Flexible Shaft Transmission Patents (Class 433/112)
-
Patent number: 10092382Abstract: A disposable prophy angle is provided, the prophy angle comprising a housing containing a drive shaft and a driven shaft; the drive shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis therebetween, the distal end having a substantially conical driving portion and a projection, the proximal end of the drive shaft configured to engage a dental hand piece; and the driven shaft having a driven portion comprising a recess configured for engagement by the projection and/or the substantially conical portion of the drive shaft to oscillate the driven shaft at an oscillation angle greater than 90 degrees. In some embodiments, there is a method of making a disposable prophy angle by overmolding a prophy cup to the prophy angle. In other embodiments, there is a method of using the prophy angle to prevent tooth decay.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2014Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignees: Crosstex International, Inc., Pac-Dent International, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Wang, Denghui Chen, Bo Tao, Bo Yue, Yong Zhu
-
Patent number: 8353700Abstract: A prophy device incorporating a shaft and one or more corrugated members eliminates the need for plastic gears. The corrugated members effectively transfer rotational energy from a shaft to an applicator. In another version, a flexible paste chamber contains polish within a housing of the device. A difference between a rotational speed at a front of the paste chamber and rear of the chamber causes the flexible chamber to contract on itself thereby automatically forcing polish from the chamber and into a polish applicator. A rod extending through a paste chamber includes openings for contents to exit. The rod has one end in contact with a drive disk and a second end in contact with a front disk such that the ends of the rod are maintained substantially in place by the drive disk and front disk, respectively, but remain rotatably independent relative to the drive disk and front disk.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2010Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Inventor: Andre Michaelian
-
DENTAL DEVICE ADAPTER SYSTEM, DENTAL HYGIENE SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF OPERATING A DENTAL HYGIENE SYSTEM
Publication number: 20110306010Abstract: Provided is a dental handpiece adapter connection system, dental handpiece adapter connection method, and a dental handpiece adapter. The dental handpiece adapter includes a first portion configured to engage a dental device having a first geometry and a second portion configured to engage a dental handpiece having a second geometry. The first portion being engaged with the adapter and the second portion being engaged with the adapter permits the dental handpiece to rotate a rotatable portion of the dental device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2011Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicant: DENTSPLY International Inc.Inventors: Benjamin CHRONISTER, JEREMY KILE -
Patent number: 7833014Abstract: A prophy device incorporating a shaft and one or more corrugated members which eliminate the need for plastic gears of the prior art is disclosed. The corrugated members effectively transfer rotational energy from a shaft to an applicator. In another version, a flexible paste chamber contains polish within a housing of the device. A difference between a rotational speed at a front of the paste chamber and rear of the paste chamber causes the flexible chamber to contract on itself thereby automatically forcing polish from the chamber and into a polish applicator. A user dictates the amount of polish dispensed by controlling the rotational speed at the front of the paste chamber by pressing the polish applicator against the teeth of a patient. As the speed differential increases, the amount of polish dispensed increases as well.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2008Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Inventor: Andre Michaelian
-
Patent number: 7238021Abstract: An arrangement that may be used in combination with selected tools having a tooth cutting surface for the care and maintenance such as removing a selected portion of the exposed surface of equine teeth. The selected tool in communication with a source of powered motion and mounted in and supported by a hand piece which is guided into the mouth of the horse. The cutting surface of the powered tool is partially guarded so as to protect fleshy portions of the horse's mouth from being engaged by the cutting surface. The hand piece provides for quick on and off attachment of a selected cutting surface for maintenance of a preselected portion of teeth within the same hand piece or another hand piece sized to ease access to the next selected portion of the horse's mouth. The selected hand piece arrangement may further incorporate a vacuum channel whereby the tooth dust and debris created by the powered cutting surface removing a portion of tooth is sucked out of the mouth of the horse.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 1998Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Inventor: Gary E. Johnson
-
Patent number: 6814157Abstract: A handpiece for a rotary tool including a flexible power shaft configured for connection at one end to the rotary tool, and at the other end to the handpiece, with at least one locking formation affixed to the shaft. The handpiece includes a housing having a first end for receiving the shaft, and a second end configured for accommodating a working attachment, the housing defining a central throughbore for rotatably receiving the shaft. At least one locking actuator is disposed in the housing for releasable engagement with the locking formation, the handpiece being provided with a biasing force for biasing the actuator out of engagement with the locking formation, so that a user-applied force on the actuator overcomes the biasing force to enable locking engagement between the actuator and the locking formation. A working end of the handpiece housing has an endcap and is also configured for receiving supplemental attachments.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2002Date of Patent: November 9, 2004Assignee: Credo Technology CorporationInventor: Verica Maras
-
Patent number: 5924864Abstract: In the case of a handpiece (3) for medical purposes, preferably for a cutting treatment of a dental root canal, with a tool holder (5) arranged in the front end region of the handpiece (3), with a retaining coupling (16) for detachable fastening of the tool (6) in the tool holder (5) and with a drive connection (8) extending lengthwise through the handpiece (3) for a rotary and/or reciprocating drive of the tool holder (5), an overload coupling (14) that limits the transmittable torque to a maximum torque value is arranged in the drive connection (8).Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 1998Date of Patent: July 20, 1999Assignee: Kaltenbach & Voigt GmbHInventors: Hans Loge, Bernhard Kuhn, Bernd Gugel
-
Patent number: 5902107Abstract: A disposable prophylaxis angle with an adjustable head having a body with a head, a drive gear extending through the body, and a driven gear extending through the head. The prophylaxis angle includes a body which has a portion thereof formed from a plurality of accordion folds for selective angular adjustment of the body. The drive gear includes a gear portion and a shaft portion for journaled rotation within the body. The driven gear includes a shaft portion mounted for journaled rotation within the head bore, and a gear portion operatively connected to the gear portion of the drive gear. The plurality of annular accordion folds allow for adjustment of the body in any radial direction. The shaft portion of the drive gear accommodates the angular adjustment of the prophylaxis angle by maintaining the operative connection between the gear part of the drive gear and the gear part of the driven gear.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1997Date of Patent: May 11, 1999Inventor: Jeremy Lowell
-
Patent number: 5529495Abstract: An angle drive dental hand piece or prophy with a drive train including an essentially cylindrical spindle frictionally engaged by the turns of a spiral spring. The driving end of the spring which in turn rotates a tool holder carrying a dental tool such as a rubber scrubber. The drive spring is bent at an angle such as a right angle while being rotated and is of a diameter in relation to the housing bore through which it passes so that there is no engagement or consequent friction from any contact of the spring with the bore housing. Overload on the tool causes slippage between the spring and the spindle on which it is wound so that damage to the drive train components from overload is avoided.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1995Date of Patent: June 25, 1996Inventor: Donald L. Edwards
-
Patent number: 5433605Abstract: An adjustable, disposable dental prophy tool includes an elongated cylindrical grip end body component and an elongated cylindrical cup end body component. The cup end body component is mounted on the grip end body component so that their major longitudinal axes are offset in non-parallel alignment. A housing for a cleaning and polishing cup drive element is mounted at the outer end of the cup end body component. A drive element is mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis which extends laterally of the longitudinal axis of the elongated cup end body component. The cup end body component is fully rotatable for 360.degree. about its own longitudinal axis relative to the grip end body component. The tool also includes axial locking structure holding the body components together to prevent relative axial movement thereof. The tool also includes releasable angular locking structure selectively inhibiting relative rotation of the body components.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 1993Date of Patent: July 18, 1995Inventor: Frederick P. Strobl, Jr.
-
Patent number: 5330355Abstract: A dental apparatus provided with a drive unit for operative dentistry instruments, specifically a powered system for performing the various phases of operative dentistry operations. This advanced dental apparatus is essentially characterized in that the working tool housed in a tool-holder sleeve, exhibits dampable, disengageable, reciprocating helical motion using a flexible cam. The cam is mounted on the rotational axis and its end is received in a hole in the sleeve. This device allows completely safe operative dentistry operations to be performed, while preventing false canals and instrument breakage, through the use of the flexible movement control device.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 1992Date of Patent: July 19, 1994Assignee: Anthogyr, societe anonymeInventor: Eric Lietaer
-
Patent number: 5169312Abstract: The apparatus of the contra-angle type comprises an instrument holder sleeve driven in a combined movement of alternate rotation and translation by an eccentric stud fixed to the end of a flexible shaft consisting of a metal cable. It comprises a device for controlling the flexibility of the end of the cable, this device consisting of a ring mounted rotatably in a support which can slide in the body of the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 1992Date of Patent: December 8, 1992Assignee: Instruments Dentaires S.A.Inventor: Pierre Berlin
-
Patent number: 4928675Abstract: The process involves the application of heated water, above 40.degree. C., to the teeth with simultaneous rotary brushing to remove plaque. The apparatus is a turbine power unit adapted to be connected to the heated water faucet and adapted to sit in the sink. A heated water exhaust conduit from the unit and a flexible power shaft lead to a handpiece which has a rotary brush driven by the shaft and a nozzle connected to the conduit and directed at the brush.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1988Date of Patent: May 29, 1990Inventor: Thomas F. Thornton
-
Patent number: 4185474Abstract: A device for coupling power from a high speed rotating flexible shaft to a spindle of a portable worktool. The flexible shaft is contained within a casing. The casing is crimped within a ferrule which is threaded into a handpiece which an operator holds in one hand to guide the worktool. Upon movement of the worktool on the workpiece by the operator, the casing becomes twisted to encourage loosening of the threaded connection between the ferrule and handpiece, thus endangering the operator. In lieu of the prior art threaded connection between the ferrule and handpiece, a retaining member engages both to prevent their dangerous separation by virtue of the handpiece and retaining member being free to slowly rotate about the ferrule in a direction to automatically relieve twisting stresses introduced into the casing caused by movement of the worktool by said handpiece on or about a workpiece.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 1978Date of Patent: January 29, 1980Assignee: Pennwalt CorporationInventor: Walter Kulischenko