A medical device that improves patient outcomes by preventing dental injury due to involuntary clenching during emergence from anesthesia.
Bite Block, Tongue Depressor/Retractor brochure
Need:
About 1 in 7000 patients awakening from anesthesia experience dental injuries known as “Emergence Clenching Dental Trauma.” This is reportedly the most common cause of malpractice claims against anesthesia providers. According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the placement of an airway device (for patients receiving anesthesia) transfers jaw clenching forces. While teeth can often sustain high amounts of vertical force, patients under anesthesia often sustain long periods of jaw clenching. Additionally, diseased and restored teeth are more susceptible to injury.
Solution:
Cal Poly researchers developed a new combination bite block, tongue elevator/retractor and airway for establishing and maintaining an open airway. The new device helps prevent jaw clenching and dental tissue damage for patients undergoing anesthesia. This tool maintains a patient’s open airway and can also be used as a bite block and inventive tongue depressor, which elevates and retracts the tongue to reduce interference. The bite block is compressible and should be inserted in the patient’s mouth; the tongue elevator component optional and inserted into the side of the bite block.
Applications:
- Maintain open airway for patients undergoing anesthesia
- Bite block
- Tongue depressor
- Reduce interference with tongue for patients under anesthesia
- Reduces tool interference with mask ventilation for patients
Advantages:
- Easy to reuse
- Reduce Liability
- Reduce injuries
- Reduces dental strain for patients
- Reduces tool waste
- Modular
- Multipurpose
IP Status:
US 7,963,286 issued June 21, 2011
Licensing Status:
Available - please contact us to discuss