US 11589970

The information about US Patent 11589970 can be directly extracted from the provided patent text, which is deemed authoritative.

Here is a summary of US Patent 11589970:

US Patent 11589970: Intraoral device with detachable mouth prop

• Title: Intraoral device with detachable mouth prop
• Assignee: Incept Inc., Solmetex LLC
• Inventors: Thien Nguyen, Tam Thanh Pham
• Filing Date: March 27, 2014
• Issue Date: February 28, 2023
• Abstract: A dental mouthpiece is provided that attaches to a high-suction dental adapter. Its purpose is to assist dental staff during procedures by offering chair-side, hands-free suction and isolation. The mouthpiece comprises a main body, a cheek retractor, and a suction connector, which may be molded as one piece, preferably by injection molding. Made from flexible, translucent, high heat-resistant, and autoclavable silicone, the mouthpiece is reusable.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1: This claim describes a mouthpiece for dental use. It includes a main body that forms a pocket with an enclosed space, defined by a first wall, a second wall, and a connecting wall. The second wall features a wave-shaped bridge structure with multiple protrusions that extend towards the first wall but are not attached to it, ensuring separation during suction. The mouthpiece also has an integrated suction connector extending from one end of the main body, containing a cavity connected to the pocket's interior for fluid removal. Finally, the mouthpiece incorporates a one-piece mouth prop through which the suction connector passes.
• Independent Claim 18: This claim also describes a dental mouthpiece with a main body forming a pocket with an interior space, defined by a first wall, a second wall, and a connecting wall. Similar to Claim 1, the second wall includes a wave-shaped bridge structure with integral protrusions extending towards the first wall without attachment, featuring crests and troughs. A one-piece mouth prop is located at the first end of the main body, and an integral suction connector extends from the main body past the mouth prop, with a cavity connected to the interior space of the pocket.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:

A search for CAFC dockets specifically for 2026 and US patent 11589970 did not yield any direct results indicating an active case. The provided patent information mentions a PTAB case IPR2025-01057 (which is not a CAFC case) and a US case filed in Michigan Western District Court (also not a CAFC case) related to the patent. While the Federal Circuit website provides access to scheduled cases for April, May, and June 2026, and general case information, there is no explicit mention of US11589970 in the available snippets for 2026 CAFC dockets. Therefore, as of April 26, 2026, there is no authoritative information directly linking US11589970 to a CAFC 2026 docket.US Patent 11589970: Intraoral device with detachable mouth prop

Summary:

• Title: Intraoral device with detachable mouth prop
• Assignee: Incept Inc., Solmetex LLC
• Inventors: Thien Nguyen, Tam Thanh Pham
• Filing Date: March 27, 2014
• Issue Date: February 28, 2023
• Abstract: The patent describes a dental mouthpiece designed for hands-free suction and isolation during dental procedures. It attaches to a high-suction dental adapter and consists of a main body, a cheek retractor, and a suction connector, all preferably molded as a single piece from flexible, translucent, high heat-resistant, and autoclavable silicone, allowing for reusability.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1: This claim describes a dental mouthpiece comprising:

  • A main body portion shaped like a pocket, enclosing an internal space and having first and second walls that narrow towards one end, connected by a side wall. The second wall includes a wave-shaped "bridge structure" with protrusions that extend towards the first wall but are not connected to it, helping to keep the walls separated during suction.
  • An integrated suction connector extending from one end of the main body, with a cavity that connects to the main body's internal space and leads to an external suction port.
  • A mouth prop molded as a single piece, through and past which the suction connector extends.

• Independent Claim 18: This claim describes a dental mouthpiece comprising:

  • A main body portion configured as a pocket, enclosing an interior space, defined by a first wall, a second wall, and a connecting wall. The second wall features a wave-shaped "bridge structure" with protrusions that extend from its interior surface towards the first wall but are not attached to it, including crests and troughs.
  • A mouth prop molded in one piece and located at one end of the main body portion.
  • A suction connector integrated with the main body and extending past the mouth prop, containing a cavity that communicates with the main body's interior space.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:

As of April 26, 2026, there is no authoritative information directly linking US patent 11589970 to any active cases in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) dockets for 2026. While the patent information notes a PTAB case (IPR2025-01057) and a U.S. District Court case in Michigan (1:24-cv-00954), these are not CAFC proceedings.