JP2012235979A - Dental scaling/disinfecting device and light guide used for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dental scaling/disinfecting device in consideration of high-temperature sterilization treatment by an autoclave or the like, and having excellent workability.SOLUTION: This dental scaling/disinfecting device transmits ultrasonic vibration generated by an ultrasonic vibrator 12 to a tip part of a probe 20 to smash tartar, supplies a disinfecting solution supplied by a liquid supply means from the probe tip part to a tooth part, guides and irradiates light from a light source device 11 to the supplied disinfecting solution by a light guide 20 to generate hydroxyl radical for disinfection. The light source device 11 has: a semiconductor light source 111 emitting light of a predetermined wavelength region; a condenser lens 112 condensing the light emitted from the semiconductor light source; and a cylindrical member. The cylindrical member has a large diameter part 113 and a small diameter part 114 holding the condenser lens and the semiconductor light source in predetermined positional relation, and the large diameter part 113 is positioned outside a holder 10 holding the probe.

Description

  The present invention relates to a calculus removing / disinfecting apparatus and a light guide used therefor.

The removal of tartar is important as part of dentistry.
Conventionally, Patent Document 1 proposes a technique for removing tartar using ultrasonic waves. In the same document 1, an optical fiber is disposed in a tapered tapered hollow tube (probe) that transmits ultrasonic vibrations and vibrates ultrasonically, and laser light is sent to the tartar removal part (scaling part) by this optical fiber. A periodontal disease probe is disclosed that irradiates, sterilizes the scaling portion, and crushes and removes tartar by ultrasonic vibration of the probe.

  In general, the probe is provided at the distal end portion of a handpiece portion held by a practitioner who performs a tartar removal operation.

  Patent Document 2 discloses that sterilization and sterilization of the oral cavity by “hydroxy radicals” generated by irradiating hydrogen peroxide water or hypozinc acid with light containing light having a single wavelength or multiple wavelengths in the range of 400 nm to 1000 nm. Is disclosed.

  Patent Document 3 discloses a periodontal disease phototherapy that uses blue light in the wavelength range of 400 to 420 nm to suppress the growth of periodontal disease bacteria and to cool the blue light irradiated portion with water to prevent burns and the like. A vessel is disclosed.

  When removing dental calculus from human teeth and dentures using ultrasonic vibration, since many bacteria are generally attached to the calculus, the part where the calculus is removed and the removed part are disinfected. This disinfection is preferably “a disinfection method that does not affect the health of the human body and does not produce resistant bacteria”.

  Therefore, a calculus removing / disinfecting apparatus that performs such calculus removal and sterilization is described in Patent Document 1, as described in Patent Document 3, as well as “pulverizing calculus by ultrasonic vibration of the probe”. While sterilization and sterilization is performed by light irradiation while supplying the liquid to the tartar removal part through the probe, as described in Patent Document 3, “hydrogen peroxide or hypozinc as the liquid to be supplied to the tartar removal part” It is preferable to sterilize the tartar removal part by using an acid water and irradiating a light beam containing light having a single wavelength or a plurality of wavelengths in the range of 400 nm to 1000 nm to generate hydroxy radicals.

By the way, when using a calculus removal / disinfection device, when performing calculus removal / disinfection on human teeth and dentures, finely pulverized calculus is scattered in the process of calculus removal and adheres to the device. These deposits contain many bacteria.
Therefore, sterilization is indispensable for the calculus removal / disinfection device. There is a known autoclave apparatus as a sterilization apparatus suitable for such sterilization treatment. In this apparatus, an object to be sterilized is immersed in a liquid of about 120 ° C. to which a pressure of about 2 atm is applied for several minutes to several tens of minutes. And sterilize. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures against the influence of high temperature and high pressure, particularly the influence of high temperature.

  Further, when the calculus removing / disinfecting apparatus is continuously used by a plurality of people, the work efficiency is poor if the apparatus is sterilized every time the person changes as described above. In such a situation, a calculus removal / disinfection device with good work efficiency is desired.

  The handpiece having the probe at the tip is preferably thin to some extent so that the practitioner can easily hold and handle it.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and is considered for high-temperature sterilization by an autoclave or the like, and has a thin handpiece portion so that a practitioner can easily hold it and has excellent workability. An object is to provide a calculus removal / disinfection device.

The calculus removing / disinfecting apparatus of the present invention is "an apparatus for removing calculus and disinfecting teeth".
The target for tartar removal / disinfection is “the teeth of people and animals (pets, domestic animals, etc.)” and “dentures (including implants)”. When operating on a so-called “denture”, this device can function as a “denture cleaning device”.
The “calculus” includes not only “calculus” in which the calcium component is solidified but also “plaque”.

  The calculus removing / disinfecting apparatus includes a probe, a handpiece unit, a liquid supply unit, an ultrasonic wave generation unit, a light guide, a light source device, a power supply unit, and a control unit.

The “probe” is a hollow tube made of a hard metal material and is a portion for removing tartar.
The “handpiece portion” is a portion that has a probe at the tip and is held by a user (an operator who removes and disinfects calculus and is the above-mentioned practitioner).

"Liquid supply means" is means for supplying a disinfecting liquid to the probe side through the inside of the handpiece part.
The “ultrasonic wave generating means” is a means that is provided in the handpiece part and generates ultrasonic waves for “vibrating the probe via the handpiece part”.
The “light guide” is loosely fitted in the probe (fit with play) and guides light to the probe tip.

The “light source device” is a device that emits “light in a predetermined wavelength region that generates hydroxy radicals” to the disinfecting solution, and condenses and radiates the emitted light to the input end of the ride guide.
“Power supply means” is means for supplying power to the liquid supply means, the ultrasonic wave generation means, and the light source device.
The “control means” is means for controlling the liquid supply means, the ultrasonic wave generation means, and the light source device.

Tartar removal and disinfection are performed as follows.
That is, the ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic generator is transmitted to the tip of the probe, the tip of the probe is microvibrated at high speed to pulverize the tartar, and the disinfecting liquid supplied by the liquid supply means is supplied from the probe tip. It supplies to a tooth | gear part, and with respect to the supplied disinfecting solution, the light from a light source device is guided and irradiated with a light guide, and it produces | generates a hydroxyl radical and disinfects.

  The “calculus removal / disinfection device” according to claim 1 has the following characteristics.

That is, the handpiece unit has a holder and a light source device.
The “holder” is heat resistant and holds the probe in a watertight and replaceable manner.

  The “light guide” is “made of resin having a higher refractive index than the disinfecting solution” and can be exchanged.

  The “light source device” includes a semiconductor light source, a condenser lens, and a cylindrical member.

The “semiconductor light source” emits light in a predetermined wavelength region (a wavelength region that generates hydroxy radicals in the disinfecting solution).
The “collecting lens” is a lens that collects light emitted from the semiconductor light source.

The “tubular member” has a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion.
The “large diameter portion” is a portion that holds the condenser lens and the semiconductor light source in a predetermined positional relationship.

  The “small diameter portion” is fitted into the holder and is held in the holder “watertight” by the watertight means. The disinfecting liquid supplied by the liquid supply means is supplied into the holder through the small diameter portion.

  The large-diameter portion of the cylindrical member of the light source device is “located outside the holder”.

  The “probe” is a hollow tube made of a hard metal material, and is watertight and replaceable with respect to the holder. The probe is “watertightly replaceable with respect to the holder” means that the attachment / detachment part of the probe and the holder “fits tightly”, and it is easy to attach / detach the probe for replacement. In addition to the above, it means that “disinfectant does not leak” from the attachment / detachment part.

  The form of the probe is preferably “both the inner diameter and the outer diameter become narrower from the attaching / detaching portion to the tip portion toward the tip portion, and the outer diameter at the tip portion is 1.2 mm or less”. The ultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic wave generating means vibrates the holder, and this vibration is transmitted to the “probe attached to the holder” to cause the probe to vibrate at a high speed by the ultrasonic wave.

  In this state, the tip of the probe is brought into contact with the tartar, and the tartar is crushed by the impact of the minute vibration of the probe. At this time, since the vibration amplitude of the probe is extremely small and the vibration frequency is high, there is no pain for the person whose tartar has been removed.

  From the “side from which tartar is removed (the object to be treated)”, the thinner the tip of the probe, the less physical irritation is required. From this viewpoint, the diameter of the tip is 1.2 mm or less. Is preferred.

  From the above viewpoint, the probe tip diameter seems to be better as it is thinner, but if it is too thin, it will be difficult to form an internal space for placing the light guide, and if the probe wall thickness is too thin, The physical strength required to crush tartar cannot be secured. From this viewpoint, the lower limit of the diameter of the probe tip is appropriately about 0.3 mm.

  Of course, the diameter of the probe tip is not limited to the upper limit: 1.2 mm and the lower limit: 0.3 mm.

  As the hard metal material constituting the probe, stainless steel, nickel, titanium and the like are suitable.

The probe is “replaceable with respect to the holder” as described above. That is, if a plurality of "probes of the same specification" are prepared for the same holder, and these plural probes are sequentially exchanged and mounted on the same holder, a new probe is used. Since the “probe after use can be sterilized” in the meantime, it is possible to avoid using the same probe for different people, and to avoid problems in terms of hygiene.
Since this is possible, the working efficiency is much better than the case where the “use and sterilization treatment” is performed on the same probe and used repeatedly.
The “light guide” is replaceable and is made of “resin having a higher refractive index than the disinfecting solution”.

  The shape of the light guide becomes narrower from the light incident side (input end part) to the light emission side of the light source device, and the light guide becomes narrower than the probe inner peripheral surface. It is deployed to “fit loosely”.

  Since the light from the light source device is collected at the input end of the light guide, the input end must have a certain area so that the collected light can be reliably received and guided to the exit side. There is.

  As an example, the diameter of the input end portion is preferably “0.7 mm or more and 3 mm or less”, but is not particularly limited to this range.

  For example, if the input end of the light guide is circular and the diameter thereof is 0.7 mm to 3 mm, for example, even if the optical axis of the light source device deviates from the center of the input end of the light guide, the light from the light source device Can be effectively received at the input end and guided to the exit side.

  Since the light guide is loosely fitted inside the probe, it is natural that the portion located in the probe is “thinner than the inner space of the probe”, but the diameter of the light guide emission end is one example. “About 0.1 mm to 0.4 mm” is suitable, but is not limited to this range.

  Since the light guide is made of resin, the material cost is low, and the light guide is easy to manufacture.

Therefore, the light guide can be “disposable” for each use.
That is, each time the calculus removal / disinfection operation is performed, the probe is replaced, the used probe is sent to sterilization, and the used light guide is discarded.
Then, a “new light guide” is attached to the probe that has been sterilized, and used.

  By disposing the light guide in this way, it is not necessary to sterilize the light guide itself.

  As the “semiconductor light source” used in the light source device, an edge-emitting or surface-emitting semiconductor laser (hereinafter abbreviated as “LD”) or an LED can be used.

  As described above, the holder is “heat resistant”, but this heat resistance is only required to be resistant to the temperature during the sterilization treatment by the autoclave described above, and the holder material is various metals and alloys. In addition, heat-resistant plastics can be used.

The “light guide” in the calculus removing / disinfecting apparatus according to claim 1 may have its input end arranged at the entrance of the probe (claim 2).
In the tartar removal / disinfection device according to claim 1 or 2, the large-diameter portion and the small-diameter portion of the cylindrical member of the light source device can be attached to and detached from each other (claim 3). The input end of the light guide should be placed in the “stepped portion of the large diameter portion and small diameter portion of the cylindrical member of the light source device”, and the light guide can be replaced with the large diameter portion removed from the small diameter portion. (Claim 4).

  The light guide according to claim 5 is a light guide used in the calculus removing / disinfecting apparatus according to claim 2 or 4 and is “replaceable”.

  The “disinfection liquid supplied by the liquid supply means” can be introduced to the probe side by a liquid introduction path formed in the thick portion of the cylindrical member of the light source device. The liquid introduction to the probe side of the disinfecting liquid is not limited to this, and can be carried out by introducing the liquid into the holder from the outside of the holder, or between the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member of the light source device and the inner peripheral surface of the holder. It can also be done through.

  It is preferable that the holder has a horn shape in which the outer diameter decreases toward the attachment / detachment portion side “on the attachment / detachment portion side to the probe with respect to the ultrasonic wave generation means”. If it does in this way, the amplitude of ultrasonic vibration can be expanded and it can transmit to the probe side.

  The disinfecting liquid supplied by the liquid supply means is “hydrogen peroxide water or hypozinc acid water”, and the “predetermined wavelength region of light that generates hydroxy radicals in the disinfecting liquid” is in the range of 350 nm to 500 nm, or The wavelength region is preferably 700 nm to 1000 nm.

  This is because, as described in Patent Document 2, light in this wavelength region efficiently “generates hydroxyl radicals” when irradiated with “hydrogen peroxide solution or hypozinc acid solution”.

  In addition, when “light in the range of 400 to 420 nm” is used in the above wavelength region, this light is “effective in suppressing the growth of periodontal bacteria while being safe for the human body” as shown in Patent Document 3. Therefore, the effect of disinfection with hydroxy radicals can be further promoted.

  The term “disinfecting liquid” is used in view of the fact that the disinfecting effect by “hydroxy radicals generated by light irradiation” is more important than the disinfecting effect of the disinfecting liquid itself.

  When hydrogen peroxide is used as the disinfecting solution, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide is preferably “3 wt% or less”. This is because, when a high-concentration hydrogen peroxide solution is used, the sterilizing power of the disinfecting solution itself can be considered to “act too strongly on the human body”.

  The light guide according to claim 5 has a “light guide length” larger than the length of the probe before or after use, and when the probe is attached to the probe, the “excess length is cut off according to the length of the probe. Used ".

  Since the distal end portion of the probe collides with the tartar by ultrasonic vibration, the distal end portion becomes worn and gradually shortens as the usage state becomes longer. Although it can be used as a probe even if it is shortened in this way, when a new light guide is mounted, the light guide extends from the tip of the probe. In this case, it is only necessary to cut and remove the extended portion.

  The length of the light guide may be longer than the normal length of the probe, and the portion extending from the probe tip may be cut and removed each time the light guide is attached to the probe.

  As described above, in the calculus removing / disinfecting apparatus of the present invention, the probe is made of metal, is detachable from the holder, the holder is heat resistant, and the light source device can be easily detached from the holder. In a state where the light source device is removed, only the probe and the holder can be sterilized simultaneously or separately, and are not affected by the high temperature associated with sterilization.

  In the light source device, the small diameter portion of the cylindrical member is fitted in the holder, and the large diameter portion that holds the condenser lens and the semiconductor light source in a predetermined positional relationship is provided outside the holder. Can be made small, ie, thin, and the calculus removal / disinfection device is easy to handle.

  Since the condenser lens is provided in the large diameter part, the aperture can be increased without being constrained by the diameter of the holder, and the light energy from the light source can be effectively condensed on the incident part of the light guide, thereby effectively using the light energy. Can be increased.

In addition, since the probe can be replaced and the light guide can be made “disposable”, always use a sterilized probe and a “new light guide” to perform sanitary calculus removal and disinfection efficiently. Can do.
Furthermore, since the area of the input end of the light guide is large, when the “probe and light guide” is newly installed in the holder, the light from the light source device can be transmitted without having to re-adjust the positional relationship with the light source device. It can be taken into the light guide well.

  In addition, since the light guide is made of resin, it can be mass-produced at low cost, and by disposing it, the calculus removal / disinfection work can be performed hygienically and efficiently.

It is a figure for demonstrating one Embodiment of a calculus removal and disinfection apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating attachment / detachment / exchange of the light guide in the apparatus of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating another form of implementation of a calculus removal and disinfection apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described.
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining one embodiment of a calculus removing / disinfecting apparatus, and (a) is a “conceptual diagram”.
In FIG. 1A, a portion denoted by reference numeral 1 is a portion that the operator holds in his / her hand when performing calculus removal / disinfection work, that is, a “handpiece portion”.
In the drawing, the portion indicated by reference numeral 2 on the left side of the handpiece portion 1 is a “probe portion”.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a disinfecting liquid supply unit in the “liquid supplying means”.
“Power control” indicated by reference numeral 4 includes a power supply unit and a control unit, and constitutes “power supply means and control means”. Reference numeral 10 denotes a “holder”, reference numeral 11 denotes a “light source device”, and reference numeral 12 denotes an “ultrasonic transducer”.

The “power supply unit” of the power supply control 4 is configured by “connecting means to the commercial power supply unit” when a commercial power supply is used, but the power supply unit can also be configured by “battery”.
The “control unit” of the power supply control 4 receives power from the power supply unit, controls the driving of the pump of the disinfecting liquid supply unit 3, drives the ultrasonic vibrator 12, and the semiconductor light source of the light source device 11. The on / off control of the light emission is performed. That is, the control unit constitutes a “control unit” that controls the liquid supply unit, the ultrasonic wave generation unit, and the light source device.

  The disinfecting liquid supply unit 3 has a tank for storing the disinfecting liquid, a pump for assembling the disinfecting liquid from the tank and feeding the liquid toward the probe 2 side, "Liquid supply means".

The handpiece 1 includes a holder 10, a light source device 11, and an ultrasonic transducer 12.
The holder 10 has a rotationally symmetric shape with an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction (left-right direction in the figure) as an axis of symmetry, and is a “hollow body” having an inner peripheral surface substantially the same as the outer shape.
The holder 10 is heat resistant so that it can withstand sterilization treatment by heat of an autoclave device or the like, and can be formed of various metals, for example, “stainless steel”. The outer periphery of the hollow body made of stainless steel can be “coated with a resin layer (heat-resistant plastic)”.

  The ultrasonic transducer 12 is a combination of piezoelectric elements, and is driven by a driving voltage in an ultrasonic frequency region (20 KHz to 40 KHz) supplied from the control unit of the power supply control 4 to vibrate in the frequency region (super Sonic vibration). The amplitude direction of the vibration is the longitudinal direction of the holder 10, and the holder 10 receives the ultrasonic vibration and vibrates.

  Since the vibration of the holder 10 is ultrasonic, the vibration frequency is high and the amplitude is small, the worker hardly feels the vibration even when the worker holds the handpiece 1.

  The probe unit 2 includes a probe 20 and a light guide 22 disposed in the probe 20.

As described above, FIG. 1A is a conceptual diagram, and the probe 20 is actually attached to the holder 10 from the attachment / detachment portion 20a side to the tip portion 20b side as shown in FIG. 1C. It has a shape in which the outer diameter gradually becomes thinner toward the head.
That is, the probe 20 is a hollow tube made of “hard metal material (in the example in the description, stainless steel is used)”, and both the inner diameter and the outer diameter decrease from the attachment / detachment portion 20a side to the holder 10 toward the tip portion 20b. This is a shape.

  The “cross-sectional shape by a cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction” of the probe 20 is circular in both the outer periphery and the inner periphery, and in the example shown in FIG. 1C, the inner periphery side extends in the longitudinal direction toward the distal end portion 20b. Although the size is gradually reduced, the present invention is not limited to this, and the inner peripheral side may be processed as a smooth tapered surface.

  In the prototype probe 20, the outer diameter of the tip 20b was 0.7 mm and the inner diameter was 0.4 mm.

FIG. 1B shows a state of “an engagement / disengagement portion between the holder 10 and the probe 20”.
As shown in FIG. 1B, the actual shape of the holder 10 is a “horn shape” in which the outer diameter decreases toward the attachment / detachment portion side with the probe 20, and the end portion on the attachment / detachment portion side is It is formed in a cylindrical fitting portion 10d that fits into the attachment / detachment portion 20a of the probe 20, and the fitting portion 10d is “fitted into the attachment / detachment portion 20a of the probe 20”. It becomes “watertight”.

  The fitting of the holder and the probe is not limited to such a form, but may be a “watertight connection form by a washer and screw connection”.

FIG. 1D shows the light guide 22.
The light guide 22 is replaceable and is “made of a resin having a higher refractive index than the disinfecting liquid used”, but an acrylic resin (trade name: Acrypet) was used in the example being described.

  The light guide 22 has a “circular shape” in cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. As shown in FIG. 1D, the light guide 22 is directed from the incident side 22a where the light from the light source device is incident toward the emission side 22b. The diameter of the circular cross section is reduced.

On the incident side 22a of the light guide 22, as shown in FIG. 1E (this figure is a view seen from the right side of FIG. 1D), locking protrusions 221 to 224 are formed. ing.
The light guide 22 is inserted into the inner space of the probe 20, and the tip portion 22 b is exposed to the tip portion 20 b of the probe 20.

The input end portion of the light guide 22 is configured such that the locking projections 221 to 224 formed on the input end portion side of the light guide 22 are pressed against the locking portion 20a1 on the detachable side of the holder 10 from the inside, so that the holder 10 Fixed to.
Since the fixing state of the fixing is “friction coupling by press contact between the locking protrusions 221 to 224 and the locking portion 20a1 of the holder 10”, it is only necessary to pull out the light guide from the holder to release the fixed state. The light guide 22 can be easily attached to and detached from the holder 10.
That is, the light guide 22 is “detachable” with respect to the probe 20. Further, a portion between the engaging protrusions 221 to 224 is a space that connects the inside of the holder 10 and the space in the probe 20, and the disinfecting liquid passes through the space from the inside of the holder 10 to the inside of the probe 20. Flow into.

  In the above example, four locking protrusions formed on the light guide are used to fix the light guide and the holder, but the number and arrangement of the locking protrusions are not limited thereto. The number of the locking projections can be one, two, three, or even five or more.

  The thickness of the light guide 22 is smaller than the “inner diameter of the probe 20” in the longitudinal direction, and the state in which the light guide 22 is attached to the probe 20 is the “free fitting state”. A “gap” exists between the light guide 22 and the inner peripheral surface of the probe 20.

As will be described later, the disinfecting liquid is guided to the distal end side of the probe 20 through this gap.
The diameter of the distal end portion (injection portion) 22b of the light guide 22 is of course smaller than the inner diameter of the distal end of the probe 20, but the diameter of the distal end portion 22b is 0.3 mm in the “light guide made of acrylic resin” in the explanation. . Further, the shape of the input end portion 22a of the light guide 22 (the portion excluding the locking projection) is “circular” as shown in FIG.

  The diameter of the input end portion 22a is preferably 1 mm or more and 3 mm or less because of the above-described circumstances, but the above-mentioned diameter is set to 2 mm in the “light guide manufactured using acrylic resin” in the description.

The light source device 11 will be described with reference to FIG.
The light source device 11 includes a condenser lens 110, a semiconductor light source 111, and a cylindrical member. The cylindrical member has a large diameter portion 113 and a small diameter portion 114, and an inner peripheral portion of the large diameter portion 113 is a thick portion 113a.

  The thick portion 113 a holds a condenser lens 110, a semiconductor light source 111, and a connection portion 116 that performs power supply and control from the power supply control 4 to the semiconductor light source 111.

  The outer diameter of the large diameter portion 113 is substantially the same as the diameter of the end portion of the holder 10 on the ultrasonic transducer 12 side.

The small diameter portion 114 is fitted inside the holder 10 and is held “watertight” by the O ring 100 on the holder 10.
The O-ring 100 is a portion of the ultrasonic transducer 12 and holds the small diameter portion 114 of the cylindrical member. The O-ring 100 is positioned at the “arrangement portion of the ultrasonic transducer 12” because the “vibration node” by the ultrasonic transducer 12 corresponds to the central portion of the ultrasonic transducer 12 in the longitudinal direction (the horizontal direction in the figure). Therefore, by holding the small diameter portion 114 in the vicinity of this portion, it is possible to prevent “ultrasonic vibration from being attenuated”.

  Of course, the position of the O-ring should not be limited in this way. Of course, depending on the layout of each part of the apparatus, it can be arranged at a different position even if the effect of preventing attenuation of ultrasonic vibration is sacrificed to some extent. For example, it is of course possible to position it slightly closer to the probe than the position shown in the figure.

  The O-ring 100 is a “chemically stable material (not subject to chemical action by the disinfecting liquid)” and is made of a low-rebound elastic material that absorbs vibrations well.

  The O-ring 100 is an example of “watertight means”. Further, a seal glass 112 is provided on the small diameter side inside the thick portion 113a, and the condenser lens 110 and the semiconductor light source 111 are hermetically sealed.

  The tubular member can only hold the small diameter portion 114 with the O-ring 100. Therefore, the cylindrical member can be easily attached to and detached from the holder 10.

The thick portion 113 is also provided with a liquid introduction path 115 as a liquid introduction means.
The disinfecting liquid supplied from the disinfecting liquid supply unit 3 is supplied between the shield glass 112 and the entrance of the small diameter part 114 through the liquid introduction path 115, flows through the small diameter part 114, and passes through the holder 10. It fills and flows into the probe 20 and is supplied to the opening of the probe 20.

  There is play between the holder 10 and the light guide 22, and the light guide 22 is attached to the holder 10 on the input end side by “locking protrusions 221 to 224”, and there is a gap between the locking protrusions. As a result, the disinfecting solution flows into the probe without hindrance.

  As the semiconductor light source 111, an LD that emits laser light having a wavelength of 400 to 420 nm is used in the example being described.

  The positional relationship between the semiconductor light source 111 and the condenser lens 110 is “predetermined positional relationship”, that is, as shown in FIG. 1A, the light source device 11 is held by the holder, and the inside of the holder 10 is filled with the disinfectant. In the state, the laser beam in the above-mentioned wavelength range from the semiconductor light source 111 is set to be condensed on the central portion of the input end portion 22 a of the light guide 22 held by the probe 20 by the condenser lens 110.

  The refractive index of hydrogen peroxide water or hypozinc acid water used as the disinfecting solution is 1.33, and the refractive index of the acrylic resin that is the material of the light guide 22 is 1.49.

When performing the “calculus removal / disinfection work”, the ultrasonic vibrator 12 is ultrasonically vibrated by the operation of the control unit of the power supply control 4. This ultrasonic vibration is transmitted in the longitudinal direction of the holder 10 and is transmitted to the probe 20 attached to the tip of the holder 10.
In this state, by applying the probe tip to the tartar, the tartar can be crushed and removed from the teeth by the impact of ultrasonic vibration at the probe tip.

  At this time, if the disinfecting liquid supply unit 3 is operated by the operation of the control unit, the disinfecting liquid is supplied from the distal end portion 20b of the probe 20 to the “part where tartar removal is performed” as described above. The removed “calculated calculus” is poured out.

  Further, when the semiconductor light source 111 is turned on by the operation of the control unit, the emitted laser light is condensed at the input end of the light guide 20 by the condenser lens 110 and transmitted through the light guide 22. Since the refractive index of the light guide 20 is “higher than the refractive index of the disinfecting liquid”, the light is guided to the exit end side while being totally reflected by the wall surface of the light guide 20.

  The guided laser beam is emitted from the exit end of the light guide 22 to generate “hydroxy radicals” in the disinfecting solution, and the tartar removing portion is sterilized (sterilized / sterilized) by the generated hydroxy radicals.

  It should be noted that only disinfection with hydroxy radicals can be performed without driving the ultrasonic transducer 12 as necessary or desired.

  When calculus removal / disinfection work is performed on multiple people one after another, the probe 10 is replaced every time the treatment for one person is completed, and the exchanged probe is used for sterilization by an autoclave or the like and used for this probe. Discard the light guide.

  When necessary work is completed, the probe and the light source device are removed from the holder, and the probe and the holder are sterilized.

  Preferably, one or more holders are prepared for the holder, and at the stage where the treatment for one person is completed, the holder is exchanged together with the probe to be sterilized.

  In order to replace the light guide 22, as shown in FIG. 2, the probe 20 is removed from the holder 10 and the light guide 22 is removed from the probe 20.

  Although not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the holder 10 is configured to be “coupled by a screw structure” to the tubular member. It is a configuration that tightens and fixes.

  Therefore, the portion of the holder 10 can be removed from the tubular member, and is removed from the tubular member side and sterilized and cleaned by an autoclave device or the like, so that the holder 10 can be reused.

  Although details have not been described, wiring to the ultrasonic transducer 12 can be performed on the outer peripheral surface side of the cylindrical member.

  The length of the probe 20 can be appropriately set in the range of about 15 mm to 50 mm, and the length of the light guide 22 can also be appropriately set according to this. At this time, as described in claim 6, the “length of the light guide 22” is made larger than the length of the probe before or after use, and when the probe 20 is attached to the probe 20, an extra length is added in accordance with the length of the probe 20. The length can be cut and used.

  In the above figure, the probe is illustrated as a “linear shape”, but it is not always necessary to have a linear shape, and it can be a “curved shape that is easy to work with”. Such a curved shape can be, for example, a shape as described in the drawings of the aforementioned patent documents.

  Since the light guide inserted into the probe is made of resin and is flexible, it can be easily inserted and removed even when the probe is in a curved state.

  As described above, in the present invention, the probe in which the light guide is provided is “detachable with respect to the handpiece unit 1 including the light source device” and is disposed on the new probe that is replaced when the probe is replaced. No adjustment is made between the “new light guide” and the light collection position of the light from the semiconductor light source.

  As a practical problem, the position of the light incident surface 22a of the light guide 22 and the light condensing position of the light from the semiconductor light source are minute in the “direction perpendicular to the lens optical axis” of the condensing lens 110 during the replacement. There is a possibility that the distance (in consideration of machining accuracy, it is usually sufficient to expect about 0.3 mm, but it is about 0.5 mm at the maximum).

  However, as described above, in the apparatus of the present invention, the diameter of the incident surface of the light guide is increased to 0.7 mm to 3 mm (2 mm in the above example), so that it is about 0.3 mm, and at most about 0.5 mm. Even if the deviation occurs, the light from the light source can be effectively taken into the light guide.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment of the calculus removing / disinfecting apparatus. In order to avoid confusion, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 are used for those that are not likely to be confused, and the description of FIG.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the large-diameter portion 113A and the small-diameter portion 114A constituting the tubular member can be separated from each other at the joint portion between them, and the light guide 22A has an input end portion thereof. The large diameter portion 113A and the small diameter portion 114A are disposed at the stepped portion.

The light guide 22A is longer than the light guide 22 used in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and the distal end portion penetrates the small diameter portion 114A, and further passes through the probe 20 to reach the distal end portion of the probe 20. To reach.
The supply of the disinfecting liquid supplied from the disinfecting liquid supplying unit 3 is performed in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIG. 1, in which the liquid is introduced in the thick portion 113A that forms the inner peripheral portion of the large diameter portion 113A. Through the path 115, the gap is supplied between the shield glass 112 and the entrance of the small diameter portion 114A.

  The supplied disinfecting liquid fills the inside of the holder 10 through the small diameter portion 114 </ b> A, flows through the probe 20, and is supplied to the opening of the probe 20.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the semiconductor light source 111 and the condensing lens 110 are configured such that the laser light from the semiconductor light source 111 is obtained when the light source device 11 is held by the holder and the holder 10 is filled with the disinfectant. The condensing lens 110 is set to condense on the “center portion of the input end” of the light guide 22A.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the large diameter portion 113A and the small diameter portion 114A of the cylindrical member are separated, the input end portion of the light guide 22a appears in the separated portion. By pulling out the light guide 22a, the light guide 22a can be easily taken out, and a new light guide can be mounted.

  That is, the light guide 22a can be replaced with the large diameter portion 113A removed from the small diameter portion 114A.

  Comparing the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 with the embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 3, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, in the input end portion 22 a of the light guide 22. “Because the convergent light from the condenser lens 110 is located at the entrance of the probe 20 and irradiates the input end 22a through the inside of the small diameter portion 114, the small diameter portion 114 does not shield the convergent light. In addition, it is necessary to have an inner diameter corresponding to the convergent light flux.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the input end of the light guide 22A on which the convergent light is to be collected is at the entrance of the small diameter portion 114A, so that the small diameter portion 114 can only hold the light guide 22A with play. Therefore, the thickness of the small-diameter portion 114A can be made smaller than the thickness of the small-diameter portion 114, so that the handpiece can be made thinner.

  On the other hand, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the length of the light guide 22 to be used is shorter than the light guide 22A in FIG. 3, and therefore the light guide 22 can be manufactured at a lower cost than the light guide 22A.

  1 and 3, when it is difficult to reduce the outer diameter of the probe tip, it is necessary to reduce the diameter of the tip of the probe as an “obliquely cut shape”. You can also.

  Further, the light guides 22 and 22A can be configured such that the surface shape of the incident surface at the incident end portion is a “convex lens surface shape”, and the light from the light source is “more efficiently” taken into the light guide.

  The cross-sectional shape of the inner peripheral surface of the probe, the light guide, and the small diameter portion is not limited to the circular shape described above, and may be an elliptical shape or a polygonal shape.

  Moreover, the outer periphery of the handpiece part can be appropriately covered with plastic.

1 Handpiece 11 Light source device
10 Holder
12 Ultrasonic vibrator 20 Probe
22 Light Guide
113 Large diameter part
114 Small diameter part

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-78209 JP 2008-284312 A Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-134831

Claims (5)

A device that removes tartar and disinfects teeth,
A hollow tubular probe made of a hard metal material, a handpiece having the probe at the tip, and held by a user, and a liquid supply for supplying a disinfecting liquid to the probe through the inside of the handpiece Means, an ultrasonic wave generating means provided on the handpiece part for generating an ultrasonic wave for vibrating the probe through the handpiece part, a light guide loosely fitted in the probe, and the disinfectant A light source device that emits light in a predetermined wavelength region that generates hydroxy radicals in the liquid, and condenses and radiates the emitted light on the input end of the ride guide, and supplies power to the liquid supply unit, the ultrasonic wave generation unit, and the light source device. Power supply means for supplying, and control means for controlling the liquid supply means, the ultrasonic wave generation means and the light source device,
The ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic generator is transmitted to the tip of the probe to pulverize the tartar, and the disinfecting liquid supplied from the liquid supply is supplied from the probe tip to the tooth. In the calculus removing / disinfecting apparatus for performing disinfection by generating hydroxy radicals by radiating light from the light source device with the light guide to the disinfected disinfectant solution,
The handpiece part has a holder and a light source device,
The holder is heat resistant and holds the probe in a watertight and replaceable manner,
The light guide is made of a resin having a higher refractive index than the disinfecting liquid and can be replaced.
The light source device includes a semiconductor light source that emits light in the predetermined wavelength region, a condensing lens that collects light emitted from the semiconductor light source, and a cylindrical member. A large-diameter portion that holds the optical lens and the semiconductor light source in a predetermined positional relationship; and a small-diameter portion that is fitted in the holder and is water-tightly held by the holder by the water-tight means. Disinfecting liquid supplied by the supply means is configured to be supplied into the holder through the small diameter portion,
A calculus removing / disinfecting device, wherein a large diameter portion of a cylindrical member of the light source device is located outside the holder. The calculus removal / disinfection device according to claim 1,
A calculus removing / disinfecting device, wherein an input end of a light guide is disposed at an entrance of a probe. The tartar removal / disinfection device according to claim 1 or 2,
A calculus removing / disinfecting device characterized in that a large-diameter portion and a small-diameter portion of a cylindrical member of a light source device are detachable from each other. The tartar removal / disinfection device according to claim 3,
The light guide can be replaced with the input end of the light guide disposed at the step portion between the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion of the cylindrical member of the light source device, with the large diameter portion removed from the small diameter portion. A calculus removal / disinfection device.   5. A replaceable light guide used in the tartar removal / disinfection device according to claim 2 or 4.

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