Abstract: Syringe tips for use with dental syringes, connectors for connecting syringe tips to a dental syringe, and combinations thereof are described. In one embodiment, a syringe tip has an elastic inner tube with a flexible proximal portion extending proximally beyond a shoulder of an outer tube. An elongate fluid passageway extending from an entrance at the proximal end of the inner tube's flexible proximal portion to an exit at the distal end of the inner tube. The outer tube defines at least a portion of at least one additional elongate fluid passageway. In another embodiment, a syringe tip as described above is provided in combination with a connector that includes a tubular shaped portion adapted to be received within the fluid passageway of the inner tube and wherein the distal end of the tubular shaped member includes fingers adapted to radially expand the inner tube over the tubular shaped member.

Abstract: Syringe tips for use with dental syringes, connectors for connecting syringe tips to a dental syringe, and combinations thereof are described. In one embodiment, a syringe tip has an elastic inner tube with a flexible proximal portion extending proximally beyond a shoulder of an outer tube. An elongate fluid passageway extending from an entrance at the proximal end of the inner tube's flexible proximal portion to an exit at the distal end of the inner tube. The outer tube defines at least a portion of at least one additional elongate fluid passageway. In another embodiment, a syringe tip as described above is provided in combination with a connector that includes a tubular shaped portion adapted to be received within the fluid passageway of the inner tube and wherein the distal end of the tubular shaped member includes fingers adapted to radially expand the inner tube over the tubular shaped member.

Abstract: A fitting for releasably and sealingly connecting a conduit to a medical instrument. The fitting comprises a body having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending between the ends. The body has a recess extending on the axis, a bottom adjacent its proximal end and is open at its distal end. The bottom of the body includes first and second passages for flow of first and second fluids. The fitting further includes a quick-connect device mounted in the recess and having a gripping mechanism. The conduit is receivable in the gripping mechanism for movement of the conduit in proximal and distal directions with respect to the body. The gripping mechanism permits one end of the conduit to be pushed through an opening of the quick-connect device to a position in which a tubular connector provides a sealing connection between a central passageway in the conduit and the first passage in the bottom of the body.

Abstract: A dental syringe tip for use with a hand-piece of an air-water syringe to deliver air and water to a mouth of patient. The syringe has air and water conduits for delivering air and water to a discharge end of the hand-piece. The dental syringe tip includes a single unitary tube releasably engageable with the discharge end of the hand-piece. The tube has a fluid passageway extending from an intake port at an intake end of the tube for fluid communication with the air and water conduits of the hand-piece. In addition, the tube has a discharge port at a discharge end of the tube for delivering at least one of the air and water through the passageway to the mouth of the patient. The intake end of the tube is shaped and constructed to enable air and water flow through the air and water conduits when at least a portion of the intake end of the tube engages the discharge end of the hand-piece.

Abstract: A fitting for releasably and sealingly connecting a conduit to a medical instrument. The fitting comprises a body having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending between the ends. The body has a recess extending on the axis, a bottom adjacent its proximal end and is open at its distal end. The bottom of the body includes first and second passages for flow of first and second fluids. The fitting further includes a quick-connect device mounted in the recess and having a gripping mechanism. The conduit is receivable in the gripping mechanism for movement of the conduit in proximal and distal directions with respect to the body. The gripping mechanism permits one end of the conduit to be pushed through an opening of the quick-connect device to a position in which a tubular connector provides a sealing connection between a central passageway in the conduit and the first passage in the bottom of the body.

Abstract: In combination, a syringe tip and a dental syringe fitting for releasably connecting the syringe tip to a hand piece for delivering a fluid to a mouth of a patient. The hand piece has a passageway for delivering the fluid to a discharge end of the hand piece. The tip includes an interior passage for transporting the fluid to the patient and an exterior surface having a circumferential groove extending around the exterior surface of the tip. The fitting includes a body adapted to attach to the hand piece adjacent the discharge end, the body having a central opening sized and shaped for receiving the tip. A gripping mechanism is mounted in the opening and has a plurality of locking fingers disposed around the opening adapted to releasably engage the groove when the tip is received in the opening thereby to secure the tip to the hand piece. A method for connecting and disconnecting the syringe tip from the hand piece is also disclosed.

Abstract: In combination, a syringe tip and a fitting for releasably connecting the tip to a hand piece for delivering a fluid forward to a mouth of a patient. The hand piece has a passageway for delivering the fluid to a discharge end of the hand piece. The syringe tip includes an elongate tube having an exterior surface and an interior passage extending through the tube for transporting the fluid to the patient, the exterior surface of the tip including a portion having a generally constant size and uniform shape. The fitting includes a body adapted to attach to the hand piece adjacent the discharge end, the body having a central opening sized and shaped for receiving the portion of the tip. The fitting also includes a gripping mechanism mounted in the opening having a plurality of locking fingers disposed around the opening.

Abstract: In combination, a syringe tip and a dental syringe fitting for releasably connecting the syringe tip to a hand piece for delivering a fluid to a mouth of a patient. The hand piece has a passageway for delivering the fluid to a discharge end of the hand piece. The tip includes an interior passage for transporting the fluid to the patient and an exterior surface having a circumferential groove extending around the exterior surface of the tip. The fitting includes a body adapted to attach to the hand piece adjacent the discharge end, the body having a central opening sized and shaped for receiving the tip. A gripping mechanism is mounted in the opening and has a plurality of locking fingers disposed around the opening adapted to releasably engage the groove when the tip is received in the opening thereby to secure the tip to the hand piece.

Abstract: A dental syringe tip for use with a hand-piece of an air-water syringe to deliver air and water to a mouth of patient. The syringe has air and water conduits for delivering air and water to a discharge end of the hand-piece. The dental syringe tip includes a single unitary tube releasably engageable with the discharge end of the hand-piece. The tube has a fluid passageway extending from an intake port at an intake end of the tube for fluid communication with the air and water conduits of the hand-piece. In addition, the tube has a discharge port at a discharge end of the tube for delivering at least one of the air and water through the passageway to the mouth of the patient. The intake end of the tube is shaped and constructed to enable air and water flow through the air and water conduits when at least a portion of the intake end of the tube engages the discharge end of the hand-piece.

Abstract: A fitting for releasably and sealingly connecting a conduit to a medical instrument. The fitting comprises a body having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending between the ends. The body has a recess extending on the axis, a bottom adjacent its proximal end and is open at its distal end. The bottom of the body includes first and second passages for flow of first and second fluids. The fitting further includes a quick-connect device mounted in the recess and having a gripping mechanism. The conduit is receivable in the gripping mechanism for movement of the conduit in proximal and distal directions with respect to the body. The gripping mechanism permits one end of the conduit to be pushed through an opening of the quick-connect device to a position in which a tubular connector provides a sealing connection between a central passageway in the conduit and the first passage in the bottom of the body.

Abstract: A syringe tip for use with a dental tool having a hand-piece for delivering air and water to a discharge end of the hand-piece. The syringe tip is releasably engageable with the discharge end of the hand piece and has an intake end and a discharge end. The tip has a fluid passageway defined at least in part by the tube having an intake port adjacent the intake end of the tube for fluid communication with the fluid conduit of the hand-piece and a discharge port adjacent the discharge end of the tube for pressurized delivery of the fluid to the mouth of a patient. The intake end of the tube is shaped to avoid blockage of the fluid conduits by the tube. The tip further comprises a viscous liquid within and occluding the fluid passageway for being discharged from the discharge port into the mouth of the patient when the fluid is delivered to the mouth of the patient via the hand-piece and fluid passageway.

Abstract: A method of making a disposable tubular device comprising extruding a first material through a first die to form the tube and moving the tube through the second die while extruding a second material through the second die to form the tube-support structure. The second material has a surface hardness which is greater than the surface hardness of the first material.

Abstract: A disposable tubular device adapted for releasable and sealing connection to a medical instrument for transporting fluid between a patient and the instrument comprises a generally pliable elongate tube of resilient material extending substantially the entire length of the device and a tube-support structure extending substantially the entire length of the tube. The medical instrument has a nipple with a fluid passageway therethrough and the tube has a proximal end configured to be slidably pushed onto the nipple of the medical instrument to a position in which the nipple fits snugly inside the proximal end of the tube. The tube further comprises a distal end and an elongate fluid passageway extending through the tube from its proximal end to its distal end. The fluid passageway is configured to communicate with the fluid passageway of the nipple when the proximal end of the tube is on the nipple.

Abstract: A nozzle for use with a dental tool having a hand-piece comprising first and second fluid conduits for delivering first and second fluids to a discharge end of the hand-piece. The nozzle is releasably engageable with the discharge end of the hand-piece and comprises an inner tube and an outer tube each having an intake end and a discharge end. The tubes define first and second fluid passages having coaxial intake ports for fluid communication with the first and second fluid conduits and coaxial discharge ports for pressurized delivery of the first and second fluids to the teeth of the patient. The intake end of the inner tube extends axially from the intake end of the outer tube and is connected to the first conduit when the nozzle is engaged with the hand-piece so that fluid discharged from the first conduit flows through the first passage.

Abstract: A nozzle for the simultaneous discharge of first and second fluids through a distal end thereof and for attachment to the hand piece of a dental tool comprising sources of the first and second fluids. The nozzle comprises first and second conduits and coupling means for removably coupling the nozzle to the hand piece. The first and second conduits have coaxial intake ports for fluid communication with the sources of the first and second fluids and coaxial discharge ports at the distal end of the nozzle for discharging the first and second fluids. The first conduit is contained at least partially within the second conduit and the discharge ports are proximately located with respect to one another. Upon coupling of the nozzle to the hand piece, the first conduit is automatically aligned with and connected to the source of the first fluid to enable quick connection and disconnection of the nozzle to the hand piece.

Abstract: A dental tool adapted to deliver a mixed stream of two fluids to teeth of a patient. It comprises a nozzle, a hand-piece, and a resiliently flexible clip adapted to releasably retain the nozzle in the hand-piece. The nozzle has an elongate body portion, a proximal end, a distal end, and first and second conduits through the body portion. The conduits define first and second fluid passages. The hand-piece is adapted for delivering a first fluid stream and a second fluid stream through a downstream end of the hand-piece to the proximal end of the nozzle and through the fluid passages and distal end of the nozzle. The clip has a base portion secured to the hand-piece and a contact portion adapted for engaging a contact region of the nozzle's body portion. The clip is adapted for being deflected to disengage the contact portion from the contact region to enable a user to readily remove the nozzle from or insert the nozzle into the hand-piece.

Abstract: A method of making a disposable tubular device comprising extruding a first material through a first die to form the tube and moving the tube through the second die while extruding a second material through the second die to form the tube-support structure. The second material has a surface hardness which is greater than the surface hardness of the first material.