High-volume evacuator suction tip

A suction member for connection to a dental vacuum source, the suction member comprising:

• a distal end;
• a proximal end spaced from the distal end in a proximal direction, the distal end being spaced from the proximal end in a distal direction;
• a front side;
• a rear side opposite the front side, the rear side being spaced from the front side in a rearward direction orthogonal to the longitudinal directions, and the front side being spaced from the rear side in a forward direction opposite to the rearward direction;
• a frontal midplane dividing the suction member into a front portion forward of the frontal midplane and a rear portion rearward of the frontal midplane;
• a right side;
• a left side opposite the right side, the left side being spaced from the right side in a leftward direction orthogonal to the rearward and forward directions and to the longitudinal directions, the right side being spaced from the left side in a rightward direction opposite to the leftward direction;
• a median plane dividing the suction member into a right portion rightward of the median plane and a left portion leftward of the median plane;
• a suction tip at the distal end, the suction tip having a suction inlet passageway extending longitudinally therethrough;
• an elongate tubular portion connected to the suction tip and extending away from the suction tip in the proximal direction, the tubular portion having a suction flow passageway extending longitudinally therethrough, the suction flow passageway being in fluid communication with the suction inlet passageway;
• and
• a connection end portion at the proximal end, the connection end portion being connected to the tubular portion and extending away from the tubular portion in the proximal direction, the connection end portion being adapted and configured to connect to the dental vacuum source so as to form a sealed suction flow path from the suction flow passageway into the dental vacuum source;
• the tubular portion including a tubular portion axis extending longitudinally in the proximal and distal directions at the intersection of the frontal midplane and the median plane, the tubular portion axis defining radial directions perpendicular to the tubular portion axis, a tubular portion inner surface, a tubular portion outer surface circumscribing the tubular portion inner surface, and a wall thickness extending from the tubular portion inner surface to the tubular portion outer surface, the tubular portion inner surface circumscribing the suction flow passageway, the tubular portion inner surface extending continuously around a perimeter of the suction flow passageway over a length of the tubular portion inner surface extending from the suction tip to the connection end portion;
• the suction tip comprising a plurality of lobes protruding distally from the tubular portion, the lobes being spaced apart circumferentially about the tubular portion axis to form a peripheral vent opening between each neighboring pair of the lobes, each peripheral vent opening extending proximally from a respective open distal end to a respective one of a plurality of proximally recessed surfaces and circumferentially from one of the lobes to a neighboring one of the lobes;
• each of the lobes comprising a proximal lobe end, a distally facing distal lobe surface, a radially inwardly facing inner lobe surface, a radially outwardly facing outer lobe surface, and lateral lobe surfaces including a clockwise-facing lateral lobe surface and a counterclockwise-facing lateral lobe surface, each of the inner, outer, and lateral lobe surfaces extending distally from the proximal lobe end to the distal lobe surface, each lateral lobe surface extending radially outwardly from the inner lobe surface to the outer lobe surface, and each of the inner and outer lobe surfaces extending clockwise from the counterclockwise-facing lateral lobe surface to the clockwise-facing lateral lobe surface;
• the lobes comprising a single rear lobe and a plurality of frontal lobes;
• the rear portion of the suction member comprising the entire rear lobe, the right portion of the suction member comprising a portion of the rear lobe, and the left portion of the suction member comprising a portion the rear lobe;
• the suction inlet passageway extending proximally through the suction tip from a distal suction opening at the distal end of the suction member to the suction flow passageway, the suction inlet passageway being circumscribed by the inner lobe surfaces and the peripheral vent openings, such that the peripheral vent openings are in fluid communication with the suction inlet passageway;
• the connection end portion being adapted and configured to connect to the dental vacuum source to form a sealed suction flow path from the suction flow passageway into the dental vacuum source.