Prior art — US Patent 12011329

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 12011329, I will examine the patent citations listed on its Google Patents page. The USPTO's Patent Public Search tool can be used to perform detailed patent searches and access prior art, including U.S. patents and published patent applications. Prior art is publicly available information that predates the effective filing date of a patent application and is used to determine if an invention is new and non-obvious (i.e., patentable under 35 U.S.C. § 102 and § 103).

The "Citations (96)" and "Family Cites Families (38)" sections of the US12011329B2 Google Patents page list numerous prior art documents. I will focus on the patent citations directly cited within US12011329B2.

Here are some of the most relevant prior art citations from the patent document and their potential anticipation of claims in US12011329:

1. US8911232B2 - Intraoral dental suction and isolation system

Publication/Filing Date: Priority date: 2012-12-07; Publication date: 2014-12-16 [cite: The full patent text, Google Patents metadata]
Brief Description: This patent describes an intraoral dental suction and isolation system, which includes a mouthpiece comprising a main body, a cheek retractor portion, and a suction connector portion. The main body has an enclosed pocket with anterior, posterior, and side walls, where the side wall may be perforated. It also describes a slit on the anterior wall and a bridge structure on the interior surface of the posterior wall to keep the walls separated during suction. This document is a direct parent application of US12011329B2. [cite: The full patent text, Google Patents metadata]
Potential Anticipation: Given that US8911232B2 is a direct parent application and describes many fundamental features of the claimed invention, it potentially anticipates nearly all aspects of claims 1, 9, 21, and 30, especially regarding the main body structure, perforations, bridge structure, suction connector, and cheek retractor. The current patent (US12011329B2) is a continuation of this earlier patent application. [cite: The full patent text, Google Patents metadata]

2. US11744686B2 - Intraoral device

Publication/Filing Date: Priority date: 2012-12-07; Publication date: 2023-09-05 [cite: The full patent text, Google Patents metadata]
Brief Description: This patent also relates to an intraoral device and claims priority from the same provisional application as US8911232B2. It likely describes similar features to the parent application, focusing on hands-free suction and isolation. [cite: The full patent text, Google Patents metadata]
Potential Anticipation: Similar to US8911232B2, this patent is part of the same family and likely anticipates many elements of claims 1, 9, 21, and 30, particularly the general structure of the mouthpiece, the main body with perforations and bridge, and the cheek retractor. [cite: The full patent text, Google Patents metadata]

3. US9788924B2 - Intraoral device with bridge

Publication/Filing Date: Priority date: 2012-12-07; Publication date: 2017-10-17 [cite: The full patent text, Google Patents metadata]
Brief Description: This patent explicitly mentions an "intraoral device with bridge," suggesting a focus on the bridge structure within the mouthpiece. The bridge structure in US12011329B2 is described as having wave-like protrusions to keep the anterior and posterior walls separated during suction. [cite: The full patent text, Google Patents metadata]
Potential Anticipation: This patent potentially anticipates the bridge structure feature detailed in claims 1, 9, and 21 (specifically, "a bridge structure that includes a plurality of spaced protrusions protruding from an interior surface of the second wall" in claim 1, "a plurality of protrusions extending from an interior surface of the second wall towards the first wall in a shape having one or more crests and one or more troughs" in claim 9, and "a bridge structure extending from an interior surface of the first wall toward the second wall, the bridge structure including a plurality of wave-like protrusions" in claim 21). [cite: The full patent text, Google Patents metadata]

4. US6974321B2 - Intraoral device

Publication/Filing Date: Priority date: 1998-11-17; Publication date: 2005-12-13 [cite: The full patent text, Google Patents metadata]
Brief Description: This patent, assigned to Innerlite, Inc., describes an "intraoral device." While the full details are not provided in the snippet, earlier "intraoral devices" often included elements for suction, cheek retraction, or isolation in dentistry.
Potential Anticipation: Depending on the specific features disclosed, this patent could potentially anticipate broader aspects of the mouthpiece, main body, suction, and cheek retractor as described in claims 1, 9, 21, and 30, particularly regarding the general concept of an intraoral device for dental procedures.

5. US20030134253A1 - Intraoral device

Publication/Filing Date: Priority date: 1998-11-17; Publication date: 2003-07-17 [cite: The full patent text, Google Patents metadata]
Brief Description: This is a patent application publication, also by Innerlite, Inc., for an "intraoral device." Similar to US6974321B2, it likely details components for oral isolation and fluid management.
Potential Anticipation: This could potentially anticipate similar elements and functionalities as US6974321B2, contributing to the general state of the art for intraoral devices for dental procedures and potentially affecting claims 1, 9, 21, and 30.

6. US9358086B2 - Intraoral device and method of use

Publication/Filing Date: Priority date: 2014-05-22; Publication date: 2016-06-07 [cite: The full patent text, Google Patents metadata]
Brief Description: This patent also describes an "intraoral device and method of use," potentially including features related to dental isolation and suction.
Potential Anticipation: Depending on its detailed disclosure, this patent could be relevant prior art for the overall design and method of use of the mouthpiece, potentially impacting claims 1, 9, 21, and 30.

7. US10390734B2 - Systemic biomarker sampling apparatus

Publication/Filing Date: Priority date: 2015-05-29; Publication date: 2019-08-27 [cite: The full patent text, Google Patents metadata]
Brief Description: This patent describes a "systemic biomarker sampling apparatus," which may involve oral fluid collection.
Potential Anticipation: While not directly a dental suction and isolation device, if this patent describes any mouthpiece or intraoral components for fluid collection with similar structural elements (e.g., perforated walls, internal structures for fluid guidance), it could potentially anticipate certain aspects of the fluid management system described in claims 1, 9, 21, and 30.

8. CN102247120A - Mouth support device with spit sucking function

Publication/Filing Date: Priority date: 2011-08-17; Publication date: 2011-11-23 [cite: The full patent text, Google Patents metadata]
Brief Description: This Chinese patent application describes a "mouth support device with spit sucking function." This directly addresses both mouth support (similar to a mouth prop or cheek retractor) and saliva evacuation.
Potential Anticipation: This foreign patent application could be highly relevant prior art for the combination of mouth support and suction, potentially anticipating elements of claims 9, 21, and 30, particularly those related to the mouth prop, cheek retractor, and suction functionality.

9. US5037298A - Apparatus and improved process for removing saliva while retracting cheeks and lips

Publication/Filing Date: Priority date: 1985-11-25; Publication date: 1991-08-06 [cite: The full patent text, Google Patents metadata]
Brief Description: This patent describes an "apparatus and improved process for removing saliva while retracting cheeks and lips." This directly addresses the core functions of the claimed invention: saliva removal (suction) and cheek/lip retraction.
Potential Anticipation: This patent is highly relevant for the combination of suction and cheek retraction, potentially anticipating broader concepts in claims 1, 9, 21, and 30 related to multi-functional intraoral devices for dental procedures.

10. US5460524A - Device and method for saliva suction with tongue retractor and bit handle

Publication/Filing Date: Priority date: 1994-06-24; Publication date: 1995-10-24 [cite: The full patent text, Google Patents metadata]
Brief Description: This patent describes a "device and method for saliva suction with tongue retractor and bit handle." This combines saliva suction with tongue retraction, and a bite block ("bit handle").
Potential Anticipation: This patent is highly relevant for the combination of suction and oral cavity management, potentially anticipating aspects of claims 1, 9, 21, and 30, particularly regarding saliva removal and the various functions of the main body and cheek retractor.

11. US5588836A - Mouth prop and tongue deflector apparatus

Publication/Filing Date: Priority date: 1995-10-23; Publication date: 1996-12-31 [cite: The full patent text, Google Patents metadata]
Brief Description: This patent describes a "mouth prop and tongue deflector apparatus," directly addressing two components (mouth prop and tongue deflector) that are part of the functionality of the claimed invention.
Potential Anticipation: This could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 9, 21, and 30 related to the mouth prop and the tongue-deflecting/isolating function of the main body or cheek retractor.