Dental explorer
First Claim
1. In a dental explorer assembly for use in dentistry, the explorer including a handle or butt portion and a generally tapered explorer portion terminating in a point which is to be brought into contact with surfaces of teeth of a patient, the improvement comprising a passage having a first orifice and a second orifice, said passage extending at least partially through said handle or butt portion with said first orifice spaced from and directed toward said point for directing a stream of compressed air onto surface of a tooth adjacent said point to blow away chips and maintain this surface dry;
- a compressed-air source;
a light and flexible connection connected between said second orifice of said passage and said compressed air source for feeding compressed air to said passage;
at least one valve arranged in said handle or butt portion between said compressed-air source and said first orifice for selectively allowing compressed air to flow through said passage under control of one using the assembly, said valve including a valve seat arranged in axial symmetry in said handle or butt portion and having (1) an axial bore and generally concave seat surface and (2) a valve body in axial position when said valve is closed and having a convex valve surface whose convexity is greater than concavity of said seat surface of said valve seat;
means for resiliently urging said valve surface against said seat surface; and
finger-operable means for causing displacement of said valve body away from its axial closed position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dental explorer comprising a handle with a generally tapered explorer portion which terminates in a point has been provided with a passage extending through the handle and through and/or alongside the explorer portion so that it terminates spaced from and generally directed against the point of the explorer portion. The other end of the passage is connected to a source of pressurized air through a light and flexible connection. In the passage or the connection is provided at least one valve which may be operated by the dentist for selectively admitting air therethrough. The explorer portion comprising the point may be detachably secured to the handle so as to allow it to be replaced by another similar or different explorer portion.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. In a dental explorer assembly for use in dentistry, the explorer including a handle or butt portion and a generally tapered explorer portion terminating in a point which is to be brought into contact with surfaces of teeth of a patient, the improvement comprising a passage having a first orifice and a second orifice, said passage extending at least partially through said handle or butt portion with said first orifice spaced from and directed toward said point for directing a stream of compressed air onto surface of a tooth adjacent said point to blow away chips and maintain this surface dry;
- a compressed-air source;
a light and flexible connection connected between said second orifice of said passage and said compressed air source for feeding compressed air to said passage;
at least one valve arranged in said handle or butt portion between said compressed-air source and said first orifice for selectively allowing compressed air to flow through said passage under control of one using the assembly, said valve including a valve seat arranged in axial symmetry in said handle or butt portion and having (1) an axial bore and generally concave seat surface and (2) a valve body in axial position when said valve is closed and having a convex valve surface whose convexity is greater than concavity of said seat surface of said valve seat;
means for resiliently urging said valve surface against said seat surface; and
finger-operable means for causing displacement of said valve body away from its axial closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- a compressed-air source;
Specification