Prior art

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 11589970, I will review the "Cited By" and "Citations" sections of the patent itself. The patent document provides a comprehensive list of prior art references that were considered during its examination.

Here's an analysis of some of the most relevant prior art cited in US11589970, focusing on those that potentially anticipate claims under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

Prior Art Analysis for US11589970

1. US8911232B2 (Intraoral dental suction and isolation system)

• Full Citation: US8911232B2
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: December 16, 2014 / Filing: December 9, 2013. The priority date is December 7, 2012.
• Brief Description: This patent describes an intraoral dental suction and isolation system, which includes a mouthpiece with a main body, a cheek retractor, and a suction connector. It's designed for hands-free operation and is made of flexible, autoclavable material, similar to US11589970. The application for US11589970 is a continuation of this patent.
• Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent appears to be highly relevant to the core concepts of US11589970, especially claims related to the general structure of the mouthpiece, the suction capabilities, and material properties. Given that US11589970 is a continuation of US8911232B2, many aspects of Claims 1 and 18, particularly the main body portion, cheek retractor, and suction connector, are likely anticipated or rendered obvious by this prior art, particularly as they relate to a mouthpiece providing hands-free suction and isolation.

2. US9788924B2 (Intraoral device with bridge)

• Full Citation: US9788924B2
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: October 17, 2017 / Filing: March 27, 2014. The priority date is December 7, 2012.
• Brief Description: This patent describes an intraoral device that includes a bridge structure on an interior surface of its main body to ensure separation of the anterior and posterior walls during suction. This bridge structure is wave-like, with crests and troughs to allow fluid flow. This is a family member of US11589970.
• Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): The detailed description of the "bridge structure" in US9788924B2 directly anticipates the "bridge structure that includes a plurality of protrusions integral with and protruding from an interior surface of the second wall and extending across the distance between the first wall and the second wall, wherein the bridge structure is not attached to the first wall, and wherein the plurality of protrusions of the bridge structure protrude from the interior surface of the second wall in a wave shape comprising one or more crests and one or more troughs" as recited in Claims 1 and 18 of US11589970.

3. US4167814A (Mouth prop and oral evacuation device)

• Full Citation: US4167814A
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: September 18, 1979 / Filing: April 11, 1977.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a device combining a mouth prop and an oral evacuation device. This shows an earlier combination of functions related to keeping the mouth open and providing suction.
• Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant to the concept of an integrated mouth prop and suction device. While the specific construction details may differ, the general idea of having a "mouth prop molded in one piece" and a "suction connector extending through and past the mouth prop" (Claim 1), or a "mouth prop molded in one piece and located at the first end of the main body portion; and a suction connector integral with the main body portion and extending from the first end of the main body portion past the mouth prop" (Claim 18), could be considered anticipated or rendered obvious in light of US4167814A, depending on the specific novelty of the attachment mechanism and integration.

4. US5009595A (Dental mouth prop)

• Full Citation: US5009595A
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: April 23, 1991 / Filing: July 28, 1989.
• Brief Description: This patent discloses a dental mouth prop, highlighting the known art of devices used to keep a patient's mouth open during dental procedures.
• Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent specifically addresses the "mouth prop" aspect of US11589970. While it may not disclose the integrated suction or the specific detachable features, it anticipates the fundamental concept of a mouth prop itself. Therefore, any claim in US11589970 that relies solely on the presence of a mouth prop, without further distinguishing features of integration or detachability, could be considered anticipated by US5009595A.

5. US5037298A (Apparatus and improved process for removing saliva while retracting cheeks and lips)

• Full Citation: US5037298A
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: August 6, 1991 / Filing: November 25, 1985.
• Brief Description: This patent describes an apparatus designed for removing saliva while simultaneously retracting cheeks and lips, a function similar to the cheek retractor portion and suction connector of US11589970.
• Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference anticipates the combination of cheek retraction and fluid removal. Claims in US11589970 related to the "cheek retractor portion connected to the main body portion and having a surface that applies pressure when bent" (Claim 13), and the general function of suction from the oral cavity, could be considered anticipated or rendered obvious, depending on the specific structural differences claimed in US11589970.

6. US6267591B1 (Dental prop, throat dam and retractor)

• Full Citation: US6267591B1
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: July 31, 2001 / Filing: April 18, 2000.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a dental prop that also functions as a throat dam and retractor, combining multiple functions for dental isolation.
• Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This prior art combines elements of a mouth prop and a retractor, similar to components of US11589970. While it might not include the detachable mouth prop feature or the specific bridge structure, its disclosure of a multi-functional intraoral device could be used to challenge claims related to the combination of a main body, a mouth prop, and a retractor, especially under an obviousness rejection.

7. US6652276B2 (Customizable dental bite blocks and methods for forming customized dental bite blocks)

• Full Citation: US6652276B2
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: November 25, 2003 / Filing: November 1, 2001.
• Brief Description: This patent describes customizable dental bite blocks, which are a type of mouth prop. This highlights the prior art in providing variations of mouth props.
• Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference shows the prior art relating to customizable bite blocks, which are functionally similar to the mouth prop component. The aspect of mouth props being "made in different sizes for differently sized mouths" and being "interchangeable with a second mouth prop that is attachably and detachably associated with the main body portion, the second mouth prop being of a different size" (Claim 17) might be anticipated or rendered obvious by the existence of customizable bite blocks in prior art.

8. US20140212839A1 (Intraoral device with stability bar)

• Full Citation: US20140212839A1
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: July 31, 2014 / Filing: December 7, 2012.
• Brief Description: This patent application describes an intraoral device with a stability bar, which is a protrusion or thickened area that reinforces stability and assists in shaping the device to the patient's mouth. This is a family member of US11589970.
• Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): The "stability bar" feature described in US20140212839A1 directly anticipates the "stability bar protruding from an interior surface of the second wall and along a longitudinal axis of the main body portion" as claimed in Claim 14 of US11589970.

Note on 35 U.S.C. § 102 (Anticipation):
For a prior art reference to anticipate a claim under 35 U.S.C. § 102, it must disclose every limitation of the claim, either explicitly or inherently. When evaluating anticipation, the "earlier" of the filing date or priority date of the prior art is compared to the effective filing date of the patent being examined. Given that many of the cited prior art documents are related applications or have earlier priority dates than US11589970's filing date of March 27, 2014, they are indeed valid prior art.

This analysis focuses on a selection of the most relevant prior art. A complete examination of all cited references would be necessary for a definitive determination of anticipation or obviousness for each claim.