Lighted Ultrasonic Handpiece and Color Code Grip System

• US 20040185412A1
• Filed: 03/19/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Feine
• Original Assignee: Hu-Friedy Manufacturing Co Incorporated
• Inventors: Feine, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,150,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/088 Illuminating devices or attachments for examination of the mouth A61B1/24 and A61B1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/20 using ultrasonics

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dental scaling translucent insert which provides a coaxially aligned light adjacent the distal end of such insert for illuminating the tip of the dental scaler which light may be provided by light emitting from a fiber optic light guide from a light source located remotely from the tip. The light provided can also be used to view through a camera lens system located in translucent insert to provide a clear unobstructed view of the work at the tip of the scaler on a remote screen or for recording.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic apparatus comprising:

a tip;

a velocity transducer connected to the tip retained within a longitudinal passage of a translucent insert;

an ultrasonic driver connected to the velocity transducer;

a light source terminus abutting the translucent insert;

a light transmission cable connected to the light source terminus;

a light source providing illumination through a light transmission cable to the light source terminus; and

,

a resilient opaque sheath over the translucent insert.

2. The ultrasonic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the insert provides one or more longitudinal translucent paths through the grip body.

3. The ultrasonic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the insert is formed with one or more fiber optic bundles running therethrough to permit the transmission of light.

4. The ultrasonic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the insert provides external ridges to inhibit movement of the opaque sheath positioned thereon.

5. The ultrasonic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the insert provides an indented external surface to restrain movement of the opaque sheath retained thereon.

6. The ultrasonic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ultrasonically-driven tip is a dental scaler.

7. The ultrasonic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ultrasonically-driven tip is a scalpel.

8. The ultrasonic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic driver is a magnetostrictive stack device.

9. The ultrasonic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic driver is a piezoelectric crystal device.

10. The ultrasonic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source terminus is an at least partially translucent ring affixed on a distal end of a fiber optic light transmission cable.

11. The ultrasonic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source terminus is an at least partially translucent ring affixed on a distal end of a liquid light transmission cable.

12. The ultrasonic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source is switchable on and off independently of the power to the ultrasonic device.

13. The ultrasonic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source is adjustably regulated to provide differing amounts of light at a distal end of the grip body.

14. The ultrasonic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sheath is elastomeric and cylindrically shaped.

15. The ultrasonic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sheath is elastomeric and generally triangular shaped.

16. The ultrasonic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sheath is elastomeric and arcuate shaped providing a smaller diameter in the middle of the sheath than at either end of the grip body to facilitate gripping.

17. The ultrasonic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source is a high intensity light selected from incandescent filament lamps, arc lamps, or electric discharge lamps.

18. The light source of claim 17 wherein a temperature sensor disconnects the light source if heat above a preset level is detected in the light source.

19. The light source of claim 17 wherein the light source automatically disconnects a fixed time after the ultrasonic power is reduced to standby position.

36. The apparatus of any one of claims 1, 20 or 25 wherein the translucent insert further provides a camera lens on its distal end optically connected through the translucent insert to its proximal end.

37. The ultrasonic handpiece grip system of claim 36 wherein an optical connection in the translucent insert and a second fiber optic bundle are mated in a handpiece to permit transmission of images from the camera lens to a remote image processing system.

20. A lighted ultrasonic handpiece comprising:

an at least partially translucent insert providing a longitudinal passage through which an ultrasonic velocity transducer is connected to a tip and energized by an ultrasonic generator in said handpiece;

a light source terminus abutting said translucent insert providing illumination through the insert to a distal end of the insert adjacent a tip;

a light cable connected to said light source terminus providing illumination from a remote source to the light source terminus; and

,

a resilient opaque sheath covering said grip thereby preventing the light from leaving the translucent insert at any position except its distal tip.

21. The handpiece of claim 20 wherein the translucent insert is made from two halves of a polycarbonate material joined together to retain the ultrasonic velocity transducer in the longitudinal passage.

22. The handpiece of claim 20 wherein the light source terminus is a circular translucent block providing illumination to an adjacent end of the translucent insert.

23. The handpiece of claim 20 wherein the circular translucent block is affixed to the end of the light cable.

24. The handpiece of claim 21 wherein the polycarbonate material is ultrasonically welded together.

25. An ultrasonic handpiece grip system comprising:

an interchangeable, user-selected, molded body having a longitudinal passage therethrough; and

,

a translucent insert providing a exterior surface for engaging the molded body and further providing a passage for insertion of a velocity transducer and water path to a distal tip of the grip and permitting passage of light through the interior of the molded body to a distal end of the distal end of the grip body to illuminate the adjacent distal tip.

26. The ultrasonic handpiece grip system of claim 25 wherein the molded body is selectively colored for visually distinguishing the ultrasonic handpiece grip system from a similar handpiece grip system having a differing colored exterior surface.

27. The ultrasonic handpiece grip system of claim 25 wherein the molded elastomeric body is made from a variety of specific durometer materials.

28. The ultrasonic handpiece grip system of claim 25 wherein the molded elastomeric body is made from silicon rubber.

29. The ultrasonic handpiece grip system of claim 25 wherein the molded elastomeric body exterior surface is cylindrical.

30. The ultrasonic handpiece grip system of claim 25 wherein the molded elastomeric body exterior surface is ovate spheroidal.

31. The ultrasonic handpiece grip system of claim 25 wherein the molded elastomeric body exterior surface is triangular.

32. The ultrasonic handpiece grip system of claim 25 wherein the molded elastomeric body exterior surface is striated.

33. The ultrasonic handpiece grip system of claim 25 wherein the molded elastomeric body exterior surface is tapered from a larger proximal end to a smaller distal end.

34. The ultrasonic handpiece grip system of claim 25 wherein the molded elastomeric body exterior surface is tapered from a larger distal end to a smaller proximal end.

35. The ultrasonic handpiece grip system of claim 25 wherein the molded elastomeric body exterior surface has an outer diameter of between about 0.3″

to about 0.7″