Backflow prevention sleeve for suctioning devices

Abstract

A sleeve for preventing backflow and cross-contamination between patients of fluid and particulate matter as well as other contaminants present within a dental/medical suctioning device. The sleeve includes a sleeve inlet end that sealingly attaches to and surrounds at least a portion of the suctioning device the vacuum hose to the evacuator tip. The sleeve also has a sleeve exhaust end that is inserted into the control valve and can reside within the interior lumen of the vacuum hose during normal suction operation. During operation, the sleeve provides a seal between the patient contact part and the control valve of the suctioning device. The proximate end collapses, seals, and/or provides a barrier when the suctioning device does not draw a vacuum away from the patient and towards the vacuum source.

1 . A backflow prevention sleeve comprising: 
 an elastic sleeve member having a continuous sleeve lumen extending between a sleeve inlet end and a sleeve exhaust end, the sleeve inlet adapted for retainable application over a vacuum evacuator tip exhaust end such that the elastic sleeve member defines an expanded configuration under the influence of a suction flow and a collapsed configuration in the absence of the suction flow.    
   
   
       2 . The backflow prevention sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve inlet end comprises an elastic annular member such that the elastic sleeve member is sealingly retained over the vacuum evacuator tip exhaust end.  
   
   
       3 . The backflow prevention sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic sleeve member has a sleeve length defined between the sleeve inlet end and the sleeve exhaust end, the sleeve length being between about 2 inches to about 30 inches in length.  
   
   
       4 . The backflow prevention sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic sleeve member comprises a material selected from the group comprising: a natural rubber and a synthetic rubber.  
   
   
       5 . A backflow prevention device for use with a suction system comprising: 
 a vacuum evacuator tip having an evacuator lumen defined between an evacuator inlet end and an evacuator outlet end;    a backflow prevention sleeve having a sleeve lumen defined between a sleeve inlet end and a sleeve outlet end; and    a means for expanding the sleeve lumen,    wherein the backflow prevention sleeve is attached to the vacuum evacuator tip by operably coupling the sleeve inlet end and the evacuator outlet end, and    wherein the means for expanding the sleeve lumen defines a continuous suction lumen between the evacuator inlet end and the sleeve outlet end.    
   
   
       6 . The backflow prevention device of  claim 5 , wherein the means for expanding the sleeve lumen comprises a vacuum source.  
   
   
       7 . The backflow prevention device of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a means for collapsing the sleeve lumen so as to disrupt the continuous suction lument.    
   
   
       8 . The backflow prevention device of  claim 7 , wherein the means for collapsing the sleeve lumen comprises a control valve that sealingly engages the backflow prevention sleeve when the control valve is in a closed disposition.