Methods, devices, systems, assemblies, and kits for tissue retraction in an oral cavity

Abstract

Provided herein is a retraction device for retracting soft tissue from the dental surfaces in the oral cavity of a patient. The retraction device is comprised of a topology conformable structure, where the topology conformable structure is adaptable to be delivered to the oral cavity in a constrained shape. The device can then undergo a conformation change in the oral cavity, where the device transforms into its unconstrained shape. The unconstrained shape of the device creates a useable working field in the oral cavity. The useable working field can provide increased accessibility to and/or visibility within the oral cavity. Also provided herein are methods for using the device and kits.

1 . A retraction device comprising a topology conformable structure adaptable to be in a constrained shape that can be delivered into an oral cavity and further adaptable to be in an unconstrained shape to create a useable working field in the oral cavity, the useable working field providing increased accessibility and increased visibility within the oral cavity. 
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the conformable structure is a frame. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the conformable structure further comprises a membrane. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a light source. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the device is adaptable to be deployed in under 1 minute. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the device is adaptable to create a working field in under 1 minute. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the device is adaptable to be deployed in less than 20 seconds. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a tongue retractor. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the tongue retractor is further adaptable to contain and confine the tongue. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the tongue retractor is adaptable to deflect the tongue without passing over either arch of teeth. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising at least one evacuation component. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the device is adaptable to retract soft tissue surrounding at least one arch of teeth. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the device is adaptable to retract soft tissue surrounding an upper arch of teeth and a lower arch of teeth. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the device is further adaptable to isolate at least a portion of gum tissue located in the oral cavity. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising at least one aperture to facilitate the ability to breathe through the device. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the scanning comprises at least one of digital scanning or optical scanning. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the device is adaptable to isolate both arches of teeth is less then 20 seconds. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the device is adaptable to be positioned without interfering with access to dental surfaces and further adaptable to provide maximum patient comfort. 
   
   
       19 . A retraction device comprising a topology conformable structure adaptable to create a working field in an oral cavity of a patient, wherein the working field is at least 10% larger than a working field created in the oral cavity of the patient without use of the device. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the device is adaptable to provide at least 10% more access to an area of interest in the oral cavity. 
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the device is adaptable to provide at least 10% more visibility within the oral cavity. 
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the device is adaptable to provide at least 10% less contamination of structures located in the oral cavity by fluid. 
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the device is adaptable to provide at least 10% less interference by soft tissue located in the oral cavity. 
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the conformable structure is a frame. 
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 19  further comprising a membrane. 
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 19  further comprising a light source. 
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the device is adaptable to isolate at least one arch located in the oral cavity. 
   
   
       28 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the device is adaptable to isolate an upper arch and a lower arch located in the oral cavity. 
   
   
       29 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the device is adaptable to isolate at least a portion of gum tissue in the oral cavity. 
   
   
       30 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the device is adaptable to be deployed in under 1 minute. 
   
   
       31 . The device of  claim 30  wherein the device is adaptable to create a working field in under 1 minute. 
   
   
       32 . The device of  claim 30  wherein the device is adaptable to be deployed in under 20 seconds. 
   
   
       33 . The device of  claim 30  wherein the device requires no further adjustment after being deployed. 
   
   
       34 . The device of  claim 19  further comprising a tongue retractor. 
   
   
       35 . The device of  claim 34  wherein the tongue retractor is adaptable to contain and confine the tongue. 
   
   
       36 . The device of  claim 34  wherein the tongue retractor is adaptable to allow a first occlusal surface and a second occlusal surface to touch. 
   
   
       37 . The device of  claim 34  wherein the tongue retractor is adaptable to compress at least one side of the tongue. 
   
   
       38 . The device of  claim 34  wherein the tongue retractor is adaptable to compress both sides of the tongue. 
   
   
       39 . The device of  claim 19  further adaptable to apply suction to the oral cavity. 
   
   
       40 . The device of  claim 19  further comprising at least one aperture adaptable to facilitate the ability to breathe through the device. 
   
   
       41 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the device is adaptable to at least one dental arch in less than 20 seconds. 
   
   
       42 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the device is adaptable to be positioned without interfering with access to dental surfaces and further adaptable to provide maximum patient comfort. 
   
   
       43 . A retraction device comprising a malleable frame adaptable to be in a constrained shape that can be delivered into an oral cavity and further adaptable to be in an unconstrained shape to isolate at least one arch of teeth from saliva and soft tissue surrounding the arch. 
   
   
       44 . The device of  claim 43  wherein the malleable frame is a wire frame. 
   
   
       45 . The device of  claim 44  wherein the malleable frame further comprises a membrane. 
   
   
       46 . The device of  claim 43  further comprising a light source. 
   
   
       47 . The device of  claim 43  wherein the device is adaptable to be deployed in under 1 minute. 
   
   
       48 . The device of  claim 43  wherein the device is adaptable to be deployed in under 20 seconds. 
   
   
       49 . The device of  claim 43  wherein the device is adaptable to create a working field in under 1 minute. 
   
   
       50 . The device of  claim 43  further comprising a tongue retractor. 
   
   
       51 . The device of  claim 50  wherein the tongue retractor is further adaptable to contain and confine the tongue. 
   
   
       52 . The device of  claim 50  wherein the tongue retractor is adaptable to allow a first occlusal surface and a second occlusal surface to touch. 
   
   
       53 . The device of  claim 43  further comprising at least one evacuation component. 
   
   
       54 . The device of  claim 43  wherein the device is adaptable to retract soft tissue surrounding at least one arch of teeth. 
   
   
       55 . The device of  claim 43  wherein the device is adaptable to retract soft tissue surrounding an upper arch of teeth and a lower arch of teeth. 
   
   
       56 . The device of  claim 43  wherein the device is further adaptable to isolate at least a portion of gum tissue located in the oral cavity. 
   
   
       57 . The device of  claim 43  further comprising at least one aperture to facilitate the ability to breathe through the device. 
   
   
       58 . The device of  claim 43  wherein the device is further adaptable to facilitate the application of a substance to at least one tooth surface. 
   
   
       59 . The device of  claim 43  wherein the substance is a powder. 
   
   
       60 . The device of  claim 43  wherein the device is adaptable to isolate at least one dental arch in less than 20 seconds. 
   
   
       61 . The device of  claim 43  wherein the device is adaptable to create a working field without interfering with access to dental surfaces. 
   
   
       62 . The device of  claim 43  wherein the device is adaptable to be positioned in the mouth with maximum patient comfort. 
   
   
       63 . A method of retracting tissue in an oral cavity comprising:
 inserting a retraction device comprising a topology conformable structure adaptable to be in a constrained shape that can be delivered into an oral cavity and further adaptable to be in an unconstrained shape to create a useable working field in the oral cavity, the useable working field providing increased accessibility and increased visibility within the oral cavity; and   positioning the retraction device in the oral cavity to create the working field.   
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 63  wherein the positioning step is performed in less than 1 minutes. 
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 63  wherein the positioning step is performed in less than 20 seconds. 
   
   
       66 . A method of retracting tissue in an oral cavity comprising:
 inserting a retraction device comprising a topology conformable structure adaptable to create a working field in an oral cavity of a patient, wherein the working field is at least 10% larger than a working field in oral cavity of the patient without use of the device; and   positioning the retraction device in the oral cavity to create an isolated working field.   
   
   
       67 . A method of facilitating the creation of an oral cavity model comprising:
 inserting a retraction device comprising a topology conformable structure adaptable to be in a constrained shape that can be delivered into an oral cavity and further adaptable to be in an unconstrained shape to create a useable working field in the oral cavity, the useable working field providing increased accessibility and increased visibility within the oral cavity; and   positioning the retraction device in the oral cavity to create the useable working field in the oral cavity.   
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 67  further comprising the step of illuminating the oral cavity with the retraction device. 
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 67  further comprising the step of applying a powder to the at least one dry tooth surface. 
   
   
       70 . A kit for retracting tissue in an oral cavity comprising:
 a topology conformable structure adaptable to be in a constrained shape that can be delivered into an oral cavity and further adaptable to be in an unconstrained shape to create a useable working field in the oral cavity, the useable working field providing increased accessibility and increased visibility within the oral cavity.   
   
   
       71 . The kit of  claim 70  further comprising a tongue retractor. 
   
   
       72 . The kit of  claim 70  further comprising a light ring. 
   
   
       73 . The kit of  claim 70  further comprising an evacuation component. 
   
   
       74 . The kit of  claim 70  further comprising a membrane adaptable to be fitted over the frame. 
   
   
       75 . The kit of  claim 70  further comprising a gum protection cover. 
   
   
       76 . The kit of  claim 70  further comprising a lip ring. 
   
   
       77 . A kit for retracting tissue in an oral cavity comprising:
 a topology conformable structure adaptable to be in a constrained shape that can be delivered into an oral cavity and further adaptable to be in an unconstrained shape to create a useable working field in the oral cavity, the useable working field providing increased accessibility and increased visibility within the oral cavity; and   a kit of secondary dental products wherein tissue retraction in the oral cavity is necessary.   
   
   
       78 . The kit of  claim 77  further comprising an illumination source. 
   
   
       79 . The kit of  claim 77  further comprising at least one of an optical scanner or digital scanner. 
   
   
       80 . The kit of  claim 77  further comprising a powder. 
   
   
       81 . The kit of  claim 77  further comprising a whitening or bleaching kit.