fig1 - 5 illustrate various views of the medical tube securing device 10 . more specifically we see from fig1 that the medical tube securing device 10 comprises a pair of left and right bite blocks 15 a and 15 b sized for receiving the upper and lower molars ( the 2 or 3 upper and 2 or three lower teeth on each side of the mouth — not shown ). the bite blocks 15 a and 15 b may be constructed of rubber or semi - rigid polymer block having a shore - a durometer hardness greater than about 50 . in alternate embodiments of the invention the bite blocks 15 a and 15 b may comprise of a bio - compatible olefin polymer , a polyolefin homopolymer , a copolymer of olefins with vinyl esters , a copolymer of olefins with vinyl alcohol , mixtures of a polyolefin homopolymer , a copolymer of olefins with vinyl esters , a copolymer of olefins with vinyl alcohol , polyethylene , polypropylene , an ethylene - vinyl alcohol copolymer , an ethylene - vinyl acetate copolymer , an ethylene - propylene copolymer , a terpolymer of ethylene , a propylene ester , a vinyl ester , and blends and mixtures of the foregoing , zotefoam , rubber , and styrofoam . as well as other acceptable substitutes known in the art that are non - toxic , resilient and durable . the bite blocks 15 a and 15 b are integrally connected with the distal end or terminus of the leg portions 20 a and 20 b of the u - shaped support frame 23 having symmetric halves . the terms “ front ,” “ near ” or “ proximal ” and “ rear ,” “ removed ” or “ distal ” being determined with respect to the position of the support frame 23 . each bite block 15 a and 15 b has a front end 27 a and 27 b and a rear end 28 a and 28 b as well as left lateral sides 29 a and 29 b and right lateral sides 30 a and 30 b connecting the front and rear ends ( 27 and 28 ). from fig2 we see that each bite block 15 a and 15 b also has a top surface 35 a and 35 b and a bottom surface 36 a and 36 b . returning once again to fig1 we see that in the preferred embodiment , the top and bottom surfaces ( 35 and 36 ) of each bite block 15 a and 15 b are grooved or striated with ridges 40 a and 40 b in a manner perpendicular to the principal axis of the bit block 15 a and 15 b . the purpose of the ridges 40 a and 40 b is to provide a greater frictional contact point with the patient &# 39 ; s molars so as to arrest movement of the medical tube securing device 10 during administration of care . however , alternate embodiments of said surfaces ( 35 and 36 ) are also contemplated by the inventors , including frictional surfaces of varying design known in the art and generally smooth , planar surfaces . in the preferred embodiment , the support frame 23 is comprised of a malleable , rigid aluminum wire sheathed in polyvinyl chloride . a representative example of material appropriate for fabricating the support frame 23 is the intubating stylet sold under the trade name satin - slip tm by tyco healthcare group lp ( nellcor puritan bennett division , pleasanton , calif . 94588 ). in an alternate embodiment an injection - molded plastic / polymer may be used to construct the support frame with no loss of functionality . each support frame 23 half begins at a respective bite block ( 15 a and 15 b ) and then curves inwardly forming a concave indentation 42 a and 42 b so that contact with the corners of the mouth ( not shown ) is avoided . the support frame 23 halves then curve outwardly and extend forward beyond the lips ( not shown ). forward of the lips , the frame halves curve inwardly and meet , forming a generally semicircular portion 45 that protrudes from the mouth . along the front 47 of the semi - circular portion 45 , a track 50 is either fixably or removably attached by attachment means 51 . the track 50 is designed to engage with the tube holder 53 and clamping means 55 as is disclosed in the u . s . pat . no . 5 , 489 , 504 to vrona et al which is hereby incorporated by reference . the clamping means 55 may hold endotracheal and gastric tubes ( also not shown ). positioning means are provided for connecting the tube holder 53 to the track 50 which allows for the selective lateral positioning of the tube holder 53 and the tube ( not shown ) along the track 50 . such positioning means preferably takes the form of track means disposed on the outer surface 58 of the track 50 and shuttle means disposed on the tube holder 53 for engaging the track means and allowing lateral sliding of the shuttle and tube holder along the track means . on either side of the track 50 are means for connecting 65 a and 65 b a securing strap ( not shown ) that is placed around the lower rear of the head ( not shown ). in the preferred embodiment , the means for connecting 65 a and 65 b may comprise a continuous loop formed from each half of the support frame 23 . turn our attention back again to fig2 . we can readily see that the preferred embodiment of the invention has bite blocks 15 a and 15 b with flanges 70 a and 70 b that are integral with both top and bottom surfaces ( 35 and 36 ) of each bite block 15 a and 15 b . the flanges help provide additional securing means by which to maintain the bite block 15 a and 15 b positioning by securing against the teeth of the patient ( neither shown ). an alternate embodiment of the invention shown in fig3 . here the bite block is generally denoted by the reference number 75 . the bit block 75 comprises a specialized bite block portion 77 with a fixedly attached support frame 80 . generally , the bite block portion 77 is preferably formed of molded , medical grade plastic or other similarly hard material . specifically , the bite block portion 77 may be constructed of rubber or semi - rigid polymer block having a shore - a durometer hardness greater than about 50 . in alternate embodiments of the invention the bite block portion 77 may comprise of a bio - compatible olefin polymer , a polyolefin homopolymer , a copolymer of olefins with vinyl esters , a copolymer of olefins with vinyl alcohol , mixtures of a polyolefin homopolymer , a copolymer of olefins with vinyl esters , a copolymer of olefins with vinyl alcohol , polyethylene , polypropylene , an ethylene - vinyl alcohol copolymer , an ethylene - vinyl acetate copolymer , an ethylene - propylene copolymer , a terpolymer of ethylene , a propylene ester , a vinyl ester , and blends and mixtures of the foregoing , zotefoam , rubber , and styrofoam . as well as other acceptable substitutes known in the art that are non - toxic , resilient and durable . in general , the bite block is designed to be placed between the teeth on both sides of the mouth thereby to hold the teeth apart . the bite block portion 77 is preferably wedge - shaped and defines a posterior portion 82 and an anterior portion 84 . the bite block portion 77 further includes an upper teeth engagement surface 86 and a lower teeth engagement surface 87 ( see fig4 ). while the teeth engagement surfaces ( 86 and 87 ) preferably engage the molar teeth of the patient , it is understand that these surfaces can also engage with the canine or bicuspid teeth . the wedge - shaped bite block portion 77 is angled such that the teeth engagement surfaces 86 and 87 gradually become farther apart in the direction from the posterior portion 82 toward the anterior portion 84 as best seen in fig5 . the angle of the wedge - shaped bite block portion 77 is made according to the size of the accompanying substituted airway product . in this way , the practitioner is assured that the patient is prevented from biting down on and thereby occluding or severing the breathing or exiting tube ( not shown ). the teeth engagement surfaces ( 86 and 87 ) may also be formed so as to be serrated or otherwise characterized to be optimally form - fitting with engaging teeth ( not shown ), to include irregular patterns , channels ( fig4 reference numeral 90 ) and the like . further , the teeth engagement surfaces ( 86 and 87 ) may take the form of a pliable surface such that the teeth can grip the bite block portion 77 . in fig4 we see a pair of upper flanges ( 93 and 94 ) extend from the upper side of the bite block portion 77 , on the medial and lateral borders thereof , respectively . a pair of lower flanges ( 96 and 97 ) likewise extends from a lower side of the bite block portion 77 on the medial and lateral borders respectively . the four flanges ( 93 , 94 , 96 and 97 ) function together to retain the bite block 75 in place within the patient &# 39 ; s mouth . it is important to understand that the designations “ upper ” and “ lower ” when describing referenced elements 86 , 87 , 93 , 94 , 96 and 97 are simply for understanding the drawings as the bite block 75 may be rotated 180 degrees . the upper and lower lateral flanges ( 93 and 96 ) are dimensioned to be positioned between the patient &# 39 ; s teeth and cheek and are designed to prevent the lateral movement of the bite block 75 towards the patient &# 39 ; s tongue ( not shown ). the upper and lower medial flanges ( 94 and 97 ) are dimensioned to be positioned between the patient &# 39 ; s tongue and teeth and are designed to prevent the lateral movement of the bit block 75 towards either of the patient &# 39 ; s cheeks ( not shown ). the four flanges ( 93 , 94 , 96 and 97 ) are angled away from the bite block portion 77 in order to prevent the flanges from irritating the gums and alveolar ridges . the four flanges ( 93 , 94 , 96 and 97 ) also serve to protect the patient from biting his tongue or the mucosa of the cheeks . molded grooves ( 100 and 103 ) are positioned midway between the upper and lower flanges and function to permit airway device catheters ( not shown ) to pass into the patient &# 39 ; s posterior oropharynx ( not shown ). turning now , back to fig3 , we see that the support frame 80 itself comprises two concave indentations 105 ; two apertures 110 radiating laterally to and integral with the support frame 80 ; and , a semicircular portion 115 itself comprising a track 120 . the support frame 80 is preferably constructed from injection - molded plastic / polymer or any material suitable for long - term use in a patient &# 39 ; s oral cavity and known in the art . the two concave indentations 105 are designed to navigate around the corners of the patient &# 39 ; s mouth ( not shown ) so as to avoid contact when properly positioned within the oral cavity . the two apertures 110 are designed to allow the fixation of one end of a securing strap ( not shown ) to one aperture 110 , so that the free end of the strap ( not shown ) can be lead around the head of the patient ( not shown ) to the other aperture 110 where the free - end of the strap ( not shown ) is , again , affixed . it is understood that the strap may be positioned around other parts of the patient &# 39 ; s body such as the neck , or to structures separate from the body ( not shown ). forward of the lips , the support frame 80 forms a generally semicircular portion 115 that protrudes beyond the mouth of the patient ( not shown ). along the front 122 of the semicircular portion 115 a track 120 is integrally formed as part of the molded support frame 80 . in the preferred embodiment , the track 120 is designed to engage with a tube holder and clamping means for holding endotracheal and gastric tubes as is disclosed in the u . s . pat . no . 5 , 489 , 504 to vrona et al which is hereby incorporated by reference . however , it is understood that the track 120 may allow for the selective lateral positioning of any clamping device that is capable of being mounted on the track 120 . further , it is understood that the bite block 75 is also capable of functioning with any clamping device capable of mounting on the front 122 or rear 125 of the semicircular portion 115 of the support frame 80 . while a specific embodiment of the invention will be shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention , it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles .
a medical tube securing device for a patient is disclosed , comprising at least one bite block and a support frame integral with said bite block , said support frame comprising a protruding extension with at least one inwardly recessed portion so as to avoid contact with the patient &# 39 ; s mouth , said protruding extension operable to receive an adjustable medical tube retaining device without contacting the face of the patient .