Salivary duct constriction systems and devices

Abstract

Systems and devices for controlling saliva production by a salivary duct. An exemplary system includes a saliva control device and means for applying a vacuum to a salivary duct to allow attachment of the device over a salivary duct. One such means comprises a hand-held manually actuable pump apparatus. The apparatus can be operated using a single hand. One embodiment of the saliva control device includes an elastic body comprising at least one elastomer and a constriction hole formed through the elastic body. The stiffness of the elastic body and/or the diameter of the constriction hole are configured to provide a degree of constriction to a salivary duct sufficient to prevent a flow of saliva from the duct without cutting off blood flow to tissue surrounding the salivary duct.

1 . A system for use in attaching a saliva control device over a salivary duct to control saliva production comprising: 
 a hollow suction tube having a proximal end and a distal end;    at least one saliva control device comprising: 
 a body having a substantially flat, planar bottom surface for placement against oral tissue surrounding a salivary duct; and  
 an opening formed through the bottom surface of the body that is sufficiently small so that when the salivary duct is pulled through the opening the salivary duct is constricted to help control and prevent saliva production;  
   means for applying a vacuum through the hollow suction tube and to a salivary duct so as to pull the salivary duct through the opening formed through the bottom surface of the body such that the salivary duct is constricted to help control and prevent saliva production.    
   
   
       2 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the body of the at least one saliva control device is an elastic body comprising at least one elastomer, and wherein a stiffness of the elastic body and/or a diameter of the opening formed therein are configured so as to provide a degree of constriction to a salivary duct sufficient to prevent a flow of saliva without substantially cutting off blood flow to tissue surrounding a salivary duct so as to not damage tissue surrounding a salivary duct.  
   
   
       3 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the means for applying a vacuum comprises a plunger or a vacuum pump.  
   
   
       4 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an outer tube slidably disposed over the hollow suction tube such that the outer tube may be used to release the saliva control device from the distal end of the hollow suction tube once the salivary duct is pulled through the opening of the saliva control device.  
   
   
       5 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the body of the saliva control device further comprises a raised rim formed thereon that is sized so as to provide a friction fit which releasably attaches the saliva control device to a distal end of the hollow suction tube, the saliva control device essentially sealing the distal end of the hollow suction tube when the opening of the saliva control device is placed over a salivary duct so that a vacuum may be applied to the hollow suction tube by withdrawing the plunger so as to pull the salivary duct through the opening, constricting the salivary duct to help control and prevent saliva production.  
   
   
       6 . A system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein an outside diameter of the hollow suction tube is configured to friction fit within an inside diameter of the raised rim of the body of the saliva control device.  
   
   
       7 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the means for applying a vacuum comprises: 
 a plunger slidably disposed within the hollow suction tube; and    a manually actuable vacuum pump apparatus comprising: 
 a body comprising a support member formed to receive and cradle the hollow suction tube and plunger, the body further comprising a handle portion;  
 a manually actuable lever attached to said body; and  
 means for operatively coupling the lever at one end to said plunger so that by squeezing the lever the plunger is withdrawn from within the hollow suction tube so as to create a vacuum within the hollow suction tube in order to draw the salivary duct into the opening of the saliva control device such that the salivary duct is constricted to help control and prevent saliva production.  
   
   
   
       8 . A system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the manually actuable lever and the handle portion are substantially parallel.  
   
   
       9 . A system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the body and manually actuable lever are made from an autoclavable material.  
   
   
       10 . A system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the body and manually actuable lever are formed from at least one of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene or polyphenylsulphone.  
   
   
       11 . A system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the means for operatively coupling the lever to the plunger comprises a slot formed in the plunger into which an end of the lever is receivable such that selectively squeezing the lever causes the plunger to withdraw from within the hollow suction tube so as to create a vacuum within the hollow suction tube.  
   
   
       12 . A system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the means for operatively coupling the lever to the plunger comprises a fork disposed at an end of the lever and a series of indented locking positions formed in a stem of the plunger, the fork being configured to engage within the indented locking positions such that selectively squeezing the lever causes the plunger to withdraw from within the hollow suction tube so as to create a vacuum within the hollow suction tube.  
   
   
       13 . A system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the means for operatively coupling the lever to the plunger comprises a coupler attached at one end to the lever and attached at its other end to the plunger such that selectively squeezing the lever causes the coupler to move proximally so as to withdraw the plunger from within the hollow suction tube so as to create a vacuum within the hollow suction tube.  
   
   
       14 . A system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the hollow suction tube is releasably attached to the support member so as to be disposable so as to prevent cross contamination between patients.  
   
   
       15 . A system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the plunger is releasably attached to the support member so as to be disposable so as to prevent cross contamination between patients.  
   
   
       16 . A system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the distal end of the hollow suction tube extends beyond a distal end of the support member so as to prevent the support member from interfering with maneuvering or positioning of the saliva control device during use.  
   
   
       17 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the saliva control device further comprises: 
 a vacuum chamber defined within the body that is in fluid communication with the opening so that upon applying a vacuum to the vacuum chamber, the applied vacuum will assist in pulling the salivary duct through the opening in order to constrict and seal the salivary duct within the opening; and    an air evacuation passage in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber through which a vacuum is applied to the vacuum chamber, the air evacuation passage comprising a one-way valve for sealing the evacuation passage after the vacuum has been applied.    
   
   
       18 . A system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the air evacuation passage comprises a one-way slit valve.  
   
   
       19 . A system for use in attaching a saliva control device over a salivary duct to control saliva production comprising: 
 a hollow suction tube having a proximal end and a distal end;    a plunger slidably disposed within the hollow suction tube;    at least one saliva control device comprising; 
 a body having a substantially flat, planar bottom surface for placement against oral tissue surrounding a salivary duct, said flat planar bottom surface having an opening formed therein that is sufficiently small so that when the salivary duct is pulled through the opening the salivary duct is constricted to help control and prevent saliva production; and  
 a raised rim formed on the body of the saliva control device that is sized so as to provide a friction fit which releasably attaches the saliva control device to the distal end of the hollow suction tube, which essentially seals the distal end of the hollow suction tube when the opening of the saliva control device is placed over a salivary duct so that a vacuum may be applied to the hollow suction tube by withdrawing the plunger; and  
   a manually actuable pump apparatus comprising: 
 a body comprising a support member formed to receive and cradle the hollow suction tube and plunger, said body further comprising a handle portion;  
 a manually actuable lever attached to said body; and  
 means for operatively coupling the lever at one end to said plunger so that by squeezing the lever the plunger is withdrawn from within the hollow suction tube so as to create a vacuum within the hollow suction tube in order to draw the salivary duct at least partially into the opening of the saliva control device.  
   
   
   
       20 . A saliva control device for attachment to a salivary duct so as to prevent production and flow of saliva from a salivary duct comprising: 
 an elastic body comprising at least one elastomer;    an opening formed through the elastic body for constricting around a salivary duct; and wherein a stiffness of the elastic body and/or a diameter of the opening are configured so as to provide a degree of constriction to a salivary duct sufficient to prevent a flow of saliva without substantially cutting off blood flow to tissue surrounding a salivary duct so as to not damage tissue surrounding a salivary duct; and    means for providing a gripping surface for facilitating removal of the saliva control device.    
   
   
       21 . A saliva control device as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the means for providing a gripping surface for facilitating removal of the saliva control device comprises at least one of: 
 a raised rim extending around an outer perimeter of the elastic body;    one or more ear-like protrusions;    a slit extending from an outer edge of the elastic body towards but not to the opening; or    a cut-out extending from an outer edge of the elastic body towards but not to the opening.    
   
   
       22 . A saliva control device as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the at least one elastomer comprises at least one of a thermoplastic elastomer, a polyolefin, latex, or a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene.  
   
   
       23 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elastomer has a stretchability of at least about 200 percent.  
   
   
       24 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elastomer has a stretchability of at least about 400 percent.  
   
   
       25 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elastomer has a stretchability of at least about 800 percent.