JP7345726B2 - flow rate regulator - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a flow rate regulator that can be attached to a handpiece body having a tube attached to the outside, and that can adjust the amount of liquid flowing within the tube.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a surgical handpiece 70 as shown in FIG. 11 is known in which a saline tube 72 is provided externally (see, for example, FIGS. 2 and 7 of Patent Document 1).
This saline tube 72 is used to supply saline into the oral cavity during intraoral implant surgery, and one end of this tube is provided in front of the neck of the surgical handpiece. The nozzle 74 is connected to the nozzle 74.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 09-201372

In the case of the surgical handpiece shown in FIG. 11, one end of the saline tube (specifically, the end opposite the nozzle end of the surgical handpiece) ) is connected to an adjustment mechanism unit for regulating the amount of liquid flowing within the tube.
As a method for adjusting the flow rate of the liquid, for example, if a display button for flow rate adjustment is provided on the display screen of the adjustment mechanism unit, a method is adopted in which the flow rate is adjusted by pressing this display button. has been done. In addition, by connecting the adjustment mechanism unit (which does not have a display button for flow rate adjustment on the display screen) and a foot pedal (placed at the feet of the practitioner (dentist)), and stepping on the foot pedal, A method of flowing the liquid at a preset flow rate in the adjustment mechanism unit is also adopted.
In either method, the flow rate is regulated by driving a pump using electricity.
The present inventor discovered the following drawbacks regarding conventional surgical handpieces with saline tubes.
Conventional surgical handpieces with saline tubes have the drawback of requiring electricity, especially since the pump is powered by electricity. Furthermore, by using an adjustment mechanism unit with a display screen, or by using a combination of an adjustment mechanism and a foot pedal (without display buttons for flow adjustment on the display screen), the device can It has the disadvantage of being expensive, complex and/or large.

The present inventor succeeded in developing a flow rate regulator that can adjust the flow rate without using electricity. This flow rate regulator is a simple mechanism that allows you to adjust the amount of liquid that flows through the saline tube in a dental handpiece equipped with a saline tube on its outer periphery without changing the conventional grip method. can be adjusted with only one hand.

The above problem can be solved by the present invention.
A flow rate regulator that can be attached to a handpiece body having a tube attached to the outside and that can adjust the amount of liquid flowing within the tube,
The adjustment tool is
(1) A mounting part for mounting on the handpiece body,
(2) a support part provided on a supporting surface on the opposite side of the mounting accommodating surface for accommodating the handpiece body in the mounting section;
(3) a flow rate adjustment unit that is provided movably with respect to the support portion or that is provided to perform only rotational movement in the support portion;
including;
When the flow rate adjustment device is attached to the handpiece body and the tube is further disposed between the flow rate adjustment section and the mounting section, by moving the flow rate adjustment section with respect to the support section. , or the flow rate adjustment, characterized in that the amount of liquid flowing in the tube is adjusted by rotating the flow rate adjustment unit in the support portion to change the degree of pinching of the tube. This can be solved by using tools.

According to a preferred embodiment of the holder according to the invention,
A tube pinching opening is further provided in the mounting part,
The tube pinching opening and the flow rate adjustment section face each other,
In the case where the adjustment tool is attached to the handpiece body and the tube is further disposed between the flow rate adjustment unit and the handpiece body via the tube pinching opening, the flow rate adjustment unit By moving the tube with respect to the support part or by only rotating the flow rate adjustment part in the support part, the degree of pinching of the tube changes, thereby adjusting the amount of liquid flowing inside the tube. be done.

The flow rate regulator according to the present invention can adjust the flow rate without using electricity. Furthermore, this flow rate regulator has a simple mechanism, and in a dental handpiece equipped with a saline tube on the outer periphery, the fluid flowing through the saline tube can be adjusted without changing the conventional gripping method. It is possible to adjust the amount with just one hand.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the flow rate regulator according to the present invention before it is attached to a dental handpiece. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the flow rate regulator according to the present invention after being attached to a dental handpiece. FIG. 1 is a perspective view and a partially cutaway exploded perspective view of a flow rate regulator according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a principle diagram showing that the amount of liquid flowing in the tube is adjusted by moving the flow rate adjustment section. FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway cross-sectional side view showing a case where no opening for inserting a tube is provided. It is a perspective view which shows another aspect of a support part. FIG. 7 is a comparison diagram of a case where a tube pinching opening is provided and a case where a tube pinching opening is not provided in the mounting portion. FIG. 4 is a comparison diagram of how to grip the dental handpiece when the flow rate regulator according to the present invention is attached to the dental handpiece and when it is not attached to the dental handpiece. It is a figure which shows another aspect of a flow rate adjustment part. It is a figure which shows yet another aspect of a flow rate adjustment part. FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional tubed surgical handpiece.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The flow rate regulator according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the flow rate regulator 10 according to the present invention before it is attached to the dental handpiece 50, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the flow rate regulator 10 according to the present invention after it is attached to the dental handpiece 50. It is a diagram.
In this specification, terms indicating positional relationships (e.g., forward, backward, and downward) are used when the dental handpiece is used in a normal manner with the flow rate regulator of the present invention attached, unless otherwise specified. It shall be used for the positional relationship in . Specifically, when the flow rate regulator according to the present invention is attached to a dental handpiece, the direction in which the head portion of the dental handpiece exists is the front, and the direction in which the main body portion of the dental handpiece exists. The direction is backward, and the direction in which there is a nozzle for discharging the liquid flowing inside the saline tube to the outside is downward.

The dental handpiece 50 includes a head section 51, a neck section 52, and a main body section 53, as shown in FIG. A tube 54 is attached to the neck portion 52 on its lateral side. A liquid (eg, physiological saline) is flowing within this tube 54 .
The flow rate regulator 10 is placed at the position of the thumb and index finger when the practitioner grips the handpiece body. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, it is attached (for example, detachably attached) to the front part of the main body 53 of the dental handpiece 50.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view and a partially cutaway exploded perspective view of the flow rate regulator 10 according to the present invention.
The flow rate regulator 10 includes a mounting part 1 , a support part 2 , and a flow rate regulator 3 . These parts can be manufactured using known materials (eg, metals or plastics) and known methods.
The mounting portion 1 can have a substantially cylindrical shape in external appearance. The mounting portion 1 is provided with a mounting opening 12 from the front end to the rear end for mounting the flow rate regulator 10 onto the main body 53 of the dental handpiece 50 . The mounting opening 12 is formed by a mounting accommodation surface 13 . The shape of this mounting accommodation surface 13 is substantially the same as the outer peripheral shape at the position where the main body 53 of the dental handpiece 50 is to be mounted (specifically, the front part of the main body 53).
Further, in the mounting section 1, a supporting surface 14 for supporting the support section 2 is provided on the opposite side of the mounting and accommodating surface 13 thereof.
The mounting portion 1 includes a mounting assisting opening 16 in order to facilitate mounting of the flow rate regulator 10 even when the main body portion 53 of the dental handpiece 50 is provided with a protrusion 55 (see FIG. 2). can also be provided on the side of the mounting portion 1 (on the side from the front end to the rear end). As shown in FIG. 2, this mounting assistance opening allows mounting even if the main body portion 53 is provided with a protrusion 55.

The support portion 2 includes a first support portion 20 having a substantially square column shape and a second support portion 22 having a substantially square column shape.
The first support part 20 is provided with a first guide part 20b on the first support surface 20a, and the second support part 22 is provided with a second guide part 22b on the second support surface 22a. There is. The first support section 20 and the second support section 22 are each arranged substantially perpendicularly to the support surface 14 of the mounting section 1 .
Regarding the height from the support surface 14 of the mounting section 1 to the first guide section 20b, the front height (A1) is higher than the rear height (A2). Along with this, the front height (B1) of the first support part 20, that is, the height from the support surface 14 of the mounting part 1 to the front upper surface 24 of the first support part 20, is equal to the rear height (B1). B2), that is, it is higher than the height from the support surface 14 of the mounting section 1 to the rear upper surface 24 of the first support section 20. The first guide portion 20b and the upper surface 24 of the first support portion 20 are continuously inclined with respect to the support surface 14 of the mounting portion 1.
The height (B1, B2) of the first support part 20 is preferably 4 mm to 12 mm.
The height of the second guide portion 22b and the height of the second support portion 22 are also the same as above.
The first support surface 20a of the first support section 20 and the second support surface 22a of the second support section 22 are arranged to be parallel to each other.
The first guide part 20b and the second guide part 22b may each be a through hole as shown in FIG. 3, or a non-through hole (open only on the support surfaces 20a and 22a side).

As shown in FIG. 3(b), the flow rate adjustment section 3 can have a roller-like shape as a whole. Specifically, the flow rate adjustment section 3 mainly includes a true cylindrical main body section 30, a first movable protrusion 32, and a second movable protrusion 33.
The first protrusion 32 for movement is provided at the center of the first side surface 30a of the main body 30, and the second protrusion 33 for movement is provided at the center of the second side 30b of the main body 30. It is being

The flow rate adjustment section 3 is supported by the support section 2. Specifically, the first protrusion 32 for movement of the flow rate adjustment part 3 is inserted into the first guide part 20b of the first support part 20, and the second protrusion 33 for movement of the flow rate adjustment part 3 is inserted into the second guide part 20b of the first support part 20. It is inserted into the second guide part 22b of the support part 22.
This allows the flow rate adjustment section 3 to move the support section 2 in the direction of arrow C shown in FIG. 3(a). During this movement, the flow rate adjustment section 3 can also be moved while being rotated in the direction of arrow D shown in FIG. 3(a).
In order to facilitate the movement of the flow rate adjustment section 3, a moving protrusion 35 may be further provided on the central surface 30c of the flow rate adjustment section 3.

In the mounting portion 1, the tube pinching opening 17 and the (lower side) center surface 30c of the flow rate adjustment portion 3 face each other. Specifically, the movement trajectory (the path in the direction of arrow C shown in FIG. 3(a)) when the flow rate adjustment section 3 is observed from the upper side (specifically, the upper surface 24 side of the first support section 20). In parallel, a tube pinching opening 17 is provided.

FIG. 4 is a principle diagram showing how the amount of liquid flowing inside the tube 54 is adjusted by moving the flow rate adjustment section 3. As shown in FIG.
The tube 54 can be arranged with respect to the flow regulator 10 as follows.
First, one end of the tube 54 (specifically, the end opposite to the end attached to the dental handpiece 50) is connected to the front end of the first support surface 20a in the support section 2. It is inserted through the gap with the front end of the second support surface 22a. Next, the end of the tube 54 is passed through the gap between the (lower side) center surface 30c of the flow rate adjustment section 3 and the outer peripheral surface of the main body section 53 of the dental handpiece 50. Finally, the end of the tube 54 is passed through the gap between the rear end of the first support surface 20a and the rear end of the second support surface 22a in the support section 2, and is removed from the flow rate regulator 10 according to the present invention. Pull it out.
That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the tube 54 connects the (lower side) center surface 30c of the flow rate adjustment section 3 and the outer circumferential surface of the main body section 53 of the dental handpiece 50 via the tube sandwiching opening 17. placed in between.
When the flow rate adjustment unit 3 is disposed at the highest position, the tube 54 is connected to the (lower side) center surface 30c of the flow rate adjustment unit 3 and the dental handpiece 50, as shown in FIG. 4(a). It is not sandwiched between the outer peripheral surface of the main body part 53. That is, the amount of liquid flowing within the tube is maximized.
When the flow rate adjustment section 3 is disposed at the rearmost position, the tube 54 is connected to the (lower side) center surface 30c of the flow rate adjustment section 3 and the outer peripheral surface of the main body section 53, as shown in FIG. 4(b). It is surrounded by as much as possible. That is, the amount of liquid flowing within tube 54 is minimized (or no liquid flows).
By moving the flow rate adjustment unit 3 from the highest position to the lowest position (or from the lowest position to the highest position), the degree to which the tube 54 is pinched changes, thereby changing the amount of liquid flowing inside the tube 54. will be adjusted. This pinching is caused by a change in the height from the support surface 14 of the mounting section 1 to the first guide section 20b.
The degree to which the tube 54 is sandwiched can be changed as appropriate by changing the height from the support surface 14 of the mounting section 1 to the first guide section 20b.

The diameter of the main body 30 of the flow rate adjustment unit 3 (the distance indicated by the arrow E shown in FIG. 4(a)) can be changed as appropriate depending on the diameter of the tube 54 (the distance indicated by the arrow F shown in FIG. 4(a)). .
The length of the tube pinching opening 17 in the short direction (the distance indicated by the arrow G shown in FIG. 3(b)) is approximately the same as the diameter of the tube 54 (the distance indicated by the arrow F shown in FIG. 4(a)). It is preferable to make it larger or larger. For example, when the length of the tube pinching opening 17 in the transverse direction is 3 mm, the diameter of the tube 54 is about 2 mm.
It is preferable that the height of the tube pinching opening 17 (the distance indicated by the arrow H shown in FIG. 4A) be approximately the same as or larger than the diameter of the tube 54. This allows the tube 54 to enter into the tube pinching opening 17.

In the attachment part 1, it is also possible to adopt a mode in which the tube-pinning opening 17 is not provided. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), the tube 54 is sandwiched between the (lower side) center surface 30c of the main body 30 of the flow rate adjustment section 3 and the support surface 14 of the mounting section 1. becomes.

As for the height from the support surface 14 of the attachment part 1 to the second guide part 22b, the front height (A1) may be lower than the rear height (A2), as shown in FIG. can. Accordingly, the front height (B1) of the second support part 22 is lower than the rear height (B2).
The height (B1, B2) of the second support portion 22 is preferably 4 mm to 12 mm.
The heights from the support surface 14 of the mounting section 1 to the first guide section 20b and the first support section 20 are also the same as above.

FIGS. 7(a-1) and 7(a-2) show the height of the first support part 20 and the height of the first guide part 20b in the case where an opening for inserting the tube is provided in the mounting part 1. FIG.
The length of the first guide portion 20b in the longitudinal direction (the distance indicated by the arrow I1 shown in FIG. 7(a-1)) is the length of the tube clamping opening 17 in the longitudinal direction (the distance indicated by the arrow I1 shown in FIG. 7(a-1)). (distance indicated by arrow I2) or may be made shorter.
The height (A1, A2) from the support surface 14 of the attachment part 1 to the first guide part 20b can be reduced by taking into account the insertion of the tube 54 into the tube pinching opening 17. . Since the height of the guide part is low, the height (B1, B2) of the first support part 20 can be made low.
The same applies to the second support portion 22 as described above.

Since the height (B1, B2) of the first support part 20 is low, as shown in FIG. 7(a-2), the movement of the first joint in the lateral direction (arrow J shown in FIG. 7(a-2)) Even with a thumb having a narrow movable area, the flow rate adjustment section 3 can be easily moved.
The length of each of the first support part 20 and the second support part 22 in the longitudinal direction (the distance indicated by the arrow K shown in FIG. 7(a-2)) is the movable area of the first joint of the thumb (FIG. It can be adjusted as appropriate by considering the distance of arrow L shown in a-2).

FIG. 7(b) is a diagram illustrating the height of the first support part 20 and the height of the first guide part 20b in the case where the mounting part 1 is not provided with an opening for inserting the tube.
The height (M1, M2) of the first support part 20 and the height (N1, N2) of the first guide part 20b are determined by the height (M1, M2) of the first support part 20 and the height (N1, N2) of the first guide part 20b, as shown in FIG. 7(b-1). Compared to the height in the case, the height is increased by the amount of the tube pinching opening 17 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7(a-1).
If the flow rate adjustment unit 3 cannot be easily moved with the thumb due to this height, the flow rate adjustment unit 3 can be adjusted by using the index finger, which has a large movable area in the outward direction, as shown in Fig. 7 (b-2). The section 3 can be easily moved.

FIG. 8 is a comparison diagram of how to grip the dental handpiece 50 when the flow rate regulator 10 is not attached and when the flow rate regulator 10 provided with the tube pinching opening 17 is attached to the dental handpiece 50.
In particular, in the case of the flow rate regulator 10 provided with the tube pinching opening 17, the dental handpiece 50 equipped with the flow rate regulator 10 should be held in the same way as the way the dental handpiece 50 is held. I can do it. This means that the length of the dental handpiece 50 equipped with the flow rate regulator 10 in the transverse direction (the distance indicated by the arrow Q shown in FIG. 8(b)) is the length of the dental handpiece 50 in the transverse direction ( This is because the distance indicated by the arrow P shown in FIG. 8(a) is approaching.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another aspect of the flow rate adjustment section.
The shape of the main body part 30 of the flow rate adjustment part 3 is, instead of a columnar shape with a perfect circular cross section as shown in FIG. , a columnar shape with an egg-shaped cross section, a polygonal columnar shape, or an elliptical columnar shape as shown in FIG. 9 can also be used.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing still another aspect of the flow rate adjustment section.
As shown in FIG. 10, the flow rate adjustment section 3 may be arranged so as to perform only rotational movement (rotational movement in the direction of arrow U shown in FIGS. 10(c) and 10(d)) in the support section 2. can.
The flow rate adjustment section 3 starts from an arbitrary position on the outer circumference (for example, point R in FIG. 10(c)) on the outer circumference of the columnar main body section 30 having a perfect circular cross section and has a radius ( It has a shape in which the distance indicated by the arrow S shown in FIG. 10(c) continuously becomes shorter. This shape also makes it possible to adjust the amount of liquid flowing inside the tube.
In order to facilitate movement of the flow rate adjustment part 3, a moving protrusion 35 may be further provided on the central surface 30c of the flow rate adjustment part 3.

1... Mounting part; 2... Support part; 3... Flow rate adjustment part; 10... Flow rate adjustment device;
12... Mounting opening; 13... Mounting accommodation surface; 14... Carrying surface;
17... Opening for tube clamping; 20... First support part;
20a... first support surface; 20b... first guide part; 22... second support part;
22a... second support surface; 22b... second guide part; 24... upper surface;
30... Main body part; 30a... First side surface; 30b... Second side surface;
30c...Central surface; 32...First protrusion for movement; 33...Second protrusion for movement;
35... Moving protrusion; 50... Dental handpiece; 51... Head part;
52... Neck part; 53... Main body part; 54... Tube; 55... Projection part;
70... Surgical handpiece; 72... Physiological saline tube; 74... Nozzle;

Claims (2)

A flow rate regulator that can be attached to a handpiece body having a tube attached to the outside and that can adjust the amount of liquid flowing within the tube,
The flow rate regulator is
(1) A mounting part for mounting on the handpiece body,
(2) a support part provided on a supporting surface on the opposite side of the mounting accommodating surface for accommodating the handpiece body in the mounting section;
(3) a flow rate adjustment unit that is provided movably with respect to the support portion or that is provided to perform only rotational movement in the support portion;
including;
A tube pinching opening is further provided in the mounting part,
The tube pinching opening and the flow rate adjustment section face each other,
In the case where the adjustment tool is attached to the handpiece body and the tube is further disposed between the flow rate adjustment unit and the handpiece body via the tube pinching opening, the flow rate adjustment unit By moving the tube with respect to the support part or by only rotating the flow rate adjustment part in the support part, the degree of pinching of the tube changes, thereby adjusting the amount of liquid flowing inside the tube. The flow rate regulator is characterized in that : The shape of the main body of the flow rate adjustment section is a columnar shape with a perfect circle in cross section, a columnar shape with a non-perfect circular cross section, a columnar shape with an oval cross section, a polygonal columnar shape, an elliptical columnar shape, Alternatively, according to claim 1, the shape has a part in which the radius continuously decreases starting from an arbitrary position on the outer periphery of the columnar main body having a perfect circular cross section. flow rate regulator .

Images