Patents by Inventor Franco Castellini
Franco Castellini has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7211220Abstract: A method for cleaning/disinfecting/sterilizing the water circuits (1) of dental units (100) comprises at least the following steps: introducing a cleaning/disinfecting/sterilizing fluid into the water circuit (1); holding the cleaning/disinfecting/sterilizing fluid in the water circuit (1) for a predetermined length of time; draining the cleaning/disinfecting/sterilizing fluid out of the circuit (1) through endpieces (3a) of supply branches (3); the method further comprising a step of programming/selecting the contact time periods (T) of the steps of introducing and holding the fluid in the water circuit (1), this step preceding the step of introducing the fluid and being effected by selecting from a plurality of contact time periods (T1, T2, T3 . . . Tn) each of which consists at least of a fraction of a time period (Ta) of the step of introducing fluid in the water circuit (1) added to a time period (Tb) of the holding step, according to a desired parameter-level (P1, P2, P3 . . .Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2003Date of Patent: May 1, 2007Assignee: Castellini S.p.A.Inventor: Franco Castellini
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Publication number: 20070003902Abstract: An auxiliary apparatus (1) for dental treatments comprises at least: a main body (2) constituting a power unit that drives handpieces (5) used for traditional conservative, implant and/or endodontic operations and in turn connected to the unit (2) through a connecting tube (3); handpiece (5) activation and adjustment means (4) located on a surface (2a) of the main body (2) and controlled by a microprocessor unit (6) for controlling the main and auxiliary functions of the handpiece (5) applied to the unit (2); a data display screen (7) mounted on the main body (2); an interface unit (8) connected, on one side, to the microprocessor (6) and, on the other, to the screen (7) and designed to receive from the microprocessor (6) at least one signal (S) corresponding to a data item (D) that is a function of the torque value (V5) of the handpieces (5) being used and to convert it into at least one graphic viewing field (CV) on the screen (7) in real time so as display the graph (TR) of torque over time (t) correspondiType: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2006Publication date: January 4, 2007Inventor: Franco Castellini
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Publication number: 20060269894Abstract: A dental unit (1) comprises a chair (2), a base (3), positioned next to the chair (2) and mounting main and auxiliary equipment; at least one handpiece tray (4) equipped with a plurality of operative or auxiliary handpieces (5) connectable to supply hoses (6), each having an end fitting (7) for receiving a respective handpiece (5) for supplying motive power and fluids to the handpieces (5) themselves; the dental unit (1) further comprises at least one handpiece (8) fitted with a vibrating tool (9) which can be used for surgical operations on soft and/or bony tissue in the oral cavity or for endodontic surgery and which can be applied to a respective end fitting (7).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2006Publication date: November 30, 2006Inventor: Franco Castellini
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Patent number: 7011519Abstract: A dental unit comprises at least one chair, a base, positioned next to the chair and mounting a handpiece tray. The tray is equipped with a plurality of operative or auxiliary handpieces for dental operations of traditional conservative type and/or for implants. At least one of the handpieces is fitted with a drive unit consisting of a brushless micromotor presenting a unit for continuously controlling the speed of the brushless micromotor according to parameters that depend on the type of application, that is, traditional, conservative type operations or implants.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2002Date of Patent: March 14, 2006Assignee: Casteleini S.p.A.Inventor: Franco Castellini
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Patent number: 6991458Abstract: The invention relates to a method for sterilizing/disinfecting water circuits of dental units (1) comprising dental handpieces (2) and a water circuit (3) for supplying liquid from a main supply (4) through corresponding circuit legs or branches (3a, 3b, 3c, 3s). The method comprises at least the following steps: introducing a disinfectant/sterilizing liquid in the water circuit (3) for a predetermined length of time; draining the disinfectant/sterilizing liquid out of the circuit (3) through the circuit legs or branches (3a, 3b, 3c, 3s); and introducing the user liquid in the water circuit (3); the method further comprising, between the steps of introducing and draining out the disinfectant/sterilizing liquid and the user liquid, a step of introducing a fluid from an independent branch (5) in the water circuit (3) for a predetermined length of time, depending on defined parameters, in order to expel from the water circuit (3) all the remaining liquid in the water circuit (3).Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2003Date of Patent: January 31, 2006Assignee: Castellini S.p.A.Inventor: Franco Castellini
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Publication number: 20040200783Abstract: Described is an apparatus for sterilizing and sanitizing water circuits, especially the water circuits of dental units, comprising: a user fluid (F) supply line (1) connected, at one end, to a mains water supply (2) and, at the other end, to the dental unit through a first branch (3) for supplying a series of devices comprising a plurality of handpieces (4); a first unit (9), equipped with a third independent branch (10) connected to the first branch (3) and alternatively containing one of the following: a first disinfectant/sterilizing fluid (F1) to be supplied to the first branch (3) to permit performance of programmable discontinuous sterilizing or sanitizing cycles in the first branch (3), or a second sterile, disinfectant or medicinal fluid (F2) to be supplied continuously to the first supply branch (3) independently of, and as an alternative for, the user fluid (F) from the supply line (1); control means (30) acting on the first unit (9) also being provided for selecting the first or second fluid (F1, FType: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2004Publication date: October 14, 2004Applicant: CASTELLINI, S.p.A.Inventor: Franco Castellini
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Patent number: 6800478Abstract: An apparatus for detecting biofilm in the water conduits of dental units, especially biofilm adhering to the inside surfaces of the conduits, can be used on a water line equipped with a plurality of conduits for supplying fluids to handpieces and fluid consuming units that use fluid from a main supply or accessory fluids from corresponding independent lines. A portion of one of the conduits is equipped with a system for detecting the presence of the biofilm on the surfaces of the portion itself. The invention also relates to a method for detecting the biofilm. The method comprises the steps of contacting the biofilm attached to surfaces with a reagent substance or fluid; altering the biofilm by the reagent substance or fluid; and detecting the alteration that has taken place in the biofilm using the detecting system.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2001Date of Patent: October 5, 2004Assignee: Castellini, S.p.A.Inventor: Franco Castellini
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Publication number: 20040191721Abstract: The invention relates to a method for sterilizing/disinfecting water circuits of dental units (1) comprising dental handpieces (2) and a water circuit (3) for supplying liquid from a main supply (4) through corresponding circuit legs or branches (3a, 3b, 3c, 3s). The method comprises at least the following steps: introducing a disinfectant/sterilizing liquid in the water circuit (3) for a predetermined length of time; draining the disinfectant/sterilizing liquid out of the circuit (3) through the circuit legs or branches (3a, 3b, 3c, 3s); and introducing the user liquid in the water circuit (3); the method further comprising, between the steps of introducing and draining out the disinfectant/sterilizing liquid and the user liquid, a step of introducing a fluid from an independent branch (5) in the water circuit (3) for a predetermined length of time, depending on defined parameters, in order to expel from the water circuit (3) all the remaining liquid in the water circuit (3).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2003Publication date: September 30, 2004Applicant: CASTELLINI S.p.A.Inventor: Franco Castellini
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Publication number: 20040184951Abstract: A method for sanitizing water circuits (1) of dental units (100) comprising dental handpieces (2) and a water circuit (1) for supplying fluid from a main supply (4) through corresponding circuit legs or branches (1a, 1b, 1c, 1s), the method comprising at least the following steps: introducing the disinfectant/sterilizing liquid in the water circuit (1) for a predetermined length of time and draining the disinfectant/sterilizing liquid out of the circuit through the circuit legs or branches (1a, 1b, 1c, 1s). The step of introducing the disinfectant/sterilizing liquid is divided into two or more sub-steps, each consisting of an inflow of a predetermined quantity or dose of the disinfectant/sterilizing liquid, alternated with steps of waiting for the next inflow.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2003Publication date: September 23, 2004Applicant: CASTELLINI S.p.A.Inventor: Franco Castellini
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Publication number: 20040184952Abstract: A method for sterilizing/disinfecting the water circuit (1) of a dental unit (100) at least comprising medical instruments, such as dental handpieces (2), and a water circuit (1) for supplying a fluid from a main supply (3) through corresponding circuit legs or branches (1a, 1b, 1c, 1s); the method comprising at least the following steps: introducing the disinfectant/sterilizing liquid in the water circuit (1) for a predetermined length of time and draining the disinfectant/sterilizing liquid out of the circuit (1) through the circuit legs or branches (1a, 1b, 1c, 1s). The step of introducing the disinfectant/sterilizing liquid is accompanied by a step of heating the liquid to a predetermined temperature higher than ambient temperature, using suitable means (4).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2003Publication date: September 23, 2004Applicant: CASTELLINI S.p.A.Inventor: Franco Castellini
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Publication number: 20040072125Abstract: An auxiliary unit (100) for sanitising treatments can be fitted on dental units (R) comprising: a fluid supply line (1) connected, at one end, to the general water mains (2) and, at the other, to the dental unit by means of a first branch (3) which supplies at least a series of instruments—patient (4) and an air supply line (6) connected at its infeed to a source (7) of compressed air and at its outfeed to the dental unit; the unit (100) comprises a body (8), external to the dental unit, supporting at least one container (9) of disinfectant/sterilising fluid which can be connected, by means of a first conduit (10), to the fluid supply line (1); second means (11) of interception positioned on the fluid supply line (1) and designed to allow closure of the fluid supply at least in the first branch (3) during the treatment using the disinfectant/sterilising fluid; and means (12, 13) for preparing and implementing the treatment, acting at least on the first conduit (10) and on the second means (11) of intercType: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2003Publication date: April 15, 2004Applicant: CASTELLINI S.p.A.Inventor: Franco Castellini
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Publication number: 20040022672Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for disinfecting and/or sterilizing the hydraulic circuit within a dental unit by using active solutions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2002Publication date: February 5, 2004Inventor: Franco Castellini
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Publication number: 20030175147Abstract: A method for cleaning/disinfecting/sterilizing the water circuits (1) of dental units (100) comprises at least the following steps: introducing a cleaning/disinfecting/sterilizing fluid into the water circuit (1); holding the cleaning/disinfecting/sterilizing fluid in the water circuit (1) for a predetermined length of time; draining the cleaning/disinfecting/sterilizing fluid out of the circuit (1) through endpieces (3a) of supply branches (3); the method further comprising a step of programming/selecting the contact time periods (T) of the steps of introducing and holding the fluid in the water circuit (1), this step preceding the step of introducing the fluid and being effected by selecting from a plurality of contact time periods (T1, T2, T3 . . . Tn) each of which consists at least of a fraction of a time period (Ta) of the step of introducing fluid in the water circuit (1) added to a time period (Tb) of the holding step, according to a desired parameter-level (P1, P2, P3 . . .Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2003Publication date: September 18, 2003Applicant: CASTELLINI S.p.A.Inventor: Franco Castellini
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Patent number: 6612838Abstract: A method for sterilizing conduits that convey fluid from a main water source to medical instruments, especially dental handpieces includes removing at least the end portions of supply branches of the handpieces from their respective rest positions and placing them in a container. A disinfectant liquid is introduced into each of the supply branches for a predetermined time. The sterilization liquid is drained out of the supply branches by flushing the inside of the supply branches with a sterile fluid supplied through a second branch independent of the main water source.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2001Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: Castellini S.p.A.Inventor: Franco Castellini
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Publication number: 20030162144Abstract: A dental unit comprises at least a main water circuit (1) for supplying a fluid to main and accessory medical instruments (2) on the dental unit (100) and sub-circuits, namely, a first sub-circuit (3) and a second sub-circuit (4), for dividing the fluid supply between the main or accessory medical instruments (2a, 2b) mounted on a first tray (5) and those mounted on a second tray (6). The two sub-circuits (3, 4) have means (7, 8) constituting a first continuous drain (7) and a second continuous drain (8), respectively, designed to enable the fluid in the first and second sub-circuits (3, 4) to be continuously renewed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2003Publication date: August 28, 2003Applicant: CASTELLINI S.p.A.Inventor: Franco Castellini
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Publication number: 20030068596Abstract: A dental unit comprises at least one chair, a base, positioned next to the chair and mounting a handpiece tray. The tray is equipped with a plurality of operative or auxiliary handpieces for dental operations of traditional conservative type and/or for implants. At least one of the handpieces is fitted with a drive unit consisting of a brushless micromotor presenting a unit for continuously controlling the speed of the brushless micromotor according to parameters that depend on the type of application, that is, traditional, conservative type operations or implants.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2002Publication date: April 10, 2003Applicant: CASTELLINI S.p.A.Inventor: Franco Castellini
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Patent number: D555245Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2006Date of Patent: November 13, 2007Assignee: Castellini S.p.A.Inventor: Franco Castellini
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Patent number: D555246Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2006Date of Patent: November 13, 2007Assignee: Castellini S.p.A.Inventor: Franco Castellini
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Patent number: D555247Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2006Date of Patent: November 13, 2007Assignee: Castellini S.p.A.Inventor: Franco Castellini
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Patent number: D498847Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2003Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Assignee: Castellini, S.p.A.Inventor: Franco Castellini