Cordless intraoral dental examination instrument having non-plano mirror

• US 20060057535A1
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Tamburrino, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US10/941,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20060057535A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/247 with means for viewing areas outside the direct line of sight, e.g. dentists' mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 2204/002 using batteries

Abstract

An intraoral dental mirror includes an elongated handle and a light guide that is releasably attached to a distal end of the handle. The light guide includes a mirrored portion that has a non-plano reflective surface that is configured to either magnify the image or to widen the field of view thereof as opposed to a flat or piano mirrored surface.

Claims

1. An intraoral dental instrument comprising:

an elongated handle; and

a mirror releasably attached to a distal end of said handle, said mirror including a face portion, said face portion having a non-plano reflective surface.

2. An intraoral dental instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein said light guide is disposable.

3. An intraoral dental instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein said handle includes a collet for releasably retaining said mirror.

4. An intraoral dental instrument as recited in claim 1, including at least one LED disposed in said handle, said at least one LED being disposed in relation to a proximal end of said mirror.

5. An intraoral dental instrument as recited in claim 4, wherein said non-plano reflective surface is concave in curvature in order to permit a mangified image.

6. An intraoral dental instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein said non-plano reflective surface portion is convex curvature to permit a wider field of view.

7. An intraoral dental instrument comprising:

an elongated handle; and

a mirror releasably attached to a distal end of said handle, said mirror including a face portion, said face portion having a surface with an enhanced field of view.

8. An intraoral dental instrument as recited in claim 7, wherein said surface of said face portion of said mirror is convex.

9. An intraoral dental instrument as recited in claim 7, wherein said mirror is disposable.