The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 12, 1998
Filed:
Nov. 27, 1996
Gregory C Skinner, Hemet, CA (US);
Gaylen J Cox, Provo, UT (US);
Other;
Abstract
A dental absorbency device is disclosed in one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention as including a flat section comprising a single sheet of a highly absorbent material having a contoured elongated shape preferably sized to fit comfortably within a human mouth for the purpose of absorbing moisture, contaminants, blood, saliva, water, and/or other fluids at an operative field. In preferred design, the flat section may be formed having an upper surface, a lower surface, and peripheral edges which are unobstructed to fluid flow so as to provide a means for encouraging the absorption of fluids therethrough. The upper surface is preferably formed having an impervious, non-absorbent coating that resists slippage of the elongated flat section when disposed within the mouth of a patient. Structurally, the upper surface of the flat section includes at least one porous opening for absorbing fluids therethrough, whereas in contrast, the lower surface provides a means for absorbing fluids through its entire external surface area. A collection reservoir is preferably disposed between the upper and lower surfaces of the elongated flat section and functions to provide a means for retaining the collected fluids therein.