Flexible Shaft Transmission Patents (Class 433/112)
  • Patent number: 10092382
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignees: Crosstex International, Inc., Pac-Dent International, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Wang, Denghui Chen, Bo Tao, Bo Yue, Yong Zhu
  • Patent number: 8353700
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Inventor: Andre Michaelian
  • Publication number: 20110306010
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: DENTSPLY International Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin CHRONISTER, JEREMY KILE
  • Patent number: 7833014
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventor: Andre Michaelian
  • Patent number: 7238021
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Inventor: Gary E. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6814157
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Credo Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Verica Maras
  • Patent number: 5924864
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Kaltenbach & Voigt GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Loge, Bernhard Kuhn, Bernd Gugel
  • Patent number: 5902107
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Inventor: Jeremy Lowell
  • Patent number: 5529495
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Inventor: Donald L. Edwards
  • Patent number: 5433605
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Inventor: Frederick P. Strobl, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5330355
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Anthogyr, societe anonyme
    Inventor: Eric Lietaer
  • Patent number: 5169312
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Instruments Dentaires S.A.
    Inventor: Pierre Berlin
  • Patent number: 4928675
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Inventor: Thomas F. Thornton
  • Patent number: 4185474
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1980
    Assignee: Pennwalt Corporation
    Inventor: Walter Kulischenko