Oral retractor
US8376743B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 18, 2011 |
| Grant date | Feb 19, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 26, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61C5/90
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The oral retractor is provided for retracting at least a portion of a patient's mouth. The oral retractor is formed from single, continuous closed-loop strand of stainless steel wire. The oral retractor includes a superior lip-engaging portion for retracting the patient's upper lip away from the upper teeth and gums, and an inferior lip-engaging portion for retracting the patient's lower lip away from the patient's lower teeth and gums. Bilateral arcuate cheek-engaging portions extend posteriorly from the lip-engaging portions for retracting the patient's cheeks away from the teeth and gums. The lip-engaging portions are formed from linear portions defining tented arches that extend anteriorly, and the superior lip-engaging portion may be canted upward, while the inferior lip-engaging portion may be canted downward. The cheek-engaging portions may be substantially parabolic. The retractor may be substantially symmetrical about planes bisecting the retractor vertically and horizontally.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.