SELF-ILLUMINATING CHEEK RETRACTOR

Abstract

A chemi-luminescent cheek retractor, wherein, the chemi-luminiscence is not localized to a specific location but the whole cheek retractor has multiple compartments to provide adequate and uniform illumination. Further, the cheek retractor is inflated with chemi-luminescent reagent and triggered by triggering agent thus allowing a chemi-luminescent reaction. The chamber is made of transparent heat resistant flexible material to withstand the heat generated during the chemi-luminescent reaction. An angular oris is lined with a reflective coating on the mouth facing surface to aid in better and uniform illumination; one detachable extendable flange is provided to abet attachments for providing multi-functionality, the purpose of detachable components is to facilitate easy cleaning and sterilization.

Claims

1. A chemi-luminescent cheek retractor for illuminating a buccal cavity comprising a housing, an angular oris (106) and a handle (108); wherein: the housing encloses a chemi-luminescence chamber (101) extending from the angular oris (106) to the handle (108), said housing is made of a flexible heat resistant material; the angular oris (106) comprises an anterior transparent wall (106a) and a posterior wall (106b) lined with a reflective coating; said angular oris (106) is attached to a detachable filter (111) to provide illumination at selected wavelengths; the handle comprises a one way pressure valve at an inlet (109), and slots (104) for attaching detachable components of the cheek retractor; said cheek retractor is inflatable with atleast one chemi-luminescent chemical reagent when injected through the one way pressure valve for impelling the chemi-luminescent chemical reagent to reach the chemi-luminescence chamber (101); the cheek retractor is illuminated by a chemi-luminescence reaction, said chemi-luminescence reaction is triggered with atleast one triggering agent injected through the one way pressure valve; and the cheek retractor optionally has a tongue guard (107) with adhesive base having pads attached on underside of tongue.

2. The chemi-luminescent cheek retractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transparent heat resistant material includes silicone based material and withstands the heat generated during chemi-luminescent reaction.

3. The chemi-luminescent cheek retractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the atleast one chemi-luminescent chemical reagent is in solid, liquid, gas form or any combination such as divinyle oxalate, 1.0 M NaoH, hydrogen peroxide, a fluorescer (eg. Perylene) and triacetin as solvent.

4. The chemi-luminescent cheek retractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the atleast one triggering agent is in solid, liquid, gas form such as ozone, hydrogen peroxide and alike.

5. The chemi-luminescent cheek retractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein, at least one detachable extendable flange (105) is provided to abet attachments for aid in isolation by providing a channel for removing saliva.

6. The chemi-luminescent cheek retractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein, an attachment knob (102) is provided for fastening detachable components in grooves (103) on the chemi-luminescent cheek retractor.

7. The chemi-luminescent cheek retractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein, said reflective coating focuses illumination towards buccal cavity.

8. The chemi-luminescent cheek retractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein, said chemi-luminescence reaction illuminates the buccal cavity for 2-4 hours.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] A complete understanding of the system and method of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the following drawings:

[0036] FIG. 1 elucidates a preferred embodiment of the chemi-luminescent cheek retractor from the top view;

[0037] FIG. 2 elucidates a preferred embodiment of the chemi-luminescent cheek retractor from the top perspective view; and

[0038] FIG. 3 elucidates a preferred embodiment of the chemi-luminescent cheek retractor from the front perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, the embodiment is provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0040] The present invention provides a self-illuminating cheek retractor. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved apparatus for dental operatory light. The invention provides chemical luminescence within a cheek retractor for adequate lighting inside the oral cavity with uniform intensity and high color rendering index (CRI), without any external power source.

[0041] The present invention overcomes all drawbacks in state of the art technology, by providing a chemi-luminescent cheek retractor comprising a housing made of a transparent heat resistant material, an angular oris, a handle. The housing encloses a chemi-luminescent chamber extending from the angular oris to the handle. Further, the angular oris comprises an anterior transparent wall and a posterior wall lined with a reflective coating providing uniform illumination towards the oral cavity; the transparent heat resistant flexible material withstands the heat generated during the chemi-luminescent reaction; said chemi-luminescent cheek retractor is inflated with atleast one chemi-luminescent chemical reagent and triggered by atleast one triggering agent to trigger a chemic-luminescent reaction; said cheek retractor is inflated through a pressure valve for impelling the chemical reagents to reach an angular oris and then injecting the triggering agent to allow the chemi-luminescent reaction; a one way pressure valve is attached to an inlet of chemi-luminescence chamber of cheek retractor for triggering the chemi-luminescence reaction and for inflating cheek retractor; slots are provided on the chemi-luminescent cheek retractor for attaching detachable components. For instance a detachable optical filter to provide illumination at selected wavelengths is attached to the angular oris attached to; and optionally a tongue guard with adhesive base chemi-luminscent pads to be attached on underside of tongue. The detachable filter is preferably an absorptive filter to transmit desired wavelengths by absorbing unwanted ones. These state of the art filters consist of dyed glass or pigmented gelatin resins. The ability of absorptive filters to attenuate light is based on the filter's physical thickness and the amount of dye or pigmentation present. The heat resistant flexible material comprises medical grade silicone in accordance with the present invention. As known in the art, one of the most important characteristics of silicone is its heat resistance, allowing silicone products to maintain their properties when exposed to both high and low temperatures.

[0042] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cheek retractor has a continuous transparent heat resistant chamber filled with a chemi-luminescent reagent and injecting a triggering agent through pressure valve allows chemi-luminescence reaction. An angular oris is lined with a reflective coating to aid in better and uniform illumination, and directing the light towards the buccal cavity. The continuous chamber extends from angular oris to the handle(s). The illumination is not secluded to one part, rather the illumination is generated in chemi-luminescence chamber in angular oris and handle which is away from the patients buccal cavity, the internal reflective coating ensures that the illumination is more focused towards the cavity. An extended lighting source also ensures that shadowing is minimized due to multiple sources of light and overlapping fields of illumination.

[0043] The invention thus provides a cheek retractor that does not require external power source and is economically viable. The cheek retractor lighting system provides 2-4 hours of luminance. The perishable chemical reagents, in any form, can be easily replaced so the device can be used incessantly after disinfection.

[0044] In yet another embodiment the cheek retractor is optionally a tongue guard with adhesive base chemi-luminescent pads, provided to be attached on the underside of the tongue, for the dual purpose of isolation and illumination. The angular oris of the cheek retractor is detachably attached with an optical filter to provide illumination at select wavelengths.

[0045] The chemi-luminescent cheek retractor for illuminating a buccal cavity comprises a housing, an angular oris (106) and a handle (108); the housing encloses a chemi-luminescence chamber (101) extending from the angular oris (106) to the handle (108), said housing is made of a flexible heat resistant material; the angular oris (106) comprises an anterior transparent wall (106a) and a posterior wall (106b) lined with a reflective coating; said angular oris (106) is attached to a detachable filter (111) to provide illumination at selected wavelengths; the handle comprises a one way pressure valve at an inlet (109), and slots (104) for attaching detachable components of the cheek retractor; said cheek retractor is inflatable with atleast one chemi-luminescent chemical reagent when injected through the one way pressure valve for impelling the chemi-luminescent chemical reagent to reach the chemi-luminescence chamber (101); the cheek retractor is illuminated by a chemi-luminescence reaction, said chemi-luminescence reaction is triggered with atleast one triggering agent injected through the one way pressure valve; and the cheek retractor optionally has a tongue guard (107) with adhesive base having pads attached on underside of tongue.

[0046] FIG. 1, elucidates the preferred embodiment of a novel chemi-luminescent cheek retractor wherein Chemi-luminescence chamber 101 is not localized to one side, instead it runs through a handle 108 and an angular oris 106. Further, Chemi-luminescence chamber 101 is made of a transparent material to withstand the heat generated during the chemi-luminescence reaction that extends from angular oris 106 to the handle 108. The angular oris 106 having anterior wall 106a and posterior wall 106b. The posterior wall 106b is lined with a reflecting coating to focus the illumination towards buccal cavity and minimizing shadowing, by overlapping the field of illumination. The attachment knob 102 allows gadgets or any attachments inserted into the fastening groove 103 to be secured properly, making it more versatile. Multiple attachments are possible or even adjustments can be made due to, extra attachment slots 104. The inlet 109 on the cheek retractor is for fixing the pressure valve thus inflating the cheek retractor with chemical reagents and injecting with triggering agent to allow a chemi-luminescence reaction. The chemical reagents are in either solid, liquid, or gas form or any combination such as divinyle oxalate, 1.0 M NaoH, hydrogen peroxide, a fluorescer (eg. Perylene) and triacetin as solvent. The triggering agents are in either solid, liquid, or gas form such as ozone, hydrogen peroxide and alike. The cheek retractor is inflatable through pressure valve to impel the chemical reagents to reach the angular oris 106. The angular oris is attached to a detachable filter to provide illumination at selected wavelengths. The cheek retractor is further attached to a detachable filter 110 through a snap lock 111 to provide illumination at different/selected wavelengths.

[0047] Further, at least one detachable extendable flanges are provided 105 to abet attachments for aid in isolation by providing a channel for removing saliva. At least one tongue away shield 107 is provided that folds or keeps the tongue away during procedures and therefore, minimizes accidents.

[0048] Further illustration of the preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 2 elucidates the preferred embodiment of the chemi-luminescent cheek retractor from the top perspective view.

[0049] FIG. 3 elucidates the preferred embodiment of the chemi-luminescent cheek retractor from the front perspective view.

[0050] While the best mode has been described in detail, those familiar with the art will recognize various alternative designs and examples within the scope of the following claims.