US 12011329

Here's a concise summary of US patent 12011329:

US Patent Number: 12011329 (specifically US12011329B2)

Title: Intraoral device

Assignee:

• Current Assignee: Incept Inc, Solmetex LLC
• Original Assignee: Solmetex LLC

Inventors: Thien Nguyen, Tam Thanh Pham

Filing Date: 2023-06-30

Issue Date: 2024-06-18 (Publication date and application granted date are the same)

Abstract:
A dental mouthpiece is provided that may be attached to a high-suction dental adapter for assisting dental staff during dental procedures through chair-side, hands-free suction, and isolation. The mouthpiece may comprise a main body portion, a cheek retractor portion, and a suction connector portion. In some embodiments, these portions (and sub-portions) may be molded in one piece, preferably by injection molding. An exemplary embodiment of the mouthpiece may be made of a flexible, translucent, high heat-resistant, and autoclavable material like silicone, allowing for reusability.

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Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

Claim 1:
This claim describes a mouthpiece that includes a main body and a cheek-retractor portion. The main body has two walls (a first and a second wall) that create an interior space between them. A "connecting wall" joins these two main body walls. Crucially, the second wall has a "bridge structure" on its inside surface, made of multiple spaced protrusions that extend towards the first wall. The main body tapers from a wider first end to a narrower second end. The cheek-retractor portion is attached to this narrower second end and expands outward. The first and second walls of the main body continue into the cheek-retractor portion, remaining spaced apart for some distance within it before eventually connecting.

Claim 9:
This claim describes an isolation mouthpiece designed for use with a dental suction system. It features a main body portion with perforations along its edges on both the first and second walls. The second wall specifically includes multiple wave-like protrusions (crests and troughs) on its interior surface, extending towards the first wall. The main body tapers in width from its first end to its second end. The mouthpiece also has a suction connector portion with a tubular conduit that connects to the inner cavity for suction, and a "cutout" designed to interlock with a vacuum system. Additionally, it includes a mouth prop with inwardly tapered sides and ridges, and a cheek retractor portion connected to the second end of the main body, where the main body walls transition into the cheek retractor while remaining spaced apart for a distance before joining.

Claim 21:
This independent claim details an isolation mouthpiece with a main body that tapers from a first end to a narrower second end. Both the first and second walls of the main body have multiple perforations along their edges, with at least one perforation near the narrowest point of each wall at the second end. A "stability bar" is located along the center of the first wall, at least near the narrower second end, with perforations on either side of it. A "bridge structure" with wave-like protrusions extends from the interior of the first wall towards the second wall to maintain separation during suction. It also includes a suction-connector portion with a tubular conduit for vacuum attachment and a mouth prop extending from it, which has inwardly tapering, ridged sides. A cheek-retractor portion is connected to the narrower second end, where the main body walls transition into the cheek retractor, staying spaced apart for a distance before connecting.

Claim 30:
This claim describes an isolation mouthpiece for a dental suction system, similar to Claim 9. It includes a main body with perforated first and second walls that extend from a first end to a second end. The second wall has protrusions (crests and troughs) extending towards the first wall. The first and second walls are shaped so their respective edges correspond, and both walls narrow from the first end to the second end. A third wall connects the first and second walls, defining an inner cavity. A suction connector portion with a tubular conduit and a cutout for system coupling extends from the first end. A mouth prop with inwardly tapered, ridged sides is also present. Finally, a cheek retractor portion with rounded edges is coupled to the second end of the main body.

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Litigation Information:
The patent family has ongoing litigation.

• A PTAB case (IPR2025-01104) was filed on 2025-03-18 (Not Instituted - Merits) by Unified Patents.
• A US case was filed in the Michigan Western District Court (case/1:24-cv-00954).
• The first worldwide family litigation was filed on 2014-03-27.

(No specific CAFC 2026 dockets directly for US12011329B2 were identified in the initial broad search. The Google Patents page itself provides detailed litigation information, which is more relevant and specific to the patent family).