Suction device

1. A suction device for intraoral use comprising

a suction line and a tongue protection,

the suction line being bent substantially U-shaped,

wherein the suction line, as a suction tube ( 18 ), and the tongue protection ( 16 ) are configured integrally with one another as a molded part ( 12 ),

wherein the suction tube ( 18 ) comprises a connection ( 14 ) for a suction hose ( 84 ), which connection ( 14 )) points mesially,

wherein the connection ( 14 ) is adjoined by an upper U-leg ( 20 ), a mesial, U-central portion ( 22 ) and a lower U-leg ( 24 ), said U-legs extending away from the U-central portion ( 22 ) in a distally horizontal direction,

wherein the lower U-leg ( 24 ) comprises suction openings and is surrounded by a suction sponge ( 80 ) extending around the lower U-leg ( 24 ) and covering the suction openings, and

wherein the suction tube ( 18 ) at the distal end of the lower U-leg ( 24 ) terminates in an end suction opening ( 26 ) which is covered by the suction sponge ( 80 ).

2. The suction device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the molded part ( 12 ) is produced from plastic in a molding process comprising injection-molding or in an additive process comprising rapid prototyping.

3. The suction device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the suction sponge ( 80 ) extends to the upper U-leg ( 20 ) and abuts and pushes against the upper U-leg ( 20 ) and partially surrounds the upper U-leg ( 20 ).

4. The suction device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the suction sponge ( 80 ) comprises a greater width than the molded part ( 12 ), and/or

wherein the height of the molded part ( 12 ) is larger than a diameter of the suction sponge.

5. The suction device as claimed in claim 4 ,

wherein the suction sponge ( 80 ) comprises a width at least three times the width of the molded part ( 12 ).

6. The suction device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the tongue protection ( 16 ) extends adjacent to and above the upper leg ( 20 ) of the suction tube ( 18 ), and

wherein the molded part ( 12 ) forms a tongue-friendly fillet at a transition between the suction tube ( 18 ) and the tongue protection ( 16 ).

7. The suction device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the suction openings ( 28 , 30 , 32 , 34 ) are distributed around on a periphery of the lower U-leg ( 24 ) of the suction tube ( 18 ), of which at least one of the suction openings points to the bottom thereof, and

wherein the upper U-leg ( 20 ) is free from suction openings ( 28 , 30 , 32 , 34 ).

8. The suction device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein at least one suction opening is adjacent to the central portion ( 22 ) and comprises a smaller cross-sectional area than a more distal suction opening of the suction openings.

9. The suction device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the end suction opening ( 26 ) extends over the distal front face of the suction line.

10. The suction device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the suction line tapers at the distal end of the lower U-leg ( 24 ) in a nozzle-shaped manner at the end.

11. The suction device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein at least one suction opening which is configured at the lower U-leg ( 24 ) points to the upper U-leg ( 20 ).

12. The suction device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the suction sponge ( 80 ) extends substantially over the entire length of the lower U-leg ( 24 ) extending over at least 70% of the entire length, and surrounds the lower U-leg ( 24 ) and comprises a substantially trapezoidal cross-section.

13. The suction device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein a retaining mandrel ( 40 , 42 ) is configured at the lower U-leg ( 24 ) of the suction line and points in the mesial direction and engages the suction sponge ( 80 ) from the inside, and/or

wherein a retaining mandrel ( 40 , 42 ) is provided at the upper U-leg ( 20 ) which mandrel points to the lower U-leg ( 24 ) and is oriented mesially and engages the suction sponge ( 80 ) from the outside.

14. The suction device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the tongue protection ( 16 ) extends over substantially the total length extending over more than 70% of the length, of the upper U-leg ( 20 ) and runs therefrom to the top opposite the lower U-leg.

15. The suction device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the suction line is connected to a suction hose at the distal end of the upper U-leg ( 20 ) without adhesive.

16. The suction device as claimed in claim 15 ,

wherein the suction hose comprises a stiffening element that extends therein comprising a wire which is bent to extend starting from the suction line along the alveolar ridge ( 86 ) distal to the rearmost molar ( 88 ) over the alveolar ridge ( 86 ) to the vestibular side, and guides the suction hose over this course to the extraoral side.

17. The suction device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the molded part ( 12 ) comprises at least two parts which fix the suction hose in a clamping manner when they are joined on top of one another.

18. The suction device as claimed in claim 17 ,

wherein the parts are connected to one another pivotally by a film hinge ( 52 ),

wherein the film hinge ( 52 ) is configured below the lower U-leg ( 24 ).

19. The suction device as claimed in claim 17 ,

wherein the parts ( 50 , 76 ) are connected with one another by means of anchoring elements which fix the parts ( 50 , 76 ) to one another in an engaged manner.

20. The suction device as claimed in claim 19 ,

wherein in the region of the tongue protection ( 16 ), one part ( 50 , 76 ) snaps into the other part and penetrates it to form a substantially flush surface.