APPARATUS FOR APPLYING MEDICATION TO TEETH AND BODY TISSUE

• US 3,716,054 A
• Filed: 08/11/1970
• Issued: 02/13/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank W. Hindsley, James E. Hesse, William I. Porter
• Original Assignee: Frank W. Hindsley, James E. Hesse, William I. Porter
• Inventors: Porter, William I., Hindsley, Frank W., Hesse, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunne, G. F.
• Application Number:
  US05/062,860
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 128/172.1,212,404-409,399-403
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 19/00 Local anaesthesia syringes therefor A61M5/00; Hypothermia A61M5/42 takes precedence; cooling blood in a bypass of the arterial system A61M1/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/006 using sponges, foams, absorbent pads or swabs as spreading means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/303 Constructional details electrodes for external use A61N1/0428

Abstract

Disclosed is a porous medication impregnated carrier for applying medication to a patient'"'"''"'"'s teeth or body tissue. Disclosed also is structure for holding the carrier and connecting it to a D.C. voltage source, thereby to form apparatus which utilizes a small electric current to impel the medication into the patient'"'"''"'"'s teeth or body tissue. The apparatus may be constructed to be portable, battery powered and for operation by the patient himself.

Claims

1. Portable apparatus for impelling medication into a user'"'"''"'"'s teeth or body tissue, comprising:

a body formed of electrically non-conductive material including narrowing end portions and an intermediate channeled portion;

said end portions having aligned bores, alined extending from the channeled portion through the outer end of the narrowing portion;

a tubular terminal in each bore having its outer end terminating within the bore at the outer end thereof and having a conductive contact portion at its inner end;

means providing a D.C. voltage source disposed in said channel portion in contact with the contact portion of each terminal;

a moist medication impregnated carrier fitted within one said terminal with its inner end contacting the contact portion of the associated terminal and its outer end extending beyond the outer end of said terminal for manipulative contact with the teeth or tissue of a user;

a tubular member of electrically conductive material slidable over one narrowing end portion into arresting engagement with the other narrowing portion for enclosing the channeled portion and voltage source and adapted to be held in the hand of a user during treatment; and

a conductive insert in conductive connection with said tubular member and normally held in the other said terminal, whereby a closed electrical circuit is formed from one to the other pole of said voltage source for impelling moist medication into a selected portion of a user'"'"''"'"'s body tissue or teeth during said manipulative contact.

2. The invention recited in claim 1, wherein said D.C. voltage source means is a dry cell flashlight type battery.

3. The invention recited in claim 1, wherein said medication carrier is impregnated with a moist medication which is electrically conductive and which transfers to a user'"'"''"'"'s body tissue or teeth upon the flow of electric current therethrough.

4. The invention recited in claim 1, wherein said medication carrier is impregnated with a moist medication containing negatively charged fluoride ions and the negative and positive poles of said D.C. voltage source means are connected to thE respective terminals.

5. Portable apparatus for impelling medication into a user'"'"''"'"'s teeth or body tissue, comprising:

a body formed of electrically non-conductive material, including end portions and an intermediate channeled portion joined to the end portions;

said end portions having bores extending from the channeled portion through the outer end of the end portion;

a tubular terminal in each bore having its outer end terminating within the bore at the outer end thereof and having a conductive contact portion at its inner end;

a dry cell battery disposed in said channel portion with its opposite electrical poles contacting the contact portions of the respective terminals;

a carrier impregnated with preselected ions fitted in one said terminal with an exterior portion adapted to be held against the tissue or teeth or a user; and

electrical conducting means adapted to be held by a user and connected to the second said terminal whereby a closed electrical circuit is formed from one to the other pole of said battery connected between said terminals for impelling ions into a user'"'"''"'"'s teeth or tissue whenever said impregnated carrier is held in contact with the user'"'"''"'"'s teeth or tissue and said second terminal is electrically connected to the user'"'"''"'"'s body holding said apparatus, one of said electrical terminals having a hollow cylindrical portion and said electrical conducting means including a cover portion, a plug and a chain, said chain connecting said plug to said cover portion and said cover portion, chain and plug being electrically conductive, said plug being insertable in said terminal whereby to electrically connect said terminal with a portion of a user'"'"''"'"'s body touching said cover, chain or plug.