GB2349563A - Apparatus for cleaning tools such as dentistry tools - Google Patents

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus for tools, in particular dentistry tools, comprises a substantially cylindrical pipe member 4 which is releasably attachable to a fluid flow means 3 such as the hose of a dental aspirator. A barrel member 20 is arranged to fit substantially concentrically within the pipe member 4 and is provided with means such as a spiral flute 6 or a plurality of vanes on its outer surface to cause it to rotate in a fluid flow through the pipe member 4. The barrel member 20 has at least one opening 5 extending substantially along its central axis and internal cleaning means such as a plurality of bristles (9, Fig. 3) arranged to contact with the tool to be cleaned. In use the tool is held stationary within the barrel member 20 and the barrel member rotates and cleans the tool.

Description

Tool Cleamng Apparatus The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning tools such as drill bits, reams, and the like.

More particularly, the present invention relates to cleaning tools such as endodontic drills which are used in dentistry, and which must be kept in relatively clean and hygienic conditions.

There are many applications where tools, and in particular cutting or filing tools such as drill bits and reams, must be kept clean in order for effective operation, and in some cases to prolong the life of the tool. In the field of dentistry, to which the present invention particularly but not exclusively relates, modem endodontic practice involves the use of rotary nickel-titanium drills. A particular hazard of the operation of such drills is the possibility of instrument fracture during a dental procedure. One of the known causes of such instrument fracture is the accumulation of dentine chips on and within the flutes of the drill.

These chips can bind with the canal wall of the tooth during dental procedures and cause fracture of the drill.

In order to overcome this, and other such problems where a tool, and in particular a rotary cutting tool such as a drill bit, may be damaged by the accumulation of swarf, dirt, or other debris arising from the use of the tool, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which allows a tool to be readily cleaned during a period of use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cleaning apparatus which is particularly suitable for use with dental instruments.

The basic operation of the invention is as follows. A cylinder with an aperture in the top surface is placed within the outlet of an air-blowing or suction device, such as, in the case of dentistry, an aspirator. The cylinder is provided with means for causing the cylinder to rotate as air passes over the surface of the cylinder, and with internal cleaning means such as a brush, which is arranged to contact with a tool which is placed within the opening in the top surface. In use, the tool is held stationary within the barrel along a central axis, while the barrel rotates about the axis and about the tool. The internal cleaning means rotates with the barrel, thus cleaning the tool.

According to the present invention there is provided a cleaning apparatus for tools and the like comprising: a substantially cylindrical pipe member arranged to be releasably attached to a fluid flow means such that a fluid flow may be caused through said pipe member; a substantially cylindrical barrel member arranged to fit substantially concentrically within said pipe member, said barrel member being provided with at least one opening extending into said barrel in a direction substantially along central axis, and with internal cleaning means arranged to contact with a tool to be cleaned when said tool is placed within said opening, and with means for causing said barrel to rotate in a fluid flow; wherein in use the tool to be cleaned is held stationary within said barrel member such that said barrel member rotates about said tool whereby to clean said tool.

The means for causing the barrel to rotate inside the pipe in response to a fluid flow preferably comprise a substantially spiral flute formed in the outer surface of the barrel, and extending along the length of the barrel. Alternatively, instead of a flute, a plurality of vanes may be provided on the outer surface of the barrel arranged to act like aerofoils to cause the barrel to spin within the pipe when air flows through the pipe.

The internal cleaning means may preferably comprise a plurality of brushes extending radially from the inner surface of the barrel towards the central axis. The brushes may be provided along the entire internal length of the barrel, or at specific discrete points. One or more brushes may be provided.

The fluid flow which causes the rotation of the barrel is preferably air from an aspirator such as are commonly found within dental surgeries.

However, other gases or liquids may be used as appropriate.

The barrel member may be single use, in which case it may be disposable, or multiple use, in which case it may itself be cleanable. Where the present invention is used in dental or surgical procedures, replacement barrel members may be aseptic.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, presented by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Figure 1 illustrates the apparatus of the preferred embodiment of the present invention attached to a fluid flow means, and how a tool to be cleaned may be inserted into the apparatus for cleaning; Figure 2 shows a cutaway representation of the pipe member of the present invention to illustrate the barrel member contained therein; and Figure 3 shows a cross-section of the barrel member along the line A-A of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Within Figure 1, a hand piece or drill body 1 is fitted with a drill bit or ream 2 which is arranged to be rotated at high-speed by the drill body 1 so as to drill or cut holes in materials. In order to provide easy cleaning of the drill bit or ream 2, the present invention provides a first pipe member 4 provided with attachment means 22 which are arranged to be releasably attached to the port 3 of a fluid flow means. The fluid flow means may be any apparatus or device which is capable of either creating a vacuum for the suction of fluids into the port of the device, or alternatively of providing a positive fluid flow out of the port of the device 3. By referring to fluid flow, the use of both gases and liquids is envisaged, although the use of air as the said fluid is particularly preferred. Where the present invention is applied to the field of dentistry, the fluid flow means 3 may be provided by an aspirator, the outlet ports of which are of a standard dimension throughout the industry. In this case, the attachment means 22 need only be releasably attachable to outlets of this standard size. In other cases, the attachment means 22 may be adjustable so as to allow attachment to ports of different sizes.

Figure 2 shows a cutaway drawing of the pipe member 4. From Figure 2, it will be seen that the pipe member is open at the end opposite to the attachment means 22, and that within the pipe member 4 is closely fitted a barrel member 20. The barrel member is substantially cylindrical in shape and is arranged to sit concentrically within the pipe member 4 such that the pipe member and the barrel share a common central axis extending along the length of the barrel at its centre. An aperture 5 is provided in the upper surface of the barrel, substantially at the centre of the surface, on the central axis. Furthermore, a spiral flute 6 is formed in the outer surface of the barrel extending around the barrel along its length. This spiral flute acts as the means for causing the barrel to rotate when airflow is caused to pass through the pipe member 4 by the fluid flow means. Note that the airflow may be in either direction, but that the direction of flow will determine the direction in which the barrel rotates. The pitch and width of the spiral flute may be varied as required.

Although the airflow may be in either direction, a suction airflow into the outlet port of the fluid flow means may have an advantage over an airflow out of the outlet port as the suction flow will act to retain the barrel member within the pipe.

The pipe member 4 is further provided with a base section 7 upon which the barrel 20 rests, the base section 7 being arranged so as to allow fluid flow through the pipe in either direction.

It is to be understood that the means for causing rotation of the barrel need not be the spiral flute 6, but may instead be other arrangements such as a plurality of aerofoil type vanes attached to the outside of the barrel extending radially out from the outer surface thereof. Such vanes may be so shaped and angled as to provide a rotational force to the barrel when fluid flows over them.

Other alternative arrangements for causing rotation in a fluid flow will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and which may be applicable to the apparatus of the present invention.

However, whatever arrangement is chosen to cause rotation of the barrel, it must be understood that in order to provide airflow over the means for causing rotation, the barrel must fit snugly into the pipe member 4, so that no air may escape around the edges of the barrel without passing over and acting upon the means for causing rotation. Furthermore, by providing a close fit of the barrel within the pipe, then no retaining means such as, for example, a spindle, is required upon which the barrel must be mounted. Instead, with the arrangement of the present invention, the rotating barrel member is retained in position by the walls of the pipe. In addition, due to the close proximity of the inner walls of the pipe with the outer walls of the barrel, a ground cushion effect may further act between the barrel and pipe walls to retain the barrel in position when rotating at highspeed.

The internal structure of the barrel 20 will now be described with reference to Figure 3.

Figure 3 shows a cross-section of the barrel 20 along the line A-A of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows. From Figure 3, it will be seen that there is provided internal cleaning means in the form of a plurality of brushes 9 mounted on the inner surface of the barrel 20 extending radially inwards towards the central axis. A single set of brushes may be provided as shown, or instead multiple sets may be provided extending the length of the barrel.

Furthermore, any internal arrangement of brushes may be provided as required.

Brushes are of course provided around the entire inner circumference of the wall, and not just around half the circumference as shown in the cross-section. Instead of bristles, material pads, sponges, or the like may be used. Furthermore, the abrasiveness of these internal cleaning means may be variable.

The barrel section may also be further provided with a solid base section 10 forming a container in which cleaning fluid or liquid may be kept. This cleaning fluid may be applied to the internal cleaning means to help cleaning the tool due to the rotation of the barrel when in use.

In use, as shown in Figure 1, the tool to be cleaned is inserted into the top of the apparatus, and enters the barrel 20 through the aperture 5. The tool then extends down the central axis of the barrel and through the internal cleaning brushes 9 at the central point where the brushes meet. A fluid flow is then caused through the pipe member 4 by the fluid flow means, this fluid preferably being air.

The flow may be in either direction, as stated earlier. The flow of the fluid through the pipe member 4 and over the means for causing rotation of the barrel causes the barrel to rotate around the central axis. The tool is held stationary along the central axis, and hence the barrel rotates about the tool. The rotation of the barrel causes the brush bristles 9 to abrade the tool, thus removing any swarf, debris, or dirt from the tool. The tool may be moved in and out of the aperture as required to ensure that the entire length of the tool is cleaned. Alternatively, in the case where the entire internal length of the barrel is provided with bristles, this reciprocating action may not be required.

Once fragments of debris have been removed from the tool, they are thrown to the wall of the barrel by centrifugal force. This ensures that no debris can be removed from the barrel when the tool is removed, and which then may be retained upon the tool. The wall of the barrel may optionally be coated with a suitable substance or material such as an adhesive material to ensure that removed particles are then retained on the wall.

The barrel 20 may preferably be disposable, and may be replaced at the end of treatment. Alternatively, the barrel may be reusable, in which case it may be sterilisable. The pipe casing member 4 may be sterilisable and may be reused having inserted a new barrel member 20.

Where the barrel is disposable, a relatively cheap construction such as, for example, blown or moulded plastic is envisaged. The use of a disposable barrel member is particularly preferred where the present invention is to be used for clinical procedures such as dental or surgical procedures where cleanliness and hygiene are of the utmost importance.

Claims (10)

1. CLAIMS: 1. A cleaning apparatus for tools and the like, comprising: a substantially cylindrical pipe member arranged to be releasably attached to a fluid flow means such that a fluid flow may be caused through said pipe member; a substantially cylindrical barrel member arranged to fit substantially concentrically within said pipe member, said barrel member being provided with at least one opening extending into said barrel in a direction substantially along a central axis, with internal cleaning means arranged to contact with a tool to be cleaned when said tool is placed within said opening, and with means for causing said barrel to rotate in a fluid flow; wherein in use the tool to be cleaned is held stationary within said barrel member such that said barrel member rotates about said tool whereby to clean said tool.
2. 2. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for causing said barrel to rotate in a fluid flow comprises a substantially spiral flute formed in the outer surface of said barrel and extending along the length of said barrel.
3. 3. A cleaning apparatus according to claim, 1, wherein said means for causing said barrel to rotate in a fluid flow comprises a plurality of vanes fixed to the outer surface of said barrel.
4. 4. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said vanes each extend radially from the outer surface of said barrel.
5. 5. A cleaning apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said internal cleaning means comprise a plurality of bristles extending radially inwards from the internal surface of said barrel towards said central axis.
6. 6. A cleaning apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said barrel is further provided with a container portion arranged to contain a cleaning liquid.
7. 7. A cleaning apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said tool or tools to be cleaned are dentistry tools.
8. 8. A cleaning apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said barrel member is disposable.
9. 9. A cleaning apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, said fluid flow means is an aspirator whereby said fluid flow is an air flow.
10. 10. A cleaning apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.