Abstract:
A dental suction adapter can include a first tube including a tapered portion and a presenting end, the presenting end being configured to fluidly engage an interior of a mouth, and a second tube including a transition tube connected to the tapered portion of the first tube and a connection taper extending from the transition tube opposite the first tube, the connection taper being configured to be connected to an end of an aspirator tube, wherein the adapter is configured to increase a velocity of air at the presenting end compared to a velocity of the fluid at the aspirator tube.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/794,243, filed Mar. 15, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to aspirators, and more particularly, to a breakaway adapter connected to an aspirator tube and configured to increase velocity of an airflow delivery to the aspirator tube. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     During the process of various dental activities, there is a need for high-speed suction and surgical suction aids. Typical dental surgical suction devices use two (2) hoses to provide such capabilities. Of course such devices are more costly than those that utilize only one (1) suction hose. However, those who use only single hose devices are burdened with having to change the hose connections between high-speed suction and surgical suction connectors. This process translates directly into lost time, reduced productivity, and increased costs. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which a single hose dental suction device can be quickly changed from a high-speed suction connection to a surgical suction connection, without the disadvantages as described above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for a device configured to be utilized with a dental suction device to effectively adjust (e.g., increase) the velocity of an airflow delivery to the aspirator tube. The development of the present invention, which will be described in greater detail herein, substantially departs from conventional solutions to provide a dental suction adapter and in doing so fulfills this need. 
     In one (1) embodiment, the disclosed dental suction adapter can include a first tube being configured to fluidly engage an area, and a second tube connected to the first tube, the second tube being configured to connect to a pneumatic tube, wherein the adapter is configured to increase a velocity of a fluid at the first tube compared to a velocity of the fluid at the pneumatic tube. 
     In another embodiment, the disclosed dental suction adapter can include a first tube including a tapered portion and a presenting end, the presenting end being configured to fluidly engage an interior of a mouth, and a second tube including a transition tube connected to the tapered portion of the first tube and a connection taper extending from the transition tube opposite the first tube, the connection taper being configured to be connected to an end of an aspirator tube, wherein the adapter is configured to increase a velocity of air at the presenting end compared to a velocity of the fluid at the aspirator tube. 
     Furthermore, the described features and advantages of the disclosed dental suction adapter can be combined in various manners and embodiments as one skilled in the relevant art will recognize after reading the present disclosure. The disclosure can be practiced without one (1) or more of the features and advantages described in any particular embodiment. 
     Further advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an elevation view of a dental suction adapter  10  in accordance to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   a  is an elevation view of the dental suction adapter  10  inserted into an aspirator tube  100  in accordance to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   b  is a top view of the dental suction adapter  10  inserted into an aspirator tube  100  in accordance to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 3  is a section view along line A-A as seen in  FIG. 2   b  of the dental suction adapter  10  in accordance to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  dental suction adapter 
               20  first tube 
               21  presenting end 
               22  straight bore channel 
               23  tube wall 
               24  first taper 
               25  tapered bore channel 
               26  snapping point 
               28  nexus 
               30  second tube 
               31  disposition angle 
               32  tube interface 
               33  transition tube 
               34  collar 
               35  connection taper 
               36  bore termination 
               38  final bore 
               100  aspirator tube 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In accordance with the invention, the best mode is presented in terms of the described embodiments, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 3 . However, the disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the disclosure and that any such work around will also fall under its scope. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure, and only certain configurations have been shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     It can be appreciated that, although such terms as first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one (1) element from another element. Thus, a first element discussed below could be termed a second element without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, as used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It also will be understood that, as used herein, the term “comprising” or “comprises” is open-ended, and includes one (1) or more stated elements, steps or functions without precluding one (1) or more unstated elements, steps or functions. Relative terms such as “front” or “rear” or “left” or “right” or “top” or “bottom” or “below” or “above” or “upper” or “lower” or “horizontal” or “vertical” may be used herein to describe a relationship of one (1) element, feature or region to another element, feature or region as illustrated in the figures. It should be understood that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. It should also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. It should also be understood that the sizes and relative orientations of the illustrated elements are not shown to scale, and in some instances they have been exaggerated for purposes of explanation. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , disclosing a dental suction adapter (herein referred to as the “device”)  10 , where like reference numerals represent similar or like parts. The device  10  is configured to quickly increase the velocity of air entering an aspirator tube  100  without changing to another aspirator tube  100  with a smaller diameter. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the velocity of a fluid, at any given flow rate, through any channel is inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area of that channel. The force that moving air is able to exert on any object (e.g., a collection of fluids in a patient&#39;s oral cavity) is directly proportional to the square of the velocity of the air. Therefore, increasing the velocity of the air entering the aspirator tube  100  has a significant effect on the size of the particle that can be carried in the airflow or the ease with which a particle can be carried. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the device  10  can include a first tube  20  and a second tube  30 . The first tube  20  can be disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the second tube  30 . For example, the non-zero angle  31  can be between approximately one hundred forty degrees (140°) and one hundred sixty-five degrees (165°). As another example, the disposition angle  31  can be approximately one hundred fifty-two degrees (152°) for an optimum balance of comfort and fit. 
     The device  10  can be approximately ninety-seven millimeters (97 mm) (3.82 in) in length. An example material of construction for the device  10  can be a rigid or semi-rigid medical grade plastic that is suitable for use in an autoclave. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other materials can be utilized without limitation. The device  10  can be made of an opaque material due to the nature of fluids and material being transferred within the device  10 . However, alternate embodiments can utilize a translucent or a transparent material of construction. 
     The first tube  20  can include a first portion and a second portion. The second portion can form a presenting end  21  opposite the second tube  30 . The presenting end  21  can include a continuous tubular wall  23  defining a straight bore channel  22  ( FIG. 3 ). The presenting end  21  can be approximately twenty millimeters (20 mm) (0.79 in) in length The tube wall  23  can include a uniform thickness. 
     The first portion of the first tube  20  can extend from the second tube  30 . The first portion of the first tube  20  can terminate at a concentric first taper  24  proximate the presenting end  21 . The first taper  24  can be approximately thirty millimeters (30 mm) (1.18 in) long and can define a tapered bore channel  25 . The bore channel  25  can include an immediately larger inside diameter than the presenting end  21  ( FIG. 3 ). 
     Disposed just beyond a nexus  28  of the presenting end  21  and the first taper  24  is a snapping point  26 . This snapping point  26  can include a radical, local reduction of the thickness of the tube wall  23 , such that the structural integrity of the tube wall  23  can be compromised and the presenting end  21  can be separated from the first taper  24  with relative ease. In an example implementation, the need for breaking off the presenting end  21  of the first tube  20  can arise if a user (e.g., a dentist) determined that the velocity of air in the presenting end  21  was too great for the circumstances of the current procedure (e.g., a dental procedure). 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the first tube  20  and the second tube  30  can be fused together at a tube interface  32  (e.g., at a meeting location of the first tube  20  and the second tube  30 ). The second tube  30  can be a single unitary member. The second tube  30  can be approximately fifty-three millimeters (53 mm) (2.09 in) long. The second tube  30  can include various regions (e.g., rather than individual sections or pieces). For example, the second tube  30  can include a transition tube  33 , a collar  34 , and a connection taper  35 . 
     The transition tube  33  can include a uniform diameter and a uniform wall thickness. The second tube  30  can terminate at the connecting taper  35 . The connecting taper  35  can include a uniform internal diameter defining a final bore  38  configured to maintain the air velocity. The bore termination  36  can be configured or fashioned to avoid the development of eddy currents. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , the exterior wall of the connecting taper  35  can be tapered to provide an original diameter that is configured to be inserted inside of an aspirator tube  100 . For example, the connecting taper  35  can include an increasing successive diameter to ultimately provide an interference fit within an end of the aspirator tube  100 . The collar  34  can be configured to provide a handling (e.g., gripping) mechanism on the second tube  30  to exert sufficient force to insert the device  10  into the aspirator tube  100 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the disclosed device  10  can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure, and only certain particular configurations have been shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     In an example implementation, a user can utilize the example embodiments of the device  10  in a simple and straightforward manner with little or no training. For example, in an example implementation, the device  10  can be used with high-speed suction devices, such as those used in dental procedures. 
     As indicated in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , upon initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it can be installed to an aspirator tube  100 . For example, the connection taper  35  of the second tube  30  can be received by an open end of the aspirator tube  100 . The device  10  can be used to clear fluids, or other materials, from an area involved in a dental procedure to assist the user in the successful accomplishment of that procedure. 
     The foregoing embodiments of the disclosed dental suction adapter have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. It can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that other styles, configurations, and modifications of the invention can be incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure upon reading the specification and that the embodiments shown and described are for the purposes of clarity and disclosure and to limit the scope. The embodiments have been chosen and described in order to best explain the principles and practical application in accordance with the invention to enable those skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with expected modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The present application includes such modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims.