ADAPTERS WITH LIGHT SOURCES FOR DENTAL AIR/WATER SYRINGES
Adapter units enabling a disposable tip to connect to an existing dental syringe configured to receive a different type of tip such as an autoclavable tip. In addition, adapter units constructed in accordance with this invention provide built-in light sources and/or video camera units, thereby providing the syringe bodies to which the adapters attach capabilities that they could not have without the adapters. A self-contained module, removably coupled to the retainer body, includes a light-emitting diode (LED), a battery powering the LED, and a switch to turn the LED ON and OFF, the LED generating light generally proximally toward the distal end of the disposable tip. In the preferred embodiments, the retainer body includes a cavity into which the self-contained module is removably received. The conversion kit may further include a lens to direct light from the LED toward the distal end of the disposable tip.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/907,296, filed May 31, 2013, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/841,280, filed Mar. 15, 2013, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/619,578, filed Apr. 3, 2012. This application also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/898,605, filed Nov. 1, 2013. The entire content of each application is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to air/water syringes and, in particular, to adapter units that enable replaceable, disposable tips to be used with various handle assemblies including European style syringes, and which provide built-in light sources and video cameras.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDental syringes are hand-held instruments which deliver water and air under pressure into a patient's mouth for washing and drying purposes. Such instruments are widely used by dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons, dental hygienists and dental assistants. A typical dental includes a head unit which is coupled to hoses that supply water at about 40 PSI and air at about 80 PSI. An elongated tip coupled to the head unit is inserted into a patient's mouth, and buttons on the head unit are operated to discharge water or air through the distal end of the tip.
Cross contamination is one of the principal problems encountered with dental syringes. Bacteria and viruses can be communicated from patient to patient unless the syringe tip is adequately sanitized. The safest and most desirable approach is to replace the syringe tip from the head after each patient treatment. In addition, it is desirable to be able to replace worn tips or change to tips of different configurations quickly and easily.
Several decades ago, dental syringe tips were not readily removable from the syringe head units. Removal often necessitated the unscrewing of a coupling from the head and the sliding of the coupling off of the tip. Around this time, the tip once removed and the associated coupling were autoclaved. A number of small elastomeric O-rings had to be removed before autoclaving because they could not withstand the heat and pressure of the autoclaving process. The entire process was a time consuming, often frustrating experience.
Around 1980, dental syringe quick-disconnect tips were invented. U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,589, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a dental syringe that includes a head 10, a coupling 12, and a removable, replaceable tip 14 (
The tip 14 comprises inner and outer elongate, coaxial, spaced apart pipes 36 and 38 which define water and air passages 40 and 42, respectively. The forward portions of the pipes are angled with respect to the rearward portions. The forward end 44 of the inner pipe 36 is open and the forward end 46 of the outer pipe 38 is bent inwardly and is sealed to the inner pipe 36. The forward end 46 has a plurality of annularly spaced nozzle apertures such as 48.
The rearward portion 50 of the outer pipe 38 terminates short of the rearward portion 52 of the inner pipe 36 and is bent inwardly and sealed to the rearward portion 52. The rearward end 53 of the inner pipe 36 is open and coaxial with the water passage 16 and abuts the bottom of the cavity 22 when inserted in the coupling 12. The periphery of the rearward portion 50 is formed with a pair of axially spaced, rearward and forward annular grooves 54 and 56. A pair of diametrically positioned inlet apertures 58 and 60 extend through the wall of the outer pipe 38 in the groove 54, as shown in
Ducts 82 and 84 in the base 62 extend from the bore 72 in the base to a chamber 80. When the rearward portion of the tip is fully inserted in the bore 72, air can flow from the air passage 18 into the chamber 80, through the ducts 82 and 84, into the bore 72, through the apertures 58 and 60, into the air passage 42 and through the tip.
Push buttons 24 and 26 on the top rear surface of the head are coupled to normally closed valves and are selectively hand-operated to discharge water, air, or both through the distal end 28 of the tip 14. A handle 30 can be threaded with the shank 20 to connect water and air supply hoses 32 and 34 to the water and air passages 16 and 18, respectively. When the push buttons 24 and 26 are simultaneously depressed water spray mist is produced.
Since the development of the quick-release syringe tip system just described several improvements have taken place. Central to such improvements is the development of the disposable tip which is retrofittable to the older metal units which must be autoclaved to reuse. Disposable air/water syringe tips resemble bent, plastic straws with multiple cannulations to receive and deliver air and water from existing hand-held units. One leading manufacturer is Crystal Tip of Irvine, Calif.
As with the earlier, autoclavable metal syringe tips, the proximal end of the Crystal Tip includes a central, protruding tube to receive water which, like its predecessors, seals against an O-ring in the syringe body. However, as shown in
Currently in Europe, however, most syringes use autoclavable tips. As a result, there has been little attempt to upgrade to new standards that have been in place for years. As such, disposable tips, including Crystal Tips, cannot be used directly on any European syringe. Syringes with autoclavable tips use a variety of routing patterns to deliver air and water to the tip. However, all U.S. disposable tips receive their air flow through the base of the tip that is inserted into the syringe. Autoclavable tips route air flow through a side port (hole) directly below an O-ring grove on the metal tip. As such, without some type of conversion, disposable tips are incompatible with European-style syringes that use autoclavable tips.
Given that there are numerous proprietary designs outside North America, it would be advantageous to provide these syringes with appropriate adapter kits enabling them to utilize standard, disposable quick-release air/water tips.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/841,280, filed Mar. 15, 2013, discloses numerous conversion kits enabling disposable tips to be used on multiple different syringe bodies, including European designs that use autoclavable tips. However, the embodiments described in this previous application use two subassemblies—a cap subassembly that receives the disposable tip, and an adapter subassembly that couples the cap to the syringe body after the non-disposable or autoclavable tip has been removed.
The cap subassembly 402, shown in
This invention resides in adapter units enabling a disposable tip to connect to an existing dental syringe configured to receive a different type of tip such as an autoclavable tip. In addition, adapter units constructed in accordance with this invention provide built-in light sources and/or video camera units, thereby providing the syringe bodies to which the adapters attach capabilities that they could not have without the adapters.
A conversion kit according to the invention includes a retainer body having an outer surface and a proximal end that attaches to a dental syringe providing air and water. The retainer body further includes a distal opening into which the proximal end of an elongated disposable tip is inserted, the disposable tip having a central, water-carrying tube surrounded by air-carrying channels terminating in a distal end. One or more components within the retainer body have cut-outs, grooves or channels to direct the air and water from the syringe body to the air-carrying channels and water-carrying tube of the disposable tip.
A self-contained module, removably coupled to the retainer body, includes a light-emitting diode (LED), a battery powering the LED, and a switch to turn the LED ON and OFF, the LED generating light generally proximally toward the distal end of the disposable tip. In the preferred embodiments, the retainer body includes a cavity into which the self-contained module is removably received. The conversion kit may further include a lens to direct light from the LED toward the distal end of the disposable tip following insertion into the retainer body.
In addition to a manually operated ON/OFF switch, the fluid going thru the nozzle or the tip or thru the adapter may act as an ON/OFF circuit. For example, the water in the syringe going thru the adapter may power a micro turbine that would also power the LED. The ON/OFF switch may be in electrical communication with a touch panel on the outer surface of the retainer body used to turn the switch ON and OFF. Alternatively, the switch may be in electrical communication with a motion detector disposed within the self-contained module, whereby the detection of motion turns the LED ON, and the absence of motion for a predetermined period of time turns the LED OFF.
An optional, miniature video camera may also be disposed in the self-contained module, the camera being powered by the battery and controlled by the switch. This embodiment may include an electronic interface enabling the video information to be retrieved from the module for further recording or display purposes. Alternatively, a wireless transmitter may be disposed in the self-contained module, with a receiver for receiving video information from the camera through the wireless transmitter for further recording or display purposes. In all embodiments, the video camera may have a field of view corresponding to the light generated by the LED light source.
This invention improves upon existing air/water syringe instrumentation by providing conversion kits that enable replaceable, disposable tips to be used with various syringe assemblies, including European-style syringes. The invention is also applicable to disposable tips with disposable tips having extended proximal water tubes as well as tips with flush air/water passages on opposing flat proximal and distal ends. Nor is the invention limited in terms of the number of air-carrying channels surrounding the central water-carrying tube. The invention is further not limited in that addition to air and/or water gels, abrasives, other liquids or materials used in dental procedures may be accommodated.
The components associated with the retainer body span a range of parts and complexity depending upon the type of syringe and the tip being replaced. That said, the invention accommodates all current styles and may be extended to yet-to-be developed designs with appropriate engineering modification. In particular, the invention includes conversion kits with retainers and components to accommodate syringe systems with stems that protrude from the syringe body, as exemplified in
One component internal to the retainer body is a cup-shaped ferrule to receive the proximal end of the disposable tip once inserted into the distal end of the retainer. Such a ferrule, shown in
The ON/OFF switch may be in electrical communication with a touch panel on the outer surface of the retainer body used to turn the switch ON and OFF. Alternatively, the switch may be in electrical communication with a motion detector disposed within the self-contained module, whereby the detection of motion turns the LED ON, and the absence of motion for a predetermined period of time turns the LED OFF.
The optional, miniature video camera is also be disposed in the self-contained module, the camera being powered by the battery and controlled by the switch. This embodiment may include an electronic interface enabling the video information to be retrieved from the module for further recording or display purposes. Alternatively, a wireless transmitter may be disposed in the self-contained module, with a receiver for receiving video information from the camera through the wireless transmitter for further recording or display purposes. In all embodiments, the video camera may have a field of view corresponding to the light generated by the LED light source.
Syringes with Existing Light Sources
In addition to adapters that provide light sources to syringes that do not already have light sources, other embodiments of the invention provide adapters that preserve the light from syringes that include lights sources. Two examples will be described in detail as representative, one from Sirona and another from Kayo, with the understanding that other models may be accommodated with appropriate engineering modification apparent to a person of skill in the art.
In
Claims
1. A conversion kit providing an air/water dental syringe with illumination or image-gathering capabilities, comprising:
- a retainer body having an outer surface and a proximal end that attaches to a dental syringe providing air and water;
- the retainer body further including a distal opening into which the proximal end of an elongated disposable tip is inserted, the disposable tip having a central, water-carrying tube surrounded by air-carrying channels terminating in a distal end;
- one or more components within the retainer body having cut-outs, grooves or channels to direct the air and water from the syringe body to the air-carrying channels and water-carrying tube of the disposable tip; and
- a self-contained module removably coupled to the retainer body, the module including a light-emitting diode (LED), a battery powering the LED, and a switch to turn the LED ON and OFF, the LED generating light generally proximally toward the distal end of the disposable tip.
2. The conversion kit of claim 1, wherein the retainer body includes a cavity into which the self-contained module is removably received.
3. The conversion kit of claim 1, wherein the switch is in electrical communication with a touch panel on the outer surface of the retainer body used to turn the switch ON and OFF.
4. The conversion kit of claim 1, wherein:
- the switch is in electrical communication with a motion detector disposed within the self-contained module; and
- the detection of motion turns the LED ON, and the absence of motion for a predetermined period of time turns the LED OFF.
5. The conversion kit of claim 1, further including a lens to direct light from the LED toward the distal end of the disposable tip following insertion into the retainer body.
6. The conversion kit of claim 1, further including a miniature video camera disposed in the self-contained module, the camera being powered by the battery and controlled by the switch.
7. The conversion kit of claim 1, further including:
- a miniature video camera and solid-state recording device disposed in the self-contained module, the camera and recording device being powered by the battery and controlled by the switch; and
- an electronic interface enabling the video information to be retrieved from the module for further recording or display purposes.
8. The conversion kit of claim 1, further including:
- a miniature video camera and wireless transmitter disposed in the self-contained module, the camera and recording device being powered by the battery and controlled by the switch; and
- a receiver for receiving video information from the camera through the wireless transmitter for further recording or display purposes.
9. The conversion kit of claim 1, further including:
- a miniature video camera disposed in the self-contained module, the camera being powered by the battery and controlled by the switch; and
- wherein video camera has a field of view corresponding to the light generated by the LED.
10. The conversion kit of claim 1, wherein the retainer body or the components therein provide a proximal receptacle to receive a stem on the syringe body.
11. The conversion kit of claim 1, wherein at least one component within the retainer body includes a proximal stem insertable into the syringe body.
12. The conversion kit of claim 1, wherein at least one component within the retainer body includes one or more proximal air- or water-carrying tubes insertable into the syringe body.
13. The conversion kit of claim 1, wherein the retainer body includes internal threads for making a threaded connection to the syringe body.
14. The conversion kit of claim 1, wherein the retainer body is autoclavable in the absence of the disposable tip.
15. A conversion kit adapted for use with an air/water dental syringe including its own light source, comprising:
- a retainer body having an outer surface and a proximal end that attaches to a dental syringe providing air and water;
- the retainer body further including a distal opening into which the proximal end of an elongated disposable tip is inserted, the disposable tip having a central, water-carrying tube surrounded by air-carrying channels terminating in a distal end;
- one or more components within the retainer body having cut-outs, grooves or channels to direct the air and water from the syringe body to the air-carrying channels and water-carrying tube of the disposable tip; and
- at least one optical component for carrying light emitted by the syringe body to the outer surface of the retainer body.
16. The conversion kit of claim 15, wherein the optical component includes a light-carrying fiber or conduit.
17. The conversion kit of claim 15, wherein the optical component includes a prism.
18. The conversion kit of claim 15, wherein the optical component includes a mirror.
19. The conversion kit of claim 15, further including a swiveling or rotatable light-redirection component disposed at the surface of the retainer body.
20. The conversion kit of claim 1, wherein the retainer body or the components therein provide a proximal receptacle to receive a stem on the syringe body.
21. The conversion kit of claim 1, wherein at least one component within the retainer body includes a proximal stem insertable into the syringe body.
22. The conversion kit of claim 1, wherein at least one component within the retainer body includes one or more proximal air- or water-carrying tubes insertable into the syringe body.
23. The conversion kit of claim 1, wherein the retainer body includes internal threads for making a threaded connection to the syringe body.
24. The conversion kit of claim 1, wherein the retainer body is autoclavable in the absence of the disposable tip.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 31, 2014
Publication Date: Jul 30, 2015
Inventor: Donovan Berkely (Irvine, CA)
Application Number: 14/530,380