Dentsply Research & Development Corp.

Cavitron, Inc.

Dentsply Management Corp.

Rene J Perdreaux

George E Warrin

Huy-Can Dao

Harvey B Foulkes

Richard H Paschke

George H Warrin

Teodor E Constantinescu

Edward W Lee

Robert McGill

A transducer activated subgingival tool for contacting subgingival tooth surfaces and directing a fluid adjacent to said surfaces, wherein the tool has an activated tip having a fluid inlet end, a subgingival outlet end, a step in the surface of the outer wall of said tip between said inlet end and said subgingival outlet end, and a fluid passageway wall internal to the tip. The passageway wall is formed in the inlet end generally along the longitudinal center axis of the inlet end of the tip. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the step intersects the passageway wall at the orifice edge.

Transducer activated subgingival tool tip

A transducer activated tool for contacting workpiece surfaces and directing fluid adjacent to the surfaces is disclosed. The tool may be ultrasonically activated by attachment to an insert that includes a magnetostrictive element. The tip includes distal surfaces shaped to contact the workpiece and additionally includes a fluid passageway internal to the tip that is bored generally along the centerline of the tip but is offset from the tip axis such that a discharge orifice is formed in the tip displaced from the distal tip end. The passageway is preferably angularly offset so that the discharge orifice is formed in the distal end of the tip about 2-8 mm from the distal end of the tip. The tip when shaped to conform to dental or tooth surfaces is particularly useful as a dental tool. In another embodiment the fluid passageway is eccentrically offset from the tip axis wherein the passageway is substantially parallel to the center axis but displaced therefrom preferably by about 0.1 to 0.5 mm. The tip end and fluid delivery passageway discharge orifice are located relative to each other such that fluid is provided to the workpiece or tip without the formation of excessive spray and without weakening the distal tip such that it is sufficiently strong to provide useful service in resisting flexural stresses and the like.

Transducer activated tool tip

A transducer activated tool for contacting workpiece surfaces and directing fluid adjacent to said surfaces is disclosed. The tool may be ultrasonically activated by attachment to an insert that includes a magnetostrictive element. The tip includes distal surfaces shaped to contact the workpiece and additionally includes a fluid passageway internal to the tip that is bored generally along the centerline of the tip but is offset from the tip axis such that a discharge orifice is formed in the tip displaced from the distal tip end. The passageway is preferably angularly offset so that the discharge orifice is formed in the distal end of the tip about 2-8 mm from the distal end of the tip. The tip when shaped to conform to dental or tooth surfaces is particularly useful as a dental tool. In another embodiment the fluid passageway is eccentrically offset from the tip axis wherein the passageway is substantially parallel to the center axis but displaced therefrom preferably by about 0.1 to 0.5 mm. The tip end and fluid delivery passageway discharge orifice are located relative to each other such that fluid is provided to the workpiece or tip without the formation of excessive spray and without weakening the distal tip such that it is sufficiently strong to provide useful service in resisting flexural stresses and the like.

An insert for use in an apparatus for scaling of teeth and lavage of the gingival sulcus is provided. The insert comprises a tip for scaling and delivery of lavage fluids, retaining means for retaining the scaling tip in the insert, and a path means for delivering irrigant for scaling or for lavage through the insert and to the end of the scaling tip. The scaling tip is shaped and dimensioned for scaling and lavage below the gumline in periodontal pockets. When a magnetostrictive insert is used, an outlet means is provided to remove stack cooling water from the insert so that stack cooling water does not enter a patient's mouth.

Method of subgingival scaling and lavage

An apparatus for scaling of teeth and lavage of the gingival sulcus is provided. The apparatus comprises a base unit which contains reservoirs for the medicaments used in the lavage procedure, and a handpiece connected to the base unit by a conduit, which contains an insert for scaling of teeth. Switches on the base unit and a footswitch make it possible for the practitioner to use the apparatus for scaling only, lavage only, or for simultaneous lavage and scaling.

Apparatus and method for therapeutic lavage and scaling of teeth

A single handpiece that can be used in multiple dental treatments is provided. The handpiece comprises a housing having a coil for producing an electromagnetic or electrostrictive field in the housing, and a number of inserts that react with the electromagnetic or electrostrictive field and can be used with the housing to complete the handpiece. A switching system used with the handpiece, which electrically recognizes the particular insert used with the housing provide for automatically controlling circuitry that determines which of a number of materials and medicaments are to be delivered to the handpiece for use with a particular insert. Circuitry which provides better control of the ultrasonic insert in the handpiece is also provided.

Single multi-function handpiece for dental instruments

An ultrasonic endodontic dental handpiece has an elongated housing supporting a coil connected for establishing an alternating magnetic field, the housing having a cooling fluid inlet at one end and being open at the other for receiving and supporting a removable insert. The insert includes an elongated hollow body having one end adapted to be insertably mounted in the open end of the housing in fluid communication with the interior of the handpiece, and an elongated tool support assembly telescopingly received in the body. The tool support assembly includes an elongated shaft member having a vibrator rigidly mounted on one end in position to be vibrated by the electromagnetic field and a seal located between the body and shank outboard of the housing to prevent the flow of cooling liquid through the body past the seal. A cooling fluid outlet is provided in the body between the housing in the seal to permit cooling fluid to flow through the handpiece, and an irrigation fluid passage is provided in the shaft outboard of the housing to permit the flow of irrigation fluid along the shaft to the terminal end of the insert assembly. A mounting head on the end of the shaft supports an endodontic instrument to be vibrated by the vibrator, with the head including a fluid flow passage for discharging irrigation fluid longitudinally of the endodontic instrument. An improved irrigation fluid dispenser is connected to the apparatus for selectively delivering irrigation fluid under pressure to the mounting head.

Growing community of inventors

Brooklyn, NY, United States of America

Rene J Perdreaux