Abstract: An intelligent dental handpiece control system is disclosed. The handpiece includes a sensor which detects a vibration, sound, force or torque frequency/time signal produced by the handpiece in use and signal processor which produces or determines secondary signal characteristics such as the handpiece torque, force or angular velocity. A controller analyzes the secondary signal characteristics and produces a control signal which controls or stops the angular velocity of the dental handpiece in order to avoid overdrilling of healthy tooth material or damaging the nerves in the jaw during dental implant operations. The controller may also provide a warning signal to the user and/or control the angular velocity of the handpiece.

Abstract: An oral hygiene system for cleaning teeth and gums includes a mouthpiece having at least one arcuate channel adapted to receive and surround the teeth. The mouthpiece includes at least two modalities chosen from a group consisting of a mechanical modality, an iontophoretic modality, and a disinfection modality, wherein the mechanical modality brushes the teeth and gums and dislodges food debris, the iontophoretic modality breaks up plaque and tartar buildup, and the disinfection modality removes the food debris, plaque and tartar buildup. A control system coordinates the transmission of modalities, tracks and records utilization, recording completed and failed treatment cycles, and transmits them to a monitoring system. The monitoring system, which links to electronic medical administrating record (eMAR) technology and patient tracking technology (e.g.

Abstract: The power appliance (10) for cleaning teeth includes a drive system (16) and a substrate (10) for supporting a field of bristles (14) which contact teeth for cleaning. The drive system is connected to the substrate, moving the substrate in operation to produce an action of the bristle field against the teeth. The assembly, which includes internal stiffeners (60, 62, 64) in one embodiment, has two physical states, including a first state in which the substrate is softened so as to be formable to conform to the geometry of the teeth, and a second hardened state following its conformance to the teeth in which the substrate is sufficiently rigid to effectively transmit a driving motion to the bristles.

Abstract: The hands-free dental appliance includes upper and lower tray members (12, 14) for receiving the teeth of the user, the tray members having teeth contact members such as bristles. A power assembly (28) moves the tray member in a reciprocal manner, resulting in cleaning of the surfaces of the teeth by the bristles. A grounding system (30) with bite portions (32, 34, 36) for biting contact whereby the user's teeth grounds the appliance to the user's mouth structure, reacting both static and dynamic forces, the grounding system being either separate from the tray members or flexibly connected to the tray members, allowing the tray members to move and clean the teeth without the user having to hold or otherwise manipulate the appliance.

Abstract: A surgical tool system comprising a control console, a powered surgical device, an intermediate attachment removably connected to the surgical device and a cutting accessory removably connected to the intermediate attachment. Internal to the cutting accessory is an identification device that contains data specific to the operation of the accessory. The control console, through the transfer of signals through the powered surgical device and the intermediate attachment reads the data in the cutting accessory. Based on these data, the control console selectively actuates the powered surgical device. In some versions of the invention, the identification device may be an RFID chip. Signals are exchanged between the surgical device and the intermediate attachment and between the intermediate attachment and cutting accessory by inductive coupling. An identification device internal to the intermediate attachment provides the control console with data describing the intermediate attachment.

Abstract: The present application describes apparatus and methods for coating a base surgical or dental implement with a nickel boron or nickel phosphorous coating.

Abstract: A system for use in a surgical procedure comprising a pneumatic instrument having an inlet and an outlet, a tank fluidly coupled to the inlet of the pneumatic instrument, wherein the tank provides pressurized helium gas to power the pneumatic instrument, and a compressor fluidly coupled to the outlet of the pneumatic instrument. The compressor receives the helium gas exhausted from the pneumatic instrument and compresses the exhausted helium gas to supply the tank with pressurized helium gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for increasing bone growth in teeth and/or other craniofacial regions of a subject. This method includes administering to the jaw and/or teeth of the subject a mechanical vibration having a frequency of 10 to 1000 Hz with an acceleration peak of 0.1 to 2.00 g and that can produce a low magnitude strain of 1 to 50 microstrain in the jaw and/or teeth. The present invention also relates to devices that deliver high frequency, low magnitude force to the teeth.

Abstract: The invention refers to an electromotor. This consists of a rotor rotatably running on bearings on a rotor shaft and a stator surrounding the rotor. The stator has a short-circuit body and a winding which can be impinged by current. The short-circuit body receives at least partly the medium line(s).

Abstract: A dental handpiece for rotating a dental cleaning tool includes a casing in which there is mounted a drive shaft that is operably connected to the cleaning tool. A rotor is affixed to the drive shaft and is driven by compressed air fed to the casing. The drive shaft is hollow and communicates with a reservoir situated within the casing. The reservoir contains a refillable supply of dental paste. Pressurized air is fed to the reservoir to push paste through the hollow drive shaft and into the dental cleaning tool. The interior of the drive shaft includes a helical screw which aids in feeding the paste toward the cleaning tool.

Abstract: A connecting means for an illuminant handpiece being characterized in that the connecting device is adapted such that at least one of the electrical connections of the electric power receiving terminals of the illumination lamp and the electric power supply terminals is performed by fitting at a position close to the axis of the grip section almost symmetrically about the axis, and the other electrical connection is performed by fitting almost symmetrically about the axis or by abutting coaxially about the axis so as to permit a mutual rotation of the terminals. With this structure, the diameter of the connection area can be made small and the grip section can have an easy-to-hold size. In addition, the distance to the irradiation section can be reduced and efficient irradiation with less optical loss is obtained. Moreover, the space or lamp replacement can be reduced.

Abstract: An angle-drive head of a dental handpiece with the housing thereof removable. A speed-increasing pinion is provided for meshing with a drive pinion of the angle-drive. A shaft connected to the pinion extends axially in the head and has a speed-increasing pinion for developing a greater speed. A speed-increasing device removably coupled to the head has a third speed-increasing pinion and a fourth pinion is coupled thereto. A tool-receiving jaw is provided in the device for coupling to the fourth speed-increasing pinion for being rotationally driven therefrom.

Abstract: A compact portable and essentially unitized dental apparatus having a stable support base and a top carrying handle enables the visiting dentist to perform all necessary dental services at nursing homes, homes of invalids, hospital emergency rooms and in the field as with military or missionary personnel. A compressor-compressor motor unit forms the body on which other components of the apparatus are mounted. Electrical or gasoline engine compressor operation is feasible. The apparatus will operate high and low speed dental drills, a three-way syringe, and high volume suction device. Individual components are standard commerical items.

Abstract: A device using longitudinal ultrasonic vibrations for rotating a shaft at relatively low rotational speeds is particularly useful for rotating a brush-type tooth polisher on an insert for an ultrasonic dental prophylaxis unit. The device has a sleeve which supports the rotatable shaft and a vibrator. A disc is normal to the axis of rotation of the shaft and connected to the shaft for rotation. A transducer at one end of the vibrator responds to excitation for producing longitudinal ultrasonic vibrations in the vibrator, and the other end of the vibrator which is urged against the disc with a constant force converts the longitudinal vibrations into elliptical motion to engage one face of the disc during an arc of the elliptical motion. This imparts substantially only pulses of tangential driving force and normal vibrational forces to rotate the disc and shaft unidirectionally. In one preferred embodiment, the vibrator has a single driving pad urged against the disc.