FR2670106A1 - DENTAL HANDPIECE FOR THE TREATMENT OF TEETH USING LASER RAYS. - Google Patents

Abstract

This dental handpiece, allowing the treatment of teeth by means of laser beams, is arranged so that it can be connected to a laser light source by means of a light guide cable (2) terminating freely in the handpiece (1) and it comprises, on the one hand, an interchangeable tip (6) provided with a light guide-treatment section (7), one end of which is inside the handpiece (1) and the other end outside the latter and, on the other hand, at least one optical transmission element (8) which directs the laser light beam, exiting the light guide wire (2) , in the light guide-treatment section (7) by adapting this beam to the diameter of the latter. According to the invention, the optical transmission element (8) is arranged so that it can be adjusted in position so that the laser light beam, which emerges from the light guide wire (2), can be adapted to sections treatment light guides (7) of different diameters.

Description

The present invention relates to a dental handpiece, allowing the

  laser treatment of the teeth, which is arranged to be connectable to a laser light source via a light guide cable freely terminating in the handpiece and comprising on the one hand, an interchangeable tip provided with a treatment-light guide section, one end of which

  located inside the handpiece and the other end to the outside.

  of the latter and, on the other hand, at least one element of trans-

  optical mission that directs the laser light beam, exiting the light guide cable, into the light-treating section of the light guide

  adapting this beam to the diameter of the latter.

  Such a handpiece is, for example, known from EP-A-375 578. The optical transmission element is in this case constituted by a concave mirror which converges the beam of light coming out of the light guide cable and deflects it into the light. This last section consists of a bundle of optical fibers, cylindrical or conical, which is arranged in a support

screwing into the handpiece.

  Further known (DE-A-3 800 555) is a handpiece in which the transmission element consists of two lenses. The first lens converges on the second the parallel beam of laser beams coming from the light guide cable. From this convergent beam, the second lens forms again a parallel beam of

  However, the laser beam is much smaller in diameter than the

  beam of laser light coming out of the light guide cable The

  In this case, the treatment is in the form of a needle.

  light guide in which the beam of laser beams whose diameter has been reduced by the convergence effect is guided. This processing section is fixed in an interchangeable manner, by means of a connection

removable, on the handpiece.

  The problem that the invention aims to solve lies in the fact

  for the handpiece, treatment sections should be used.

  In this way, for example, a light-guide section with a large diameter is suitable.

  for the superficial treatment of teeth, while a section of

  It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a dental handpiece, of the type described in the preamble, by means of which, even when uses light guide treatment sections of different diameters, we can use in each case

  laser energy in an optimal way by performing a replacement.

  For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a handpiece den-

  of the type described in the preamble, characterized in that the optical transmission element is arranged to be adjustable in position so as to be able to adapt the laser light beam, which exits the light guide cable, to treatment-guide sections of

light of different diameters.

  In a particular embodiment of the invention, the

  optical transmission may be a lens which is arranged

  so that it can be moved in the direction of its axis Preferably

  This lens can be held in a sleeve that is mounted

  axially movable in the handpiece and comprises a finger

  radially outwardly, while externally on the handpiece, there can be provided an operating ring rotatably mounted about the axis of the sleeve and having, on its inner face, a groove which winds in a helix around this axis of the sleeve and in which the

finger is guided.

  Advantageously, it may be provided that the light guide treatment section is constituted by an optical fiber bundle section provided externally with a coating, preferably a

  coating formed of a sheet of plastic material.

  Other features and advantages of the invention are

  from the description that follows, as a non-limiting example

  and with reference to the appended drawing in which the single figure represents a

  embodiment of a dental handpiece according to the invention.

  tion. The dental handpiece consists of two parts which are joined together by a coupling The drawing represents only the front part 1 The rear part (not shown) is connected by a hose to a central feeding apparatus which also contains the laser light source The flexible tube is used to bring a fiberglass light guide cable for the laser light to the handpiece, as well as cables and tubes for the supply of air , the water and the electric current The light guide cable 2 ends in a tubular element 3 which is secured to the rear part of the handpiece 1 and around which the front part of this piece to

  hand can be rotated by means of O-rings 4.

  On the front part of the handpiece 1, there is also a light guide treatment section 7 which consists of a glass rod or a bundle of glass fibers and which is surrounded by a plastic sheet and is held in a nesting piece 6 by its end facing the handpiece The nesting piece 6 is housed in a hole in the front part of the handpiece 1 and can be replaced by a another interlocking piece whose light-treatment section 7 also has another diameter

  for example, for a superficial treatment of the teeth, it is

  read a nesting piece 6 having a light-treatment section-light whose diameter is relatively large However, for a root treatment, must be placed in the hole a nesting piece

  6 having a light guide treatment section 7 whose diameter

be very weak.

  A lens 8, arranged in a sleeve 9 converges the beam of laser light coming out of the end of the light guide cable 2, the beam then being sent, after having been deflected in a prism 5, in the section of light. light guide treatment 7 For this to be possible, it is necessary to adapt the beam diameter

  of laser light at the diameter of the treatment section 7 This is achieved

  is held by moving the sleeve 9 axially in the handpiece 1 This axial displacement is obtained by means of an operating ring 12 which is provided externally on the handpiece 1 and can be rotated about the axis of the sleeve and lens, as is the case for the parts shown On the inner face of the operating ring 12, there is provided a groove 11 which winds helically around the axis of the sleeve and the lens and in which sinks a finger

  integral with the sleeve 9 and projecting radially outwardly.

  When the operating ring 12 is pivoted, this finger 10 moves in the groove 11. As a result, the sleeve 9, with the lens 8

  is there, also moves axially.

  Orifices 13 and 14 for the ejection of air and water are provided on the handpiece 1 near the nesting piece 6 An additional light guide 15, in which light is sent by a small bulb located in the back of the handpiece, ends with another hole 16 The light goes out through this hole

  16 and illuminates the treatment area.

Claims (4)

  1 Dental handpiece, for treating teeth with laser beams, which is arranged to be connected to a laser light source via a freely-terminating light guide cable (2) in the handpiece (1) and which comprises, on the one hand, an interchangeable tip (6) provided with a section   light-guiding treatment (7), one end of which is   of the handpiece (1) and the other end outside the handpiece (1) and, on the other hand, at least one optical transmission element (8) which directs the beam of laser light out of the cable- guidebook   light (2), in the light guide treatment section (7) adapted to   both this beam to the diameter of the latter, characterized in that the optical transmission element (8) is arranged to be adjustable in position so as to adapt the light beam   laser, which exits the light guide cable (2), to sections of   light guides (7) of different diameters.   Dental handpiece according to claim 1, characterized   in that the optical transmission element (8) is a lens which is arranged to be movable in the direction of its axis.   Dental handpiece according to claim 2, characterized   in that the lens (8) is held in a sleeve (9) which is mounted axially movable in the handpiece (1) and comprises a finger   Protruding radially outwardly and in that   on the handpiece (1), there is provided an operating ring (12) rotatably mounted about the axis of the sleeve and having, on its inner face, a groove (11) which is wound helically around this axis of   sleeve and in which the finger is guided.   Dental handpiece according to any of the claims   1 to 3, characterized in that the light guide treatment section (7) is constituted by an optical fiber bundle section provided externally with a coating, preferably with a coating.   formed of a sheet of plastic material.