of holding dental evacuation wastewater and dental - waste particulate matter . the container is of suitable size for holding an adequate volume of waste from a dental patient or multiple dental patients . a preferred size is 1 - 2 liters in size . however , any size container be used . the container is constructed of any number of materials , including metal , glass or plastic . the container , containing an inside portion , and outside portion and an upper and bottom portion and lid ( 3 ) connected to upper portion . the container ( 1 ) contains a gasket ( 21 ) around the inside of the lid in order to permit a tight seal and maintenance of pressure until released . the container also contains a pressure release value ( 23 ) to permit easy disconnect from the vacuum tube ( 19 ) to permit transport and emptying of contents or the re - attachment of a replacement container . connected and protruding through the lid ( 3 ) and into the container ( 1 ) is an inlet apparatus ( 5 ). the inlet apparatus contains an inside ( 7 ) and outside portion ( 9 ). the inside portion ( 7 ) of the inlet apparatus ( 5 ) is disposed lengthwise through the inlet apparatus and is operationally connected to an inlet line ( 11 ) from the patient . the outside portion ( 9 ) of the inlet apparatus forms a space ( 13 ) between the inside portion ( 7 ) and the outside portion ( 9 ). the space ( 13 ) protrudes into the container ( 1 ) such that the inlet apparatus space ( 13 ) contains an opening ( 15 ) exposed to the inside of the container ( 1 ). the space ( 13 ) is also operationally connected to a vacuum line operationally connected to a vacuum source ( 17 ) via a vacuum tube ( 19 ). the inside portion ( 7 ) also protrudes into the container ( 1 ) such that wastewater and dental - waste particulate matter is permitted to pass from the patient and into the container ( 1 ). the distance of said protrusion of the inside portion ( 7 ) of the inlet apparatus ( 5 ) into the container must be sufficiently far such that matter flowing out of the inlet portion ( 7 ) is not sucked into the opening ( 15 ) of said inlet apparatus space ( 13 ) and ultimately into the vacuum tube ( 19 ). the distance of the protrusion of the inlet portion ( 7 ) into the container is dependent on the distance that the inlet apparatus space ( 13 ) protrudes into the container ( 1 ) and the strength of the vacuum supplied to the container ( 1 ) via the vacuum tube ( 19 ). the inlet apparatus can be made of any material including glass , metal or plastic . the representation of each element is diagrammatic . the figures illustrate relative relationships of each of the elements to one another and are general rather than actual . the figures are not representative of precise ratios of dimensions . however , while size ( height and circumference ) is to some extent variable with respect to desired volume , placement on or next to the dental chair or even dental unit , the total volume of air capacity within the invention must be sufficient suction and flow rate to permit movement of material through the tubes . placement of the device is primarily intended to be next to the dental chair . however , the device can be placed anywhere as long as sufficient suction is provided by the hve . removal and collection of dental wastewater and particulate matter can be achieved by drawing dental waste , as a liquid slurry , from the patient into the above described apparatus . particulate matter and liquid is deposited , by gravity , into the container ( 1 ) of fig1 and 2 . vacuum to the container is maintained by a vacuum line supplied to the opening to the container in the inlet apparatus ( 15 ) by the vacuum pump ( 17 ) via the vacuum tube ( 19 ). the contents of a nearly full container ( 1 ) is either emptied into another container for storage or transport to a treatment facility or the container ( 1 ) replaced with a new container . detachment of the full container is accomplished by first releasing the vacuum via the pressure release value ( 23 ) and removing the lid ( 3 ). liquid and / or particulate matter samples , such as dental amalgam or mercury , can be collected from the container following dental procedures . samples , containing both particulate matter and liquid can be collected directly as described above . however , samples containing only particulate matter or liquid without large particulate matter can also be collected by first allowing the particulate matter , such as dental amalgam , to settle to the bottom of the container ( 1 ). after the particulate matter has settled to the bottom , the liquid wastewater is either poured or aspirated off the underlying particulate matter . the liquid can then be collected and stored for clinical use or , alternatively , deposited in another container for disposal as dental - 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