Endoscopic bite block

Abstract

An endoscopic bite block, with teeth position defining regions which guide the subject's teeth to grip the bite block in their natural position, with the teeth of the upper jaw positioned further out than the lower jaw teeth. These teeth position defining regions are also preferably curved to match the curved shape of the jaw. The upper and lower parts of the front plate of the bite block may also be positioned at different distances out, so that upper and lower lip regions both contact the front plate snuggly. The bite block may be used with separate oral/nasal cannulae, or may incorporate breath sampling or gas supply cannulae. A flexible flapped curtain at the outer end of the bite block may be provided to largely enclose the inner volume of the bite block to enable more accurate capnographic sampling under conditions of wide-open mouth breathing.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . An endoscopic bite block, comprising:
 a central channel comprising an upper wall having an upper outer surface and an upper inner surface; and a lower wall having a lower outer surface and a lower inner surface;   a breath sampling channel configured to sample orally exhaled breath;   a front plate merged with an outer end section of said central channel, said front plate comprising an upper section and a lower section; said upper section comprising a groove, wherein at least part of a wall of said groove is common with a wall of said upper section of said front plate; and   a collection tube connectable to said breath sampling channel, said collection tube configured to receive the orally exhaled breath sampled by said breath sampling channel.   
     
     
         34 . The endoscopic bite block according to  claim 33 , wherein at least part of said upper and lower outer surfaces of said central channel comprise a material softer than that of said upper and lower inner surfaces. 
     
     
         35 . The endoscopic bite block according to  claim 33 , wherein said collection tube is disposed in said upper wall of said central channel, such that it enters said breath sampling channel in a direction facing a stream of exhaled oral breath. 
     
     
         36 . The endoscopic bite block according to  claim 33 , wherein at least one of said upper and lower outer surfaces has a generally flattened portion. 
     
     
         37 . The endoscopic bite block according to  claim 33 , wherein at least one of said upper and lower outer surfaces is curved to accommodate a human jaw. 
     
     
         38 . The endoscopic bite block according to  claim 33 , wherein said front plate further comprises connecting points for attaching said bite block to said subject, said connecting points located above a horizontal center line of said bite block. 
     
     
         39 . The endoscopic bite block according to  claim 33 , further comprising a penetrable curtain disposed in said outer end section of said central channel across a majority of an internal cross section of said central channel thereby substantially preventing flow of gases across said majority of said cross section. 
     
     
         40 . The endoscopic bite block according to  claim 33 , wherein said collection tube is further configured to receive nasal exhaled breath from nasal prongs received within said groove. 
     
     
         41 . The endoscopic bite block according to  claim 33 , wherein said front plate further comprises at least two lateral openings, wherein each of said at least two lateral openings are configured to be positioned on opposite sides of the patient's mouth, thereby reducing a contact area of said front plate with said subject's skin. 
     
     
         42 . The endoscopic bite block according to  claim 33 , wherein said upper section of said front plate is disposed forwardly relative to said lower section of said front plate. 
     
     
         43 . The endoscopic bite block according to  claim 33 , wherein said groove is formed within a wall of said upper section, such that said wall of said upper section circumferentially delimits said groove.