Danville Engineering

Other

Danville Materials

Danville Manufacturing Inc.

Thomas S Blake

Mark S Fernwood

Craig R Bruns

Stephen Swihart

Raymond L Bertolotti

A hand-holdable apparatus useful for abrading a surface is provided. The invention is particularly useful for dental applications using a stream of abrasive particles suspended in a gas stream to abrade the surface of a tooth. The apparatus of the invention may be modified to easily minimize 'bleed down' of the gas/abrasive stream using a pinch valve and to remove worn flexible conduits for routine maintenance and autoclaving of the apparatus. The apparatus of the invention also provides a novel pick-up assembly for delivery of abrasive particles.

Hand-holdable gas/abrasion apparatus

A hand-holdable apparatus useful for abrading a surface is provided. The invention is particularly useful for dental applications using a stream of abrasive particles suspended in a gas stream to abrade the surface of a tooth. The apparatus of the invention may be modified to easily minimize &ldquo;bleed down&rdquo; of the gas/abrasive stream using a pinch valve and to remove worn flexible conduits for routine maintenance and autoclaving of the apparatus. The apparatus of the invention also provides a novel pick-up assembly for delivery of abrasive particles.

An apparatus for dispensing a pressurized stream of gas having particles suspended therein, is described. A double acting pinch valve suitable for use in the apparatus is also described. The apparatus finds particular utility in the dental industry.

Gas abrasive particle apparatus and valving therefor

A removable nozzle head for a miniature sandblaster used for medical or industrial applications is disclosed comprising a nozzle, a handpiece nozzle adapter, a nozzle locking ring where the nozzle and nozzle handpiece adapter each have corresponding first and second bore in fluid communication to allow delivery of independent supplies of a gas and an abrasive laden stream to a mixing chamber in the nozzle for delivery through a orifice tube to a surface to be abraded, cleaned or modified.

Removable nozzle for a sandblaster handpiece

Air abrasive particle apparatus

The present invention describes a novel composition and system for use for removal of organic and inorganic materials from a variety of substrates, including a tooth surface, without damage occurring to the substrate. The disclosed composition comprises a friable abrasive particle which when propelled by a gas stream at a surface for a time sufficient departs adequate energy to remove organic and inorganic materials from the surface without causing any significant ablation of the surface.

Friable abrasive media

An aqueous-based dental composition useful for desensitizing an exposed tooth surface in preparation for performing restorative work on the tooth surface. The composition comprises benzethonium chloride, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, water and optionally a small amount of a fluoride salt. The composition is used in the method of repairing a damaged tooth.

Dental composition

A removable nozzle head for a minature sandblaster used for medical or industrial applications is disclosed comprising a nozzle, a handpiece nozzle adapter, a nozzle locking ring where the nozzle and nozzle handapiece adapter each have corresponding first and second bore in fluid communication to allow delivery of independent supplies of a gas and an abrasive laden stream to a mixing chamber in the nozzle for delivery through a orifice tube to a surface to be abraded, cleaned or modified.

A method and apparatus for an air abrasive unit such as those used in the dental field. This method and apparatus utilizes an internal vibrator motor with vibration transmitters which transmit the vibrations throughout the abrasive jar. The abrasive pickup assembly uses pressure differentials to suck up abrasive through a screen which controls the flow rate and particle size of the abrasive flowing through the system. This system can utilize a photo optical detection system to detect the abrasive level. Alternatively, a pressure/pulse detection system may be used to measure abrasive level. Dilution of the air/abrasive mixture and 'air only' modes are possible with the present system. Depressurization and mere reductions of pressure can also be accommodated.

The subject matter of the disclosed invention relates generally to dental cleaning processes and apparatus. A 'wet foam sandblasting' system is described below in which a bubble foam laden with abrasive particles is propelled through a small nozzle by gas pressure. The system has very specific applications in the dental industry for 1) general cleaning of teeth such as removal of tobacco, tea and other stains; 2) for selectively abrading away carious enamel, 3) cleaning prosthodontic restorations, 4) abrading various tooth and restorative materials in preparation for bonding, and 5) periodontal pocket cleaning with osteophylic abrasives; 6) cleaning of occlusal pits and fissures for sealing. In addition, the system has numerous applications in cleaning and etching materials in the jewelry, semi-conductor, automotive and other industries. The apparatus for cleaning teeth and other surfaces comprises a canister capable of being sealed and pressurized and receiving a mixture of liquid, abrasive particles and wetting agent, said canister also having a means to receive a stream of pressurized gas, a means to disperse pressurized gas into the mixture of liquid, abrasive particles and wetting agent causing thereby causing a formation of foam and urging the abrasive particles to become entrained into the foam, a means to direct the abrasive laden foam to the surface to be cleaned, and a means to control the flow of abrasive laden foam.

Wet foam sandblaster

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for abrading, etching, polishing and cleaning metallic or non-metallic surfaces that operates through mechanical sandblasting principles. The present invention is embodied in an apparatus for abrading, etching or polishing a surface with a jet stream containing a mixture of solid particles and a gaseous medium. The apparatus comprises a hollow tubular handle with a nozzle at one end for dispensing the mixture of a solid material and a gaseous medium, and a compressed air and pulverulent material receiving member at the other end of the handle. The nozzle section of the apparatus contains a mixing chamber where a vacuum is created by the flowing pressurized gaseous medium, the pressure gradient results in aspiration of the solid material which mixes with and becomes entrained in the gaseous medium flow and passes through the nozzle tip. The pulverulent material is contained in a small rear reservoir secured to a pick-up apparatus which is meshed with a supply receiving member and is located at the opposite end of the apparatus from the nozzle tip.

Growing community of inventors

Danville, CA, United States of America

Thomas S Blake