FR2614776A1 - Tongue depressor for medical examination of the buccopharyngeal cavity, fitted with its end with a light source and a hygienic cap - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a tongue depressor for medical examination of the buccopharyngeal cavity. It is fitted at the observation-zone end of the intrabuccal part 2, with a light source 6. The intrabuccal part 2 may be protected, for reasons of hygiene, with a means acting as a removable sheath 7, which can be disposed of after each use. The said sheath 7 conducts light either completely or solely at a window located at the end of the tongue depressor opposite the light source 6. Tongue depressor for medical examination.

Description

The subject of the invention is a tongue depressor for the medical examination of the bucco-pharyngeal cavity provided, at its end, with a source
light and a hygienic cap.

 The tongue depressor allows the inspection of the oral cavity and its background.

The state of the art can be defined by the following patents
- US 3,643,083, this patent describes an electric battery integrated in a device which makes it possible to provide lighting for a device for medical diagnosis. The light source is located in the body of the device, a set of mirrors returns and directs the light into the appropriate fitting fitted on the central body.

 - FR-A-2 214 449, this patent describes a spatula in particular made of synthetic material. The object of this invention is to provide a spatula which makes the medical examination less unpleasant for the patient. For this purpose, the tip of the spatula is provided with two projecting teeth. With regard to lighting, the spatula is made of light-conducting synthetic material, the end of the spatula constitutes an insertion head which can be inserted in the appropriate window of a flashlight. The light source is therefore located at the body of the device and not at the end of said spatula or tongue depressor.

 The devices, such as spatulas, described in the patents or usual, use a light source which is located at a distance from the observed area. Thus, a part of the lips, of the tongue, etc., being between the light source and the observed zone will be interposed by preventing observation or by forming shadows. These drawbacks are particularly troublesome, in particular for examining the gingival grooves of the back of the oral floor or of a dental cavity.

 The invention tends to avoid all of these drawbacks.

 The tongue depressor according to the invention simultaneously allows the illumination of any part of the oral mucosa.

 The tongue depressor according to the invention has two parts. The first part is the central body which includes the control buttons, the battery, and the second part is the tongue depressor itself which is the part for intraoral use. This part is provided, at its end on the side of the area to be observed, with an illuminating light source, said part for intraoral use receives for hygienic reasons, a means acting as a sheath, disposable after each examination. Said sheath conducts light completely or only at a window arranged at the end of the tongue depressor opposite the light source. The part for intraoral use is mounted articulated on the central body acting as a handle against which it can come to fold.

 The head of the central body has means serving as a removable screen between the face of the user and the oral cavity.

 Said screen is transparent or else has an observation window, it is arranged in a vertical plane, perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the tongue depressor or part intended for intraoral use.

 According to one embodiment, the screen is mounted articulated around a hinge disposed at the head of the central body acting as a handle. It has two positions, a service position where it is erected vertically between the user and the cavity to be observed, and a folded position against the handle.

 According to another embodiment, the removable screen is composed of slats forming a screen in the same way as a fan.

 The purpose of the screen is to avoid aerial bacterial contamination between the patient and the user during the examination of the background of the oral cavity, as well as the inconveniences due to the breath of one and / or the other.

 Electrical contacts supply the lighting only if the part intended for intraoral use is in the unfolded position. Said electrical contacts are arranged at the hinge.

 The attached drawings are given as indicative and non-limiting examples. They represent a preferred embodiment according to the invention. They will allow the invention to be easily understood.

 Figure 1 is a perspective view, seen from the side of the tongue depressor with its part intended intraoral unfolded and the protective screen raised.

 Figure 2 is a sectional view of the tongue depressor shown in Figure 1.

 Figure 3 is a view of the tongue depressor with its intraoral part folded against the handle and the protective screen also folded against the handle.

 Figure 4 is a plan view along the axis A-A of the intraoral part.

 Figure 5 is a sectional view along the longitudinal axis, seen along the axis B-B of the part for intraoral use.

 Figure 6 is an exploded view of the various elements making up the part for intraoral use.

 The tongue depressor according to the invention has two parts 1, 2. The first part 1 is the central body which acts as the handle of the device. This part 1 comprises the control buttons 3 and the power supply 4 (batteries, batteries ...).

 The second part 2 is the part for intraoral destination or tongue depressor proper. This part 2 is provided at its end 5, on the side of the area to be observed, with an illuminating light source 6.

This light source 6 therefore illuminates directly at the level of the area to be observed and not with a certain distance between the source and the object to be observed.

 For hygienic reasons, the part 2 for intraoral use receives a means acting as a sheath 7. This sheath 7 is discarded after each use of tongue depressors 2. According to the embodiment shown, the sheath 7 shown is conductive of light.

 The intraoral part 2 is articulated at the level of the head 8 of the central body or handle 1. The end 13 of part 2 is mounted on a hinge 9. Part 2 can thus be in function in a horizontal position (see the figure 1j or in the folded position (see figure 3).

 Electrical contacts 10 are provided to ensure electrical continuity between the head 8 of the handle 1 and the part 2. These electrical contacts ensure the passage of electric current only if the part 2 for intraoral use is in the deployed position.

 The end 5 of the part 2 is provided with a protective cap 11 which protects the light source 6.

 A lug 12 is provided at the end 13 of the part 2, it allows the sheath 7 to be held in place.

 At the head 8 of the handle 1, a protective screen 14 is arranged diametrically opposite the part 2 for intraoral use.

This screen 14 is mounted articulated on a hinge 15.

 The protective screen 14 is made up of strips 16 which unfold forming a fan which forms a protective screen.

 The screen 14 may include a hole or a window 17 for sighting and / or observation.

Claims (10)

 1. Tongue depressor for medical examination of the buccopharyngeal cavity, characterized in that it is provided at the end, on the side of the area to be observed, with the part intended for intraoral use (2), with a light source (6).  2. Tongue depressor according to claim 1 characterized in that the part intended for intraoral (2) can be protected, for hygienic reasons, by a means acting as a sheath (7) removable, disposable after each use.  3. tongue depressor according to any one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that said sheath (7) is conductive of light in whole or only at a window disposed at the end of the lower tongue opposite the light source (6).  4. tongue depressor according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 characterized in that a lug (12) is provided at the end (13) of the part (2), it allows the maintenance in place of the sheath (7).  5. Tongue depressor according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 characterized in that the part intended for intraoral use (2) is articulated at the level of the head (8) of the central body or handle (1); the end (13) of the part (2) is mounted on a hinge (9); the part (2) can thus be in function in the horizontal position or in the folded position.  6. Tongue depressor according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 characterized in that electrical contacts (10) are provided to ensure electrical continuity between the head (8) of the handle (1) and part (2); these electrical contacts ensure the passage of electric current only if the part (2) for intraoral use is in the deployed position.  7. Tongue depressor according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 characterized in that the end (5) of the part (2) is provided with a protective cap (11) which protects the light source (6).  8. Tongue depressor according to claim 1 characterized in that the head (8) of the central body (1) comprises means acting as a removable screen (14) between the face of the user and the oral cavity.  9. tongue depressor according to any one of claims 1 or 8 characterized in that said screen is transparent or else includes an observation window, it is arranged in a vertical plane, perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the tongue depressor or part for intraoral destination.  10. Tongue depressor according to any one of claims 1, 8 or 9 characterized in that according to one embodiment, the screen is mounted articulated around a hinge disposed at the head of the central body acting as a handle; it has two positions, a service position where it is erected vertically between the user and the cavity to be observed, and a folded position against the handle.  Tongue depressor according to any one of claims 1, 8, 9 or 10 characterized in that the protective screen (14) is composed of lamellae (16) unfolding in forming a fan which forms a protective screen; the screen (14) may include a hole or a window (17) for sighting and / or observation.