Abstract: A station assembly for use with a patient chair is disclosed. The station assembly includes a mounting bracket which can be attached to the patient chair. A first station arm and a second station arm are pivotally mounted to the mounting bracket such that they have nested translational paths when pivoted. Instrument stations are mounted to the station arms such that either station can be brought to either side of the patient chair by pivoting the station arms.

Abstract: A device for removing air from the steam chamber of an autoclave includes a sealable sterilization chamber for receiving items to be sterilized. The chamber is sealed and the pressure and temperature therein monitored by sensors. Vapor for sterilizing items is generated in the chamber by a heater. Air is removed from the chamber through a relatively large vent and a selectively activated valve for opening and closing the vent. A digital controller receives the monitored temperature and pressure of the chamber as inputs, compares these empirical values with standard values and, on the basis of the comparison, generates a control signal to selectively open or close the valve. The vapor used in steam and the standard values are a set of coordinates, which when plotted on a pressure/temperature graph, would yield a curve characteristic of saturated steam. The standard values are stored in a memory accessible to the microprocessor.

Abstract: A reclining chair has a seat back and a seat bottom which are pivotally attached to opposite ends of a rocking cradle or support frame, which itself is pivotally mounted to a base. The seat back and the seat bottom are interconnected such that an end of the seat bottom proximate to the seat back is raised as the seat back is lowered. Conversely, as the end of the seat bottom proximate to the seat back is lowered, the seat back is raised. The opposite or remote end of the seat bottom is maintained at substantially the same elevation as the end of the seat bottom proximate the seat back, whereby the seat bottom is maintained in a substantially constant orientation relative to the horizontal as it is raised and lowered.

Abstract: There is disclosed an autoclave system incorporating a sterilization chamber and a reservoir. The reservoir is coupled to the sterilization chamber by means of a selectively operated valve. A microcontroller in conjunction with timing means computes a time necessary to place a predetermined amount of water into the sterilization chamber to assure that a proper sterilization cycle will be implemented. The apparatus determines the amount of time required to operate the valve based on the water level in the reservoir. The system is initilized with a full reservoir of water and bases all successive computations for valve operation from this point. Thus the valve is operated according to a given time duration, which time duration is computed according to the number of sterilization cycles previously performed by the autoclave system.

Abstract: A unitary, quick-release handle for use on dental, medical and similar lighting fixtures has a quick-release feature which permits the handle to be quickly and easily removed and then placed in an autoclave for purposes of sterilization.

Abstract: A headrest tilting mechanism includes a curved bar having first and second ends, with a headrest mounting portion proximate the first end and a cam following means proximate the second end. A support means includes a curved cam surface which is engaged by said cam following means, and a pin. The pin slidably engages a portion of the bar which is intermediate the first and second ends so as to allow said bar to be slidable with respect to said support means. The cam following means causes the second end to follow the cam surface of the support means when said bar is slid with respect to said support means. With this arrangement, the curved cam surface is not located at the very top of the chair back and therefore the head of the patient can be significantly closer to the lap of the dentist than prior art arrangements. Furthermore, due to the curvature of the bar, the degree of curvature of the cam following surface can be reduced.

Abstract: The sterilizing pressure chamber of an autoclave is provided with two valve controlled vent paths. At the end of the sterilizing cycle of the autoclave a first vent path channels the sterilizing steam from the chamber into a condensing coil having an end which opens into a liquid reservoir. When the pressure within the chamber drops to a predetermined level, a second vent path, having a flow rate which is greater than the first path, opens and provides a channel for the rapid escape of the remainder of the steam from the chamber.