Patents by Inventor Luc Maître

Luc Maître has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9801694
    Abstract: Centrifugal deflection device intended to be fitted to a surgical or dental handpiece to prevent the penetration of foreign matter that results from an operation, the centrifugal deflection device including a ring coupled in rotation either directly or via a tool shank to a drive shaft of the handpiece. This device is characterized in that the ring is covered by a sleeve secured to the front end of the body of the handpiece and which, with the ring, delimits an ejection chamber. The ejection chamber includes an inlet that communicates with a rear area of the handpiece and an outlet that communicates with the external environment, the ring having a first diameter at the outlet of the ejection chamber and a second diameter at the inlet of the ejection chamber, the first diameter of the ring being larger than the second diameter of the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Bien-Air Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Marc Tosetti, Nicola Mikic, Luc Maître
  • Publication number: 20150111167
    Abstract: Centrifugal deflection device intended to be fitted to a surgical or dental handpiece to prevent the penetration of foreign matter that results from an operation, the centrifugal deflection device including a ring coupled in rotation either directly or via a tool shank to a drive shaft of the handpiece. This device is characterized in that the ring is covered by a sleeve secured to the front end of the body of the handpiece and which, with the ring, delimits an ejection chamber. The ejection chamber includes an inlet that communicates with a rear area of the handpiece and an outlet that communicates with the external environment, the ring having a first diameter at the outlet of the ejection chamber and a second diameter at the inlet of the ejection chamber, the first diameter of the ring being larger than the second diameter of the ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Bien-Air Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Marc TOSETTI, Nicola MIKIC, Luc MAÎTRE
  • Patent number: 8926322
    Abstract: Centrifugal deflection device intended to be fitted to a surgical or dental handpiece to prevent the penetration of foreign matter that results from an operation, the centrifugal deflection device including a ring coupled in rotation either directly or via a tool shank to a drive shaft of the handpiece. This device is characterized in that the ring is covered by a sleeve secured to the front end of the body of the handpiece and which, with the ring, delimits an ejection chamber. The ejection chamber includes an inlet that communicates with a rear area of the handpiece and an outlet that communicates with the external environment, the ring having a first diameter at the outlet of the ejection chamber and a second diameter at the inlet of the ejection chamber, the first diameter of the ring being larger than the second diameter of the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Bien-Air Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Marc Tosetti, Nicola Mikic, Luc Maitre
  • Patent number: 8757991
    Abstract: A flexible tube portion for an irrigation line connected to a supply of fluid for surgical or dental use is disclosed, wherein the flexible tube portion cooperates with rollers of a peristaltic pump for distributing fluid, which includes a particular structure which, between two free ends thereof, define a distance, which, combined with the length of the tube portion, gives the tube portion a determined profile enabling its positioning directly underneath the raceway of the rollers of the pump. Also disclosed is a peristaltic pump including a plurality of rollers that roll over a flexible tube portion of an irrigation line connected to a supply of fluid for surgical or dental use, which includes a certain structure for receiving the flexible tube portion in front of the plane in which the rollers move, then bringing the flexible tube portion underneath the rollers, and pressing the tube portion against the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Bien-Air Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Luc Maitre, Cyril Ryser, Laurent Farine, Didier Siegenthaler
  • Patent number: 8152743
    Abstract: The invention relates to an accessory for an apex locating apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a fitting (16) held with the aid of electrically conducting fastening means (20, 50) to the tooth to be treated or to a neighbouring tooth (14) and which comprises first means (36, 54) for wire-based electrical connection (44) between the apex locating apparatus (2) and the endodonty tool (46), and second means (28, 52) for wire-based electrical connection (34) between said apparatus (2) and the patient. The invention also relates to such an accessory characterized in that it comprises means for wireless electrical connection between said fitting and said apex locating apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Bien-Air Holding SA
    Inventors: Luc Mâitre, Robert Bachmann
  • Patent number: 8104774
    Abstract: A hand-held instrument, for dental or surgical use, intended to rotate a rectilinear detachable tool (13) includes a tubular sheath (1); a hollow shaft (3) rotatably mounted inside the sheath with an upstream portion (5) and a downstream portion (6) which in turn includes an upstream portion (11) partially clamped around the upstream portion (5) of the shaft and a downstream portion (12) of which the inside diameter substantially matches the outside diameter of the tool (13); a clamp (14) rigidly rotationally connected to the shaft (3) but movable along the axis thereof, which clamp is placed inside and concentric with the upstream portion (5) of the shaft; and elements for moving the clamp (14) longitudinally so that the jaws (17) thereof penetrate under the upstream portion (5) of the shaft (3) thereby gripping the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Bien-Air Holding SA
    Inventors: David Mosimann, Vincent Mosimann, legal representative, Luc Maître
  • Publication number: 20110183286
    Abstract: Handpiece for dental or surgical use including fixed (2) components and moveable components, characterized in that at least some of said fixed (2) and/or moveable components are made from a composite material resulting from the association of at least two distinct basic materials, namely a matrix and a reinforcing agent, the composite material being deposited in one or several layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: BIEN-AIR HOLDING S.A.
    Inventor: Luc Maitre
  • Publication number: 20110171594
    Abstract: Centrifugal deflection device intended to be fitted to a surgical or dental handpiece (1) to prevent the penetration of foreign matter that results from an operation, said centrifugal deflection device including a ring (10; 10?1) coupled in rotation either directly or via a tool shank (6) to a drive shaft (8) of the handpiece (1). This device is characterized in that the ring (10, 10?) is covered by a sleeve (12; 12?) secured to the front end of the body (22) of the handpiece (1) and which, with the ring (10; 10?), delimits an ejection chamber (11; 11?). The ejection chamber (11; 11?) includes an inlet that communicates with a rear area of the handpiece and an outlet that communicates with the external environment, the ring (10; 10?) having a first diameter (D1; D1?) at the outlet of the ejection chamber (11; 11?) and a second diameter at the inlet of the ejection chamber (11; 11?), the first diameter of the ring (10; 10?) being larger than the second diameter of the ring (10; 10?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: Bien-Air Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Marc TOSETTI, Nicola MIKIC, Luc MAITRE
  • Publication number: 20110165005
    Abstract: A flexible tube portion for an irrigation line connected to a supply of fluid for surgical or dental use is disclosed, wherein the flexible tube portion cooperates with rollers of a peristaltic pump for distributing fluid, and it includes means which, between two free ends thereof, define a distance, which, combined with the length of the tube portion, gives the tube portion a determined profile enabling its positioning directly underneath the raceway of the rollers of the pump. Also disclosed is a peristaltic pump including a plurality of rollers that roll over a flexible tube portion of an irrigation line connected to a supply of fluid for surgical or dental use, wherein it includes means for receiving the flexible tube portion in front of the plane in which the rollers move, then bringing the flexible tube portion underneath the rollers, and then pressing the tube portion against the rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: BIEN-AIR HOLDING S.A.
    Inventors: Luc Maitre, Cyril Ryser, Laurent Farine, Didier Siegenthaler
  • Publication number: 20100009312
    Abstract: A hand-held medical instrument intended to turn a movable tool at high speed, includes a clamping mechanism for fixing the tool, a motor mechanism for the driving rotation of the clamping mechanism and a coupling system (21) for the clamping mechanism with the motor mechanism, the system including a hollow tree (28) inside which the end (20) of the tree of the clamping mechanism is able to slide. The coupling system (21) and the end (20) of the tree of the clamping mechanism are assembled together using a rod fixation in which the pins (26) of the end (20) are held, after turning, by a stop (30) arranged inside the hollow tree (28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: BIEN-AIR HOLDING SA
    Inventor: Luc MAITRE
  • Publication number: 20090075232
    Abstract: A coupling system for shafts of the lower gripper mechanism and the upper motor mechanism of an instrument includes: —a hollow shaft whose upper end can couple to the lower end of the motor mechanism shaft and whose lower end can slide around the upper end of the gripper mechanism shaft; a movable pin connecting the lower end of the hollow shaft with the upper end of the gripper mechanism shaft; a spring; two diametrically opposed oblong windows serving to limit the path of the pin such that, for the hollow shaft and the gripper mechanism shaft, a first relative position wherein they are separated maximally and a second relative position wherein they are approached maximally are defined; and a holder whose length is such that, only in the second position, it allows the pin to appear allowing connection separation of the coupling system and the gripper mechanism, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: BIEN-AIR HOLDING SA
    Inventor: Luc Maitre
  • Publication number: 20080299514
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hand-held instrument, for dental or surgical use, intended to rotate a rectilinear detachable tool (13). It comprises: a tubular sheath (1); a hollow shaft (3) rotatably mounted inside the sheath and consisting of an upstream portion (5) and a downstream portion (6) which in turn comprises an upstream portion (11) partially clamped around the upstream portion (5) of the shaft and a downstream portion (12) of which the inside diameter substantially matches the outside diameter of the tool (13); a clamp (14) rigidly rotationally connected to the shaft (3) but movable along the axis thereof, which clamp is placed inside and concentric with the upstream portion (5) of the shaft; and means for moving the clamp (14) longitudinally so that the jaws (17) thereof penetrate under the upstream portion (5) of the shaft (3) thereby gripping the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: Bien-air Holding SA
    Inventors: David Mosimann, Vincent Mosihann, Luc Maitre
  • Patent number: 7448870
    Abstract: The handpiece includes at the front a collet arranged for strongly gripping the shank of a removable tool housed in guide bores. The collet includes two or several arms attached to an annular part of the collet to grip the tool shank. Preferably, the collet arms are levers each having a support surface which is far from the jaw and on which a gripping mechanism exerts a force which is multiplied by the lever. The gripping mechanism includes a sliding sleeve having an inner conical surface which produces the force on the collet levers via balls. This arrangement enables a smaller gripping spring to be used, or such spring to be omitted. The balls of the releasing mechanism are guided in helical slots having a flexible lateral strip which holds the gripping mechanism in position via a snap fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Bien-Air Holding S.A.
    Inventor: Luc Maître
  • Publication number: 20080261167
    Abstract: The invention relates to an accessory for an apex locating apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a fitting (16) held with the aid of electrically conducting fastening means (20, 50) to the tooth to be treated or to a neighbouring tooth (14) and which comprises first means (36, 54) for wire-based electrical connection (44) between the apex locating apparatus (2) and the endodonty tool (46), and second means (28, 52) for wire-based electrical connection (34) between said apparatus (2) and the patient. The invention also relates to such an accessory characterized in that it comprises means for wireless electrical connection between said fitting and said apex locating apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: BIEN-AIR HOLDING SA
    Inventors: Luc Maitre, Robert Bachmann
  • Patent number: 7303394
    Abstract: In a hand held piece for dental or surgical use comprising a resilient clamp (20) for holding the cylindrical shank (16) of a tool, the height of the head (3) of the piece can be reduced owing to an inverted arrangement of the clamp in relation to the arrangement of the prior art. The clamp is slideably mounted in a hollow shaft (6), its flexible jaws (31) being directed forwards to enter into contact with a loosening sleeve (19) fixed in a front end of the shaft, i.e. on the tool side. The clamp is longitudinally connected to a pusher (22) manually activated by the operator for opening the clamp. A snap fit device (28) offers a higher initial resistance to movement of the clamp than the standard minimum axial pull force of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Bien-Air Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Luc Maître, Cyril Ryser
  • Patent number: 7214060
    Abstract: At the front, a handpiece (1) has a clamp (10) fitted to tightly grip the shank of a removable tool housed in guide holes (23, 25). The clamp has two or more levers (26) attached to an annular section (22) of the clamp by elastic joints (27), each of which has a gripping jaw (20) to grip the tool shank. On each lever, the gripping jaw (20) is located much closer to the joint (27) than to a supporting surface, on which a tightening mechanism (17) exerts a centripetal force so that the lever multiplies this force. The tightening mechanism preferably has a sliding sleeve (40) having a conical inside surface (44), which produces the force at the levers of the clamp by means of balls (45) housed in the holes of a hollow rotatable shaft (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Bien-Air Holding S.A.
    Inventor: Luc Maître
  • Publication number: 20070054239
    Abstract: The handpiece (1) includes at the front a collet (10) arranged for strongly gripping the shank of a removable tool housed in guide bores (23, 25). The collet includes two or several arms (26) attached to an annular part (22) of the collet to grip the tool shank. Preferably, the collet arms are levers each having a support surface which is far from the jaw (20) and on which a gripping mechanism (17) exerts a force which is multiplied by the lever. The gripping mechanism includes a sliding sleeve (40) having an inner conical surface (44) which produces said force on the collet levers via balls (45). This arrangement enables a smaller gripping spring (42) to be used, or such spring to be omitted. The balls (51) of the releasing mechanism are guided in helical slots (57) having a flexible lateral strip (58) which holds the gripping mechanism in position via a snap fit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Inventor: Luc Maitre
  • Publication number: 20060286504
    Abstract: In a hand held piece for dental or surgical use comprising a resilient clamp (20) for holding the cylindrical shank (16) of a tool, the height of the head (3) of the piece can be reduced owing to an inverted arrangement of the clamp in relation to the arrangement of the prior art. The clamp is slideably mounted in a hollow shaft (6), its flexible jaws (31) being directed forwards to enter into contact with a loosening sleeve (19) fixed in a front end of the shaft, i.e. on the tool side. The clamp is longitudinally connected to a pusher (22) manually activated by the operator for opening the clamp. A snap fit device (28) offers a higher initial resistance to movement of the clamp than the standard minimum axial pull force of the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Inventors: Luc Maitre, Cyril Ryser
  • Publication number: 20050181329
    Abstract: At the front, the handpiece (1) has a clamp (10) fitted to tightly grip the shank of removable tool housed in the guide holes (23, 25). The clamp has two or more levers (26) attached to an annular section (22) of the clamp by elastic joints (27), each of which has a gripping jaw (20) to grip the tool shank. On each lever, the gripping jaw (20) is located much closer to the joint (27) than to a supporting surface, on which a tightening mechanism (17) exerts a centripetal force so that the lever multiplies this force. The tightening mechanism preferably has a sliding sleeve (40) having a conical inside surface (44), which produces said force at the levers of the clamp by means of balls (45) housed in the holes of the hollow rotatable shaft (11). Such an arrangement allows a weaker clamping spring (42) to be used, or even allows such a spring to be omitted. This allows some axial stresses on the ball bearings to be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Inventor: Luc Maitre
  • Publication number: 20050181326
    Abstract: The handpiece (1) has a clamp (10) at the front, which is arranged to tightly grip the shank of a tool and is mounted in a hollow rotatable shaft (11). This is entrained by an electric motor (13), the shaft (12) of which is disposed in the extension of the hollow shaft (11), the adjacent ends of these two shafts being rotatably connected by a positive coupling (61). The adjacent ends of the two shafts (11, 12) are both supported by the same inner ring (63) of a central bearing (15). The coupling (61) is located inside said inner ring (63), in which the end of the shaft of the motor is slidingly mounted and is loaded axially by a spring (69).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Inventor: Luc Maitre