# US 10,245,175 B2 · Saliva management system with continuous flow through oral device

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- Number: US 10,245,175 B2
- Document ID: US10245175B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/376,368
- Filed: 2016-12-12
- Published: 2017-03-30
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2011-02-09
- Assignees: Somnics, Inc.
- Applicants: Somnics, Inc.
- Inventors: Jonathan Podmore; Nicholas R. Vitale; John Edwards Crowe; Matthias Vaska
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245175B2

## CPC

- A61F 5/566: {Intra-oral devices}
- A61C 17/08: Aspiration nozzles
- A61M 1/73: {comprising sensors or indicators for physical values}
- A61M 1/742: {by changing the size of a vent (A61M1/7411 takes precedence)}
- A61M 1/77: {Suction-irrigation systems (aspiration tips supplying fluids A61M1/85; specific for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463)}
- A61M 1/80: {Suction pumps (A61M1/64, A61M1/71, A61M60/00 take precedence)}
- A61M 16/0488: {Mouthpieces; Means for guiding, securing or introducing the tubes (guiding or introducing with laryngoscopes A61B1/267; holding devices on the body A61M25/02)}
- A61M 16/049: {Mouthpieces}
- A61M 16/0493: {with means for protecting the tube from damage caused by the patient's teeth, e.g. bite block}
- A61M 16/0495: {with tongue depressors}
- A61M 2210/0625: Mouth
- A61M 2210/0643: Tongue
- A61M 2210/065: Throat; Pharynx
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

Systems for maintaining a vacuum in a patient's oral cavity comprises an oral device, a vacuum control system, and an assembly including first and second tubes for connecting the vacuum control system to the oral device. The oral device has an internal plenum, and a vacuum is drawn in the plenum by a vacuum pump connected by a first tube of the tubular assembly. The vacuum is maintained by an air source which is connected to the plenum by the second tube of the tubular assembly. By maintaining a constant circulating air bleed through the oral device and the connecting tubes, saliva may be removed from the system and collected in a saliva trap located before the vacuum pump.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An oral device comprising:
a base adapted to be held between a patient's upper teeth and lower teeth, said base having an anterior end, a posterior end, and a cross-member extending across said posterior end; wherein said base includes a first bite structure and a second bite structure and said cross-member is disposed between said first and second bite structures;
wherein a plenum extends within said base from an air inlet on said anterior end to said cross-member and returns to an air outlet on said anterior end; wherein said plenum in one of said first and second bite structures is divided into inlet and outlet lumens connected to said air inlet and air outlet, respectively,
wherein said air inlet and air outlet are fluidly connected by said plenum so that air entering said air inlet flows through said cross-member before exiting said air outlet; and wherein at least one vacuum port is formed in a wall of said cross-member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The oral device as in claim 1, wherein said cross-member is configured to be spaced inferiorly of the hard palate when said base is held between the patient's teeth, wherein a void is defined between said cross-member and the hard palate and extending to the patient's soft palate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The oral device as in claim 1, wherein said at least one vacuum port is disposed on a superior surface of said cross-member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The oral device as in claim 1, further comprising a lip seal coupled to said base and/or a vacuum conduit constituted by said plenum configured to inhibit air from entering the oral cavity through the mouth while vacuum is being applied.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The oral device as in claim 1, wherein said cross-member comprises an arcuate rear edge and a curved superior surface.

### Claim 6

An oral device comprising:
a base adapted to be held between a patient's upper teeth and lower teeth, said base having an anterior end, a posterior end, and a cross-member extending across said posterior end;
wherein a plenum extends within said base from an air inlet on said anterior end to said cross-member and returns to an air outlet on said anterior end,
wherein said air inlet and air outlet are fluidly connected by said plenum so that air entering said air inlet flows through said cross-member before exiting said air outlet; and wherein at least one vacuum port is formed in a wall of said cross-member,
wherein said plenum extends from said air inlet to a bypass outlet and a barrier is disposed between said bypass outlet and said vacuum ports.