Abstract: A dismantlable medical instrument including first, second and third components, a first bayonet connection for releasable mechanical connection of the third and second components, and a second bayonet connection for releasable mechanical connection of the third and first components. In a first predetermined position of the third component relative to the second component, the third component is not connected to the second component. In a second predetermined position of the third component relative to the second component, the third component is mechanically connected to the second component by the first bayonet connection, and the second and third components are not connected to the first component. In a third predetermined position of the third component relative to the second and first components, the third component is mechanically rigidly connected to the second component by the first bayonet connection and to the first component by the second bayonet connection.

Abstract: An electric motor arrangement for a medical, especially dental, tool handle, which is extremely compact and resistant to sterilizing temperatures due to a plurality of advantageous embodiments. The electric motor arrangement is characterized by the following properties: the use of a light source based on SMD-LED or LED as a semiconductor chip; the shortening of the INTRAmatic coupling to between 20 mm and 25 mm; a hermetically extruded stator comprising integrated media tubes and molded connection sockets; the stator winding is embodied as a coil segment winding instead of an H winding or triangle; and the winding head has openings for media tubes.

Abstract: An adjustable angle adapter for a prophy angle comprises a nose, a rotating member, a body, a shaft, a multi-axis rotation joint, and an outer joint. The nose is configured to receive a portion of the prophy angle. The rotating member is positioned within the nose. The body is adjustably connected to the nose. The shaft is positioned within the body. The multi-axis rotation joint connects the shaft to the rotating member. The outer joint includes a ball portion connected to one of the body and the nose, and a ball receiver connected to an other of the body and the nose. The nose is configured to pivot relative to the body into at least a first configuration and a second configuration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dental prophylaxis angle that includes a housing, a rotor disposed in the housing, and a drive shaft driving the rotor. The drive shaft and the rotor operate together with a sidewall of the housing against a common surface of the rotor to prevent removal of the rotor from the housing in a direction along an axis of rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: An adjustable angle adapter for a prophy angle comprises a nose, a rotating member, a body, a shaft, a pivot, and a multi-axis rotation joint. The nose is configured to receive a portion of a prophy angle. The rotating member is positioned within the nose. The body is adjustably connected to the nose. The shaft is positioned within the body. The pivot connects the body to the nose and includes a groove configured for a ball bearing that is passed through a channel formed within the pivot and the body. Also, the channel is parallel to the rotational axis of the shaft. The multi-axis rotation joint connects the shaft to the rotating member. The nose is rotatable relative to the body into a first configuration and a second configuration.

Abstract: A dental tool including a dental prophy angle and a dental prophy angle adapter is provided. A dental prophy angle includes a housing and a rotor. The dental prophy angle adapter can include a drive shaft with a tip. The drive shaft of the adapter can be coupled to a gear at the same end of the tip with the rotor of the prophy angle being configured to receive the tip. Further, a slidable sleeve can extend over a portion of the drift shaft so that the slidable sleeve becomes automatically retracted upon engaging a shoulder of the housing resulting in the gear of the drive shaft being positioned beyond the end of the slidable sleeve.

Abstract: Air/gas driven prophylaxis preparation dispensing system coupled to a dental hand piece, the system comprising a hand piece connector receiving an air/gas pressure and adjustably diverting a portion of the air/gas pressure to drive a piston toward an open delivery end of a container containing a prophylaxis preparation for dispensing the prophylaxis preparation out of an open delivery end of the container, through a passageway surmounting a disposable prophy angle supporting a gear train, through a portion of the gear train supporting a prophy cup, through an opening in the prophy cup to an internal cavity of the prophy cup while simultaneously driving an air/gas driven rotational member of the dental hand piece coupled to the gear train with the remaining portion of the air/gas pressure to impart rotation of the prophy cup while simultaneously dispensing the prophylaxis preparation into the internal cavity thereof.

Abstract: A dental system comprises a dental prophy angle and an adapter. The prophy angle includes a housing and a latch mechanism. The adapter is configured to drive the prophy angle. The latch mechanism includes a lever and a first latch element, which are both defined by a pair of opposing U-shaped slots within the housing, such that free ends of one of the pair of opposing U-shaped slots are disposed between free ends of the other of the pair of opposing U-shaped slots. The adapter includes a nose having a second latch element and a depression proximate to the second latch element. Upon the first latch element mating with the second latch element, the depression is positioned adjacent the lever.

Abstract: A medical instrument for use on a patient. The medical instrument includes a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, an electric motor mounted to the housing having a drive shaft rotatable about a drive axis, a drive magnet fixed to the drive shaft of said motor which rotates with the drive shaft about the drive axis, and a tool assembly coupled to the housing via a tool mount. The tool mount orients the tool assembly relative to the housing whereby guided rotational, translational, and/or oscillary motion of a tool within the tool assembly is achieved via the structure of the tool mount in conjunction with a magnetic coupling between magnets attached to both the motor and the tool.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dental prophylaxis angle that includes a housing, a drive shaft, and a rotor. The housing may define a first bore and a second bore in communication with the first bore. The drive shaft is positionable in the first bore and may include a distal bearing surface. The rotor is positionable in the second bore and can be driven by the drive shaft. Further, the rotor rotates about a first axis. The second bore can further include a side surface, a plane perpendicular to the first axis that intersects both the side surface and the distal bearing surface. The drive shaft and the side surface of the second bore can operate together, against a common surface of the rotor, to prevent removal of the rotor from the second bore in a direction along the first axis.

Abstract: A fluid-operated medical or dental handheld element is disclosed, having a connecting device for connecting the handheld element to a fluid source so that a first impeller can be induced to rotate by a fluid stream to cause a tool to execute a driving motion, a fluid conducting device arranged between the connecting device and the first impeller for conveying a fluid stream away from or toward the first impeller, and a generator for generating electric power. The generator includes a second rotatable impeller that can be driven by at least a substream of the fluid stream conveyable in the first fluid conducting device. One result is more constant generation and output of power by the generator independent of the rotational speed of the first impeller, thereby insuring a more constant power supply to a power consuming device connected to the generator.

Abstract: A dental prophy angle includes a housing and a rotor. The housing defines a first bore and a second bore in communication with the first bore, and rotor is disposed within the second bore. The rotor includes a gearing system, and rotor includes a lock having a lock channel configured to receive a tip of a drive shaft. The housing includes a lock receiver for receiving the lock receiver permits rotation of the lock within the lock receiver and restrains linear movement of the lock in a direction substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the rotor.

Abstract: A dental power instrument, in particular, an endodontic instrument, has an operative part (2) at one end and a handle (3) at the opposite end. The handle (3) of the dental instrument is provided with a rotary drive (4) which, when mounted in the head (5) of a handpiece, can directly engage with a rotary drive (4?) upstream of the head. The rotary drive (4) can be inserted and withdrawn independently of the rotary drive (4?) associated with the head of the handpiece, and rotates in the same direction as the rotary drive (4?) associated with the handpiece. Also provided is a handpiece head (5) and a dispenser (30) for such dental power instruments.

Abstract: A medical, in particular dental-medical, handpiece, having a shaft, having a forward shaft section and a rearward shaft section, which defines an obtuse angle with regard to each other, having a working head at a forward end of the forward shaft section, which is tapered towards the working head, and having a drive shaft in the shaft, which drive shaft has a forward drive shaft section and a rearward drive shaft section, which stand in drive connection with one another, the forward end of the forward drive shaft section standing in drive connection with a tool holder moveably mounted in the working head, and the forward drive shaft section being mounted in a receiving sleeve. The receiving sleeve can be screwed in, from the rear, into the forward shaft section.

Abstract: A dental handpiece includes a body having a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions disposed at an ergonomic angle to each other. A drive gear extends from the second portion toward the first portion. The drive gear has a first axis of rotation and rotatably drives at least one driven gear having a second axis of rotation. The at least one driven gear is operatively connected to a bur disposed in the first portion to rotatably drive the bur about a third axis of rotation. The drive gear and the at least one driven gear do not include a taper gear or a face gear.

Abstract: A disposable dental angle with a one-piece hollow housing, having the axis of its head section angled obtusely with respect to the axis of its tail section, is provided. The obtusely angled front aperture of the head section of the housing allows insertion of a driven rotor such that the driven rotor is positioned with an obtuse angle to the driving shaft in the end aperture of the tail section of the housing. The obtuse angle structure facilitates teeth cleaning operations by allowing the dental angle to easily reach all areas of the mouth and making practitioners feel more comfortable by allowing to maintain an ergonomically correct neutral wrist position and therefore reducing hand fatigue. A horseshoe-like snap retainer fits within the head section of the housing over the driven rotor to retain the rotor from coming out.

Abstract: Medical, in particular dental, contra-angle handpieces for driving a dental instrument connected to the contra-angle handpiece with shafts arranged in the contra-angle handpiece for the transmission of the drive movement to the instrument. In order to achieve a reduction of sound emission and a reduction of the manufacturing and assembly costs while still incorporating the curvature of the outer sleeve of the contra-angle handpiece and the advantages which this entails, the contra-angle handpiece is equipped with a single-piece shaft which is essentially centered at the proximal end and the distal end of the outer sleeve, but runs eccentrically in a section of the outer sleeve between the proximal end and the distal end. The curvature of the outer sleeve of the contra-angle handpiece is in the range of about 8° to about 16°, and in some implementations, in the range of about 10° to about 14°.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hand tool used by dental professionals to polish a patient's tooth. The hand tool can be connected to a hand motor used to rotate a wheel cup with a plurality of grinding wings that rub against the patient's tooth as a predetermined amount of dentifrice material is discharged directly on the patient's tooth through a drain hole within the wheel cup. The dentifrice material is discharged from a tube that is assembled in the housing of the hand tool. The tube has a plurality of folds formed on the tube body in such a manner as to be folded by a given distance while being compressed to discharge the dentifrice material therefrom. The tube is compressed by a link with a push button that is guided in the forward direction as it is pushed by a finger.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical or dental medical handpiece (3) having an elongate shaft (13), which has in its front end region a tool holder (5) having a lateral insertion opening (5a) for a tool (6), and having a rearward and a forward shaft section (13a, 13b) which include an obtuse angle (W2) which is open to the side away from the insertion opening (5a), wherein in the shaft sections (13a, 13b) there is rotatably mounted in each case a drive shaft section (53a, 53c), which stand in driving connection with one another by means of gears meshing with one another, and wherein the forward shaft section (13b) stands in driving connection with the tool holder (5) by means of gears (58, 59) meshing with one another.

Abstract: A canal preparation device includes a contra-angle having a head which is provided with a support for receiving an instrument for treating a canal. The instrument is provided with a shank, and the shank of the canal instrument includes a rotational drive. The base of the head of the contra-angle is provided with a snap-fastening connection which cooperates with the shank of the instrument so that, simply by pushing, the rotational-drive of the shank is engaged in the head, and the shank and the head are snap-fastened together.

Abstract: A dental handpiece includes a body having a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions disposed at an ergonomic angle to each other. A drive gear extends from the second portion toward the first portion. The drive gear has a first axis of rotation and rotatably drives at least one driven gear having a second axis of rotation. The at least one driven gear is operatively connected to a bur disposed in the first portion to rotatably drive the bur about a third axis of rotation. The drive gear and the at least one driven gear do not include a taper gear or a face gear.

Abstract: A driven appliance, such as a contra-angle handpiece for surgical instruments, in particular for dental surgery, includes a handle, a neck and a head for receiving an instrument. The handle and the neck of the contra-angle handpiece each receive a drive shaft, respectively, an input shaft and an output shaft, which are linked to each other by a gear train. The input shaft and the output shaft are slidingly mounted in their respective bodies, which forms a sheath for the two shafts. The shafts are maintained and supported on stops arranged on the corresponding sheathes through a single elastic element which is housed in the bend linking the handle to the neck.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical, in particular dental-medical handpiece (3) having a rod-shaped grip part in the forward end region of which there is arranged a holding device (5) having a lateral insertion opening (13) for a working tool (6), whereby the middle axis (5a) of the insertion opening (13) includes, with the middle axis (3c) of the grip part extending rearwardly from the point of intersection with the middle axis (5a), an obtuse angle (W2). In order to improve the suitability of the handpiece (3) also for use in small spaces of the body to be treated, a forward grip section (3b) of the grip part is curved towards the side (14) of the handpiece (3) away from the insertion opening (13), and the obtuse angle (W2) is smaller than 103° and greater than 95°.

Abstract: A dental facility includes a latch disposed in a coupler and having a tongue extendible outward of the coupler, a dental tool member having a barrel engageable onto the coupler, and a spring for biasing the tongue of the latch to engage with the barrel and to detachably secure the dental tool member to the coupler. The dental tool member may be detached from the coupler for being discarded or changed with the other one after use, and for preventing both the patients and the dentists from being contaminated or infected by the dental tool member.

Abstract: A shank for a dental instrument, including instruments which are used in endodontics and in dental prophylaxis, is fitted on a contra-angle or a handpiece and is provided with a rotary drive which cooperates directly with the rotary transmission members of the kinematic chain of the contra-angle, upstream of the head of the contra-angle. Also, the head of a dental instrument which is equipped with such a shank.

Abstract: Motorised handpiece, more particularly for used by dentists or dental technicians, the rotary movement of a motor being transmitted to a tool which can be clamped with the aid of a clamping mechanism. To this end, the rotary movement of the motor is transmitted via an integrally formed shaft to the clamped tool, both the motor and the clamping mechanism being mounted on this integrally formed shaft. As a result of the use of an integrally formed shaft, it is possible to dispense with superfluous ball bearings for mounting the shaft and no mechanical driver system is required in order to couple two separate shafts together, for example.

Abstract: An adjustable collet mechanism for a surgical handpiece which enables the surgical tool driven by the handpiece to be oriented at selected angular positions relative to the handpiece axis. The coupling means includes a non-rotatable sleeve attached to the handpiece and a rotatable sleeve attached to the collet holding the surgical tool. The abutting faces of the non-rotatable and rotatable sleeves are angled relative to the handpiece axis so that relative rotation of the components causes their axes to be positionable either in alignment or at a predetermined angular orientation. The coupling mechanism includes a tubular coupling link which enables relative rotation between the rotatable and non-rotatable sleeves while also enabling translation of power from the handpiece to the surgical tool.

Abstract: A manual drive endodontic handpiece includes a housing having proximal end and a distal end provided with an angle head which receives a dental tool. A drive shaft extends through the housing and is coupled to a manual driver such that rotational movement of the manual driver causes rotational movement of the shaft. A pinion gear is provided at the distal end of the drive shaft and enters into the angle head. Rotation of the manual driver relative to the housing causes rotational movement of the pinion gear at the distal end of the shaft. A dental tool provided in the angle head has a head that includes a pinion gear which meshes with the pinion gear at the distal end of the shaft and is rotated by rotational movement of the pinion gear at the distal end of the shaft. According to one embodiment, the housing is provided with windows through which the manual driver may be directly rotated.

Abstract: A fluid reaction device (10) is provided having a rotor (90) with vanes (92) pivotably connected thereto. The device (10) includes an entrance (30) for elevated pressure fluid and an outlet (40) for discharge of the fluid after contacting the rotor (90). The elevated pressure fluid passes from the entrance (30) into a high pressure area. The high pressure area is in contact with inlet ports (74) accessing a cylinder (70) within the device (10). The cylinder (70) supports the rotor (90) with a rotational axis (M) of the rotor (90) off center with respect to a central axis (N) of the cylinder (72). The elevated pressure fluid causes the rotor (90) and an attached output shaft (97) to rotate. The rotor (90) includes a trunk (24) with a plurality of posts (93) extending therefrom and with vanes (92) connected to the posts (93) through hinges (94). The vanes (92) can pivot from a first position collapsed against the trunk (24) to a second position spaced away from the trunk (24).

Abstract: A general purpose dental handpiece comprises a shank portion rigidly fixed to a nonarticulatable head portion adapted to removably support a drill burr along a burr axis disposed at an angle of 105.degree..+-.2.degree. with respect to the axis of the shank portion. The angle of orientation of the burr axis is an optimum angle for performing most routine dental procedures in contrast to the right angle orientation of conventional general purpose dental handpieces.

Abstract: Disposable prophy angles for use in combination with a reusable metal adapter on a contra-angle dental hand piece. The disposable prophy angles are assembled from three mass-produced components formed from plastic or other inexpensive material. Each disposable prophy angle is formed from a main body part having a nose portion and a barrel portion, a nose cap portion which with the nose portion forms an enclosed nose portion housing and an integral rotary part disposed in the enclosed nose portion housing which has a driven power input gear, bearing formations and a protruding prophy cup receiving button. Each reusable metal adapter has a shaft with gears mounted on opposite ends. One end of the adapter is inserted in the barrel portion with the gear on the inserted end in driving engagement with driven power input gear. The gear on the opposite end of the adapter is connected to the power output of a contra-angle dental hand piece.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a conduit, the conduit having a conduit axis defined through a terminal end thereof, and a fluid-powered motor for rotating a dissecting tool, the motor having a longitudinal motor axis. A swivel member is connected in fluid communication between the motor and the conduit. The swivel member comprises a motor portion including a motor face inclined at a selected angle from the motor axis, and a conduit portion including a conduit face arranged oppositely that of the motor face and formed to engage matingly with the motor face. A connection shaft extends from one of the motor face and the conduit face and is engaged rotatably with a connection receptacle formed in another of the motor face and the conduit face.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a conduit, the conduit having a conduit axis defined through a terminal end thereof, and a fluid-powered motor for rotating a dissecting tool, the motor having a longitudinal motor axis. A swivel member is connected in fluid communication between the motor and the conduit. The swivel member comprises a motor portion including a motor face inclined at a selected angle from the motor axis, and a conduit portion including a conduit face arranged oppositely that of the motor face and formed to engage matingly with the motor face. A connection shaft extends from one of the motor face and the conduit face and is engaged rotatably with a connection receptacle formed in another of the motor face and the conduit face.

Abstract: A medical tool such as a prophy angle is provided having primarily plastic parts to make disposing more economical. A portion of the drive shaft is made of metal to eliminate detrimental deformation. The housing is made of two plastic halves which snap-fit together and have projecting portions which surround a pair of oversized plastic beveled gears. A prophy cup having a locking projection is provided so that the locking projection fits into locking cavity on a stud of the tool. Vanes are disposed on the inside of the cup and have a step-like configuration to aid in retaining polishing paste in the cup.

Abstract: This invention provides a self-powered dental hygiene device having an outer housing with three sections, a battery section at one end, an intermediate electric motor section and at the second end a transmission section with a head end section at the distal end. The head end section includes an aperture therethrough, transverse to the transmission section and designed to hold a replaceable dental tool, designed for reciprocating longitudinal motion. The casing is shaped such that the first battery section extends at an angle of between 7 and 12 degrees relative to the transmission section, and the aperture is preferably perpendicular to the axis of the transmission section. The dental tool bit held within the aperture has a hollow plenum for containing a fluid to be administered during use and a pressurizing means is secured to the tool to provide for the expression of the fluid through openings in the tool blade.

Abstract: A dental handpiece, which has a gripping part connectable to a supply hose and a head part with a head housing which is removably held at the free end of the gripping part, characterized by the gripping part having at least one light conductor with an end located adjacent to the connection between the two parts to project light therefrom and having an inclined free end surface engaging an inclined oblique surface of the head part with the surfaces extending so that the lower end thereof merges with the head housing. A lower portion of the end surface is formed by a carrier part which accepts the ends of the light conductors to project light into the area of the tool held by the housing of the head part.

Abstract: A dental handpiece having a low noise level consisting of: an elongated main housing having a head portion at the forward end thereof; a drive shaft located within the main housing and supported by fore and aft bearings mounted within the main housing; a rotor/burr holder located within the head portion of the main housing and supported by bearings mounted within the head portion, the rotor/burr holder being adapted to receive a burr drill or the like; an air-driven axial flow turbine wheel located and supported within the rear portion of the main housing, the turbine wheel being operably connected to the drive shaft; and, a coupling system for operably coupling the forward portion of the drive shaft to the rotor/burr holder. In one embodiment of the invention, the coupling system consists of a set of cylindrical driving magnets mounted on the forward portion of the drive shaft and a corresponding set of cylindrical driven magnets mounted on the rotor/burr holder.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an angle piece for dental purposes comprising a tool with cylindrical tool shaft (50), which tool is supported in the head part (1) transversely relative to the drive axis or axle and is securely connected with its drive gear wheel (5) and is interchangeable together with the latter and is characterized in that a head bearing (42) on the tool side, which head bearing (42) is insertable in the head part (1) in a form-locking manner, is rotatably and undetachably connected with the tool (4) and in that an outer screw sleeve (29), which is axially displaceable on the head shaft, partly overlaps the head bearing (42) in its inserted position. A construction of the invention provides that the opening of the screw sleeve (29) has a hollow cone (33) which is pressable against a corresponding outer cone face (49) of the head bearing (42).

Abstract: A device for connecting to the body of a dentistry counter-angle the unit for transmitting the rotary movement of the major axis of the counter-angle to the oblique shaft contained in the head of the counter-angle. The transmission assembly is placed inside a socket (5), forming a case, the socket itself being fixed to the body of the counter-angle by means of a bayonet attachment, consisting of at least one pin (16), fixed to the inner wall of the body of the counter-angle, and of at least one L-shaped slot (12), formed on the socket. Application to the rapid assembling and dismantling of dentistry equipment.

Abstract: A hand held device with built-in motor for rotational drive of small tools. The hand held device includes an outer housing consisting of a larger diameter rear part which contains an electric driving motor, an intermediate part of small diameter which contains motion transmitting means, and a front part in which is mounted a holder for the tool to be driven. The electric driving motor is a brushless motor having a rotor encapsulated in a sealed insulating enclosure and includes permanent magnets covered with a layer of conducting metal and a stator made up of multi-phase winding coils embedded in a molded plastic material. The motion transmission means consists of non-contacting magnetic coupling means.

Abstract: A dental appliance has an elongated hollow tube within the interior of which is mounted for rotation an elongated drive shaft. One end of the tube is coupled to a handle as is the drive shaft which is driven from the handle in rotation. A head joined to the other end of the tube defines an interior cavity within which a hub is mounted for rotation about an axis disposed at an angle with respect to the drive shaft. Motion is translated from the drive shaft to the hub. An opening in the head enables the hub to be accessed through the opening. Included in the hub is a barrel section for securing a variety of dental attachments thereto. A seal is created between the opening from the cavity and the hub in order to prevent fluid flow therethrough. Lubricant is introduced within the tube and the drive shaft actuates an augar or the equivalent for propelling the lubricant into the motion translator.

Abstract: A rigid tubular housing having a shaft alley and transverse to it at one end a dental tool chamber, has a telescopically-fitted cover which in one position gives access to the tool chamber via diametrically-opposed apertures one of which is always open and the other of which moves to open and close an access opening to the tool chamber. Locks for the cover fill both openings when the cover is closed over the access opening, as when a tool is in place in the chamber.

Abstract: A dental handpiece having a head mounted to a shoulder has a coupling ensemble formed of two coupling assemblies. The first coupling assembly is mounted within the shoulder and comprises a gear mounted to a shaft with the shaft extending into a coupling hand. A second like coupling assembly has a bevel gear with a shaft extending therefrom into a coupling hand. The second assembly is mounted within a throat sleeve, which is mounted within the neck of the head. Each coupling hand has a pair of tongues, with slots formed between the side walls of the tongues, to allow the coupling hands to drivingly lock together. The tongues are shaped so that as they are moved into contact with each other, they are directed to have their side walls interlock with one another. The tongues can have anterior slanted walls extending into a point, to facilitate such directing of the tongues into interlocking position.

Abstract: A dental handpiece arrangement which has a drive transmission for transmitting the rotation from a motor to a socket receiving the tool in the head of the handpiece comprising a first drive shaft having a pair of coaxially arranged drive gears of different numbers of teeth, a second drive shaft having a gear engaging one of the pair of coaxial drive gears characterized by the second drive shaft being composed of a first drive shaft portion and a second drive portion which are interconnected by meshing gears providing a change in the gear ratio. Preferably, the two drive shaft portions of the second drive shaft are mounted in a housing with a gear at each end and the housing is adapted for being supported in the handpiece arrangement in two different positions so that in a first position, a gear at one end is engaging one of the pair of coaxial gears of the first drive shaft and in the second position the gear at the opposite end is engaging the other of the pair.

Abstract: A dental hand-piece of the type known as "contra-angle" uses a pair of helical gears on shafts that rotate on respective axes which pass by each other but do not intersect. The gears, one set of which is on a tool driver and the other set of which may be formed in the shaft of a dental tool, engage in respective pitch circles, the diameters of which are smaller than their respective outer diameters.

Abstract: An air driven dental handpiece having an air turbine at one end thereof. Collet means for securing a dental bur therein are positioned within the air turbine. The air turbine is mounted in ball bearings, which are in turn resiliently mounted within the turbine housing. The handpiece handle is hollow and includes air and water tubes therein. The air and water are mixed within the handpiece at the point of expulsion from the handpiece, thereby creating a coolant mist or fog on the dental bur and the tooth being drilled.

Abstract: A dental handpiece includes a handle, a shank projected from the forward end of the handle, a turbine head on the forward end of the shank, and a turbine type dental engine in the head, with the engine being capable of holding and rotating a suitable dental bur. The head may be secured to the shank in a fixed position, with the engine axis at an oblique angle to the handle axis, the angle being such that regions and surfaces heretofore inaccessible to the dental bur are now easily accessible. Also the head may be coupled to the shank such that it pivots relative to the shank and handle, in which case, the axis of the dental engine and bur may be varied to suit the particular dental procedure that is to be performed. Means are provided for locking the head in the selected position.

Abstract: A tool holder having a bent handle and having first and second ends. The holder comprises a head comprising means for receiving the tool. The head is arranged at the first end of the tool holder. The holder further comprises an operating knob arranged intermediate the first and second ends of the holder and securing means for securing the head to the holder. An auxiliary operating knob is arranged at the second end of the holder on the handle. A multiplier system provides for the desired magnitude of movement of the tool in response to movement of the operating knob.

Abstract: In a dental handpiece, in particular a contra-angle, comprising a head and a handle coupled with a bayonet joint, an internal support for a tool-driving shaft fits freely in the head and has a rear portion fitting freely in the handle. In the vicinity of the coupling between the head and handle, the internal support has an enlargement providing a forwardly facing shoulder and a rearwardly facing shoulder. A groove at the base of the forwardly facing shoulder receives an O-ring. When the head and handle are coupled, the enlargement and O-ring are clamped between internal shoulders in the head and handle to position the internal support and restrain it from rotating.

Abstract: A contra-angle housing made in two parts hinged together at one end encloses a drive shaft with drive gears at one end, and a geared hub for a dental tool or the like supported in apertures in or through the housing parts transverse to the drive shaft. A latch mechanism can be manually operated to release the two housing parts so that they can be opened to change tools, clutches or the like with integral gear hubs. When the housing parts are closed the gears on the hub automatically mesh with the drive shaft gears. Reinforced gears which can be made of molded plastic make possible low-cost interchangeable tools with integral gears.