Dental tool adaptor assembly
A disposable extension member for joining a dental handtool to a disposable, hollow, dental tip. The dental handtool includes a chuck for releasably retaining the extension member. The extension member has at least one fluid-tight passageway extending through its body for fluid flow from the dental handpiece to the dental tip. The extension member includes an adaptive releasable locking member having an internally threaded, cuplike end portion dimensioned for releasable threading engagement with the dental tip. The chuck provides easy and efficient clamping means to secure the extension member within the handtool.
This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/981,380, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,431,587, filed on 4 Nov. 2004, which claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/592,722 filed 30 Jul. 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to dental syringe adaptors, and more specifically to disposable dental syringe adaptors capable of providing both air and water and that may be quickly inserted or removed from a dental tool.
Dental syringes are widely used by dentists, dental assistants, dental hygienists and similar personnel. The syringes are generally handheld devices that deliver air and water to a patient's mouth during dental procedures. Examples of such syringes are found in U.S. Pat Nos. 5,378,149 and 4,248,589. The devices generally selectively deliver the air and water at a predetermined pressure. Valves in the dental instrument allow for selective control of the water or air discharge.
Cross contamination is a principal concern with dental syringes and dental procedures, in general. Because it is not desirous to transmit or pass bacteria and/or viruses from one patient to another, syringes, tips, and extension pieces have been developed that are autoclavable. Specifically, these devices are made of stainless steel, which can become quite expensive. Extension members, in particular, are expensive, especially if the extension members are designed for a single style of handpiece, such as an air/water syringe or just a water syringe. A disposable extension member would significantly reduce the costs of dental procedures.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,071, discloses a plastic dental syringe that is adaptable to a handheld dental tool. The syringe may be used as an air/water syringe. However, the design of the syringe does not allow adaptation between different styles or types of dental tips. The syringe is designed for a single type of use. Thus, the disclosed syringe may not necessarily be used for different procedures that require different dental tips, and the utility of the syringe is limited.
Furthermore, it is desirous for dental tools and dental tips to adapt easily to each other. Such results may be achieved by using a locking device for syringes and adaptors that quickly and easily join the dental tools to the dental tips. It would be further desirous to develop a disposable extension member for releasably receiving and connecting with syringe tips that provides for expanded use of such locking devices and for quick exchange of dental accessories.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides an adaptor assembly for connecting a dental tip to a dental handpiece. More specifically, the present invention provides a disposable extension member for connecting a dental tip to a dental handpiece. The extension member has a first end portion that will be releasably retained within a head portion of the dental handpiece by a chuck assembly. A second end portion has an internally threaded cuplike member that allows the dental tip to be threaded onto the extension member. The extension member is ideal for use with threadable dental tips, such as LUER-LOK® style dental tips. The extension member has a through passageway, which allows fluid to pass from the dental handpiece to the dental tip. The arrangement of the first end portion with the chuck and the second end portion with the cuplike member provides a fluid tight seal for the extension member.
Because the extension member is disposable, the member significantly reduces the costs of dental procedures. Also, time is reduced, since the extension member does not need to be autoclaved, but may be thrown out after use. Furthermore, the extension member can be designed to work with a handpiece that delivers water, air, or both, which will further reduce costs in that several different autoclavable extension members may be replaced with the present invention.
The present invention is also advantageous in that it can be used with a wide variety of adaptor assemblies, which also have novel features that will be described in further detail with following specification and drawings.
Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
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The present invention provides an affordable extension member for various dental tips and designs. Because the extension member is disposable, it is inexpensive to design and, also, limits possible contamination, since it may be discarded after a single use. The extension member may be used with many different dental handpieces having different gripping means and adaptor assemblies, which further increases the utility of the instrument. The adaptor assemblies described in the present invention also contain new and novel concepts that enhance the utility of the present invention.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
Claims
1. A disposable extension member for joining a dental handtool directly to a disposable, hollow, dental tip, said dental handtool including a chuck, said extension member comprising:
- a non-flexible, one-piece, cylindrical elongate body of unitary construction;
- a non-grooved first end portion, said first end portion capable of being releasably retained within said chuck;
- a second end portion;
- at least one passageway extending between said first end portion and said second end portion of said extension member; and
- said second end portion of said extension member including a locking member, said locking member including an internally threaded, enclosed cuplike end portion surrounding and radially extending from said second end portion of said extension member, the threaded raceway of said internally threaded cuplike end portion being dimensioned for releasable threading engagement with an external, locking tab portion radially extending from the proximal end of said dental tip and being arranged for fluid sealing engagement with a mating portion of the internal surface of said cuplike second end portion of said extension member, said extension member being arranged to directly connect said dental tip to said dental handtool.
2. The disposable extension member according to claim 1 further comprising support means, said support means located on said elongate body near said locking member.
3. The disposable extension member according to claim 2 wherein said support means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced, lengthwise extending fins.
4. The disposable extension member according to claim 1 further comprising a second passageway for delivering a second fluid to said dental tip.
5. A disposable extension member for joining a dental handtool directly to a disposable, hollow, dental tip, said dental handtool including a chuck, said extension member comprising:
- a non-flexible, one-piece, cylindrical elongate body of unitary construction, said body directly connecting said handtool to said dental tip;
- a non-grooved first end portion, said first end portion capable of being releasably inserted within said chuck;
- a second end portion;
- at least one passageway extending between said first end portion and said second end portion of said extension member; and
- said second end portion of said extension member including a locking member, said locking member including an internally threaded, enclosed cuplike end portion surrounding and radially extending from said second end portion of said extension member, the threaded raceway of said internally threaded cuplike end portion being dimensioned for releasable threading engagement with an external, locking tab portion radially extending from the proximal end of said dental tip and being arranged for fluid sealing engagement with a mating portion of the internal surface of said cuplike second end portion of said extension member;
- wherein said second end portion extends lengthwise outwardly of said cuplike portion.
6. The disposable extension member according to claim 5 further comprising support means, said support means located on said elongate body near said locking member.
7. The disposable extension member according to claim 6 wherein said support means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced, lengthwise extending fins.
8. An adaptor assembly for coupling a dental handpiece to a disposable, hollow, dental tip, said handpiece having a head portion, said head portion including a socket having a hollow bore in fluid communication with a fluid source, said assembly comprising:
- a chuck, said chuck being received within said socket in a fluid-tight relationship;
- an extension member comprising; a non-flexible, one-piece, cylindrical elongate body of unitary construction, said extension member comprising; a non-grooved first end portion, said first end portion capable of being releasably inserted within said chuck; a second end portion; and at least one passageway extending between said first end portion and said second end portion of said extension member; and a releasable locking member located on said second end portion of said extension member, said locking member including an internally threaded, enclosed cuplike end portion surrounding and radially extending from said second end portion of said extension member, the threaded raceway of said internally threaded cuplike end portion being dimensioned for releasable threading engagement with an external, locking tab radially extending from the proximal end of said dental tip and being arranged for fluid sealing engagement with a mating portion of the internal surface of said cuplike second end portion of said extension member, said extension member being arranged to directly connect said dental tip to said dental handpiece; and
- said chuck being arranged to retain said first end of said extension member within said socket in a fluid tight relationship.
9. The assembly according to claim 8 wherein said second end portion extends lengthwise outwardly of said cuplike portion.
10. The assembly according to claim 8 further comprising support means, said support means located on said elongate body near said locking member.
11. The assembly according to claim 10 wherein said support means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced, lengthwise extending fins.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 7, 2008
Publication Date: Feb 12, 2009
Inventor: Gary J. Pond (Racine, WI)
Application Number: 12/287,245
International Classification: A61C 17/02 (20060101);