Buccal protector

Details Buccal protector Buccal protector

1998-10-16

2001-08-07

Brown, Michael A. (Department: 3764)

Surgery

Body protecting or restraining devices for patients or infants

Head or face protector

C128S861000, C128S862000, C128S200260

Reexamination Certificate

active

06269816

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a buccal protector for use, e.g., during psychiatric treatment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As known in the art, during psychiatric treatment of illnesses such as high degree depression, schizophrenia or when the patient no longer responds to medication, electroshock is often clinically used. Such an electroshock treatment is known as electroconvulsotherapy (E.C.T.). In order to avoid buccal or dental complications during E.C.T., buccal protectors are inserted into the patient's mouth. However, existing buccal protectors have not demonstrated effective protection against all of the patient's buccal conditions. Such protectors must appropriately direct the smashing power arising during E.C.T. and safely guide the buccal soft tissues to prevent damages commonly associated with E.C.T.
It is already known to use a polyester and polypropylene buccal protector, dental arcade shaped, having an outer rim where the patient's lips are supported. A central portion, where the bite is directed during the E.C.T. operation, is provided with a central orifice for the passage of tubes in the event of an emergency.
A disadvantage of such a commonly used buccal protector is the fact that, despite being made out of plastic, it is rather rigid so that with respect to the patient's bite, it provokes buccal and dental traumas. Also, since it is generally U-shaped, it can be ejected by the patient during an E.C.T. session or it can be displaced towards the buccal cavity during an emergency probing.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved buccal protector.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved buccal protector which overcomes the drawbacks of prior art buccal protectors mentioned above.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide new and improved buccal protectors which minimize accidents during E.C.T. sessions.
In order to achieve these objects and others, a buccal protector in accordance with the invention, although having the same general shape as other protectors, i.e., the dental arcade, is manufactured out of a polyurethane resin extracted from castor oil (ricinus comuna), with an ideal density for the patient's cheeks to be displaced outwards the teeth or indented groove where the force of electroshock will be received and thus preventing trauma, safely controlling the soft buccal tissues and cushioning the bite. Furthermore, the buccal protector in accordance with the invention provides a better fitting without any danger of being displaced towards the buccal cavity or ejected from the patient's mouth.
The buccal protector is preferably molded from polyurethane resin having an average polymer which comprehends A219 (type 2¼) to thereby provide the buccal protector with an enhanced resin capacity.
Experimental testing of the use of the buccal protector proved that the buccal protector is very effective as to what concerns accommodation of the muscle flexion which follows a severe closing, allowing the E.C.T. operator to have visualization of soft and hard areas of the buccal cavity and assuring, before the stimulation, buccal protection.
The buccal protector in accordance with the invention allows easy insertion and removal thereof into the patient's mouth and furthermore, includes an aperture in a center region to thereby allow intubation.
The construction of the buccal protector enables it to be sterilizable and it can further be autoclaved.
Further, the buccal protector manufactured in accordance with the invention may be made at a low cost.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2614560 (1952-10-01), Lee
patent: 3126002 (1964-03-01), Owens
patent: 4495945 (1985-01-01), Liegner
patent: 4502478 (1985-03-01), Lifton
patent: 5533523 (1996-07-01), Bass

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