GB2188239A

GB2188239A - Illumination for dental handpiece

Info

Publication number: GB2188239A
Application number: GB08607799A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jean-Jacques Luiset; Michel Seigneurin
Original assignee: Micro Mega SA
Current assignee: Micro Mega SA
Priority date: 1984-11-07
Filing date: 1986-03-27
Publication date: 1987-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 2006-03-27
Also published as: GB2188239B; JPS61115553A; EP0181669A1; AT384546B; ATA89386A; JPS61159959A; FR2572646A1; GB8607799D0; JPH0534014B2; FR2572646B1

Description

G B 2 188 239 A 1

SPECIFICATION the contra-angle so as practically not to project

Contra-angle for Dental Handpiece beyond the peripheral wall of the body, does not risk being damaged by impacts or by contactwith the The invention concerns a contra-angle fora dental teeth. Furthermore, this optical element, being handpiece provided with means for illuminating the 70 embedded in the wall of the contra-angle, ensures site of treatment. water-tightness of the housing of the light source, In order to facilitate the work of dental surgeons, avoiding the entry of dust or water splashing during there has already cropped up the idea of treatment.

incorporating in the working instrument, that is, in The invention will be described in the following the dental handpiece itself, lighting means which 75 description of an embodiment of the contra-angle are supposed to illuminate the site of treatment. and by means of the attached drawing in which:

European Patent No. 34237, for example, Fig. 1 is a schematic view from below of the head proposes lighting with optical fibres which pass of the contra-angle; through the different parts of the handpiece and Fig. 2 is a schematic side-face view thereof.

whose light emitting end is directed towards the end 80 In the front portion of the body 1 of the contra- of the tool. angle, close to the head 1 a in which the instrument Other systems have also been envisaged, is accommodated, are mounted two bulbs 2 particularly small electric bulbs incorporated in the connected by wires 3 to plugs 4 which allow them to end of the head of the contra-angle and directed be connected to wires coming from the handpiece, towards the site of treatment. 85 not shown. In front of each bulb 2 is inserted a prism The solution envisaged up to now do not give full 5 embedded in a recess in the body of the contra satisfaction and exhibit several disadvantages. In angle, and arranged so as to deflect the light rays the case of bulbs incorporated in the end of ' the head towards the site of treatment 6.

of the contra-angle, their chief disadvantage is their This prism 5, being embedded in the body 1, bulkiness. These bulbs must be placed in a very 90 forms a watertight stopper and prevents any restricted zone into which cooling fluid supply pipes infiltration of dust or water into the housing of the also open out and, even when using minibulbs, it is bulb 2 and into the contra-angle. This prism 5 may difficult to reduce their bulkiness optimally. be facetted in the most appropriate way for its Moreover, these bulbs having to be placed as close working face 7 to allow total reflection of the light as possible to the site of working, they may come 95 rays, which emerge via its front face 8. Its angle of into contact with the enamel of the teeth and the inclination is selected so that the light rays are subjected to impacts which risk damaging them. It is directed exclusively towards the site of treatment 6 furthermore impossible to seal off perfectly from the of the instrument 9. Total reflection gives optimum cooling liquid or dust, the space between these light output, without loss.

bulbs and their housing, while leaving them 100 In the embodiment shown in the drawings, it can sufficient play to be perfectly accessible for the be seen that the prism is almost completely inserted purpose of replacing them if necessary. In the case in the body of the contra-angle; it would be equally of optical fibres, if they are embedded up to the end possible to embed it completely so that it does not of the head, it is difficult to orient their light-emitting project beyond the peripheral wall of the body.

end appropriately towards the site of treatment, for 105 Other embodiments of this device may be they cannot be bent at a sufficient angle and, if they provided, particularly in respect of the light source emerge from the handpiece before the end, they are which may be embodied by means of optical fibres no longer protected and their front end from which inserted completely in the body of the contra-angle the light emerges may be damaged during with a rectilinear path, the prism or other optical treatment, which risks decreasing the light flux 110 element allowing the light rays to be directed considerably. towards the site of working.

The present invention proposes to provide a It would also be possible to provide a different contra-angle for a dental handpiece provided with optical element instead of the prism, for example, a water-tight lighting means whose light rays are mirror oriented so as to reflect the light rays onto directed in a precise manner towards the site of 115 the desired site.

treatment.

Claims

For this purpose, the contra-angle for a handpiece CLAIMS according to the

invention is characterised in that 1. Contra-angle for dental handpiece provided the light source is incorporated inside the body of with means for illuminating the site of treatment, the contra-angle, and in front of the light source is 120 comprising at least one light source incorporated inserted an optical element which deflects the light inside the body of the contra-angle support, and an rays, embedded in a recess situated close to the optical element inserted in front of this light source head of the contra-angle and arranged so as to and deflecting the light rays, said optical element deflect the light rays towards the site of treatment. being embedded in a recess situated close to the The advantages of this device are obvious. The 125head of the body of the contra-angle and arranged light source consisting of a bulb or unbent optical so as to deflect the light rays towards the site of fibres, being incorporated completely inside the treatment.

body of the contra-angle, is therefore protected by
2. Contra-angle according to claim 1, wherein said the contra-angle itself. The optical element, which is optical element is a prism.

preferably inserted as far as possible in the body of 130
3. Contra-angle according to claim 1, wherein said 2 GB 2 188 239 A 2 optical element is a mirror. optical element practically does not project beyond
4. Contra-angle according to claim 1, wherein said the outer surface of the body of the contra-angle.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Courier Press, Leamington Spa, 911987. Demand No. 8991685. Published by the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 'I AY, from which copies may be obtained.