Abstract: An electromechanical transducer comprise a piezoelectric transducer element (5), which is arranged in a pressurized chamber (3) filled with a fluid (4). The piezoelectric transducer element (5) can comprise a plurality of piezoceramic platelets connected with each other by thin-walled metallic contact platelets, which are also connected electrically to connector pins (10) on the outside of a housing (1) in which the pressurized chamber (3) is located. When a controlling voltage is applied to the connector pins, the transducer element (5) experiences a reversible deformation, which is transmitted to the fluid, so that an operating element (14) is raised above a contacting surface (16) according to the force on the fluid. The transducer element (5) can be separated from the fluid (4) by a membrane (17). The platelets can be connected to the connector pins via spring-like resilient conductive contact pieces for maintaining electrical contact when the piezoceramic platelets are in a deformed activated state.

Abstract: A penile ring implant of soft biocompatible material is formed in situ and implanted beneath the skin of the penis of an incontinent male by use of a rod and a probe to form a protuberance which permits the patient to securely attach and easily remove the flexible sheath of the urinary collection device without the assistance of others. A kit for forming and implanting the ring implant includes an elongated D-shaped soft rod, a malleable probe and a connector.

Abstract: A superstructure for an artificial tooth is formed of a a root post which is screwed into a root canal of a tooth stump. The root post includes a cylindrical tap having a cutting thread, and is capable of guiding a sleeve-shaped rose cutter having a curved cutting surface to produce a tooth recess with a lower curved portion. The tooth recess is concentric with respect to the root post. A sleeve-shaped crown anchor is concentrically secured to the root post and has a lower curved portion which fits into and corresponds with the lower curved portion of the recess. The artificial tooth is secured on the crown anchor.

Abstract: An appliance for the three-dimensional adjustment of the maxillary cast is mounted by means of a screw on an articulated part. The appliance includes a first measuring element whose tip cooperates with a first reference point on a central incisor of the maxillary cast. The appliance includes also a second and a third measuring element whose tips correspond each with a further reference point on a first molar of the maxillary cast. Each of these measuring elements can be adjusted separately and three-dimensionally to the desired position by the special design of the appliance.

Abstract: A doll, apparently capable of learning through a combination of human speech and touch interaction, includes a speech generator for generating upon actuation the currently indexed sound in a predetermined sequence of sounds. The sequence of sounds evidences a stepwise learning process defined by a plurality of learning steps, each step being composed in turn of a predetermined subsequence of wrong sounds followed by correct sounds. A speech detector detects human speech when energized and, in response thereto, indexes the subsequence of sounds to the next sound within the current step and actuates the speech generator and, at the end of each step, indexes the sequence of sounds to the first sound of the next step and causes the speech generator to request the selected touch. A touch detector detects a selected touch when energized and, in response thereto, actuates the speech generator.

Abstract: A light electric dental flosser with a rechargeable battery compartment includes a motor casing, interchangeably individualized head units, and disposable plastic floss tips that snap mount within the hinged end of the head unit. The floss tips exhibit bidirectional flossing motion provided from a motion translation system including an eccentric cam, a yoke, and an output shaft with a cam follower mechanism that follows a generally Z-shaped tracking surface with a vertical track component and a horizontal track component enabled by the yoke to complete the resulting "Z" movement. The floss tips have a molded-in filament and are molded from a shock absorbing substance which absorbs the vertical component of the "Z" shaped motion upon the application of pressure to the filament thereby outputting horizontal motion until the filament passes through the contact area between two teeth.

Abstract: A friction element particularly for anchoring one removable telescopable part of a dental prosthesis on another. The one part has an opening through it in which the friction element is disposed. The friction element has a shank in the opening and has a friction head with a friction surface above the part and at one end of the opening. The friction element is of resilient plastic material. The friction head has a tapering, conical or convex bottom side and the opening in the one part is correspondingly shaped. The shank of the friction element has radial tabs which resiliently engage the inside of the opening. The shank may be of a length and the opening may be so shaped that one friction tab is behind the opening and engages the other side of the one part for preventing removal of the friction element. A detent recess in the other part receives the friction head on the telescoping of the parts together.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for preparing tooth structure, such as dentin and enamel, for bonding with a composite material. The method includes the steps of creating a fluid stream laden with an abrasive material, such as aluminum oxide. The fluid stream is directed towards the tooth structure so that the abrasive material laden fluid stream impinges upon the tooth structure and roughens it for enhanced bonding with composite material.

Abstract: A supplementary device for use in a device for correcting teeth irregularities includes a bracket having a slit with a T-shaped section and a wire to be inserted into the slit and engaged with the bracket. The wire has an elongated projection, and the supplementary device includes a wire engaging slit having substantially the same shape as the slit in the bracket. At least one protrusion is adapted for engaging a resilient band, and the bracket is slidable along the wire.

Abstract: An orientation system for use with footwear. The orientation system comprises a first attachment member located on and substantially flush with the left side of the right shoe and a second attachment member located on and substantially flush with the right side of the left shoe. The first and second attachment members can be adhesively connected with the shoes or constructed integral with the shoes. When pressed together, the first attachment member engages the second attachment member and connect the left shoe and right shoe together in a proper orientation. The system allows a child to properly orient her shoes to allow her to put each shoe on its proper foot without adult supervision.

Abstract: A dental cartridge for dispensing a dental material having a body portion made of a material transparent to at least a portion of the visible light spectrum and opaque to the actinic light of the dental material contained therein. Also, a dental cartridge having a body portion formed from a toroidal segment and a coaxial nozzle attached thereto. The dental cartridges are used in a dental syringe for application of the dental material to a patient. Several embodiments provide various discharge end configurations, including hemispherical, conical frustum, and flat. Additionally, dosing indicia are placed on the body portion of the dental cartridge, permitting the dentist to fill the dental cartridge with a predetermined volume of dental material. A specially configured piston having an appendage thereon is used in combination with the dental cartridge for extruding substantially all of the costly dental material therein.

Abstract: Dental appliances formed using this method provide projections of the appliance itself which provide the necessary gripping forces rather than extraneous wires or other parts. The projections are formed by cutting grooves in casts of the teeth arches which will result in a projection, which will bear against the teeth, when the cast surface is duplicated in plastic. A first embodiment forms upper and lower plastic components, each having projections from the casts using the lost wax technique. These components are joined together in a predetermined relationship using a wax bite registration taken while the patient held his jaw in the predetermined relationship, and a dental articulator. A second method forms the plastic components directly over the casts. In this method the components are joined together, while mounted over the patient's arches, with the patient holding his jaw in the predetermined relationship.

Abstract: The invention concerns a dental crown, with a facing for example on the visible side for example, and a rigid connector for receiving the crown. The respective cooperating walls telescope for securing the removable prosthesis. The crown is secured to a stump left in the jaw. It has a lingual functional surface with a supragingival cervical offset, a supporting surface adjacent to the prosthesis saddle, and an intracoronal channel extending across the crown more or less parallel to the lingual functional surface. The rigid connector has three friction cylinders, a lingual outer wall which is between the first and second friction cylinder, a supporting telescope wall with the saddle for the prosthesis secured to it, and a patrix web which is inserted in the intracoronal channel. The outer telescope wall, supporting telescope wall, and patrix web of the connector completely surround a web on the crown.

Abstract: A breakaway device for orthodontic traction appliances comprising a case having a spring clasp therein for releasably clasping a coupling member, the coupling member separating from the clasp when subjected to pull exceeding a predetermined value, with an adjustment for the clasp to adjust its grip on the coupling member for adjusting the breakaway pull.

Abstract: A dental drill exhibits the form of a substantially solid cylindrical body having a cutting portion and a gripping shank. The cylindrical body includes a boss between the cutting portion and said gripping shank. Upon the cutting portion, between the boss and a tip of the cutting portion, are provided at least four axi-symmetric flutes upon a lateral surface of the cutting portion. Each of the flutes are substantially co-axial with the longitudinal axis of the drill, defining a substantially linear profile before reaching the conical tip of the cutting portion, at which each of the flutes narrows. The flutes are separated by substantially co-axial channels having radial depths of about one-eighth of the diameter of the cylindrical body. Each of the channels flare to a larger polar dimension at said tip of the cutting portion. The body is provided with an axial irrigation channel having at least one liquid outlet within each of the channels and proximally to the tip of the cutting portion of the drill.

Abstract: Silk screened United States, world, regional or individual continent, country and state maps on a looped backed material, which illustrate the outline of the states, countries, as well as the location of pertinent rivers, water bodies and major cities/capitals. The locations are not labeled on the map, but instead, location names are provided on a small tab. At least one small square of hook material attaches to the backside of the tab, and can be correctly placed on the map at predetermined points and easily removed from the map for further usage. The hooks on the tab engage into the loops of the map. Other activities can be utilized, such as numbers, spellings, or other educational activities with hooked tabs engaging onto the loop material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of pulse oximeter technology, and particularly, a pulse oximeter-like probe for diagnosing the pulpal vitality and vascular integrity of a subject tooth. The present invention does not require a reaction by the patient to pain caused by stimulation of a tooth. Thereby, the present invention is not as susceptible to false negatives or positives as were past methods for determining tooth vitality which were dependent on obtaining a neuronal response. As described herein, lack of neuronal response does not always indicate pulpal death. Both the apparatus and method of the present invention allow an immediate, objective diagnosis of tooth vitality without inducing painful stimulation.

Abstract: A sheathed endoscope has a flexible elongate insert part and a sheath that is removably fitted over the insert part. The sheathed endoscope comprises a distal end part that is provided at the distal end of the insert part, a distal end cover that is provided at the distal end of the sheath and that is removably fitted over the distal end part, and a lock device that is provided on the distal end cover so as to be engageable with the distal end part. The lock device is disengaged from the distal end part by deforming the distal end cover so that the lock device moves radially outward. A sheath for a sheathed endoscope is provided and is removably fitted over a flexible elongate insert part of the endoscope.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument for preparing the root canal which is suitable for being mounted on an endodontic contra-angle and with a conventional handle for manual use. The instrument is constituted by a series of broaches in which the working part is short with respect to the overall length. The instrument, by pivoting with its end portion in the apical part of the canal, which is prepared beforehand by the files, always works at the apex and prepares, in each instance, a small part of the canal, advancing progressively from the coronal inlet to the apex.

Abstract: An instrument employing multiple adhesives for manipulating and placing dental prosthetics includes an autoclavable handpiece and a removable, disposable foam double-stick pad with pressure-sensitive adhesive coated on opposite sides and protected by release paper.