US3755903A - Anti-misting attachment for dental mirrors - Google Patents

Anti-misting attachment for dental mirrors Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3755903A
US3755903A US00251452A US3755903DA US3755903A US 3755903 A US3755903 A US 3755903A US 00251452 A US00251452 A US 00251452A US 3755903D A US3755903D A US 3755903DA US 3755903 A US3755903 A US 3755903A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
water
reflecting surface
mirror
surfactant
carrier
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00251452A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
R Spinello
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3755903A publication Critical patent/US3755903A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
    • A61B1/24—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth
    • A61B1/247—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth with means for viewing areas outside the direct line of sight, e.g. dentists' mirrors
    • A61B1/253—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth with means for viewing areas outside the direct line of sight, e.g. dentists' mirrors with means for preventing fogging

Definitions

  • An anti-misting attachment for dental mirrors for use particularly in conjunction with watercooled dental drills, the spray from which generates water droplets which quickly blur mirrors to the point of uselessness.
  • the surface mist is dispersed by a surfactant stored on an exposed carrier attached to the mirror in contact with the reflecting surface and released onto the mirror surface in minute quantities in the presence of ambient water spray which conveys the surfactant to the reflecting surface.
  • the invention relates to mist-dispelling and fogpreventing devices for dental mirrors.
  • an attachment for a dental mirror in the form of an exposed carrier in contact with the reflecting surface and which holds a water-soluble surfactant, minute quantities of which are picked up by the ambient water spray to be carried thereby to the miror surface.
  • the carrier takes the form of an expendable, detachable member, so mounted that it is in contact with an edge of the mirror surface and at least partially exposed above the surface.
  • the carrier can be formed, for example, of a porous medium saturated with surfactant and its exposure is such that it gathers ambient spray from the toothdrilling operation.
  • the surfactant leaches out of the carrier in small quantities, tasteless to the patient, but effective to break down surface tension of water droplets on the reflecting surface, and therefore will dispel the mist to prevent distortion of the reflected image.
  • the ambient spray water forms the medium for picking up the surfactant and carrying it to the reflecting surface where it encounters the image-distorting droplets, also from the spray, and which are immediately dispersed.
  • the carrier can take the form, for example, of a sleeve adapted to be slipped over the. mirror handle.
  • the carrier can also be non-expendable, forming either a permanent part of the mirror, or a re-usable, i.e. sterilizable, attachment therefor, with the surfactant being applied prior to use and after sterilization.
  • FIG. 11 is a view in perspective of the lower end of a dental mirror having a mist-dispelling and fogpreventing attachment thereon;
  • FIG. 2 is a top view of the attachment separated from the mirror
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of the attachment and showing the mirror in phantom lines to indicate how the attachment is mounted;
  • FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of another modification of the invention shown mounted on a dental mirror;
  • FIG. 5 is a side view of the attachment on the dental mirror of FIG. 4 as it appears prior to mounting on the mirror handle;
  • FIGS. 6a and 6b are views in transverse section taken on the lines 6a-6a and 6b6b respectively looking in the direction of the arrows of FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 7 is a view in transverse section in enlarged scale illustrating a wall construction for the attachment of FIGS. 4 and 5;
  • FIG. 8 is a view in transverse section illustrating another way of fabricating the walls of the attachment of 7 FIGS. 4 and 5;
  • FIGS. 9, l0 and III are respectively side, top and end views of a dental mirror representing another modification of the invention.
  • FIGS. I2 and 13 are side and end views of a dental mirror embodying the present invention and illustrating still another modification
  • FIG. 14 is a side view of a dispenser which can be used in conjunction with the embodiments of the invention illustrated by FIGS. 9-13;
  • FIG. 15 is a view in perspective of another modification of the invention.
  • the invention comprises devices which utilize. the ambient or scattered spray water which emanates from water-cooled dental drills as a vehicle for carrying a water-soluble surfactant from an exposed portion of the dental mirror above the reflecting surface downward to the reflecting surface to dispel mists deposited by the spray.
  • a surfactant is defined as a surface-active agent", such as a wetting agent, which breaks down the surface tension of the water particles causing them to integrate into a thin water film which does not distort the image and which can flow from the mirror surface.
  • the surfactant also augments the accumulation and flow of water from the spray tothe mirror surface.
  • the apparatus can take a number of forms including an expendable attachment entraining surfactant and adapted to be detachably mounted on the head or handle of the dental mirror, or it can take the form of a surface designed permanently into the mirror assembly as either part of the handle or the head and to which a surfactant, preferably in solid form, is applied each time the mirror is to be used.
  • the surfactant supply should be sufficient in volume so that it will continuously dispel water mists on the mirror for an extended period of time, say, 60 minutes, without replacement or replenishment.
  • the invention is illustrated in the form of a clip-on carrier attachment 10 for a dental mirror 11, including a handle portion Ila and a reflecting head portion 11b.
  • the attachment 10 is moded in an integrated assembly of plastic including a flat base portion 12 adapted to underlie the back surface of the mirror and a pair of C- shaped arcuate flange portions 13 and 14 adapted to grip the sides of the mirror with a light spring force and including arcuate sections 13a and 14a respectively adapted to overlie for a very short distance the edge of the reflecting surface of the mirror.
  • the attachment is adapted to be slipped onto the mirror by snapping it on from the rear edge generally in the same plane as the reflecting head of the mirror, with the lower end of the handle 11a (usually in the form of a thin stem) being received in a slot 15.
  • the attachment can be formed of a plastic such as an acrylic which is polymerized in the presence of a surfactant, thereby entraining minute quantities of the surfactant throughout the plastic. Examples of how the plastic can be made are set forth below.
  • the water engaging the upper flanges 13a and 14a of the attachment releases minute quantities of surfactant in a water solution which instantaneously dispels the mist. The surfactant is released in such minute quantities that it is not perceptible to the patient.
  • the body 12 of the clip-on carrier attachment 10 can also be formed of a non-porous material, and the flanges 13a and 140 can have applied thereto a carrier, such as a porous overlay entraining a surfactant or a surfactant coating can be added directly to the carrier in the form of a solid surfactant which will solubilize slowly in the presence of water.
  • a carrier such as a porous overlay entraining a surfactant or a surfactant coating can be added directly to the carrier in the form of a solid surfactant which will solubilize slowly in the presence of water.
  • a modification of the invention is shown in the form of an expendable sleeve attachment 16 adapted to be slipped over the handle 11a of the mirror to cause its contoured tip 17 to engage the mirror surface.
  • the sleeve can be formed, for example, as an extruded plastic composition which is polymerized in the presence of a surfactant and examples of which are set forth below.
  • the resulting porous structure entraining a myriad of small interconnected masses of detergent will meter out small quantities of surfactant in the presence of the ambient coolant spray.
  • the sleeve can be formed in an elliptical configuration to afford spring resilience.
  • the flattened elliptical configuration identified by the numeral 18, is formed only at the upper end of the sleeve so that it may be more easily slid over the handle. It is positioned and arranged to grip the fat portion of the handle which is normally spaced at least an inch from the mirror head.
  • the section 18 can include longitudinal serrations 18a in the form of embossed ribs, preferably on both the inner and outer surfaces, thus imparting additional resilience to the gripping portion 18 and also providing resistance against turning along its longitudinal axis while mounted on the mirror.
  • the serrations 18a grip the longitudinal fluting or edges on the handle of the mirror.
  • the resilient out-of-round gripping section 18 can be formed by compressing the sleeve 16 between warm dies.
  • the tubular attachment 16 can be formed by an extrusion process or it can be formed by tubular winding.
  • the latter is particularly useful in fabricating the structure shown by FIG. 7, in which there is an inner wall 19 formed of a durable material, such as plastic (not entraining a surfactant) and an outer layer 20 of porous material, such as paper, which is saturated with a surfactant, such as a polyoxyethelene cetyl ether, having a melting temperature of approximately 38 C.
  • the porous layer is preferably bonded to the plastic inner layer by a water-resistant adhesive and the surfactant is applied thereafter at an elevated temperature converting it to a liquid.
  • the resulting tubes are cut to length and shape, including endcompressing to form the gripping end 18.
  • the plastic inner layer is preferably formed of heat-softenable plastic which more readily achieves the out-of-round, and serrated character under the action of the warmed dies.
  • FIG. 8 there is illustrated a crosssectional configuration for the tubular attachment which is particularly useful in the event an extrusion process is used.
  • the walls are formed in an undulating configuration defining valleys and troughs so the attachment can expand radially under the inherent resilience of the plastic to fit over the handle of the mirror and to grip it against movement on the handle when in use.
  • the valleys and troughs on the outside of the attachment also define water courses for the drainage of accumulated spray water down to the mirror surface. In draining toward the mirror surface, the water picks up surfactant entrained in or carried by the extruded plastic.
  • surfactants can be carried in the porous layer 20, such as a liquefied sulfonate detergent or a wetting agent.
  • EXAMPLE 1 Solid particles of powdered anionic detergent are blended with powdered polyethelene or polystyrene in a 60 percent plastic: 40 percent detergent ratio (by volume). The mixture is then heat molded to the desired shape, such as the butterfly wing design of FIG. 2 or extruded as shown in FIG. 8. The surface particles of powdered detergent are dissolved in the presence of water spray, and the resulting detergent solution acts as the defogging or de-misting agent.
  • EXAMPLE 2 A liquid concentrate of anionic detergent is blended with methyl methacrylate liquid monomer in a ratio of 60 percent monomer: 40 percent detergent (by volume).
  • Anionic detergent can take the form of sulfonate detergents prepared from sulfuric acid and petroleum products, such as sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate having a general formula of RSO Na, where R refers to a lipophilic or organic group containing about 18 carbon atoms.
  • This solution is blended with methylmethacrylate polymer in powdered form in a 50:50 ratio (by volume), and cold cured in a mold to the desired shape or extruded.
  • the detergent is entrapped within the crystalline lattice of the cured plastic, and released in the presence of a water spray.
  • the dental mirror itself is formed with permanent exposed surfaces to which a surfactant can be applied when the mirror is to be used.
  • the head 21 of the mirror includes a pair of raised arcuate shoulders 22a and 22b on the sides of the mirror projecting slightly above the plane of the mirror surface 23.
  • the raised arcuate surfaces 22a and 22b are downwardly inclined toward the mirror surface and are formed with an embossed pattern of indentations.
  • a surfactant is applied to the surfaces 22a and 22b using, for example, the dispenser stick 2d of FIG. M, which is a stick formed of polyoxyethelene cetyl ether having a melting point above ambient room temperature, say, in the vicinity of 38 C. This material constitutes a detergent surfactant and has a firm waxy characteristic.
  • an exposed surface 25 is formed as part of the handle of the mirror in the form of a flattened inclined plane terminating at the mirror surface and having its surface embossed to define indentations for holding applications of the surfactant material which can be applied, for example, by the stick 2d of FIG. 14.
  • Spray water impinging on the surface 25 will pick up small amounts of the water-soluble surfactant and carry it to the mirror to dispel mist.
  • FIGS. d and 112 are combined in the embodiment of FIG. 15, in which a non-expendable carrier 26 formed of metal is attached by means of mounting clamps 27 to the handle of the mirror.
  • the carrier clip 26 includes an exposed face 28 scored or embossed to hold a water-soluble surfactant.
  • the lower end of the clip 26 is contoured at 29 to rest against the periphery of the head of the mirror with the embossed surface overlying and contacting the mirror.
  • the carrier 26 can be either detachably or permanently attached to the mirror and is preferably formed of a durable material to withstand repeated sterilization. In use, the dentist rubs a surfactant in solid form, such as that shown in FIG. M, onto the surface 29. Any residual surfactant which is not dissipated during the course of the treatment will be removed by sterilization process.
  • a dental mirror assembly comprising a head portion having an image-reflecting surface and a supporting stern, an exposed carrier surface carried by the assembly at least partially disposed above the plane of the image-reflecting surface and defining a downwardly inclined water course to the reflecting surface to accumulate ambient coolant spray water from a proximate water-cooled dental drill to condense the water to be drained onto the reflecting surface, and an expendable, concentrated water-soluble surfactant on said carrier surface, whereby the water from the coolant spray falling on the carrier surface constitutes the medium for dissolving the surfactant and for transmitting an aqueous surfactant solution from the carrier to the reflecting surface for continuously dispelling depositions of image-distorting water particles of the spray from the reflecting surface.
  • a dental mirror assembly comprising a head portion having an image-reflecting surface and a supporting stem, an exposed carrier surface spray by the assembly at least partially disposed above the plane of the image-reflecting surface and defining a downwardly inclined water course to the reflecting surface to accumulate ambient coolant spray water from a proximate water-cooled dental drill to condense the water to be drained onto the reflecting surface, and means forming an array of cavities in the carrier surface for holding a concentrated expendable surfactant adapted to contact the condensing water spray on the carrier surface to form an aqueous surfactant solution to be drained onto the image-reflecting surface for continuously dispelling depositions of image-distorting water particles of the spary from the reflecting surface.
  • a dental mirror as set forth in claim ll said carrier surface comprising an integral portion of said supporting stem.
  • said carrier surface including at least one arcuate member at the periphery of the reflecting surface.
  • An attachment for a dental mirror comprising a carrier member including an exposed carrier surface, and means to attach the carrier member to a dental mirror with at least one portion of the surface disposed above the mirror to accumulate ambient coolant water spray from a dental drill and to direct the accumulated water to the mirror, said surface being adapted to support an expendable water-soluble surfactant.
  • said carrier member being formed of porous plastic entraining a watersoluble surfactant.
  • tubular member being formed with a pointed tip to engage the reflecting surface.
  • tubular member being deformed inwardly along its length to define at least one longitudinal channel to afford radial dium entraining the surfactant.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
  • Dentistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Endoscopes (AREA)
  • Dental Tools And Instruments Or Auxiliary Dental Instruments (AREA)
US00251452A 1972-05-08 1972-05-08 Anti-misting attachment for dental mirrors Expired - Lifetime US3755903A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US25145272A 1972-05-08 1972-05-08

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3755903A true US3755903A (en) 1973-09-04

Family

ID=22952037

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00251452A Expired - Lifetime US3755903A (en) 1972-05-08 1972-05-08 Anti-misting attachment for dental mirrors

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3755903A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS4955191A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AR (1) AR196667A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE799167A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BR (1) BR7303287D0 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA964911A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2183967B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6575743B2 (en) * 1998-08-24 2003-06-10 Dentistry Researchers & Designers, Inc Dental mirror stem
US20040076019A1 (en) * 2002-10-21 2004-04-22 Efraim Tsimerman Dental mirror
US20100261132A1 (en) * 2009-04-08 2010-10-14 Randy Miles Widen System and method for removing surface contamination
US20150374220A1 (en) * 2013-03-12 2015-12-31 Maarten Antoon Nicolaas DEN HARTOG Method for cleaning a mirror with handle for medical or dental examination during use by means of a compressed air flow and for this method customized mirror with handle

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP7740767B1 (ja) * 2024-12-02 2025-09-17 株式会社和 口腔用器具

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3014279A (en) * 1959-11-23 1961-12-26 Fosdal Alfred Dental mirror
US3091034A (en) * 1961-01-16 1963-05-28 Vincent J Piscitelli Dental mirror

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3118231A (en) * 1964-01-21 Rathsmill

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3014279A (en) * 1959-11-23 1961-12-26 Fosdal Alfred Dental mirror
US3091034A (en) * 1961-01-16 1963-05-28 Vincent J Piscitelli Dental mirror

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6575743B2 (en) * 1998-08-24 2003-06-10 Dentistry Researchers & Designers, Inc Dental mirror stem
US20040076019A1 (en) * 2002-10-21 2004-04-22 Efraim Tsimerman Dental mirror
US7021798B2 (en) 2002-10-21 2006-04-04 Efraim Tsimerman Dental mirror
US20100261132A1 (en) * 2009-04-08 2010-10-14 Randy Miles Widen System and method for removing surface contamination
US8282393B2 (en) * 2009-04-08 2012-10-09 Randy Miles Widen System and method for removing surface contamination
US20150374220A1 (en) * 2013-03-12 2015-12-31 Maarten Antoon Nicolaas DEN HARTOG Method for cleaning a mirror with handle for medical or dental examination during use by means of a compressed air flow and for this method customized mirror with handle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2183967A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-12-21
BR7303287D0 (pt) 1974-08-29
JPS4955191A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-05-29
AR196667A1 (es) 1974-02-12
FR2183967B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1977-02-18
CA964911A (en) 1975-03-25
BE799167A (fr) 1973-08-31

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3755903A (en) Anti-misting attachment for dental mirrors
EP0326677B1 (en) An interdental cleaning device
US3777756A (en) Saliva ejector
CA2668019A1 (en) Protective sleeve for saliva ejector
CA2038058A1 (en) Drip cleaner attachment with solid cleaning concentrate
US7455519B1 (en) Anti-fog dental mirror
JP2006525055A (ja) 便器清掃装置
US6021540A (en) Tip cleaner for operating room instruments
US4412381A (en) Blade housing for cast cutting tool
US5477581A (en) Dental prophylaxis instrument wiper
US1722748A (en) Dental mirror
JPH11511353A (ja) 選択的吸収吸着作用を有する物品および歯科用途に使用するための方法
JP3140533U (ja) ホルダ付デンタルフロス
US4130909A (en) Mirror cleaning device
CN222574678U (zh) 皮革清洁湿巾
CN113710194B (zh) 口腔卫生装置
CN222549731U (zh) 舌面清洁护理保养敷贴产品
JP3117046U (ja) 歯間清掃具
KR200260421Y1 (ko) 릴 족부의 하부에 설치된 손가락 걸이.
CN211407974U (zh) 伸缩牙刷
JP3851338B1 (ja) 舌苔除去ブラシ
JP3011924U (ja) 鼻掃除スポンジ
CN211796374U (zh) 一种防雾化口腔镜
JPH11113931A (ja) 舌苔除去具
KR200257345Y1 (ko) 텅스크레이퍼