Abstract: A sterile fluid delivery system that incorporates a specialized handpiece adapter placed between a standard dental or other medical handpiece and a conventional tube set. The tap water conduit in the conventional tube set is blocked by the handpiece adapter and instead a tube set connected to the adapter provides a supply of sterile fluid for delivery to a work site. A peristaltic pump delivers fluid from a sterile supply to the handpiece adapter. Motor exhaust air pressure from the adapter is applied to the pump to activate a pressure-sensitive switch. The pump automatically turns on when the medical tool is activated and turns off when the tool is deactivated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surgical drilling system having a light source for illuminating the treatment area during surgery. The light source is detachably connected to a light guide assembly which is mounted on the handpiece of a surgical drilling system. Light from a lens-end subminiature incandescent bulb is focused on an optical fiber bundle in the light guide assembly. The incandescent bulb generates less heat and has a greater rated life than a halogen bulb with comparable light intensity at the operation site.In one embodiment the light source controller utilizes a switching power regulator with pulse width modulation. The light source controller converts a pulse width modulation signal into a DC voltage. The duty cycle of the signal increases from a minimum to a maximum, thereby providing a soft start for the lamp. In normal operation, the duty cycle creates an average lamp drive voltage which is less than the maximum lamp drive voltage.

Abstract: The drive assembly for a dental sonic scaler is disconnected from a scaling tip assembly and is then withdrawn from a surrounding tubular handle/sheath. This allows the sheath to be sterilized, after use, while the drive assembly, not needing sterilization, can be easily connected to another sheath, by way of a quick-disconnect joining the components. A tubular seal between the tip assembly and the sheath prevent the drive assembly from being contaminated during use of the scaler.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dental drilling system having a programmable control unit. The control unit controls operating parameters of the drilling system, such as the direction of rotation, the speed of rotation and the torque of a tool bit of a dental drill, as well as the irrigation fluid flow rate generated by a pump and the intensity of light generated by a light source. The control unit can be programmed with a number of sets of data values. Each set of data values represents a desired value for each of the operating parameters to be controlled. Also, each set of data values corresponds to a different step in a dental operation. Thus, for each step of a dental operation, a surgeon can choose a desired set of operating parameter values from those sets that have been preprogrammed. The control unit then controls the operating parameters to achieve and maintain the values represented by the selected set of data values.

Abstract: An improved dental tool coupling apparatus for coupling disposable tool heads to drive housings. A tubular nose of the housing receives a tool head shaft, which extends within a tubular output shaft coupled to a drive means. The output shaft includes a plurality of radially disposed sockets containing balls, the balls being biased into an interior space of the tubular output shaft. Upon axial coupling of the disposable tool head to the housing, the tool head shaft inserts within the tubular output shaft so that the balls create a series of axial grooves in the tool head shaft. A circular spring retainer surrounding the output shaft biases the balls into the axial grooves to maintain a certain level of rotational coupling therebetween.

Abstract: An improved torque wrench for procedures requiring the application of precise small torques. The wrench includes a handle pivotally connected to a cam member rigidly attached to a driving head. The handle breaks out of alignment with the extending cam member upon application of an adjustable torque limit. A spring-biased plunger within the handle normally holds a rigid ball within an elliptical indent in the cam member. Application of the torque limit on the handle forces the ball out of the indent and onto an angled surface before a projecting flange of the handle contacts the cam member and limits the further pivot of the handle. The angled surface provides a reaction force to the ball sufficient to maintain the handle in a pivoted position. The handle pivots a noticeably large angle of 30.degree. before the flange contacts the cam member.

Abstract: An air motor and accompanying air distributor and motor output drive means are axially stacked within a tubular dental handpiece. A fiber optic bundle extends through a special passage in the thick-wall side of an eccentrically positioned cavity in the motor casing. The bundle also extends axially through the other components in the handpiece and further is directed to a dental tool head mounted on one end of the handpiece. The fiber optic bundle very effectively illuminates a cutting burr or other element mounted on the tool head, a gasket adjacent the motor prevents leakage of air past the metal-to-metal surfaces of the air motor and surrounding housing. The gasket is also provided with a hole through a thick-edge wall for the fiber optic bundle. A further flat resilient seal prevents air passage passed the motor output shaft and the spaces between the bearing races.