Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
  • A61C17/00—Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prostheses; Saliva removers; Dental appliances for receiving spittle
  • A61C17/02—Rinsing or air-blowing devices, e.g. using fluid jets or comprising liquid medication
  • A61C17/024—Rinsing or air-blowing devices, e.g. using fluid jets or comprising liquid medication with constant liquid flow

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to dental appliances generating high velocity water droplets for cleaning, and more particularly concerns a nozzle assembly for such an appliance.
• U.S. patent application 61/281,589 discloses a dental cleaning appliance having a body portion in which is positioned conventionally a liquid droplet generation system, a source of power and a control system with an on off switch for the user.
• the appliance terminates in an integral nozzle and guidance assembly having a particular tip configuration which includes a central extending member through which high velocity water droplets exit, an intermediate trough portion and an edge ring portion which extends at its highest point above the outer boundary of the trough portion.
• the configuration of the disclosed nozzle does not work well for every user.
• the nozzle assembly should be replaced from time to time.
• individual users may desire a tip with different physical characteristics, such as different degrees of hardness, during various seasons of use, or be able to select a particular tip or tips especially suitable for their own teeth geometry.
• the same is true for other aspects of the nozzle assembly, including the length of the central extending member and the size and configuration of the edge ring. It is thus desirable that such a cleaning apparatus having an adaptable nozzle which is useful for a large number of individual users.
• the appliance for cleaning teeth with high velocity liquid droplets comprises: a body portion; a system associated with the body portion for producing high velocity liquid droplets; and a nozzle and guidance assembly at one end of the body portion having an exit port member through which the liquid droplets leave the appliance, wherein the nozzle and guidance assembly includes a base portion and a replaceable tip portion which is matable with the base portion.
• Figures 1 and 2 are side elevational and front views of an appliance with a nozzle assembly as described and shown herein.
• Figure 3 is an exploded view of the nozzle assembly of Figure 1.
• Figures 4 and 5 are cross-sectional and front elevational views of the nozzle assembly of Figure 1 showing a representative connection between a replaceable nozzle tip and a base portion of the nozzle assembly.
• Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing another connection between the nozzle tip and the base of the nozzle assembly.
• Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle assembly with a portion which can be impregnated to produce different tastes and scents.
• Figure 8 is a side elevational view of a variation of the overall appliance configuration of Figure 1.
• FIGs 1 and 2 show in general a cleaning apparatus for teeth at 10 which produces a stream of high velocity liquid droplets such as water to perform the cleaning function.
• the appliance 10 generally includes an elongated body portion 12 which includes a liquid droplet generating system 14, a power assembly for the appliance 16 and a control assembly 18 for control of the water droplet system.
• a variation of this arrangement is shown in Figure 8, with 20A referring to the nozzle assembly and 12A referring to a separate handle portion, in which are positioned a liquid droplet generating system 14, a power assembly 16 and a control assembly 18, as well as any other elements needed for operation of the appliance.
• the elongated body portion 12 terminates in a nozzle and guidance assembly 20 which includes a base portion 21 and a tip portion 22. At the center of tip portion 22 is an exit opening 23 through which high velocity droplets are delivered to the teeth of the user for cleaning when the appliance is positioned properly by the user in the mouth.
• a central elevated exit member 24 extends above a surrounding intermediate trough portion 26 by approximately 1-3 mm.
• the exit member can be slightly tapered, with an exterior diameter of approximately 2 mm.
• the intermediate trough portion 26 is approximately 8-16 mm in diameter and tapers slightly away from the exit member 24.
• the intermediate trough portion 26 terminates in a boundary portion 28 which has a curved upper surface 27 which defines a lip for the tip portion 22. Additional details and advantages of such a structure are set forth in the above-noted U.S. application 61/289,589, which is owned by the assignee of the present invention, the contents of which application are hereby incorporated by reference.
• tip portion 22 of the nozzle assembly 20 is separable from a base portion 24 thereof which extends from body 12. This is shown for instance in Figure 3, where tip portion 22 is set apart from the base portion 24. The tip portion hence is replaceable.
• the view of Figure 3 is shown before tip portion 22 is joined to base portion 24.
• the interior surface 32 of the base portion, and the exterior surface 34 of the tip portion must each have connecting features, and are generally configured to mate with each other.
• the tip portion includes a lower circumferential surface 35 and a circumferential engaging surface 38.
• the lower circumferential surface 35 mates with surface 32 of the base portion, while the circumferential engaging surface 38 mates with forward edge surface 37 of the base portion.
• tip portion 22 includes an internal channel 37 which at its entry area 40 mates connects the internal surface 32 of the base portion, as illustrated in Figure 4, and is hence quite wide, typically 5 mm in diameter, however, this can vary depending upon the particular appliance configuration.
• Channel 37 in the embodiment shown will taper inwardly, such as shown in Figures 3 or 4, decreasing in diameter toward the exit of the tip portion until it reaches an exit diameter of approximately 1 mm. This can be done with various channel configurations, including the more angular surface arrangement shown in Figure 4.
• connection element 42 Various possible connection arrangements between the tip portion and the base of the nozzle are represented by connecting element 42 in Figure 4.
• the connecting element can be a weld or an adhesive, or there could be a pressure fit between the tip and base portions.
• the flow path of the liquid droplets is represented at 29.
• Figure 5 shows another arrangement, in which the tip portion 60 and base portion 62 are connected by a threaded arrangement, referred to generally at 64.
• Other connection arrangements are possible as well. The ones shown in Figure 4-6 and discussed herein are examples only.
• the replaceable tip portion of the nozzle has a number of advantages. These include the ability to replace the tip of the nozzle due to wear. It also permits nozzle variations depending on a desired hardness, (or softness) of the material. Further, the diameter of the exit orifice of the tip portion can be changed to alter the characteristic of the liquid droplet spray.
• the height of elevated exit member 24 of the tip portion can be changed relative to the intermediate trough portion.
• This capability permits use of the appliance with various orthodontic appliances as well adjusting to the individual geometry of user's teeth.
• the configuration and arrangement of the boundary portion 28 can be changed to make it larger or smaller, or even in some cases to eliminate the raised part, again to accommodate different teeth geometry.
• the replaceable tip portion which provides both a nozzle function and a guidance function to insure proper placement on the teeth makes the appliance truly adaptable for almost all teeth geometry, so that there is no compromise in performance to accommodate a range of teeth geometries.
• a portion, such as region 70 in Figure 7, or all, of a tip portion 72 can be impregnated with material producing different taste or smell characteristics. Examples are coffee, mint and cinnamon; other flavors can be used as well.
• the taste or smell of the nozzle tip can be changed to suit the desire or whim of the user.
• the material could also be one which transfers to the surface of the teeth to indicate proper placement of the nozzle.
• the tip portion may have a replacement indication capability, involving for instance, a change of color of the tip portion over time, or a reduction in the smell of the tip portion.
• the impregnated material can also be used for treatment, including halitosis
• a new nozzle arrangement for a liquid droplet appliance involving a nozzle base and a nozzle tip which is removably secured to the nozzle base. This permits exchange of nozzle tips to produce different nozzle actions and functions. Various arrangements can be used to connect the tip portion to the base portion.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Dentistry (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Nozzles (AREA)
• Brushes (AREA)
• Dental Tools And Instruments Or Auxiliary Dental Instruments (AREA)

Priority Applications (6)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=44801044

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (2)

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Citations (4)

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• 2011
  • 2011-09-19 JP JP2013530827A patent/JP2013540516A/ja active Pending
  • 2011-09-19 US US13/820,694 patent/US20130177868A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2011-09-19 BR BR112013007243A patent/BR112013007243A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2011-09-19 WO PCT/IB2011/054088 patent/WO2012042430A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2011-09-19 RU RU2013119990/14A patent/RU2013119990A/ru not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2011-09-19 CN CN2011800475679A patent/CN103153226A/zh active Pending
  • 2011-09-19 EP EP11770167.2A patent/EP2621398A1/en not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (4)

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