Patent ID: 7946288

Claim:
A bite block adapted to be situated in a patient's mouth, said bite block comprising: an outer flange forming a wall; said wall defining a primary aperture adapted to be in communication with an oral cavity of the patient when said bite block is inserted into said patient's mouth, said bite block engaging the patient's mouth and retaining it in an open position; at least one inlet passageway in said wall and in fluid communication with said primary aperture adapted to deliver a first fluid from a fluid source to at least one of a nose or said oral cavity of said patient; and at least one outlet passageway in said wall and in fluid communication with said primary aperture adapted to enable a second fluid to be delivered from at least one of said nose or said oral cavity to a fluid monitor; wherein said first fluid is received in said primary aperture from said at least one inlet passageway and said second fluid is delivered from said primary aperture to said at least one outlet passageway after said bite block is placed in the patient's mouth; wherein said at least one outlet passageway comprises: an outlet port defining an outlet passageway for connecting to said fluid monitor; a first conduit adapted to become associated with said patient's nose when said bite block is inserted into said patient's mouth; and a second conduit adapted to become associated with said oral cavity of said patient when said bite block is inserted into said patient's mouth; said outlet port, said first conduit and said second conduit being in fluid communication: wherein said at least one inlet passageway comprises: an inlet port defining an inlet passageway for connecting to a fluid source; a third conduit adapted to become associated with said patient's nose when said bite block is inserted into said patient's mouth; and a fourth conduit adapted to become associated with said oral cavity of said patient when said bite block is inserted into said patient's mouth; said inlet port, said third conduit and said fourth conduit being in fluid communication; and wherein said outer flange comprises a well or receiving area that becomes operatively positioned beneath said patient's nose after said bite block is inserted into said patient's mouth, said well or receiving area being in fluid communication with said first conduit and said third conduit.