Protective shield for odontological procedures

Abstract

The containment of aerosols produced in dental processes and treatments is of notorious relevance since they represent a high risk of transmission of infectious diseases, such as viral flu or COVID-19. Medical personnel in the dental area, or others, are exposed to a high risk of infection by constant exposure to these aerosols and splashes. Consequently, it is providing a protective shield for odontological procedures that functions as a physical barrier avoiding contact of dentists, orthodontists and/or their technicians/assistants with aerosols and splashes that occur during dental treatments and procedures.

Claims

1. A protective shield for odontological procedures comprising: an empty capsule (1) adapted to cover a head of a user to contain aerosols inside it and reducing the spread of aerosols to the outside, where said capsule (1) includes: a self-folding flexible frame (2) that allows to extend the capsule (1) to place on the head of the user or to fold the capsule (1), a transparent screen (3) in a center of the capsule to enable the user to observe the outside and to an user performing a procedure on the user to observe towards the inside of the capsule (1); an inlet hole (4) located at the bottom of the protective shield where the user's head is inserted, said inlet hole (4) has a sleeve (5) that allows to adjust the width of the inlet hole (4) and seal the capsule (1) in a neck of the user, wherein the adjustment is made by adjustable laces or strips (6), working holes (7) located on a side of the protective shield that function as access for the hands of the user performing a procedure for the placement of instruments and materials that are required for the procedure inside the capsule (1), wherein the working holes (7) have a cover (8) that serves as a mechanism to cover or close the working holes as soon as they are not required, a nozzle (9) to adapt various extraction instruments that are required for a long time, the nozzle (9) has a sleeve (5) that allows to adjust the width through the use of adjustable laces or strips (6).

2. The protective shield according to claim 1, wherein the flexible frame (2) includes a flat section steel wire attached at its ends, that forms an oval, which allows the protective shield to be folded to a small, flat and circular shape to be packed, stored and transported efficiently.

3. The protective shield according to claim 1, wherein the capsule (1) is made of breathable material that allows the exchange of gases between the space outside and inside the protective shield, while restricting the transport of liquids as aerosols.

4. The protective shield according to claim 1, wherein the transparent screen (3) prevents fogging and is made of polyvinyl chloride.

5. The protective shield according to claim 1, wherein the protective cover has four working holes (7) distributed as two holes on each side of the capsule (1).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1. Front view of the protective shield for odontological procedures.

[0014] FIG. 2. Top view of the protective shield for odontological procedures.

[0015] FIG. 3. Bottom view of the protective shield for odontological procedures.

[0016] FIG. 4. Right side view of the protective shield for odontological procedures.

[0017] FIG. 5. Left side view of the protective shield for odontological procedures.

[0018] FIG. 6. View of the protective shield placed over the head of a user or patient.

[0019] FIG. 7. View of the folded protective shield.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The present invention describes a protective shield for odontological procedures that functions as a physical barrier avoiding contact of dentists, orthodontists and/or their technicians/assistants with aerosols and splashes that occur during dental treatments and procedures. It is comprised of an empty capsule (1) that covers the head of a user to contain the aerosols inside it, reducing the spread of aerosols to the outside, where said capsule (1) has a self-folding flexible frame (2) that allows to extend the capsule (1) to place it on the user's head, or fold the capsule (1) to reduce its extension and store it, transport it or discard it. The capsule (1) has a transparent screen (3) in the center so that it enables the user to observe to the outside, and who is performing a procedure on the user to observe towards the inside of the capsule (1); at the bottom of the protective shield is an inlet hole (4) through which the user's head is inserted, said inlet hole (4) has a sleeve (5) that allows to adjust the width of the inlet hole (4) and seal the capsule (1) in the neck of the user, where the adjustment is made by adjustable laces or strips (6). On the side of the protective shield are working holes (7) that function as access, for the hands of the person who is performing a procedure on the user, to place inside the capsule (1) instruments and materials required for the procedure; these working holes (7) have a cover (8) that serves as a mechanism to cover or close them as soon as they are not required, finally the protective shield has a nozzle (9) that serves to adapt various extraction instruments that are required for a long time, where the nozzle (9) has a sleeve (5) that allows to adjust the width of it through the use of adjustable laces or strips (6). FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 show the front, top, bottom, right side and left side view of the components that make up the protective shield, respectively.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

[0021] The protective shield for odontological procedures is placed on the head of a user or patient (as shown in FIG. 6) and consists of an empty capsule (1) that covers the head of a user to contain the aerosols inside it, forming a physical barrier that reduces the spread of aerosols of the patient to the outside of the capsule (1), and the spreading of infectious material during medical or dental procedures in the head or oral cavity of the patient type user, where said capsule (1) has a self-folding flexible frame (2) that allows to extend the capsule (1) to place it on the user's head or fold the capsule (1) to reduce its extension and store it, transport it or discard it; said flexible frame (2) is preferably a steel wire core of rectangular section, joined at its ends forming an oval, which allows the protective shield to be folded to a small, flat and circular shape (as shown in FIG. 7) to be packed, stored and transported efficiently. When opening the packaging of the protective shield the flexible frame (2) opens and creates the desired shape without the need to assemble, the flexible frame can be made of steel wire of various similar spring constants. The capsule (1) is mostly made of breathable material that allows the exchange of gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide between the inside and outside space of the protective shield, while restricting the transport of liquids such as aerosols. Some breathable materials include (to mention examples, without limiting the invention) non-woven fabric, such as “spunbond” polypropylene.

[0022] The capsule (1) has a transparent screen (3) in the center so that it enables the user to observe outwards, and whoever is performing a procedure on the user to observe towards the inside of the capsule (1); the transparent screen (3) is located in the middle of the capsule (1) in a way that enables the user who performs a procedure on the user of the protective shield (doctor and medical staff) to see the face of the user of the protective shield (patient) and the procedure performed on the patient, without restriction. It also enables the patient to have quasi-normal vision of the environment. The transparent screen (3) prevents fogging and can be made, for example, of polyvinyl chloride. In the lower part of the protective shield is an inlet hole (4) through which the user's head is inserted, where said inlet hole (4) has a sleeve (5) that allows to adjust the width of the inlet hole (4) and seal the capsule (1) in the user's neck, where the adjustment will be made by adjustable laces or strips (6). On the side of the protective shield are working holes (7) that function as access for the hands of the person who is performing a procedure on the user, for the placement of instruments and materials that are required for the procedure inside the capsule (1), these working holes (7) have a cover (8) that serves as a mechanism to cover or close them as soon as they are not required, the protective shield has preferably four working holes (7) distributed as two holes on each side of the capsule (1), however, in other embodiments all those that are necessary can be included. Finally, the protective shield has a nozzle (9) that serves to adapt various extraction instruments that are required for a long time (for example: a vacuum cleaner, inhaler or another instrument), the nozzle (9) has a sleeve (5) that allows to adjust the width of it by using adjustable laces or strips (6).

[0023] The protective shield is manufactured using various manufacturing technologies that include (but are not restricted to) sewing, different welds, gluing processes and may include adjustable zippers, strips and/or laces. The device is intended to be disposed after use by each patient.