Abstract: The invention provides a unitary cordless dental drive apparatus with a cantilever arm extending outward and positioned to allow a dental nose cone to be connected. An activating switch is located at the free end of the cantilever arm in a position that is convenient for manipulation by a user. In a second embodiment, the switch is in the form of a contactor mounted below the cantilever arm to contact the nose cone when pressed. In a third embodiment, a foot pedal connected to a wireless transmitter is provided to send a signal to a receiver located within the handpiece for activating the handpiece.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for treating and analyzing a gas stream to determine the effectiveness of urea gasification. The apparatus will be capable of performing the method and will include: means for introducing an aqueous solution of urea into a reactor having hot gases therein and subjecting the aqueous to temperatures for a time to assure the gasification of the aqueous urea and form a thermal gasification product stream containing NH3 and HNCO; means for taking a sample stream from the gasification product stream; means for contacting the sample stream with a hydrolysis catalyst in the presence of sufficient water to convert HNCO to NH3 and form an ammonia sample stream; and means for analyzing the ammonia sample stream for NH3. The methods and apparatus can also be used to control a urea gasification process and/or to signal anomalous operation.

Abstract: A device for quickly stopping a medical or dental drilling tool includes a drilling tool having a body extending between a connection end and a working end and having a longitudinal extension along a longitudinal axis of the drilling tool. The drilling tool has a hollow outer shell in which a probe is held that can be moved along the longitudinal axis so that a part of the probe can be moved out of the shell through an opening. The probe is designed as an elongated pin, and its first end facing the connection end is held in the interior of the shell. An electromagnetic sensor for detecting relative movement between the shell and the probe is arranged along the longitudinal extension of the body. The drilling tool has a channel for a treatment fluid extending along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: To provide a dental hydraulic temporary sealing material composition setting faster than conventional composition, excellent adhesiveness with cavity, and extremely good operativity of filling in an oral cavity, the dental hydraulic temporary sealing material composition includes calcium sulfate, a vinyl acetate resin, an inorganic filler, alcohols having a boiling point of 110° C. or more, and a nonionic surfactant, whereby water on a cavity can adhere, without being repelled, to a paste surface due to hydrophilic effect between an organic solvent having proper hydrophilicity and the nonionic surfactant, the water can permeate and diffuse rapidly and stably through the inside of the paste by the hydrophilic effect so as to set faster than conventional composition, and since the hydrophilic effect is effective for adhesiveness with cavity, filling property in an oral cavity becomes extremely good.

Abstract: There is disclosed a torque control unit to be used with an instrument for implant surgery, a drilling system including the control unit, and a method for controlling torque with the control unit. The control unit includes a torque limiter that is detachably attached to the bur of the instrument for presetting and shuts off torque transmission from the bur at a preset torque value, and a control section controlling current value of the driving section of the instrument. The control section includes a detector for detecting a current value of the driving section corresponding to the preset torque value when the torque limiter shuts off torque transmission, a memory for storing the detected current value, and a current controller for controlling a current value of the driving section in accordance with the stored current value.

Abstract: A dental handpiece to securely detect the load applied to the handpiece itself, and when excessive load is applied to the handpiece cutting operation is suspended. The dental handpiece according to the present invention comprises: a head; a support mounted in the head to support a cutting tool; and a transmission mounted in the head to transmit driving force to the support; wherein the support and the transmission are slidably connected with each other. In the above dental handpiece, the support may be cylindrical and can be provided with a plurality of inclined projections that are arranged in a longitudinal direction of an outer periphery of the cylinder; the transmission may be provided with engaging projections with inclined faces parallel to inclined faces of the plurality of inclined projections; and the transmission can be provided with a resiliency that allows the engaging projections resiliently movable in a direction apart from the inclined projections.

Abstract: The invention relates to a handpiece (3) for medical purposes, having a tool holder (5) arranged in the forward end region of the handpiece (3), a retaining coupling (16) for releasably fixing a tool (6) in the tool holder (5), and a drive connection (8), for a rotary and/or stroke drive of the tool holder (5), extending longitudinally through the handpiece (3), there being provided an arrangement for limiting the maximum torque value which can be transmitted to the tool holder (5) to a lesser torque value. For the purpose of broadening the range of application of the handpiece (3), the arrangement can be selectively deactivated and again activated, by means of a setting device (14).

Abstract: A high speed air-driven powerhead in a dental handpiece includes an automatic chuck with outside surfaces protection from overheating. An autochuck release push button on the back of the powerhead is constructed of low thermal conductivity and heat reflective materials to reduce heat due to friction from inadvertent contact with the chuck while rotating. In addition, a sudden stop mechanism is provided which arrests chuck rotation if the force of contact exceeds a level which would raise the temperature of the push button beyond a predetermined threshold. A vortex air barrier is also provided to seal the front end bearing of the powerhead. The barrier also permits spacing which prevents static axial overload of the bearing and eliminates possible damage to the bearing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dental drilling system having a programmable control unit. The control unit controls operating parameters of the drilling system, such as the direction of rotation, the speed of rotation and the torque of a tool bit of a dental drill, as well as the irrigation fluid flow rate generated by a pump and the intensity of light generated by a light source. The control unit can be programmed with a number of sets of data values. Each set of data values represents a desired value for each of the operating parameters to be controlled. Also, each set of data values corresponds to a different step in a dental operation. Thus, for each step of a dental operation, a surgeon can choose a desired set of operating parameter values from those sets that have been preprogrammed. The control unit then controls the operating parameters to achieve and maintain the values represented by the selected set of data values.

Abstract: A draping apparatus for covering dental and medical handpiece hangers. The apparatus is made from thin aluminum foil or from an aluminum foil-plastic film laminate. It is molded to allow rapid and convenient placement into handpiece hangers and the "dead soft" aluminum foil allows accurate adaptation of the cover to the hanger by finger pressure. A modification of the barrier includes a rectangular window where the aluminum is removed, exposing the translucent plastic film and allowing the function of auto-handpiece selector switches, either mechanical or photoelectric.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a driving and water pouring control device for dental air-drive handpiece. According to the control device, there is incorporated a water pouring on-and-off valve means into an air feed passageway for driving a turbine so as to close and open the valve means by using part of air inside the passageway and to concurrently provide the valve means with a function of preventing water from dropping when pouring of water is stopped. The disclosure also relates to a device capable of compactly assembling therein device members.