Abstract: A dental mirror warmer to prevent fogging when the mirror is placed in a patient's mouth includes a housing with a cover having an opening. Below the opening is a heating well to receive the reflective end of the mirror. The well has a stainless steel wall connected to a transformer which supplies high current at low voltage to heat the wall. The supply to the transformer is controlled by a photoresponsive device responsive to insertion of the mirror and a timing circuit which permits current supply for a short heating interval. A temperature sensor shortens the interval when heating cycles are initiated frequently. The photoresponsive device is mounted in the housing in juxtaposition with a light transmissive opening in a wall of the heating well. The photoresponsive device includes a source of light arranged to direct light into the heating well through the opening and a photoresponsive element arranged to receive light reflected from the reflective surface of a mirror inserted into the heating well.

Abstract: Method for cleaning a suction catheter including providing a sterilized environment for the catheter prior to use and convenient vessel for cleaning the catheter between each use with a single patient. The method further includes the steps of cleaning the catheter before each use by securing the suction catheter depending from a holder into an opening in a vessel, the opening mating with the said holder, after using said catheter in connection with treating a patient; flowing a cleaning solution into said vessel to the level of soil on said catheter suspended therein; and suctioning substantially all of said cleaning solution from said vessel through said catheter prior to disposing of both catheter and cleaning system after their use in connection with a single patient.