SALIVA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH CONTINUOUS FLOW THROUGH ORAL DEVICE

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A method for drawing a vacuum in a patient's oral cavity, said method comprising:
placing an oral device in the patient's oral cavity, said device having an inlet, an outlet, a plenum there between, and at least one vacuum port on a posterior region of the plenum; drawing a vacuum on the outlet to establish air flow into the inlet, through the plenum, and out from the outlet; restricting the airflow into the inlet to draw a vacuum in the plenum; and wherein at least one of the drawing of the vacuum and the restricting of the airflow into the inlet is controlled to maintain a vacuum wherein moist air will be drawn into the plenum from the patient's oral cavity.