Patent ID: 8870568

Claim:
An oral suction device for the removal of fluid and debris from an individual's mouth, said mouth having a right side and a left side, the device comprising: a mouth prop adapted to be positioned within the individual's mouth between upper and lower arcades of teeth, each of which arcades has a right side portion and a left side portion, said prop being configured for individual positioning in association with each of said side portions, but with only a single selected one of said side portions at any particular time and having a first wing member, with opposite first and second end portions and a long axis, and a second wing member, with opposite first and second end portions and a long axis; said first end portion of said first wing member being operatively coupled with said first end portion of said second wing member so that the axes of said first and second wing members are angularly disposed with respect to one another; said first and second wing members being provided with outward faces that are positioned to face away from one another; said outward faces being pre-shaped to have channels that are generally shaped and sized to releasably receive any selected one of the side portions; and an elongated tube, having first and second end portions; said first end portion of said tube being placed in communication with a source of suction; said second end portion of said tube being operatively coupled within an aperture formed at least partially within said mouth prop; said aperture penetrating entirely through said mouth prop and being formed closely adjacent said first end portions of said first and second wing members so that a length of said tube, adjacent the second end portion of said tube, is positioned within said aperture to be generally parallel or coaxial with a long axis of said mouth prop and extend between lengths of the outward faces of said first and second wing members, whereby the length of said tube is substantially in line with the selected side portion of said arcades of teeth such that interference between the length of said tube and a tongue or cheek wall associated with the individual's mouth is substantially prevented; the long axis of said mouth prop extending between the first end portions of said first and second wing members and the second end portions of said first and second wing members.