Abstract: A control system for a dental handpiece, and the like, for supplying a pressurized drive fluid, pressurized air, and water to the handpiece, and which includes a holder for the handpiece having an internal pinch valve which is operated whenever the handpiece is inserted or removed from the holder. A control module is provided which actually controls the flow of the various fluids to the handpiece. The control module includes a pinch lever which engages the various tubes carrying the fluids to the handpiece, and it also includes a swell tube which responds to pressurized fluid from the handpiece holder whenever the handpiece is removed. A linkage system couples the swell tube to the pinching lever in the control module.

Abstract: A pinch valve assembly which includes a pinch lever rotatably mounted in a housing and a head at one end which serves controllably to pinch at least one pressurized fluid carrying tube against a corresponding pinch bar as the lever is turned between two angular positions. In one embodiment a toggle member is pivotally mounted in the housing and has a head positioned to operate the pinch lever between its angular positions, and to cause the pinch lever to snap by an over-center action between its angular position. In a second embodiment, a push-button member is used to operate the pinch lever.

Abstract: A miniature compound lever fluid-operated pinch valve/regulator in which a swell tube is sandwiched between a rectilinearly movable planar member and a frame, and in which the swell tube responds to pressurized fluid to displace the planar member from the frame. A spring-biased lever engages the planar member to collapse the swell tube in the absence of the pressurized fluid. A pinch lever is also mounted in the frame and is engaged by the spring-biased lever. The result is a compound lever mechanism which responds to the swelling and collapse of the swell tube in response to a pressurized fluid introduced into the swell tube to cause the mechanism to perform a pinching function on a resilient fluid-carrying tube passing through the valve/regulator.

Abstract: A long life vacuum for use primarily by a dental assistant for evacuating debris from the mouth of a patient during dental operations. The instrument takes the form of an open-ended tube having a quick disconnect coupler at one end to enable the tube to be coupled to a vacuum line. The other end of the tube is intended to be inserted into the mouth of the patient. The instrument is formed entirely of plastic so that it may be conveniently sterilized in a high temperature autoclave. Specifically, plastic seals are used instead of O-rings since O-rings are incapable of withstanding high temperatures and/or chemicals used during the sterilizing operations. In addition, there are no metal parts which would be subject to corrosive attach by the bonding materals currently used by many dentists. The instrument includes a valve which is operated by the dental assistant, and which is sealed to the tube by integral plastic seals.

Abstract: A counter-balanced parallel arm assembly for supporting a control unit for dental handpieces, such as high speed air drills, and other air driven or electrically energized dental instruments which are removably mounted on the control unit, or for supporting other medical, electrical, electronic, or other units. The assembly includes an upright standard, a first arm mounted on the standard to be rotatable about a vertical axis, and a second arm coupled to the end of the first arm and rotatable about both vertical and horizontal axes. The supported unit is suspended from the end of the second arm by a post, and it is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the post. The post is pivotally coupled to the end of the second arm to be rotatable about a horizontal axis. The supported unit may be set to any desired vertical and horizontal position to locate it for convenient access by the operator.

Abstract: A control unit is provided for supporting a multiplicity of dental handpieces of the high-pressure air-driven type, and which includes a plurality of holders for removably supporting the individual handpieces. Each of the holders is mounted on one end of a corresponding arm. The other end of the arm serves as a pinch block. Each arm is pivotally mounted on the frame of the control unit. An actuator is mounted on the frame of the control unit adjacent to each holder, and when a handpiece is inserted into the corresponding holder it engages the actuator and forces the corresponding arm to turn and to move, together with the holder and handpiece, to a down position. The other end of the arm then pinches one or more flexible tubes against a pinch bar in the control unit when the holder is forced to its down position.

Abstract: A syringe is provided which is particularly useful in dental work, but which has general utility. The syringe includes pinch valves, and it is constructed to be simple and inexpensive, requiring a minimum of components, and yet to be highly reliable. The syringe is capable of emitting, for example, a stream of air and water, or other fluids or particulate matter, each of which is independently controlled, and neither of which has any tendency to be emitted when only the other is required.

Abstract: A control and selector unit for a dental handpiece is provided of the high pressure air driven type. The control and selector unit includes a bracket for supporting a handpiece, and a resilient metal strip having a free end extending into the bracket. The other end of the resilient strip is supported on the base of the control unit, and the strip acts as a pinch valve for a tube carrying high pressure drive air to the handpiece. The pinch valve releases the tube when the handpiece is removed from the bracket so as to cause the handpiece to be activated. The control unit may also include additional resilient strip pinch valve controls for controlling the supply of coolant air, or other gases, and water to the handpiece when the handpiece is removed from the bracket.

Abstract: A syringe is provided which is particularly useful in dental work for emitting a stream of water and air under high pressure into the patient's mouth. The syringe of the invention is simplified as compared with the prior art syringes in that it uses pinch valves to perform its intended functions.