Saliva ejector

Application filed July 15

My invention relates; to saliva ejectors and particularly to an ejector of the suction or siphon type intended for use by dentists and others to prevent the accumulation of saliva in the oral cavity.

An object of this invention is to provide an ejector which is adjustable to suit different, conditions of use and to accommodate the device for different persons upon whom it is used.

A further object resides nr providing a cushioned support- so that the ejector structure can be supported and carried entirely by the lower teeth of the person to whose mouth it is fitted. '

Another object is to provide a guard at the intake end of the ejector which will strain the fluids to exclude particles which might cause clogging and which at the same timepermits a close adjustment of the intake nozzle without danger of sucking up. or otherwise injuring-or disturbing the tissues in the mouth.

Still another object lies in providing a structure which is of such construction that the several parts thereof can be readily dis-, assembled for cleaning and sterilization, the construction being such that my improved ejector can be made up entirely of materials, which will resist the accumulation of germs and which can be readily cleaned ancl sterilized.

With the above and other objects in view, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, my invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be set forth in connection with the drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an ejector constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with parts in section.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the suction point.

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the guard.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 5—5 of Figure 1.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a modified form of guard.

I am a ward, that saliva ejectors are now well known and are commonly used by dentists and others operating or working in the oral cavity,' and my improved saliva ejector is intended and adapted for connection and

1925. Serial No. 43,814.

use with the usual suction or siphon tube as now commonly employed.

A crooked or curved tube 1 is ( adapted to have the( suction tube connected in any suitable manner on the end 2 thereof and is pro- 6'0 vided with a socket 3 at its remaining end to receive the suction point 4. In the present instance I have shown this . end 3 as being internally screw threaded and the suction point 4 is provided with an externally thread- 65 ed portion: 5 to be-turned into the screw' threaded end 3, a shoulder 6 on the suction point , being knurled or milled to permit ready turning of the suction point into and . out of the threaded end 3. This suction 70 point: has a relatively small saliva suction opening 7 formed from end to end therethrough, and has a nozzle end 8 projecting beyond the knurled shoulder 6,.an externally screw threaded portion 9 being provided'be-, 75 tweeh the nozzle 8 and the shoulder 6.

A guard 10 is provided with an internally ' threaded sleeve 11 adapted to be screwed up on the threaded portion 9 of the suction point, and this guard, is, in the preferred 80 embodiment, shown as made up of a piece of wire mesh of smaller gauge than the hole or passage 7 through the suction point, the wire mesh being shaped up to present substantially a ball form around the nozzle 8 with 85 the wire mesh closely adjacent the intake end of the nozzle.

A sleeve 12 is slightly fitted over the end 2 of tube 1 to be adjustable along the straight extent thereof, this sleeve having the elongat- go ed slits 13 formed in parallel spaced relation through one side thereof to provide a resilient strip 14 which is bent in slightly to fric- . tionally engage with the tube 1 and hold the sleeve in adjusted positions. At its upper 95. end the sleeve 12 has a hook 15 bent over to fit within and substantially conform to the: curve of the tube 1, and a protective covering 16, which can be a tube of soft rubber or of other suitable material, is fitted upon 100 this hook 15 and extends beyond the end thereof.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modified construction of the guard, and in this instance the guard is made up as a hollow ball 17 of 105 glass,: metal, or other suitable material, . having a plurality of perforations 18 there- . through, the perforations being preferably of less diameter than the opening or passage 7 through the suction nozzle. 110

1,698,331

Where the tube 1 and the guard 17 are of glass or similar material, it. may be found desirable to also construct the suction point of glass, and with this construction it will probfl ably be found necessary to taper the suction point adjacent its ends and correspondingly taper the end of tube 1 and the opening of guard 17 adapted to receive and be fitted upon the suction point; however, as such 10 .substitution of frictional fitting for screw threaded connection is old ami well known I have not here illustrated this adaptation.

In the use of my improved saliva ejector the tube 1 has its end 2 connected with the Ifl suction hose in the usual manner and the sleeve 12 is adjusted along the tube to such a relation that the hook 15 is positioned within the curve of the suction tube 1 to engage over the lower teeth and support the entire 20 weight of the instrument. This adjustment is preferably so. made that the guard 10 will bear slightly upon the tissue of the mouth, this pressure causing the tissue to cup down to form a well in which the intake end of the 25 nozzle 8 of suction point 4 projects. The guard 10 prevents stoppage, of the passage 7 by particles being drawn into the suction point, and at the same time guards against the mouth tissues being sucked up against 30 this point.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a saliva ejector which is of simple and inexpensive construction, thus being readily disassembled for cleaning and sterilizing and one which will serve efficiently 35 to take up and eject saliva without, permitting accumulation of the same.

While I have herein shown and described only certain specific constructions and embodiments of my invention and have sug- 40 gested only certain possible modifications of the construction and assembly and certain possible substitutions of materials, it will be appreciated that changes and variations can be made in the form, construction, assembly, 45 and the materials, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.