CA2324329A1 - Illuminated syringe tip and handpiece assembly - Google Patents
Illuminated syringe tip and handpiece assembly Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2324329A1 CA2324329A1 CA002324329A CA2324329A CA2324329A1 CA 2324329 A1 CA2324329 A1 CA 2324329A1 CA 002324329 A CA002324329 A CA 002324329A CA 2324329 A CA2324329 A CA 2324329A CA 2324329 A1 CA2324329 A1 CA 2324329A1
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- Prior art keywords
- syringe tip
- light
- adaptor
- assembly
- spindle
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
- A61C17/00—Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prostheses; Saliva removers; Dental appliances for receiving spittle
- A61C17/02—Rinsing or air-blowing devices, e.g. using fluid jets or comprising liquid medication
- A61C17/0202—Hand-pieces
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
- A61C1/00—Dental machines for boring or cutting ; General features of dental machines or apparatus, e.g. hand-piece design
- A61C1/08—Machine parts specially adapted for dentistry
- A61C1/088—Illuminating devices or attachments
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Dentistry (AREA)
- Epidemiology (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
- Dental Tools And Instruments Or Auxiliary Dental Instruments (AREA)
Abstract
A dental syringe tip handpiece assembly includes a plastic syringe tip mounted in an adaptor for connection to the handpiece. On the interior of the adaptor at a location adjacent the end of the syringe tip, a source of light is provided. Light from the light source will be transmitted down the length of the syringe tip and emitted from the end thereof. By positioning the end of the syringe tip in the patient's oral cavity, the dentist can provide illumination in the oral cavity so that various dental functions can be more easily and accurately performed.
Description
ILLUMINATED SYRINGE TIP AND HANDPIECE ASSEMBLY
2 Background ~f the Invention 3 This invention relates to an illuminated syringe tip 4 and handpiece assembly, and more particularly to an illumi-nated syringe tip and handpiece assembly in which a dispos-6 able syringe tip is used to transmit light from a light 7 source on the interior of the adaptor to the oral cavity of 8 the patient to provide illumination for the dentist.
9 U.S. Patent No. 5,049,071 (Davis et al.) discloses a disposable dental syringe tip made of plastic material.
11 This patent also discloses various adaptors that can be 12 used to attach the disposable syringe tip to the handpiece 13 of a three way dental syringe assembly. The disclosure of 14 this U.5. Patent No. 5, 049, 071 is incorporated herein by this reference. Additionally, U.S. Patent No. 5,192,206 16 (Davis et al.) contains additional disclosure relating to 17 adaptors for use in three way dental syringe assemblies and 18 the disclosure of this U.S. Patent No. 5,192,206 is also 19 incorporated herein by this reference.
The use of disposable plastic syringe tips has become 21 quite widespread in light of the serious concern about the 22 rising incidence of communicable diseases such as hepatitis 23 and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Dentists are 24 taking extreme care to prevent the transmission of germs (viral or bacteria) from one patient to the next. The 26 plastic syringe tip receives air and water under pressure.
1 By operation of the air button and the water button on the 2 handpiece, the dentist can direct water, air or a combined 3 air/water spray into the patient's mouth for whatever 4 dental procedures are required.
It is desirable to also supply light into the oral 6 cavity to assist the dentist in performing necessary dental 7 procedures. Most dental operatories have an overhead 8 lighting system with reflective surfaces that help concen-9 trate the light on the patient's mouth. However, the l0 dentist will often stand in the path of the light which 11 minimizes the effectiveness of the overhead light.
12 Various dental tools have been provided with a light 13 source to assist the dentist during various dental activi-14 ties. For example, a typical dental drill will include a fiberoptic bundle that transmits light from a light source 16 to the end of the dental drill which allows the dentist to 17 provide light directly to the area in which the drilling is 18 occurring. Representative of this technology are the 19 disclosures shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,507,085 (Mosimann) and U.S. Patent No. 5,088,924 (Woodward).
21 Dental syringe tip handpieces have also been provided 22 with a light source to illuminate the area into which the 23 air and/or water are to be sprayed. Representative of 24 these devices is the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,612 (Weber) which shows a fiberoptic bundle disposed down the 26 center of a metal syringe tip assembly. A light bulb acts 1 as the light source and is disposed in the interior of the 2 handpiece. The syringe tip used in the disclosure of the 3 Weber patent is a metal, non-disposable syringe tip which 4 must be autoclaved prior to use on the next patient.
Prior to the present invention, however, there have 6 not been any disposable syringe tips provided with a light 7 source to transmit light to the oral cavity. Dentists 8 using disposable syringe tips would have had to rely on the 9 ambient overhead lighting systems used in the dental operatories in order to see in the oral cavity of the 11 patient during use of the air/water dental syringe tip 12 handpiece.
13 It is an object of the present invention to provide a 14 useful source of light that can be transmitted into the oral cavity of the patient whenever the dentist is using an 16 air/water dental syringe tip handpiece.
17 It is a feature of the present invention to provide a 18 light source at the end of the syringe tip on the interior 19 of the adaptor that holds the syringe tip in the dental syringe tip handpiece. Light from the light source is 21 directed into one end of the syringe tip and carried along 22 the length thereof. At the opposite end of the syringe 23 tip, the light radiates from the syringe tip and can be 24 used to illuminate the oral cavity of the patient.
It is an advantage of the present invention that a 26 dentist will be able to illuminate the oral cavity using 1 the same instrument that he is using to supply air, water 2 or combined air and water to the oral cavity of the pa-3 tient. Any dental procedures that require use of the 4 air/water dental syringe tip handpiece will be more easily, safely and effectively carried out because the dentist will 6 be able to see exactly where in the oral cavity he is 7 working.
8 Other objects, features and advantages of the present 9 invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.
13 A dental syringe tip handpiece assembly includes a 14 clear, plastic syringe tip mounted in an adaptor for connection to the handpiece. On the interior of the 16 adaptor at a location adjacent the end of the syringe tip, 17 a source of light, preferably a fiberoptic ringlight, is 18 provided. Light from the light source will be transmitted 19 down the length of the syringe tip and emitted from the end thereof. By positioning the end of the syringe tip in the 21 patient's oral cavity, the dentist can provide illumination 22 in the oral cavity so that various dental functions can be 23 more easily and accurately performed.
24 A special handpiece body formed of a handpiece inner unit and an outer cover is provided to receive the adaptor 26 and syringe tip assembly. The air, water and fiberoptic 1 lines are positioned inside the handpiece body. The 2 handpiece body can be easily disassembled for cleaning.
3 The source of light may also be a light bulb posi-4 tinned at the rear of the adaptor. The adaptor is made from clear, or at least translucent, material so that light 6 from the light bulb. will be transmitted through the adaptor 7 and then into the syringe tip.
8 In yet another embodiment of the present invention, 9 the source of the light may be one or more fiberoptic bundles disposed through a valve head and a manifold 11 assembly. The ends of the fiberoptic bundles are posi-12 tinned adjacent the end of a syringe tip so that the light 13 emitting from the ends of the fiberoptic bundles is trans-14 mitted into the syringe tip which then carries the light along the length thereof and the light is emitted from the 16 end of the syringe tip and can be used to illuminate the 17 oral cavity of a patient.
19 Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a partially-exploded isometric view of 21 the illuminated syringe tip assembly and a handpiece body 22 of the present invention.
23 Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view at the location 24 in the assembly at which the adaptor, syringe tip and locking cap are joined to the handpiece body, with all 26 parts in the closed position.
9 U.S. Patent No. 5,049,071 (Davis et al.) discloses a disposable dental syringe tip made of plastic material.
11 This patent also discloses various adaptors that can be 12 used to attach the disposable syringe tip to the handpiece 13 of a three way dental syringe assembly. The disclosure of 14 this U.5. Patent No. 5, 049, 071 is incorporated herein by this reference. Additionally, U.S. Patent No. 5,192,206 16 (Davis et al.) contains additional disclosure relating to 17 adaptors for use in three way dental syringe assemblies and 18 the disclosure of this U.S. Patent No. 5,192,206 is also 19 incorporated herein by this reference.
The use of disposable plastic syringe tips has become 21 quite widespread in light of the serious concern about the 22 rising incidence of communicable diseases such as hepatitis 23 and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Dentists are 24 taking extreme care to prevent the transmission of germs (viral or bacteria) from one patient to the next. The 26 plastic syringe tip receives air and water under pressure.
1 By operation of the air button and the water button on the 2 handpiece, the dentist can direct water, air or a combined 3 air/water spray into the patient's mouth for whatever 4 dental procedures are required.
It is desirable to also supply light into the oral 6 cavity to assist the dentist in performing necessary dental 7 procedures. Most dental operatories have an overhead 8 lighting system with reflective surfaces that help concen-9 trate the light on the patient's mouth. However, the l0 dentist will often stand in the path of the light which 11 minimizes the effectiveness of the overhead light.
12 Various dental tools have been provided with a light 13 source to assist the dentist during various dental activi-14 ties. For example, a typical dental drill will include a fiberoptic bundle that transmits light from a light source 16 to the end of the dental drill which allows the dentist to 17 provide light directly to the area in which the drilling is 18 occurring. Representative of this technology are the 19 disclosures shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,507,085 (Mosimann) and U.S. Patent No. 5,088,924 (Woodward).
21 Dental syringe tip handpieces have also been provided 22 with a light source to illuminate the area into which the 23 air and/or water are to be sprayed. Representative of 24 these devices is the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,612 (Weber) which shows a fiberoptic bundle disposed down the 26 center of a metal syringe tip assembly. A light bulb acts 1 as the light source and is disposed in the interior of the 2 handpiece. The syringe tip used in the disclosure of the 3 Weber patent is a metal, non-disposable syringe tip which 4 must be autoclaved prior to use on the next patient.
Prior to the present invention, however, there have 6 not been any disposable syringe tips provided with a light 7 source to transmit light to the oral cavity. Dentists 8 using disposable syringe tips would have had to rely on the 9 ambient overhead lighting systems used in the dental operatories in order to see in the oral cavity of the 11 patient during use of the air/water dental syringe tip 12 handpiece.
13 It is an object of the present invention to provide a 14 useful source of light that can be transmitted into the oral cavity of the patient whenever the dentist is using an 16 air/water dental syringe tip handpiece.
17 It is a feature of the present invention to provide a 18 light source at the end of the syringe tip on the interior 19 of the adaptor that holds the syringe tip in the dental syringe tip handpiece. Light from the light source is 21 directed into one end of the syringe tip and carried along 22 the length thereof. At the opposite end of the syringe 23 tip, the light radiates from the syringe tip and can be 24 used to illuminate the oral cavity of the patient.
It is an advantage of the present invention that a 26 dentist will be able to illuminate the oral cavity using 1 the same instrument that he is using to supply air, water 2 or combined air and water to the oral cavity of the pa-3 tient. Any dental procedures that require use of the 4 air/water dental syringe tip handpiece will be more easily, safely and effectively carried out because the dentist will 6 be able to see exactly where in the oral cavity he is 7 working.
8 Other objects, features and advantages of the present 9 invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.
13 A dental syringe tip handpiece assembly includes a 14 clear, plastic syringe tip mounted in an adaptor for connection to the handpiece. On the interior of the 16 adaptor at a location adjacent the end of the syringe tip, 17 a source of light, preferably a fiberoptic ringlight, is 18 provided. Light from the light source will be transmitted 19 down the length of the syringe tip and emitted from the end thereof. By positioning the end of the syringe tip in the 21 patient's oral cavity, the dentist can provide illumination 22 in the oral cavity so that various dental functions can be 23 more easily and accurately performed.
24 A special handpiece body formed of a handpiece inner unit and an outer cover is provided to receive the adaptor 26 and syringe tip assembly. The air, water and fiberoptic 1 lines are positioned inside the handpiece body. The 2 handpiece body can be easily disassembled for cleaning.
3 The source of light may also be a light bulb posi-4 tinned at the rear of the adaptor. The adaptor is made from clear, or at least translucent, material so that light 6 from the light bulb. will be transmitted through the adaptor 7 and then into the syringe tip.
8 In yet another embodiment of the present invention, 9 the source of the light may be one or more fiberoptic bundles disposed through a valve head and a manifold 11 assembly. The ends of the fiberoptic bundles are posi-12 tinned adjacent the end of a syringe tip so that the light 13 emitting from the ends of the fiberoptic bundles is trans-14 mitted into the syringe tip which then carries the light along the length thereof and the light is emitted from the 16 end of the syringe tip and can be used to illuminate the 17 oral cavity of a patient.
19 Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a partially-exploded isometric view of 21 the illuminated syringe tip assembly and a handpiece body 22 of the present invention.
23 Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view at the location 24 in the assembly at which the adaptor, syringe tip and locking cap are joined to the handpiece body, with all 26 parts in the closed position.
WO 99/47067 PC'f/US98/05509 1 Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view at the location 2 in the assembly at which the adaptor, syringe tip and 3 locking cap are joined to the handpiece body, with all 4 parts in the open position.
Figure 4 shows an isometric view of the handpiece body 6 of the present invention with the outer cover removed.
Figure 4 shows an isometric view of the handpiece body 6 of the present invention with the outer cover removed.
7 Figure 5 shows a cross section of one end of the 8 handpiece body shown in Figure 4.
9 Figure 6 shows a cross sectional end view of a syringe tip for use with the present invention.
11 Figure 7 shows a cross sectional view of a modified 12 embodiment of the present invention at the location in the 13 assembly at which a light bulb is positioned at the rear of 14 the adaptor.
Figure 8 shows a partially-exploded isometric view of 16 another alternative embodiment of an illuminated dental 17 syringe tip assembly of the present invention.
18 Figure 9 shows a partially exploded isometric view of 19 the head and fiberoptic bundles used in this alternative embodiment of the present invention.
21 Figure 10 shows a longitudinal cross sectional view in 22 the closed position of this alternative embodiment of the 23 present invention.
24 Figure 11 shows a lateral cross section view of the manifold body used in this alternative embodiment and 26 showing the location of the water veins.
1 Figure 12 shows a partially exploded isometric view of 2 the manifold body, with the manifold sleeve partially 3 cutaway, used in this alternative embodiment.
6 The illuminated dental syringe tip handpiece assembly 7 of the present invention is shown generally at 300 in 8 Figure 1. A handpiece body 312 comprises an outer cover 9 410 that slidably mounts over an inner unit 430. The inner unit 430 is a generally U-shaped channel that has a hollow 11 interior to accommodate the water line, the air line and a 12 fiberoptic line. Each of these supply lines are connected 13 to the handpiece body 312 by means of an outer tubing 470 14 which extends to the sources (not shown) of the water supply, the air supply and the light source for the fiber-16 optic line.
17 At one end of the handpiece body 312, there is pro-18 vided an adaptor 320 that mounts the syringe tip 314 into 19 the handpiece body 312. A locking cap assembly 330 holds the syringe tip 314 securely in place.
21 As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5, the handpiece body 312 22 has at one end a threaded opening 313 into which the 23 adaptor 320 can be screwed using the first adaptor threads 24 322. The middle of the adaptor 320 is provided with a central hexagonal opening 316 into which a wrench can be 26 positioned to tighten the adaptor 320 into the threaded 1 opening 313 of the handpiece body 312.
2 In the embodiment shown in this application, the hand-3 piece body can be a standard configuration known as the 4 "Continental Design," although the components of the present invention can be modified to fit any handpiece body 6 configuration. Further details of the adaptor 320 are set 7 out in U.S. Patent No. 5,049,071, which is incorporated 8 herein by this reference.
9 A locking assembly securely holds the syringe tip 314 into the handpiece body 312 to prevent inadvertent loosen-11 ing of the syringe tip 314 so that the air and water supply 12 is at all times fed through the syringe tip 314 and to 13 prevent the syringe tip 314 from separating from the 14 adaptor 320. The locking assembly comprises generally the adaptor 320, a collet gripping member 340 that fits over 16 the exterior end of the adaptor 320, an O-ring 342 and a 17 locking cap 330 that screws onto the adaptor 320 and 18 surrounds the collet gripping member 340. The interior of 19 the locking 330 contains a set of screw threads 332 that cooperate with the second adaptor threads 326 on the 21 adaptor 320 to secure the locking cap 330 to the adaptor 22 320. Further details of the locking assembly are shown in 23 U.S. Patent No. 5, 306,146 and U.S. Patent No. 5, 489, 205, 24 both of which are incorporated herein by this reference.
The release of the locking cap 330 from the adaptor 320 26 takes pressure off the collet gripping member 340 which 1 allows removal of a used syringe tip and replacement with 2 a new syringe tip.
3 The syringe tip 314 is an elongated cylindrical member 4 preferably made of a plastic material. The syringe tip 314 is press fit onto the tapered spindle 321 of the adaptor 6 320. Further details of the syringe tip are set out in 7 U.S. Patent No. 5,049,071. The syringe tip 314 must be 8 made of material that will transmit light from one end of 9 the syringe tip to the other end. In the preferred embodi-ment of the present invention, the syringe tip 314 is made 11 of polypropanate, although other light transmitting, 12 plastic materials can be used such as acrylic plastics.
13 Also, the syringe tip 314 preferably should be clear 14 or transparent so that an inspection of the syringe tip would reveal if it had previously been used. Once a 16 syringe tip has been used on a patient, the end of the 17 syringe tip will retain small amounts of saliva, blood or 18 other materials from the patient's mouth.
19 The syringe tip 314 is designed to be disposable after a single use. The tip material is fabricated in a single-21 step extrusion process, and is made preferably from any 22 rigid transparent plastic that can transmit light. A rigid 23 plastic is preferred to fulfill the need to use the tip for 24 continued retraction of the cheek and tongue by the dental operator.
1 The syringe tip 314 is press fit onto the tapered 2 spindle 321 at the end of the spindle extension 325. The 3 tapered spindle 321 is integrally connected to an spindle 4 extension 325 that extends through the rear end of the adaptor and into the handpiece body 312. The rear end of 6 the spindle extension 325 is threaded and received by the 7 threaded opening 316 on the interior of the handpiece body 8 312. The remote end of the spindle extension 325 is 9 connected to the water supply line 444 which allows water to be feed to the syringe tip 314 in a conventional manner.
11 Similarly, the air supply is sent to the adaptor 320 12 through an air supply line 492 in the handpiece body 312 13 that aligns with the air channel 328 in the adaptor 320.
14 As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a light source in the form of a fiberoptic ringlight 360 is disposed directly 16 adjacent to the end of the syringe tip 314 on the interior 17 of the adaptor 320 so that light is directed down the 18 length of the syringe tip. In the preferred embodiment of 19 the present invention, a fiberoptic ring light made by Fiberoptics Technology Incorporated, 14 Fiber Road, Pom-21 fret, CT 06258 can be used, although any suitable fiber-22 optic ring arrangement would be acceptable. The fiberoptic 23 ringlight 360 is connected to a fiberoptic bundle 363 which 24 extends through a passageway 448 in the handpiece body 312 for connection to a remote light source (not shown).
1 On the interior of the adaptor 320, there is provided 2 an annular grommet 365 which receives a snap in flexible 3 ring 368. This flexible ring 368 surrounds the spindle 4 extension 325 and the fiberoptic bundle 363 and holds them in place on the interior of the adaptor 320.
6 As shown in Figure 2, with the locking cap 330 pushed 7 onto the adaptor 320 in the closed position, the fiberoptic 8 ringlight 360 sits adjacent to the end of the syringe tip 9 319 in the interior of the adaptor 320. When the power supply is activated by the dentist, the light bulb 360 will il illuminate and the light therefrom will be passed along the 12 length of the syringe tip 314 to its remote end where it is 13 emitted to illuminate the oral cavity of the patient.
14 Figure 4 shows the interior details of the inner unit 430 of the handpiece body 312. On the interior of the 16 inner unit 430 inside the U-shaped channel, there is 17 provided the water supply line 444 and the air supply line 18 442 which supply the air and water from the source to the 19 adaptor. The water valve 454 is positioned in the water supply line 449 and is activated by the dentist by depress-21 ing the water button 453 carried by the outer cover 410.
22 Similarly, air valve 452 is positioned in the air supply 23 line 442 and is activated by the dentist by depressing the 24 air button 451 carried by the outer cover 410.
The inner unit 430 is also provided with a conven-26 tional pin fastener 462 which cooperates with an aperture il WO 99/47067 PC'T/US98/05509 1 464 in the outer cover 410. The outer cover 410 slides 2 over the length of the inner unit 430 and the pin fastener 3 462 engages into the aperture 464 to hold the outer cover 4 410 in place when the assembly is being used. When it is desired to clean the assembly, the pin fastener 462 is 6 depressed which allows the outer cover 410 to slide off of 7 the inner unit 430. The adaptor 320 unscrews from the 8 handpiece body 312 and the outer cover 410, the adaptor 9 320, the locking cap 330 and the collet gripping member 340 can then all be cleaned and autoclaved as needed.
11 Figure 6 shows a modification to a syringe tip 514 12 which ensures that the syringe tip is accurately positioned 13 in the adaptor 320. The syringe tip 514 has a central 14 water passageway 522 and a plurality of air passageways 524 positioned around the water passageway 522. One end of the 16 syringe tip 514 is provided with a keyed channel 530 which 17 aligns with a complementary adaptor insert 540 (see Figure 18 2) on the interior of the adaptor 320. Thus, for the 19 syringe tip 514 to properly seat within the adaptor 320, the keyed channel 530 on the syringe tip 514 must be 21 aligned with the adaptor insert 540. If the alignment is 22 not correct, the adaptor 514 will not properly press fit 23 onto the spindle 321 and water and air leakage problems 24 will occur.
Other variations of the present invention may be made.
26 Instead of the fiberoptic rin~glight 360, other suitable 1 light sources can be used. For example, any suitably 2 shaped light bulb can be positioned on the interior of the 3 adaptor so that light can then be transmitted down the 4 syringe tip and into the oral cavity of the patient.
As shown in Figure 7, the handpiece body 612 has an 6 adaptor 620 that mounts the syringe tip 619 into the 7 handpiece body 612. In this embodiment, the adaptor 620 is 8 made of a relatively hard plastic such as polycarbonate or 9 hard acrylics. The adaptor 620 must also transmit light from a light source 660 to the syringe tip 614, so the 11 material chosen for the adaptor 620 must a light transmit-12 ting material. It is preferred that this material be a 13 clear, transparent plastic, but a translucent material may 14 also be used.
The adaptor 620 rests in one end of the handpiece body 16 612 and a locking ring 650 having an external locking ring 17 thread 652 cooperates with a set of internal threads 622 18 holds the adaptor 620 in place. The locking ring 650 can 19 have a recessed groove (not shown? on it surface to receive a screw driver for turning the locking ring 650 into the 21 internal threads 622.
22 The adaptor 620 includes a tapered spindle 621 upon 23 which the syringe tip 614 is mounted. A water channel 628 24 and an air channel 629 are provided in the adaptor 620 to transmit water and air, respectively, from the handpiece 26 612 to the syringe tip 614. A locking assembly securely 1 holds the syringe tip 614 into the handpiece body 612 to 2 prevent inadvertent loosening of the syringe tip 614 so 3 that the air and water supply is at all times fed through 4 the syringe tip 614 and to prevent the syringe tip 614 from separating from the adaptor 620. The locking assembly 6 comprises generally the adaptor 620, a collet gripping 7 member 640 that fits over the exterior end of the adaptor 8 620, an 0-ring 642 and a locking cap 630 that screws onto 9 the adaptor 620 and surrounds the collet gripping member 640. The interior of the locking cap 630 contains a set of 11 screw threads that cooperate with the second adaptor 12 threads 626 on the adaptor 620 to secure the locking cap 13 630 to the adaptor 620.
14 The adaptor 620 contains a bulb recess 625 that receives the light bulb 660. The light bulb 660 is mounted 16 on a light bulb base 662 positioned in the handpiece body 17 612. The light bulb base 662 is connected to a remote 18 power supply (not shown) by connecting wire 670.
19 When the light bulb 660 is activated by the power supply, a lens 668 concentrates the light into the adaptor 21 620 whence the light is transmitted through the adaptor 620 22 and into the syringe tip 614 for transmission to the mouth 23 of the patient.
24 It is desirable minimize heat being emittedfrom to the light source, so fiberoptic or fluorescent light 26 structures are preferredsince the heat emissions these of 1 light sources is minimal. It is also contemplated that a 2 light source positioned adjacent a reflective surface can 3 be used to focus the light into the end of the syringe tip.
4 This would increase the light intensity without increasing the size of the light source and would increase the light 6 intensity available for transmission down the length of the 7 syringe tip.
8 As shown in Figures 8-12, another embodiment of the 9 present invention utilizes one or more fiberoptic bundles to deliver light from a light source through the handle of 11 the syringe tip assembly into the syringe tip where the 12 light is transmitted the length of the syringe tip and used 13 to illuminate the oral cavity of the patient.
14 The dental syringe assembly of this embodiment is shown generally at 700. The handle 712 contains the 16 connecting lines for the fiberoptic bundles 760 and for the 17 sources of air and water which are water tubing 756 and air 18 tubing 758. The handle 712 threads (or otherwise suitably 19 connects) to a head 720 having a threaded extension 722.
The head 720 also contains the air valve 752 and the water 21 valve 754 for activation of the air and water, respec-22 tively, in a conventional manner. As shown in Figure 9, 23 the threaded extension 722 includes one or more fiberoptic 24 bundle apertures 728 for receiving one or more of the fiberoptic bundles 760 as well as a water barb fitting 724 26 for connecting the water tubing 756 and an air barb fitting 1 726 for connecting the air tubing 758.
2 The head 720 also threadably connects to a thumb nut 3 740, which in operable relationship with a locking collar 4 750, securely holds the syringe tip 714 in place in the dental syringe assembly 700. The structure of the thumb 6 nut 740 and locking collar 750 are shown in United States 7 Patent No. 5,306,146 and U.S. Patent No. 5,489,205, the 8 disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
9 Positioned on the interior of the head 720 is a manifold body 770. The manifold body 770 is a generally 11 cylindrical body which includes a tapered spindle 780 (see 12 Figure 10) upon which is mounted the syringe tip 714 in the 13 manner shown in United States Patent No. 5,236,356. A
14 manifold top 772 is positioned next to the manifold body 770 and held in place thereat by a manifold sleeve 776.
16 The manifold body 770 contains the fiberoptic bundle 17 apertures 728 for receiving the fiberoptic bundles 760.
18 The air supply for the dental syringe assembly 700 is 19 connected to the air insert stem 778 which in turn is mounted in the air vein 782 which is a longitudinal pas-21 sageway through the manifold body 770. The water supply 22 for the dental syringe assembly 700 is connected to the 23 water insert stem 779 which in turn is mounted in the 24 offset longitudinal water vein 790 in the manifold body 770. The offset longitudinal water vein 790 intersects 26 with a perpendicular water vein 788 in the manifold body 1 770, which also intersects with an axial water vein 786 in 2 the manifold body 770 which finally intersects with a 3 central longitudinal water vein ?84 in the manifold body 4 770 to deliver water into the spindle 780 and from there into the syringe tip 714.
6 Figure 10 shows in longitudinal cross section the 7 dental 'syringe assembly 700 in assembled relationship. The 8 head 720 is threaded into the handle 712 and the combined 9 manifold body 770, manifold top 772 and manifold sleeve 776 are received iri a recess in the head 720. The thumb nut 11 740 when threaded into the head 720 holds the manifold body 12 770, manifold top 772 and manifold sleeve 776 in place with 13 an 0-ring 742 provided to seal this threaded connection.
14 The syringe tip 714 is pushed into the thumb nut 740 and one end thereof presses onto the spindle 780. The syringe 16 tip 714 is securely held on the spindle 780 by the locking 17 collar 750 and the O-ring 751 when the thumb nut ?40 is 18 threaded into the head 720.
19 The end of the syringe tip 714 is closely positioned 2o to the ends of the fiberoptic bundles 760 so that when the 21 light source (not shown) is activated, the light carried by 22 the fiberoptic bundles 760 is transmitted into the end of 23 the syringe tip 714 and is carried along the length of the 24 syringe tip 714 where it can be emitted into the oral cavity of patient to provide needed illumination. Any 26 suitable means can be used to activate the light source.
1 At the same time the light is being activated, the 2 dentist can press the air valve 752 which causes air from 3 the air tubing 758 to pass through the air vein 782 and 4 into the air passageways in the syringe tip 714. Simi-larly, activation of the water valve 754 causes water from 6 the water tubing 756 to pass into the offset longitudinal 7 water vein 790, from there into the perpendicular water 8 vein 788, from there into the axial water vein 786 and from 9 there into the central longitudinal water vein 784 which connects to the central passageway in the spindle 780 which 11 feeds water to the central water passageway of the syringe 12 tip 714.
13 While the invention has been illustrated with respect 14 to several specific embodiments thereof, these embodiments should be considered as illustrative rather than limiting.
16 Various modifications and additions may be made and will be 17 apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the 18 invention should not be limited by the foregoing descrip-19 tion, but rather should be defined only by the following claims.
11 Figure 7 shows a cross sectional view of a modified 12 embodiment of the present invention at the location in the 13 assembly at which a light bulb is positioned at the rear of 14 the adaptor.
Figure 8 shows a partially-exploded isometric view of 16 another alternative embodiment of an illuminated dental 17 syringe tip assembly of the present invention.
18 Figure 9 shows a partially exploded isometric view of 19 the head and fiberoptic bundles used in this alternative embodiment of the present invention.
21 Figure 10 shows a longitudinal cross sectional view in 22 the closed position of this alternative embodiment of the 23 present invention.
24 Figure 11 shows a lateral cross section view of the manifold body used in this alternative embodiment and 26 showing the location of the water veins.
1 Figure 12 shows a partially exploded isometric view of 2 the manifold body, with the manifold sleeve partially 3 cutaway, used in this alternative embodiment.
6 The illuminated dental syringe tip handpiece assembly 7 of the present invention is shown generally at 300 in 8 Figure 1. A handpiece body 312 comprises an outer cover 9 410 that slidably mounts over an inner unit 430. The inner unit 430 is a generally U-shaped channel that has a hollow 11 interior to accommodate the water line, the air line and a 12 fiberoptic line. Each of these supply lines are connected 13 to the handpiece body 312 by means of an outer tubing 470 14 which extends to the sources (not shown) of the water supply, the air supply and the light source for the fiber-16 optic line.
17 At one end of the handpiece body 312, there is pro-18 vided an adaptor 320 that mounts the syringe tip 314 into 19 the handpiece body 312. A locking cap assembly 330 holds the syringe tip 314 securely in place.
21 As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5, the handpiece body 312 22 has at one end a threaded opening 313 into which the 23 adaptor 320 can be screwed using the first adaptor threads 24 322. The middle of the adaptor 320 is provided with a central hexagonal opening 316 into which a wrench can be 26 positioned to tighten the adaptor 320 into the threaded 1 opening 313 of the handpiece body 312.
2 In the embodiment shown in this application, the hand-3 piece body can be a standard configuration known as the 4 "Continental Design," although the components of the present invention can be modified to fit any handpiece body 6 configuration. Further details of the adaptor 320 are set 7 out in U.S. Patent No. 5,049,071, which is incorporated 8 herein by this reference.
9 A locking assembly securely holds the syringe tip 314 into the handpiece body 312 to prevent inadvertent loosen-11 ing of the syringe tip 314 so that the air and water supply 12 is at all times fed through the syringe tip 314 and to 13 prevent the syringe tip 314 from separating from the 14 adaptor 320. The locking assembly comprises generally the adaptor 320, a collet gripping member 340 that fits over 16 the exterior end of the adaptor 320, an O-ring 342 and a 17 locking cap 330 that screws onto the adaptor 320 and 18 surrounds the collet gripping member 340. The interior of 19 the locking 330 contains a set of screw threads 332 that cooperate with the second adaptor threads 326 on the 21 adaptor 320 to secure the locking cap 330 to the adaptor 22 320. Further details of the locking assembly are shown in 23 U.S. Patent No. 5, 306,146 and U.S. Patent No. 5, 489, 205, 24 both of which are incorporated herein by this reference.
The release of the locking cap 330 from the adaptor 320 26 takes pressure off the collet gripping member 340 which 1 allows removal of a used syringe tip and replacement with 2 a new syringe tip.
3 The syringe tip 314 is an elongated cylindrical member 4 preferably made of a plastic material. The syringe tip 314 is press fit onto the tapered spindle 321 of the adaptor 6 320. Further details of the syringe tip are set out in 7 U.S. Patent No. 5,049,071. The syringe tip 314 must be 8 made of material that will transmit light from one end of 9 the syringe tip to the other end. In the preferred embodi-ment of the present invention, the syringe tip 314 is made 11 of polypropanate, although other light transmitting, 12 plastic materials can be used such as acrylic plastics.
13 Also, the syringe tip 314 preferably should be clear 14 or transparent so that an inspection of the syringe tip would reveal if it had previously been used. Once a 16 syringe tip has been used on a patient, the end of the 17 syringe tip will retain small amounts of saliva, blood or 18 other materials from the patient's mouth.
19 The syringe tip 314 is designed to be disposable after a single use. The tip material is fabricated in a single-21 step extrusion process, and is made preferably from any 22 rigid transparent plastic that can transmit light. A rigid 23 plastic is preferred to fulfill the need to use the tip for 24 continued retraction of the cheek and tongue by the dental operator.
1 The syringe tip 314 is press fit onto the tapered 2 spindle 321 at the end of the spindle extension 325. The 3 tapered spindle 321 is integrally connected to an spindle 4 extension 325 that extends through the rear end of the adaptor and into the handpiece body 312. The rear end of 6 the spindle extension 325 is threaded and received by the 7 threaded opening 316 on the interior of the handpiece body 8 312. The remote end of the spindle extension 325 is 9 connected to the water supply line 444 which allows water to be feed to the syringe tip 314 in a conventional manner.
11 Similarly, the air supply is sent to the adaptor 320 12 through an air supply line 492 in the handpiece body 312 13 that aligns with the air channel 328 in the adaptor 320.
14 As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a light source in the form of a fiberoptic ringlight 360 is disposed directly 16 adjacent to the end of the syringe tip 314 on the interior 17 of the adaptor 320 so that light is directed down the 18 length of the syringe tip. In the preferred embodiment of 19 the present invention, a fiberoptic ring light made by Fiberoptics Technology Incorporated, 14 Fiber Road, Pom-21 fret, CT 06258 can be used, although any suitable fiber-22 optic ring arrangement would be acceptable. The fiberoptic 23 ringlight 360 is connected to a fiberoptic bundle 363 which 24 extends through a passageway 448 in the handpiece body 312 for connection to a remote light source (not shown).
1 On the interior of the adaptor 320, there is provided 2 an annular grommet 365 which receives a snap in flexible 3 ring 368. This flexible ring 368 surrounds the spindle 4 extension 325 and the fiberoptic bundle 363 and holds them in place on the interior of the adaptor 320.
6 As shown in Figure 2, with the locking cap 330 pushed 7 onto the adaptor 320 in the closed position, the fiberoptic 8 ringlight 360 sits adjacent to the end of the syringe tip 9 319 in the interior of the adaptor 320. When the power supply is activated by the dentist, the light bulb 360 will il illuminate and the light therefrom will be passed along the 12 length of the syringe tip 314 to its remote end where it is 13 emitted to illuminate the oral cavity of the patient.
14 Figure 4 shows the interior details of the inner unit 430 of the handpiece body 312. On the interior of the 16 inner unit 430 inside the U-shaped channel, there is 17 provided the water supply line 444 and the air supply line 18 442 which supply the air and water from the source to the 19 adaptor. The water valve 454 is positioned in the water supply line 449 and is activated by the dentist by depress-21 ing the water button 453 carried by the outer cover 410.
22 Similarly, air valve 452 is positioned in the air supply 23 line 442 and is activated by the dentist by depressing the 24 air button 451 carried by the outer cover 410.
The inner unit 430 is also provided with a conven-26 tional pin fastener 462 which cooperates with an aperture il WO 99/47067 PC'T/US98/05509 1 464 in the outer cover 410. The outer cover 410 slides 2 over the length of the inner unit 430 and the pin fastener 3 462 engages into the aperture 464 to hold the outer cover 4 410 in place when the assembly is being used. When it is desired to clean the assembly, the pin fastener 462 is 6 depressed which allows the outer cover 410 to slide off of 7 the inner unit 430. The adaptor 320 unscrews from the 8 handpiece body 312 and the outer cover 410, the adaptor 9 320, the locking cap 330 and the collet gripping member 340 can then all be cleaned and autoclaved as needed.
11 Figure 6 shows a modification to a syringe tip 514 12 which ensures that the syringe tip is accurately positioned 13 in the adaptor 320. The syringe tip 514 has a central 14 water passageway 522 and a plurality of air passageways 524 positioned around the water passageway 522. One end of the 16 syringe tip 514 is provided with a keyed channel 530 which 17 aligns with a complementary adaptor insert 540 (see Figure 18 2) on the interior of the adaptor 320. Thus, for the 19 syringe tip 514 to properly seat within the adaptor 320, the keyed channel 530 on the syringe tip 514 must be 21 aligned with the adaptor insert 540. If the alignment is 22 not correct, the adaptor 514 will not properly press fit 23 onto the spindle 321 and water and air leakage problems 24 will occur.
Other variations of the present invention may be made.
26 Instead of the fiberoptic rin~glight 360, other suitable 1 light sources can be used. For example, any suitably 2 shaped light bulb can be positioned on the interior of the 3 adaptor so that light can then be transmitted down the 4 syringe tip and into the oral cavity of the patient.
As shown in Figure 7, the handpiece body 612 has an 6 adaptor 620 that mounts the syringe tip 619 into the 7 handpiece body 612. In this embodiment, the adaptor 620 is 8 made of a relatively hard plastic such as polycarbonate or 9 hard acrylics. The adaptor 620 must also transmit light from a light source 660 to the syringe tip 614, so the 11 material chosen for the adaptor 620 must a light transmit-12 ting material. It is preferred that this material be a 13 clear, transparent plastic, but a translucent material may 14 also be used.
The adaptor 620 rests in one end of the handpiece body 16 612 and a locking ring 650 having an external locking ring 17 thread 652 cooperates with a set of internal threads 622 18 holds the adaptor 620 in place. The locking ring 650 can 19 have a recessed groove (not shown? on it surface to receive a screw driver for turning the locking ring 650 into the 21 internal threads 622.
22 The adaptor 620 includes a tapered spindle 621 upon 23 which the syringe tip 614 is mounted. A water channel 628 24 and an air channel 629 are provided in the adaptor 620 to transmit water and air, respectively, from the handpiece 26 612 to the syringe tip 614. A locking assembly securely 1 holds the syringe tip 614 into the handpiece body 612 to 2 prevent inadvertent loosening of the syringe tip 614 so 3 that the air and water supply is at all times fed through 4 the syringe tip 614 and to prevent the syringe tip 614 from separating from the adaptor 620. The locking assembly 6 comprises generally the adaptor 620, a collet gripping 7 member 640 that fits over the exterior end of the adaptor 8 620, an 0-ring 642 and a locking cap 630 that screws onto 9 the adaptor 620 and surrounds the collet gripping member 640. The interior of the locking cap 630 contains a set of 11 screw threads that cooperate with the second adaptor 12 threads 626 on the adaptor 620 to secure the locking cap 13 630 to the adaptor 620.
14 The adaptor 620 contains a bulb recess 625 that receives the light bulb 660. The light bulb 660 is mounted 16 on a light bulb base 662 positioned in the handpiece body 17 612. The light bulb base 662 is connected to a remote 18 power supply (not shown) by connecting wire 670.
19 When the light bulb 660 is activated by the power supply, a lens 668 concentrates the light into the adaptor 21 620 whence the light is transmitted through the adaptor 620 22 and into the syringe tip 614 for transmission to the mouth 23 of the patient.
24 It is desirable minimize heat being emittedfrom to the light source, so fiberoptic or fluorescent light 26 structures are preferredsince the heat emissions these of 1 light sources is minimal. It is also contemplated that a 2 light source positioned adjacent a reflective surface can 3 be used to focus the light into the end of the syringe tip.
4 This would increase the light intensity without increasing the size of the light source and would increase the light 6 intensity available for transmission down the length of the 7 syringe tip.
8 As shown in Figures 8-12, another embodiment of the 9 present invention utilizes one or more fiberoptic bundles to deliver light from a light source through the handle of 11 the syringe tip assembly into the syringe tip where the 12 light is transmitted the length of the syringe tip and used 13 to illuminate the oral cavity of the patient.
14 The dental syringe assembly of this embodiment is shown generally at 700. The handle 712 contains the 16 connecting lines for the fiberoptic bundles 760 and for the 17 sources of air and water which are water tubing 756 and air 18 tubing 758. The handle 712 threads (or otherwise suitably 19 connects) to a head 720 having a threaded extension 722.
The head 720 also contains the air valve 752 and the water 21 valve 754 for activation of the air and water, respec-22 tively, in a conventional manner. As shown in Figure 9, 23 the threaded extension 722 includes one or more fiberoptic 24 bundle apertures 728 for receiving one or more of the fiberoptic bundles 760 as well as a water barb fitting 724 26 for connecting the water tubing 756 and an air barb fitting 1 726 for connecting the air tubing 758.
2 The head 720 also threadably connects to a thumb nut 3 740, which in operable relationship with a locking collar 4 750, securely holds the syringe tip 714 in place in the dental syringe assembly 700. The structure of the thumb 6 nut 740 and locking collar 750 are shown in United States 7 Patent No. 5,306,146 and U.S. Patent No. 5,489,205, the 8 disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
9 Positioned on the interior of the head 720 is a manifold body 770. The manifold body 770 is a generally 11 cylindrical body which includes a tapered spindle 780 (see 12 Figure 10) upon which is mounted the syringe tip 714 in the 13 manner shown in United States Patent No. 5,236,356. A
14 manifold top 772 is positioned next to the manifold body 770 and held in place thereat by a manifold sleeve 776.
16 The manifold body 770 contains the fiberoptic bundle 17 apertures 728 for receiving the fiberoptic bundles 760.
18 The air supply for the dental syringe assembly 700 is 19 connected to the air insert stem 778 which in turn is mounted in the air vein 782 which is a longitudinal pas-21 sageway through the manifold body 770. The water supply 22 for the dental syringe assembly 700 is connected to the 23 water insert stem 779 which in turn is mounted in the 24 offset longitudinal water vein 790 in the manifold body 770. The offset longitudinal water vein 790 intersects 26 with a perpendicular water vein 788 in the manifold body 1 770, which also intersects with an axial water vein 786 in 2 the manifold body 770 which finally intersects with a 3 central longitudinal water vein ?84 in the manifold body 4 770 to deliver water into the spindle 780 and from there into the syringe tip 714.
6 Figure 10 shows in longitudinal cross section the 7 dental 'syringe assembly 700 in assembled relationship. The 8 head 720 is threaded into the handle 712 and the combined 9 manifold body 770, manifold top 772 and manifold sleeve 776 are received iri a recess in the head 720. The thumb nut 11 740 when threaded into the head 720 holds the manifold body 12 770, manifold top 772 and manifold sleeve 776 in place with 13 an 0-ring 742 provided to seal this threaded connection.
14 The syringe tip 714 is pushed into the thumb nut 740 and one end thereof presses onto the spindle 780. The syringe 16 tip 714 is securely held on the spindle 780 by the locking 17 collar 750 and the O-ring 751 when the thumb nut ?40 is 18 threaded into the head 720.
19 The end of the syringe tip 714 is closely positioned 2o to the ends of the fiberoptic bundles 760 so that when the 21 light source (not shown) is activated, the light carried by 22 the fiberoptic bundles 760 is transmitted into the end of 23 the syringe tip 714 and is carried along the length of the 24 syringe tip 714 where it can be emitted into the oral cavity of patient to provide needed illumination. Any 26 suitable means can be used to activate the light source.
1 At the same time the light is being activated, the 2 dentist can press the air valve 752 which causes air from 3 the air tubing 758 to pass through the air vein 782 and 4 into the air passageways in the syringe tip 714. Simi-larly, activation of the water valve 754 causes water from 6 the water tubing 756 to pass into the offset longitudinal 7 water vein 790, from there into the perpendicular water 8 vein 788, from there into the axial water vein 786 and from 9 there into the central longitudinal water vein 784 which connects to the central passageway in the spindle 780 which 11 feeds water to the central water passageway of the syringe 12 tip 714.
13 While the invention has been illustrated with respect 14 to several specific embodiments thereof, these embodiments should be considered as illustrative rather than limiting.
16 Various modifications and additions may be made and will be 17 apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the 18 invention should not be limited by the foregoing descrip-19 tion, but rather should be defined only by the following claims.
Claims (21)
- Claim 1. A dental syringe tip handpiece assembly for providing light for emission from a remote end of a light transmitting syringe tip comprising:
a) a hollow adaptor for receiving a syringe tip mounted thereon b) a spindle extension mounted in the interior of the adaptor, the spindle extension having a tapered spindle at one end thereof and c) a light source mounted in the interior of the adaptor and adjacent the tapered spindle whereby when the light source is illuminated, light will be directed into a proximate end of the syringe tip mounted on the tapered spindle so that light may be transmitted along the length of the syringe tip and emit from the remote end thereof whereby a dentist may illuminate a work area using the light emitting from the syringe tip. - Claim 2. The assembly of Claim 1 wherein the light source is a fiberoptic ringlight mounted so as to surround the spindle extension.
- Claim 3. The assembly of Claim 1 further including a light-transmitting syringe tip mounted on the tapered spindle.
- Claim 4. An illuminated syringe tip and dental handpiece assembly comprising:
a) a handpiece body;
b) an adaptor mounted in the handpiece body, the adaptor including a hollow body portion having external threads and a tapered spindle mounted on the interior of the hollow body portion;
c) a syringe tip mounted on the adaptor;
d) a locking assembly for securing the syringe tip in the adaptor; and e) a light source mounted on the interior of the hollow body portion of the adaptor adjacent an end of the syringe tip whereby when the light source is illuminated, light will be directed into a proximate end of the syringe tip mounted on the tapered spindle so that light may be transmitted along the length of the syringe tip and emit from the remote end thereof whereby a dentist may illuminate a work area using the light emitting from the syringe tip. - Claim 5. The assembly of Claim 4 wherein the light source is a fiberoptic ringlight.
- Claim 6. The assembly of Claim 4 handpiece body comprises:
a) an inner unit having a generally U-shaped cross section with a hollow interior:
b) a water supply line and an air supply positioned with the hollow interior and connected to the adaptor;
c) a fiberoptic bundle positioned on the interior of the hollow unit and connected to the light source;
d) a cover unit slidably mounted onto the inner unit;
and e) means for disassembling the cover unit from the inner unit and means for disassembling the adaptor from the inner unit so that the assembly can be cleaned and autoclaved. - Claim 7. A syringe tip comprising:
a) an elongated plastic cylindrical member having a first central passageway throughout the entire length of the cylindrical member;
b) a plurality of second passageways disposed circum-ferentially about the first central passageway; and c) means for keying the syringe tip onto an adaptor so that the syringe tip is properly aligned on the adaptor. - Claim 8. The syringe tip of Claim 7 in which the means for keying the syringe tip onto an adaptor is a keyed channel on the syringe tip.
- Claim 9. A dental syringe tip adaptor for transmitting light for emission from a remote end of a clear, light transmitting syringe tip into a patient's oral cavity comprising:
a) a light transmitting body: and b) means for mounting a syringe tip to the light transmitting body whereby when a light source is positioned adjacent to the adaptor and the light source is illuminated, light will be directed through the adaptor body into the syringe tip mounted thereon so that light may be transmitted along the length of the syringe tip and emit from a remote end thereof. - Claim 10. A dental syringe tip handpiece assembly for providing light for emission from a remote end of a clear, light transmitting syringe tip comprising:
a) an adaptor for mounting a syringe tip in a hand-piece, the adaptor comprising a light transmitting body:
b) means for mounting a syringe tip to the adaptor:
and c) a light source mounted adjacent the adaptor whereby when a light source is positioned adjacent to the adaptor and the light source is illuminated, light will be directed through the adaptor body into the syringe tip mounted thereon so that light may be transmitted along the length of the syringe tip and emit from a remote end thereof. - Claim 11. The assembly of Claim 10 wherein the means for mounting the syringe tip is a tapered spindle integral with the adaptor.
- Claim 12. The assembly of Claim 10 wherein the light source is a light bulb mounted in a bulb recess in the adaptor.
- Claim 13. The assembly of Claim 10 further including a light-transmitting syringe tip mounted on the adaptor.
- Claim 14. An illuminated syringe tip and dental handpiece assembly comprising:
a) a handpiece body;
b) an adaptor mounted in the handpiece body, the adaptor comprising a light transmitting body:
c) the adaptor having a tapered spindle integral thereon;
d) a syringe tip mounted on the tapered spindle:
e) a locking assembly for securing the syringe tip in the adaptor; and f) a light source mounted adjacent to the light transmitting adaptor body whereby when the light source is illuminated, light will be directed through the adaptor body into the syringe tip mounted thereon so that light may be transmitted along the length of the syringe tip and emit from a remote end thereof. - Claim 15. An adaptor for mounting a syringe tip into a handpiece body comprising:
a) a solid body including a slot therein sized to receive an end of a syringe tip, the solid body made of light transmitting material; and b) a tapered spindle integrally joined to the solid body at an end of the slot whereby when the syringe tip is inserted into the slot, the syringe tip will be mounted onto the tapered spindle. - Claim 16. The adaptor of Claim 15 wherein a second slot is provided in the solid body for receiving a light source.
- Claim 17. The adaptor of Claim 15 further including a syringe tip mounted on the tapered spindle.
- Claim 18. A dental syringe tip handpiece assembly for providing light for emission from a clear, light transmit-ting syringe tip comprising:
a) a generally hollow handle containing a light source, a water source and an air source:
b) a valve head attached to the handle, the valve head including a water valve and an air valve:
c) a manifold assembly positioned inside the valve head, the manifold assembly including a spindle adapted to receive a syringe tip to be mounted thereon:
d) the manifold assembly further including a water vein for transporting water from the water source to the spindle e) the manifold assembly further including an air vein for transporting air from the air source and adapted to provide air to a syringe tip; and f) the manifold assembly further including means for transmitting light from the light source to a location adjacent the spindle whereby when the light source is illuminated, light will be directed from the light source into a proximate end of a syringe tip to be mounted on the spindle so that light may be transmitted along the length of the syringe tip and emit from a remote end thereof whereby a dentist may illuminate a work area using the light emitting from the syringe tip. - Claim 19. The assembly of Claim 18 further including a light-transmitting syringe tip mounted on the tapered spindle.
- Claim 20. A dental syringe tip handpiece assembly for providing light for emission from a remote end of a clear, light transmitting syringe tip comprising:
a) a generally hollow handle containing at least one fiberoptic bundle, a water source tubing and an air source tubing;
b) a generally hollow valve head attached to the handle, the valve head including a water valve and an air valve;
c) a manifold assembly positioned inside the valve head, the manifold assembly including a spindle for receiv-ing a syringe tip to be mounted thereon;
d) the manifold assembly further including a water vein for transporting water from the water source through the spindle and into a water passageway in the syringe tip;
e) the manifold assembly further including an air vein for transporting air from the air source into an air passageway in the syringe tip;
f) a thumb nut and locking collar attached to the valve head for securing the syringe tip on the spindle and adjacent a first end of the manifold body; and g) the manifold assembly further including at least one fiberoptic bundle aperture for receiving the fiberoptic bundle from the handle and positioning one end of the fiberoptic bundle adjacent the first end of the manifold body whereby when the fiberoptic bundle is illuminated, light will be directed from the fiberoptic bundle into a proxi-mate end of a syringe tip to be mounted on the spindle so that light may be transmitted along the length of the syringe tip and emit from a remote end thereof whereby a dentist may illuminate a work area using the light emitting from the syringe tip. - Claim 21. The assembly of Claim 20 further including a light-transmitting syringe tip mounted on the tapered spindle.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US1998/005509 WO1999047067A1 (en) | 1998-03-19 | 1998-03-19 | Illuminated syringe tip and handpiece assembly |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2324329A1 true CA2324329A1 (en) | 1999-09-23 |
Family
ID=22266645
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002324329A Abandoned CA2324329A1 (en) | 1998-03-19 | 1998-03-19 | Illuminated syringe tip and handpiece assembly |
Country Status (14)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP1063937A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2002506675A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR100364579B1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU6765998A (en) |
| BR (1) | BR9815751A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2324329A1 (en) |
| CZ (1) | CZ296324B6 (en) |
| HU (1) | HU223554B1 (en) |
| IL (1) | IL138444A0 (en) |
| NO (1) | NO20004557L (en) |
| NZ (1) | NZ507527A (en) |
| RU (1) | RU2211682C2 (en) |
| TR (1) | TR200003616T2 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1999047067A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE10359501A1 (en) * | 2003-12-18 | 2005-07-14 | Kaltenbach & Voigt Gmbh & Co. Kg | Dental or medical handheld device with light output element for illuminating treatment point containing light source in form of light-emitting semiconductor element enclosed by transparent radiation body |
| ES2329507T3 (en) * | 2005-02-07 | 2009-11-26 | Amdent Ab | DENTAL MANUAL INSTRUMENT. |
| EP2656814A2 (en) | 2006-06-15 | 2013-10-30 | Koninklijke Philips N.V. | A droplet jet teeth cleaning system |
| FR2947633B1 (en) * | 2009-07-02 | 2012-04-13 | Snecma | DEVICE FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE CONTROL OF A PIECE |
Family Cites Families (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3072209T2 (en) | 1980-02-18 | 1994-06-01 | Bien Air | Dental instrument with handpiece. |
| DE3337166A1 (en) | 1983-10-12 | 1985-04-25 | Siemens Ag | DENTAL SYRINGE HANDPIECE |
| US5049071A (en) | 1988-09-06 | 1991-09-17 | Warren Davis | Dental syringe tip and adaptor |
| US5236356A (en) | 1988-09-06 | 1993-08-17 | Warren Davis | Dental syringe tip and adaptor |
| US5489205A (en) | 1988-09-06 | 1996-02-06 | Davis; Warren | Syringe tip locking assembly |
| US5306146A (en) | 1988-09-06 | 1994-04-26 | Warren Davis | Syringe tip locking assembly |
| US5192206A (en) | 1988-09-06 | 1993-03-09 | Warren Davis | Dental syringe tip and adaptor |
| US5088924A (en) | 1989-03-01 | 1992-02-18 | Gary Woodward | Dental fiberoptic handpiece hose assembly and method |
| US5709545A (en) * | 1995-11-01 | 1998-01-20 | Scitech Dental, Inc. | Method and apparatus for protecting against cross contamination of patients caused by oral reflux in dental instrument water and air lines |
| DE29520453U1 (en) * | 1995-12-22 | 1997-04-17 | Siemens Ag | Dental spray handpiece with integrated lighting device |
-
1998
- 1998-03-19 IL IL13844498A patent/IL138444A0/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1998-03-19 WO PCT/US1998/005509 patent/WO1999047067A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1998-03-19 KR KR1020007010386A patent/KR100364579B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1998-03-19 HU HU0101698A patent/HU223554B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1998-03-19 EP EP98912996A patent/EP1063937A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1998-03-19 NZ NZ507527A patent/NZ507527A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1998-03-19 RU RU2000126299/14A patent/RU2211682C2/en active IP Right Revival
- 1998-03-19 JP JP2000536310A patent/JP2002506675A/en active Pending
- 1998-03-19 TR TR2000/03616T patent/TR200003616T2/en unknown
- 1998-03-19 BR BR9815751-5A patent/BR9815751A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1998-03-19 AU AU67659/98A patent/AU6765998A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1998-03-19 CA CA002324329A patent/CA2324329A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1998-03-19 CZ CZ20003423A patent/CZ296324B6/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
2000
- 2000-09-13 NO NO20004557A patent/NO20004557L/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| NO20004557D0 (en) | 2000-09-13 |
| AU6765998A (en) | 1999-10-11 |
| CZ296324B6 (en) | 2006-02-15 |
| KR20010042046A (en) | 2001-05-25 |
| TR200003616T2 (en) | 2001-04-20 |
| CZ20003423A3 (en) | 2001-05-16 |
| JP2002506675A (en) | 2002-03-05 |
| WO1999047067A1 (en) | 1999-09-23 |
| RU2211682C2 (en) | 2003-09-10 |
| KR100364579B1 (en) | 2002-12-12 |
| EP1063937A1 (en) | 2001-01-03 |
| HU223554B1 (en) | 2004-09-28 |
| HUP0101698A2 (en) | 2001-09-28 |
| HUP0101698A3 (en) | 2001-12-28 |
| NO20004557L (en) | 2000-11-08 |
| NZ507527A (en) | 2003-08-29 |
| BR9815751A (en) | 2001-10-09 |
| IL138444A0 (en) | 2001-10-31 |
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| JPS6058652B2 (en) | dental treatment instruments |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |