# US 2017/0280987 A1 · Intra-oral tongue or cheek retractor with a mirror > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0280987 A1 - Document ID: US20170280987A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/419,001 - Filed: 2017-01-30 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-29 - Inventors: Molly Weiandt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170280987A1 ## CPC - A61B 1/247: with means for viewing areas outside the direct line of sight, e.g. dentists' mirrors - A61B 1/0011: {Manufacturing of endoscope parts} - A61B 13/00: Instruments for depressing the tongue (combined with illuminating and viewing instruments A61B1/24; combined with saliva removers A61C17/10) - A61C 5/90: Oral protectors for use during treatment, e.g. lip or mouth protectors (A61C5/82 takes precedence) - A61C 2201/00: Material properties - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - 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) ## Abstract Made of a durable and auto-claveable material including a handle portion of the intra-oral tongue/cheek retractor with a mirror device with an offset in the handle, with a handle flat surface on the mirror side, and with a retention end of handle; at least one mirror or mirrored surface; and a manner for securing/holding or having a mirror or mirrored surface to the handle flat surface on the mirror side where the device can free-up hands of a professional and/or an assistant; can remove any extra “hardware” in a mouth of a patient; provides better visual feedback from the mouth of the patient to the professional; is useable for dental procedures and oral surgery; and is sterilizable in conventional dental or surgical machines. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An intra-oral tongue/cheek retractor device with a mirror (30) made of a durable and auto-claveable material and comprised of: (a) a handle portion (36) of the intra-oral tongue/cheek retractor device with a mirror (30) further comprising an offset (38) in the handle portion (36), a flat surface (37A) of the handle portion (36) on a mirror (33) side, and a retention end (39) of the handle portion (36); (b) at least one mirror surface (33); and (c) a means (35) for securing/holding or having a mirror or mirrored surface to the handle flat surface (37A) on the mirror (33) side wherein the intra-oral tongue/cheek retractor device frees-up hands of a professional or an assistant; removes any extra “hardware” in a mouth of a patient; provides better visual feedback from the mouth of the patient to the professional; is useable for dental procedures and oral surgery uses; and is sterilizable in conventional dental or surgical machines. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The intra-oral tongue/cheek retractor device according to claim 1 wherein the durable and auto-claveable material types are selected from the group consisting of surgical stainless steel and high heat resistant composite and reinforced plastic. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The intra-oral tongue/cheek retractor device according to claim 2 wherein the durable and auto-claveable material types are non-allergenic to humans and non-anhydrous once the materials are cured. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The intra-oral tongue/cheek retractor device according to claim 1 wherein the handle portion (36) can be fabricated by a method selected from the group consisting of metal casting to create a device of unitary construction, molding to create a device of unitary construction, assembly of the handle fabricated separately and fastened to the remaining components by a means for securing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The intra-oral tongue/cheek retractor device according to claim 4 wherein the means for securing is selected from the group consisting of screwing a threaded fastener, welding, spot welding and adhesion of the handle to the remaining components. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The intra-oral tongue/cheek retractor device according to claim 1 wherein the mirror can be integrally buffed and polished as a reflective surface (53) into the metal and composite surface of the flat surface (37A). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The intra-oral tongue/cheek retractor device according to claim 1 wherein the mirror reflection ratio can be selected from the group consisting 1:1, 2:1, or 3:1 as the reflected view to the original. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The intra-oral tongue/cheek retractor device according to claim 1 wherein the mirror can be secured to the flat surface (37A) by the means (35) for securing/holding that can be selected from the group consisting of an adhesive (50); a plurality of sectioned straps (51); fully encased channel constraint (52); and an adhesive (50) and encased (52) combination (55). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The intra-oral tongue/cheek retractor device according to claim 1 wherein the angle of the offset (38) in the handle (36) is selected from a group consisting of angles being approximately 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 degrees from the handle flat surface (37). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The intra-oral tongue/cheek retractor device according to claim 1 wherein the use is selected from a group consisting of tooth removal; fillings for teeth; dental hygiene of cleanings and whitening; preventive procedures of X-rays and fluoride treatments; inspection of teeth and gums; and oral surgery including removal of teeth, repair of teeth and implants for teeth as well as gum repair. ### Claim 11 An intra-oral tongue/cheek retractor device with a mirror (30) made of a stainless steel and comprised of: (a) a handle portion (36) of the intra-oral tongue/cheek retractor device with a mirror (30) further comprising an offset (38) in the handle portion (36), a flat surface (37A) of the handle portion (36) on a mirror (33) side, and a retention end (39) of the handle portion (36); (b) at least one mirror surface (33); and (c) an adhesive for securing/holding a mirror to the handle flat surface (37A) on the mirror (33) side wherein the intra-oral tongue/cheek retractor device frees-up hands of a professional or an assistant; removes any extra “hardware” in a mouth of a patient; provides better visual feedback from the mouth of the patient to the professional; is useable for dental procedures and oral surgery uses; and is sterilizable in conventional dental or surgical machines. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The intra-oral tongue/cheek retractor device according to claim 11 wherein the use is selected from a group consisting of tooth removal; fillings for teeth; dental hygiene of cleanings and whitening; preventive procedures of X-rays and fluoride treatments; inspection of teeth and gums; and oral surgery including removal of teeth, repair of teeth and implants for teeth as well as gum repair. ### Claim 13 An intra-oral tongue/cheek retractor device with a mirror (30) made of a durable and auto-claveable material and comprised of: (a) a handle portion (36) of the intra-oral tongue/cheek retractor device with a mirror (30) further comprising an offset (38) in the handle portion (36), a flat surface (37A) of the handle portion (36) on a mirror (33) side, and a retention end (39) of the handle portion (36) and (b) at least one mirror surface (33) polished and buffed into the flat portion (37A); wherein the intra-oral tongue/cheek retractor device frees-up hands of a professional or an assistant; removes any extra “hardware” in a mouth of a patient; provides better visual feedback from the mouth of the patient to the professional; is useable for dental procedures and oral surgery uses; and is sterilizable in conventional dental or surgical machines. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The intra-oral tongue/cheek retractor device according to claim 13 wherein the use is selected from a group consisting of tooth removal; fillings for teeth; dental hygiene of cleanings and whitening; preventive procedures of X-rays and fluoride treatments; inspection of teeth and gums; and oral surgery including removal of teeth, repair of teeth and implants for teeth as well as gum repair.