ADJUSTABLE BITE BLOCK WITH PASSAGEWAY

Abstract

There is proposed an adjustable bite block for a patient's mouth for use during a medical or surgical procedure. The adjustable bite block includes an upper portion for engaging the teeth of a maxilla of the patient, and a lower portion for engaging the teeth of a mandible of the patient. The upper portion and/or lower portion has at least one passageway therebetween or therethrough, and the lower portion is adjustably connected to or adjacent the upper portion, to facilitate the movement of the mandible to thereby adjust the patient's airway. An adjustment member is connected or coupled to the lower portion of the bite block, and accessible from an exterior of the patient's mouth during use. The adjustment member is configured to move the lower portion relative to the upper portion to thereby move the mandible of the patient between a rest position and a forward thrust position.

Claims

1. An adjustable bite block, for a mouth of a patient, used during a medical or surgical procedure, comprising: an upper portion adapted for engagement or abutment with teeth of a maxilla of said patient, the upper portion including or connected to a generally cylindrical shaped passageway portion; a lower portion adapted for engagement or abutment with teeth of a mandible of said patient, the lower portion being movable relative to the upper portion; at least one passageway extending through said passageway portion; and a generally annular shaped adjustment member being engageable with said passageway portion, the adjustment member coupled to, or engaging, the lower portion of the bite block, whereby, in use, the adjustment member is adapted to be accessible from an exterior of the mouth of said patient and being configured to move the lower portion relative to the upper portion and thereby move the mandible of the patient between a rest position and a forward thrust position, thereby adjusting an airway of said patient.

2. The adjustable bite block in accordance with claim 1, wherein the adjustment member permits incremental adjustment of the lower portion relative to the upper portion, and is adapted to enable movement of the mandible in a controllable manner.

3. The adjustable bite block in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one passageway being configured for passage of a scope, or a flexible tube, or other medical device, or to provide a passage for air or other gases to move therethrough.

4. The adjustable bite block in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the upper portion including or connected to both said generally cylindrical shaped passageway portion and an airway port portion, wherein the passageway portion including a thread on, or in, an outer surface thereof; the generally annular shaped adjustment member being configured to engage over the passageway portion, the adjustment member including an outer grip surface and an inner thread being configured to cooperate with said thread of the passageway portion; the lower portion coupled to, and movable by, said adjustment member, the lower portion shaped for engaging with the teeth of the mandible, wherein rotation of the adjustment member around the passageway portion causes the lower portion to move relative to the upper portion, to thereby move the mandible of said patient during use; and wherein the adjustment member being accessible from an exterior of the mouth of said patient, when the bite block being positioned therein and extending therefrom, whereby the lower portion being movable by way of the adjustment member, whilst the scope, or the flexible tube, or the other medical device, is positioned through said passageway portion or an airways device is connected to, or through, the airway port portion.

5. The adjustable bite block in accordance with claim 1, further including a shoulder or depression adjacent a retracted position of the lower portion, whereby the lower portion being movable out of the way of the teeth of the mandible, when being moved into the retracted position, whereafter the lower portion being positionable so as to engage the teeth of the mandible and then move towards an extended position.

6. The adjustable bite block in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lower portion being movable rearwardly in a stepwise or otherwise manner, whereby the lower portion is adapted to be repositioned behind the teeth of the mandible and moved forward to reposition the mandible or lower jaw into the forward thrust position, or the lower portion is movable rearwardly to a degree to move the mandible towards the rest position or a neutral position, without requiring the removal of a scope or flexible tube from within an airway of the patient.

7. The adjustable bite block in accordance with claim 1, further including indicia used to indicate a degree to which the lower portion has been moved relative to the upper portion.

8. The adjustable bite block in accordance with claim 1, further including a biasing member for biasing the lower portion relative to the upper portion.

9. The adjustable bite block in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lower portion and upper portion each include a respective forward-facing engagement surface, adapted for respective abutment with a rear of the teeth of the mandible or maxilla, whereby the lower portion being configured to bear against the teeth of the mandible as the lower portion is moved forwardly relative to the upper portion.

10. The adjustable bite block in accordance with claim 9, wherein the forward-facing engagement surface of the lower portion or the upper portion is located on generally curved or convex teeth guides, configured to abut the rear of teeth of the mandible or maxilla, the lower portion or the upper portion includes a singular curved or convex teeth guide, or the lower portion or the upper portion includes a plurality of spaced apart members that form a respective teeth guide.

11. The adjustable bite block in accordance with claim 9, wherein a part or parts of the lower portion or the upper portion, are resiliently deformable in one direction.

12. The adjustable bite block in accordance with claim 1, further including that parts of the lower and upper portions have irregular surfaces, said irregular surfaces being a plurality of resiliently deformable ridges, grooves or protrusions which improve engagement with teeth whilst inhibiting damage thereto.

13. The adjustable bite block in accordance with claim 10, further including lip guards positioned forward of the teeth guides, said lip guards being adapted to inhibit the lips of the patient from being caught by the adjustment member during use of said bite block.

14. The adjustable bite block in accordance with claim 1, further including an expanded dorsal portion adapted to engage with the hard palate of the patient, said dorsal portion being configured to inhibit the bite block from tilting when the bit block engages with the mandibular teeth and force is applied by the extended lower jaw.

15. The adjustable bite block in accordance with claim 1, further including an auxiliary opening or attachment member for a tube or capnography sensor used in the measurement of the concentration or partial pressure of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the respiratory gases of the patient.

16. An oropharyngeal airway device including: a bite block section having a lower portion being adapted for engagement with teeth of a mandible of a patient, and being adjustably connected or movable relative to, an upper portion being adapted for engagement with teeth of a maxilla of the patient; a generally cylindrical shaped passageway member, extending rearwardly of said bite block section, and including a curved portion adapted to be insertable, at least partly, into the pharynx of the patient, to thereby inhibit the tongue from obstructing an airway of said patient; and a generally annular shaped adjustment member being engageable with said passageway portion, the adjustment member being adapted to be accessible from an exterior of said mouth of the patient during use and utilised to adjust the lower portion relative to the upper portion, to thereby move the mandible of the patient between a rest position and a forward thrust position, to thereby adjust said airway of the patient.

17. A method of intubating a patient, inserting a scope into an airway of the patient, or maintaining an airway of the patient, during a medical or surgical procedure, including steps of: providing an adjustable bite block, comprising, an upper portion, a lower portion, at least one passageway through a generally cylindrical shaped passageway portion, and a generally annular shaped adjustment member engageable with said passageway portion, the adjustment member configured to move the lower portion relative to the upper portion, wherein the adjustment member is adapted to be accessible from an exterior of a mouth of the patient during use, when the adjustable bite block is positioned therein; inserting the adjustable bite block into the mouth of the patient, wherein the upper portion engages with teeth of a maxilla of the patient, and the lower portion, in a retracted position, engages with teeth of a mandible of said patient; rotating the adjustment member in a first direction to move the lower portion to thereby draw the mandible of the patient forward or upward, the lower portion being held in an extended position to retain the mandible in a forward thrust position; and rotating the adjustment member in a second direction to either: move the lower portion rearwardly to reengage with teeth of the mandible, where unintentional disengagement has occurred; or move the mandible rearwardly to reduce forward thrust of the jaw of said patient.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0065] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an implementation of the invention and, together with the description and claims, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings,

[0066] FIG. 1 is a perspective of one embodiment of the bite block of the present invention, illustrating the lower portion in a retracted position;

[0067] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bite block of FIG. 1, illustrating the lower portion in an extended position;

[0068] FIG. 3a is an exploded view of the bite block of FIG. 1;

[0069] FIG. 3b is a rear perspective view of the bite block of FIG. 3a, illustrating the adjustment member rotatably engaging the lower portion;

[0070] FIG. 4 is a top view of the bite block of FIG. 1, illustrating the lower portion in a retracted position;

[0071] FIG. 5 is a top view of the bite block of FIG. 1, illustrating the lower portion in an extended position;

[0072] FIG. 6a is a schematic view of the bite block of FIG. 1 positioned in the mouth of a patient, illustrating the lower portion in a first or retracted position;

[0073] FIG. 6b is a schematic view of the bite block of FIG. 6a, illustrating the lower portion in a second or neutral position;

[0074] FIG. 6c is a schematic view of the bite block of FIG. 6a, illustrating the lower portion in a third or extended position;

[0075] FIG. 6d is a schematic view of the bite block of FIG. 6a, illustrating the lower portion being moved back into the first or retracted position to reengage the teeth of the mandible;

[0076] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the bite block of the present invention;

[0077] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bite block of FIG. 7, illustrating the upper portion with the adjustment member and lower portion removed;

[0078] FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the bite block of FIG. 7;

[0079] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the bite block;

[0080] FIG. 11 is a side view of the bite block of FIG. 10;

[0081] FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of the bite block of FIG. 10;

[0082] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the bite block;

[0083] FIG. 14 is a side view of the bite block of FIG. 13;

[0084] FIG. 15 is a rear perspective view of the bite block of FIG. 13;

[0085] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the bite block;

[0086] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the bite block;

[0087] FIG. 18 is a side view of the bite block of FIG. 17;

[0088] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the bite block of FIG. 1, engaging or including an oropharyngeal airway device;

[0089] FIG. 20 is a side view of the bite block of FIG. 1, engaging or including an oropharyngeal airway device with an enlarged dorsal part;

[0090] FIG. 21 is a front perspective view of a seventh embodiment of the bite block;

[0091] FIG. 22 is a rear perspective view of the bite block of FIG. 21;

[0092] FIG. 23 is a rear view of the bite block of FIG. 21; and

[0093] FIG. 24 is an underside view of the bite block of FIG. 21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED AND EXEMPLIFIED EMBODIMENTS

[0094] Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. Dimensions of certain parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration.

[0095] Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description, there is illustrated an adjustable bite block 10, demonstrating by way of examples, arrangements in which the principles of the present invention may be employed.

[0096] In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6d, the adjustable bite block 10, includes, an upper portion 12 for engaging with the teeth 14 of the maxilla 16, as shown in FIGS. 6a-6d. The upper portion 12 is rigidly connected to or adjoining both a generally cylindrical scope receiving passageway portion 18 and oxygen/gas ports 20 having outlet/s 21 positionable internal or adjacent the patient's mouth cavity during use. The passageway portion 18 including a male thread 22 on an outer surface thereof. The adjustable bite block 10 further includes, a generally annular adjustment member 24, having an outer grip surface 26, in the present embodiment comprising a plurality of depressions, and an inner female thread 28 that is configured to cooperate with the male thread 22. A lower portion 30 is coupled to and movable by the generally annular adjustment member 24, wherein the lower portion 30 is shaped for engagement or abutment with the teeth 32 of the mandible 34 of the patient.

[0097] The upper portion 12 includes a curved tooth guide 36 which is configured to abut the rear of teeth 14 of the maxilla 16, and a lip guard 38 that inhibits the lip of the patient from being caught by the adjustment member 24 during use. Similarly, the lower portion 30 includes a curved tooth guide 40 which is configured to abut the rear of teeth 32 of the mandible 34, and a lip guard 42.

[0098] A part or parts of the tooth guides 36 and/or 40, forming the forward-facing engagement surfaces of the lower and upper portions, are resiliently deformable or biased in one direction. In one embodiment, they can be shaped or constructed such that they can bend more easily in one direction. For instance, they may be able to bend forwardly more easily than they are able to bend rearwardly. This would mean that they are able to move out of the way of the teeth as the bite block 10 is inserted into the mouth and then move back into a rest position, wherein when the teeth bear against the forward-facing engagement surface, the tooth guides 36 and/or 40 are resistant to being moved out of the way.

[0099] As the reader will appreciate, the resiliently deformable nature of a part or parts the tooth guides 36, 40 may help to inhibit damage to the teeth, whilst the preferentially biasing of the tooth guides 36 and/40 inhibits them from disengaging from the teeth of the patient. The annular adjustment member 24 is rotatably coupled to a ring 44, that includes a plurality of hook members 46, being configured to engage with an annular lip 47 on the annular adjustment member 24, as illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b. The ring 44 is rigidly connected to, or forms part of the lower portion 30, such that rotation of the adjustment member 24 around the passageway portion 18 causes the lower portion 30 to move longitudinally between a retracted position, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6a, through a neutral position, as illustrated in FIG. 6b, and into an extended position, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6c.

[0100] The outer surface of the adjustment member 24 includes indicia 45 for indicating the extent to which the lower portion 30 is extended relative to the upper portion. The figures illustrate the use of numbers 1 to 4, however the reader will appreciate that the indicia may comprise numbers 1 to 10 or numerical, alphabetical or alphanumerical indicia or combinations thereof, such as but not limited to text, for instance retracted, neutral, extended, or alphanumerical indicia such as R2, R1, N, E1, E2.

[0101] As illustrated in FIGS. 6a to 6d, when positioned within a patient's mouth, the adjustment member 24 is accessible from an exterior of the mouth, wherein the lower portion 30 can be moved between the retracted and extended positions, while a scope (not shown) is in position through the passageway portion 18 or a flexible tube (not shown) is attached to or through the bite block 10.

[0102] FIG. 6a illustrates the lower portion 30, in a retracted position, being placed within the mouth of the patient. In this configuration, the curved tooth guide 40 is positioned behind the teeth 32 of the mandible 34. As illustrated in FIG. 6b, as the adjustment member 24 is rotated in the direction of the broken arrow, the lower portion 30 is drawn forward or upward, in the direction of the solid arrow. As the lower portion 30 is moved upwardly or forwardly it bears against the rear of the teeth 32 of the mandible 34, which thereby moves the mandible 34 forward.

[0103] FIG. 6c illustrates the mandible 34 in a fully forward thrust position, wherein a scope or tube (not shown) can be inserted in through the passageway portion 18.

[0104] FIG. 6d illustrates the adjustment member 24 being rotated in the opposite direction, as indicated by the broken arrow, to move the lower portion 30 back into or towards the retracted position, as indicated by the solid arrow. This can be done to move the patient's mandible 34 into a neutral position or adjust the patient's airway.

[0105] This may be necessary if the curved tooth guide 40 unintentionally disengages from the teeth 32 of the mandible 34 during the procedure or the degree of forward travel of the mandible 34 needs to be reduced, which may be required to assist in the insertion of a scope or other medical device. The reader will appreciate that this can be done without having to remove the bite block 10 from the mouth of the patient or having to remove the flexible tube 48. This means that endoscopist or medical practitioner does not need to remove a fibre-optic scope or other devices from the patient's airways, to allow the anaesthetist to reset the bite block, as may currently be the case.

[0106] Furthermore, the rearward movement of the lower portion 30 may be required when the patient is being moved into recovery, to ensure that the lower jaw 34 is not held in a forwardly thrust position for an extended period of time, since this could lead to patient discomfort or injury.

[0107] The bite block may include an auxiliary opening or attachment member for a tube or capnography sensor (not shown) that is used in the measurement of the concentration or partial pressure of carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) in the respiratory gases of the patient.

[0108] Although not illustrated, a silicon type material may be overmoulded to the lower and upper portions of the bite block, such that they are integral with the bite block, to inhibit damage to the surface of the teeth 14, 32.

[0109] FIGS. 7 to 9 illustrate an alternate embodiment of the adjustable bite block 10, including, the upper portion 12 rigidly connected to the generally cylindrical passageway portion 18. The passageway portion 18 including the male thread 22 on an outer surface thereof and engageable with the generally annular adjustment member 24. In the present embodiment the adjustment member 24 rotatably engages with a ring portion 50 that is integral with the lower portion 30. The reader will appreciate that the operation of the bite block 10 is similar to the immediately preceding embodiment.

[0110] FIGS. 10 to 12 illustrates still another embodiment wherein the upper portion 12 is pivotably connected to the lower portion 30, by way of adjustment members 24a, 24b. In the present embodiment the lower portion includes spaced apart arms 52, 54 having coaxially aligned apertures 56, 58. Respective adjustment members, in the form of buttons 60, 62 extend therethrough, wherein when the buttons 60, 62 are depressed the lower portion 30 is permitted to pivot about axis 64, and when the buttons 60, 62 are released the lower portion 30 is locked relative to the upper portion 12. As further illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 12, the upper and lower portions 12, 30 are shaped to define a passageway 66 that extends therethrough, rather than having a separate passageway portion, as illustrated in FIG. 1 and other figures.

[0111] In yet another embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 15, adjustment members 24a, 24b comprise adjustment protrusions 68, 70, that extend forwardly of the lower portion, such that the mandible of the patient can be moved into a forward thrust position and the protrusions 68, 70 manipulated to lock the lower portion 30 relative to the upper portion 12, to thereby hold the mandible of the patient into a forward thrust portion. The protrusions 68, 70 may engage a ratchet, cam or other internal mechanism (not shown) to hold the lower portion 30 in a desired position. The embodiments may also include a quick release mechanism (not shown) or similar, that enables the lower portion 30 to be quickly and easily moved into the retracted position. As further illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 15, the upper portion 12 includes an integral passageway portion 18 that aligns passageway 66.

[0112] FIG. 16, illustrates an alternate embodiment with the adjustment member 24 including a single protrusion 72, that is configured to extend outwardly from the mouth of the patient and be grasped to move the lower portion 30 relative to the upper portion 12.

[0113] FIGS. 17 and 18, illustrate another embodiment of the adjustment members 24a, 24b, which include ratchet or toothed adjustment members 80a and 80b. The adjustment members 80a and 80b include a rack 82 on an upper surface of the lower portion 30, which is configured to engage with a pinion 84. The lower portion includes sleeves 86 that are configured to slidably engage respective guide wires 88. The guide wires 88 being connected to the passageway portion 18. The pinion 84 may be turned to move the lower portion forward, or may be fixed wherein the rack and pinion member 80 acts like a ratchet to hold the lower portion 30 in a desired position.

[0114] FIGS. 19 to 20, illustrates the bite block 10 of the present invention being configured for connection to an oropharyngeal airway device 92. The reader should however appreciate that the bite block and oropharyngeal airway device may be integral, wherein an oropharyngeal airway portion may extend rearwardly of a bite block portion.

[0115] The oropharyngeal airway device 92, of the present embodiment, or the oropharyngeal airway portion, includes a generally curved body 94 having a duct 96 extending therethrough. The body 94 includes an end 98 for engagement with the bite block 10 or a mount part thereof. As illustrated in FIG. 20, the oropharyngeal airway device 92 may include an enlarged dorsal part 100 to assist in maintaining the oropharyngeal airway device 92 in a correct orientation.

[0116] The reader should however appreciate that where the oropharyngeal airway portion 92 is integral with the bite block 10, the duct 96 aligns or replaces passageway portion 18 and/or passageway 66.

[0117] The reader should also appreciate that the flexible tube that supplies supplemental oxygen into the patient's airway may engage with oxygen/gas ports 20, or simply be inserted in through the passageway portion 18, or passageway 66, or duct 96.

[0118] FIGS. 21 to 24, illustrate a further embodiment that includes a coupling 108 attached to one of the oxygen/gas ports 20, for connection to an oxygen or gas supply unit (not shown). The upper and lower portions 12, 30 include a plurality of resiliently deformable ridges 110, 112 that are configured to improve engagement with the teeth, whilst inhibiting damage thereto.

[0119] As further illustrated in FIGS. 21 to 24 the tooth guide of the lower portion 30 comprises two spaced apart members 40a and 40b.

[0120] As the skilled addressee will appreciate, of the sixteen mandibular teeth, the middle four teeth have blade shaped roots, which are more vulnerable to dislodgement when anterior and posterior forces are applied. On the other hand, the molar teeth and mandibular cuspids have generally square shaped roots.

[0121] Accordingly, in the present embodiment the two spaced apart members 40a and 40b of the tooth guide engage with at least some of the six teeth on either side of the middle four teeth, which have more square shaped roots. The members 40a and 40b, may only engage with two or three teeth on either side of the middle four teeth, starting with the canines (mandibular cuspids). The reader will appreciate that this inhibits the bite block from bearing against the middle four teeth, which are more vulnerable to dislodgement.

[0122] As the reader will appreciate, during a procedure the teeth of the mandible may become dislodged or disengaged from the lower portion, which must then be moved rearwardly to recapture the teeth. Furthermore, the bite block provides a simple way of resetting and returning the lower jaw toward or into the rest position or the neutral position. This can be done while the bite block is still within the patient's mouth, which means that the endoscopist or medical practitioner does not need to remove the scope or other device from the patient's airway, to allow the anaesthetist or other medical practitioner to reset the bite block.

[0123] The skilled addressee will now appreciate the advantages of the illustrated invention over the prior art. In one form, the invention provides a bite block that includes a movable lower portion or mandibular adjustment portion, which is used to open or adjust the oropharyngeal airway of the patient, by drawing or moving the mandible into a forward thrust position during a medical or surgical procedure.

[0124] Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described in connection with the exemplified embodiments of the invention, however it must be understood that these particular arrangements merely illustrate the invention and it is not limited thereto. Accordingly, the invention can include various modifications, which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.