SELF-ILLUMINATING CHEEK RETRACTOR

Abstract

A novel 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 reversibly inflatable; chemi-luminiscence is triggered by the using the nitrous and ozone gas that pumped in to selective multiple compartments; a fiber reinforced latch and adjustable screw is provided to control unrestrained opening or closing, thereby minimizing the damage due to the uncontrolled elastic reflex of the material to the device and due to the force exerted on the jaws of the patient; the chambers also lined with a reflective coating on the inner surface to aid in better and uniform illumination; a multi-function valve is provided at the split junction capable of allowing various reversible attachments e.g. a suction tube, one LED diode-charged, wireless transmitter, camera etc.

Claims

1. A novel chemi-luminescent cheek retractor comprising a housing of transparent heat resistant flexible material, means for storage of chemical reagents, provision for allowing contact between the separated chemical reagents to produce chemi-luminescence triggered by using the nitrous and ozone gas; wherein: a) the cheek retractor is reversibly inflatable, stored in deflated state and inflated for use, with gas such as nitrous oxide through a pressure valve thereby allowing the necessary conformational change required for affixing it; b) a fiber reinforced latch and adjustable screw is provided, to control unrestrained opening or closing, allowing selective expansion or contraction of the retractor, thereby minimizing the damage due to the uncontrolled elastic reflex of the material to the device and due to the force exerted on the jaws of the patient; c) the chambers housing the gas or the liquid allowing the chemi-luminiscent reaction lined with a reflective coating on the inner surface to aid in better and uniform illumination; d) a valve at the split junction is provided capable of attaching reversibly attachable components, for providing multi-functionality, the purpose of detachable components is to facilitate easy cleaning and sterilization; e) at least one detachable extendable flanges to the buccal mucosa; and optionally a tongue guard with adhesive base chemi-luminscent pads are provided to be attached on the undersurface of the tongue area for the dual purpose of isolation and illumination; and optionally nitrous oxide can be delivered through the retractor efficiently as an anesthetic.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat resistant flexible material shall include silicone based material.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chemical reagents are stored in any form such as solid, liquid, gas or any combination thereof.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transparent casing over the chemi-luminescent cheek retractor can be supplemented with filters of different wavelength.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one detachable extendable flanges to the buccal mucosa aid in isolation by providing a channel for removing saliva.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one detachable extendable flanges provides a closed channel for local anaesthesia by utilizing dermal adhesive pads.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein valve split junction shall accommodate at least one suction tube to facilitate saliva ejection and at least one LED diode-charged externally by a capacitor, operated via a wireless transmitter to sync the flash of the camera during intra-oral photography;

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one detachable extendable flanges provides a detachable window for intra-oral camera/laser diode/photo-spectrometer for detecting lesions like leukoplakia and oral lichen planus which are known to have different refractive properties when a chemi-luminiscent light is shined on such diseased tissue.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one detachable extendable flanges the similar laser diode could be also used to provide phototherapy for treatment of lichen planus/leukoplakia and also to speed orthodontic treatment via photo-bio-modulation.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein chemi-luminesce is triggered by using the nitrous and ozone gas through a laser beam.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] A complete understanding of the system and method of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the following drawings:

[0048] FIG. 1 elucidates the preferred embodiment of the novel chemi-luminescent cheek retractor from the top view;

[0049] FIG. 2 elucidates the preferred embodiment of the novel chemi-luminescent cheek retractor from the top perspective view; and

[0050] FIG. 3 elucidates the preferred embodiment of the novel chemi-luminescent cheek retractor from the front perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0051] 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.

[0052] The present invention provides a novel self-illuminating cheek retractor. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved apparatus for dental illumination. 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).

[0053] In an embodiment of the current invention, the cheek retractor has continuous chamber housing the gas or the fluid, providing the chemi-luminiscent reaction. These chambers are lined with 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). As the lighting is not secluded to one part, rather the lighting is generated from angular oris to handle which is away from the patients buccal cavity, therefore the internal coating ensures that the lighting is not wasted and 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. The invention provides a novel cheek retractor, housing a lighting system that is LASER activated lighting system that does not require external power source and is economically viable. The cheek retractor lighting system provides at least 4 hours of luminance. The perishable chemical reagents, in any form, can be easily replaced so the device can be used incessantly after disinfection.

[0054] The cheek retractor is tamperproof and light weight. The transparent cover or the chemical reagents can be varied to emit different spectrum of light other than the standard yellow issue that mimics the natural light. The teeth retractor may be metallic, non metallic or polymer which are inert to the chemical reagents and reaction.

[0055] In an embodiment of the current invention a novel chemi-luminescent cheek retractor, comprising a housing of transparent heat resistant flexible material such as silicone based materials, means for storage of chemical reagents, provision for allowing contact between the separated chemical reagents to produce chemi-luminescence, chemi-luminiscence is triggered by using the nitrous and ozone gas; wherein: the cheek retractor is reversibly inflatable, stored in deflated state and inflated for use, with gasses such as nitrous oxide through a pressure valve thereby allowing the necessary conformational change required for affixing it.

[0056] The invention provides a novel cheek retractor, housing a lighting system LASER activated lighting system that does not require external power source and is economically viable. The cheek retractor lighting system provides at least 4 hours of luminance. The chemi-luminescent cheek retractor is affixed into the oral cavity of the patient therefore there are no adjustments or hindrances or shadows. The perishable chemical reagents, in any form, can be easily replaced so the device can be used incessantly after disinfection.

[0057] In yet another embodiment the cheek retractor is reversibly inflatable, stored in deflated state and inflated for use, with nitrous oxide wherein means for reversibly connecting a pressure valve is provided, thereby executing the necessary conformational change. The nitrous is used to provide the chemi-luminiscence by an ozone trigger or a LASER trigger.

[0058] In yet another embodiment, the cheek retractor has at least one fiber reinforced latch and adjustable screw, provided to control unrestrained opening or closing, allowing selective expansion and/or contraction of the retractor, thereby minimizing the damage due to the uncontrolled elastic reflex the device, and due to the force exerted on the jaws of the patient.

[0059] In yet another embodiment the cheek retractor has the chambers housing the gas or the liquid providing the chemi-luminiscent reaction are lined with a reflective coating on the inner surface to aid in better and uniform illumination, and directing the light towards the buccal cavity. As the lighting is not secluded to one part, rather the lighting is generated from the handle which is away from the patients buccal cavity, therefore the lining ensures that the lighting is not wasted and is more focused towards the cavity. This also ensures that shadowing is minimized due to multiple sources of light and overlapping fields of illumination.

[0060] In yet another embodiment the cheek retractor has at least one valve or similar means at the split junction capable of attaching a suction tube to facilitate saliva ejection and at least one LED diode-charged externally or a similar means to be operated via a wireless transmitter to sync the flash of the camera during intra-oral photography.

[0061] In yet another embodiment the cheek retractor has at least one detachable extendable flanges to the buccal mucosa or a similar means that a). aid in isolation by providing a channel for removing saliva; b). provides a closed channel for local anaesthesia by utilizing dermal adhesive pads; c). provides a detachable window for intra-oral camera/laser diode/photo-spectrometer, for detecting lesions like leukoplakia and oral lichen planus, which are known to have different refractive properties when a chemi-luminiscent light is shined on such diseased tissue; and at least one laser diode could be also used to provide phototherapy for treatment of lichen planus/leukoplakia and also to speed orthodontic treatment via photo-bio-modulation.

[0062] In yet another embodiment the cheek retractor has multi-detachable components to faciliate easy cleaning and sterlization of the retractor.

[0063] In yet another embodiment the cheek retractor is optionally a tongue guard with adhesive base chemi-luminscent pads, provided to be attached on the undersurface of the tongue area, for the dual purpose of isolation and illumination; and optionally nitrous oxide can be delivered through the retractor efficiently as an anesthetic.

[0064] In an embodiment of the current invention a novel chemi-luminescent cheek retractor, comprising a housing of transparent heat resistant flexible material such as silicone based materials, means for storage of chemical reagents, provision for allowing contact between the separated chemical reagents to produce chemi-luminescence, chemi-luminiscence is triggered by using the nitrous and ozone gas; wherein: a valve at the split junction is provided capable of attaching reversibly attachable components, for providing multi-functionality, the purpose of detachable components is to facilitate easy cleaning and sterilization, at least one detachable extendable flanges to the buccal mucosa that:

a. aid in isolation by providing a channel for removing saliva;
b. provides a closed channel for local anaesthesia by utilizing dermal adhesive pads; and
c. provides a detachable window for intra-oral camera/laser diode/photo-spectrometer for detecting lesions like leukoplakia and oral lichen planus which are known to have different refractive properties when a chemi-luminiscent light is shined on such diseased tissue and at least one laser diode could be also used to provide phototherapy for treatment of lichen planus/leukoplakia and also to speed orthodontic treatment via photo-bio-modulation.

[0065] FIG. 1, elucidates the preferred embodiment of the novel chemi-luminescent cheek retractor wherein Chemi-luminescent chamber 101 is not localized to one side, instead it runs through the handle 108 and angular oris 106. Further, Chemi-luminescent chamber 101 are lined with reflective coating to focus the light inside the buccal cavity, as Chemi-luminescent chamber 101 extends from angular oris 106 to the handle 108, therefore the reflecting coating is selectively applied to focus the light towards buccal cavity and minimizing shadowing, by overlapping the field of illumination. The attachment knob 102 allows the 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. Further, at least one detachable extendable flanges are provided 105 to abet attachments for aid in isolation by providing a channel for removing saliva; provides a closed channel for local anaesthesia by utilizing dermal adhesive pads; and provides a detachable window for intra-oral camera/laser diode/photo-spectrometer for detecting lesions like leukoplakia and oral lichen planus which are known to have different refractive properties when a chemi-luminiscent light is shined on such diseased tissue and at least one laser diode could be also used to provide phototherapy for treatment of lichen planus/leukoplakia and also to speed orthodontic treatment via photo-bio-modulation.

[0066] At least one tongue away shield 107 is provided that folds or keeps the tongue away during procedures and therefore, minimizes accidents.

[0067] Further illustration of the preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 2 elucidates the preferred embodiment of the novel chemi-luminescent cheek retractor from the top perspective view; and

[0068] FIG. 3 elucidates the preferred embodiment of the novel chemi-luminescent cheek retractor from the front perspective view.

[0069] 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.