Fluid supply unit and systems for dental and medical instruments

• US 4,193,197 A
• Filed: 10/19/1977
• Issued: 03/18/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Logical Technical Services Corp. (Sentrillion Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aquasonic Products Corporation
• Inventors: Kuris, Arthur, Suroff, Leonard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peshock, Robert
• Application Number:
  US05/843,416
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 32/22, 32/28
• US Class Current: 433/82
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0061 Air and water supply systems; Valves specially adapted therefor A61C1/052 takes precedence; rinsing or air-blowing devices A61C17/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/20 using ultrasonics

Abstract

An auxiliary enclosed fluid supply unit or system that is adapted to be used in conjunction with commercially available professional dental and medical equipment to permit the user to select a variety of fluids to be administered to the patient during dental and other procedures and maintain desired levels of sterility in the operative cite of the patient.

Claims

1. An enclosed supply unit for use in conjunction with a dental or medical instrument having a handpiece including a tip adapted to be associated within the oral cavity or the like and requiring fluid to be supplied through the handpiece to the tip, said fluid supply unit comprising:

A. dispensing means for pumping fluid and adapted to be coupled to the instrument so that fluid is supplied to the handpiece,

B. fluid reservoir means communicating with said dispensing means to permit the utilization of fluids while performing oral hygienic procedures with the instrument,

C. pumping means operatively associated with said dispensing means, said pumping means being maintained continuously operational to maintain the fluid in said dispensing means under continuous pressure so as to obtain an immediate flow of fluid to the handpiece upon the instrument being operational,

D. said fluid reservoir means is in the form of a container that is adapted to be readily engaged with said dispensing means and contains a fluid therein for dispensing to the instrument,

E. mounting means for coupling said container in releasably fixed relationship to said dispensing means, and

F. venting means operatively associated with said mounting means for venting said container so as to permit a flow of air into said container to replace the fluid displaced therefrom.

2. An enclosed fluid supply unit as in claim 1, wherein

a. said pumping means communicates with said reservoir means for pumping fluid under pressure to the instrument, and

b. said pumping means creates a pressure which is below the pressure that the supply unit is capable of sustaining, such that the fluid in said supply unit is pressurized when the supply unit is operational.

3. An enclosed fluid supply unit as in claim 1, wherein said reservoir means includes a container with a closure resiliently mounted on said container normally closing one end thereof.

4. An enclosed fluid supply unit as in claim 3, and further including opening means operatively associated with the supply unit for depressing said closure so as to permit a flow of fluid from said container into said pumping means.

5. An enclosed fluid supply unit as in claim 1, wherein said instrument is an ultrasonic dental prophylaxis unit.

6. An enclosed fluid supply unit as in claim 1, wherein said instrument is a rotary drill having interchangable tips.

7. An enclosed fluid supply unit as in claim 1, and further including control means comprising switch means electrically connected to said pumping means such that activation of said switch means energizes said pumping means.

8. An enclosed fluid supply unit as in claim 1, wherein said pumping means includes a fluid pump having a chamber therein with spaced apart ports connected to said reservoir means and said dispensing means.

9. An enclosed fluid supply unit for use in conjunction with a dental or medical instrument having a handpiece including a tip adapted to be associated within the oral cavity or the like and requiring fluid to be supplied through the handpiece to the tip, said fluid supply unit comprising:

A. dispensing means for pumping fluid and adapted to be coupled to the instrument so that fluid is supplied to the handpiece,

B. fluid reservoir means communicating with said dispensing means to permit the utilization of fluids while performing oral hygienic procedures with the instrument,

C. pumping means operatively associated with said dispensing means, said pumping means being maintained continuously operational to maintain the fluid in said dispensing means under continuous pressure so as to obtain an immediate flow of fluid to the handpiece upon the instrument being operational,

D. said fluid reservoir means is adapted to be readily engaged with said dispensing means and contains a fluid therein for dispensing to the instrument,

E. said reservoir means includes a container with a closure resiliently mounted on said container normally closing one end thereof,

F. said fluid reservoir means includes an adapter for receiving said one end of said container therein, and

G. said adapter having a recess for receiving a supply of fluid therein from said container that may be sequentially released as the instrument is operational.

10. An enclosed fluid supply unit for use in conjunction with a dental or medical instrument having a handpiece including a tip adapted to be associated within the oral cavity or the like and requiring fluid to be supplied through the handpiece to the tip, said fluid supply unit comprising:

A. dispensing means for pumping fluid and adapted to be coupled to the instrument so that fluid is supplied to the handpiece,

B. fluid reservoir means communicating with said dispensing means to permit the utilization of fluids while performing oral hygienic procedures with the instrument,

C. pumping means operatively associated with said dispensing means, said pumping means being maintained continuously operational to maintain the fluid in said dispensing means under continuous pressure so as to obtain an immediate flow of fluid to the handpiece upon the instrument being operational,

D. said pumping means being adapted to pump air for pressurizing said reservoir means,

E. venting means operatively associated with said pumping means and said dispensing means, said venting means movable between an open position to vent air supplied by said pumping means to the atmosphere to a closed position so as to cause the air supplied by said pumping means to be supplied to said reservoir means,

F. said reservoir means includes a rigid container, and

G. said pumping means includes a pair of elements for extending within one end of said container, one of said elements adapted for the flow of air into said container to pressurize same with the other of said elements adapted to carry the fluid from said container to the instrument.

11. An auxiliary enclosed fluid supply unit for use in conjunction with a dental instrument having a handpiece with a tip adapted to be inserted within the oral cavity and simultaneously supplying fluid through the handpiece, the dental instrument being operational on a generally intermittent basis, said fluid supply unit comprising:

A. fluid dispensing means having pumping means adapted to be maintained continuously operational,

B. fluid reservoir means communicating with said dispensing means to permit the utilization of fluids contained in said reservoir means for performing of oral hygienic procedures in conjunction with the dental instrument,

C. fluid coupling means adapted for connecting said fluid dispensing means to the dental instrument so that fluid from said fluid reservoir means is in communicating relationship to the dental handpiece for dispensing therethrough,

D. said pumping means when operational maintaining the fluid in said coupling means under continuous pressure so as to obtain an immediate flow of fluid to the dental instrument for dispensing through the handpiece,

E. said fluid reservoir means is in the form of a container that is adapted to be readily engaged with said dispensing means and contains a fluid therein for dispensing to the instrument,

F. mounting means for coupling said container in releasably fixed relationship to said dispensing means,

G. venting means operatively associated with said mounting means for venting said container so as to permit a flow of air into said container to replace the fluid displaced therefrom,

H. said pumping means communicates with said reservoir means for pumping fluid under pressure to the instrument,

I. said pumping means creates a pressure which is below the pressure that the supply unit is capable of sustaining such that the fluid in said supply unit is pressurized when the supply unit is operational,

J. said mounting means includes an adapter for receiving said one end of said container therein, and

K. said adapter having a recess for receiving a supply of fluid therein from said container that may be sequentially released as the instrument is operational.

12. A auxiliary enclosed fluid supply unit for use in conjunction with a dental instrument having a handpiece with a tip adapted to be inserted within the oral cavity and simultaneously supplying fluid through the handpiece, the dental instrument being operational on a generally intermittent basis, said fluid supply unit comprising:

A. fluid dispensing means having pumping means adapted to be maintained continuously operational,

B. fluid reservoir means communicating with said dispensing means to permit the utilization of fluids contained in said reservoir means for performing of oral hygienic procedures in conjunction with the dental instrument,

C. fluid coupling means adapted for connecting said fluid dispensing means to the dental instrument so that fluid from said fluid reservoir means is in communicating relationship to the dental handpiece for dispensing therethrough,

D. said pumping means when operational maintaining the fluid in said coupling means under continuous pressure so as to obtain an intermediate flow of fluid to the dental instrument for dispensing through the handpiece,

E. said pumping means is adapted to pump air for pressurizing said reservoir means,

F. housing means having said dispensing means, pumping means, reservoir means, and said coupling means operatively associated therewith,

G. said housing means having a chamber adapted to receive said container therein,

H. said housing means having a door enclosing said chamber, and

I. said reservoir means includes a container having a closure at one end thereof and said pumping means includes a pair of elements for opening said closure, one of said elements adapted for the flow of air into said container to pressurize same with the other of said elements adapted to carry the fluid from said container to said coupling means.

13. An enclosed fluid supply unit as in claim 12, wherein

a. said container having one end adapted to be secured to said dispensing means, and

b. said pumping means pressurizes said container so as to obtain a flow of fluid from said container to the dental handpiece.

14. An auxiliary enclosed fluid supply unit for use in conjunction with a dental instrument having a handpiece with a tip adapted to be inserted within the oral cavity and simultaneously supplying fluid through the handpiece, the dental instrument being operational on a generally intermittent basis, said fluid supply unit comprising:

A. fluid dispensing means having pumping means adapted to be maintained continuously operational,

B. fluid reservoir means communicating with said dispensing means to permit the utilization of fluids contained in said reservoir means for performing of oral hygienic procedures in conjunction with the dental instrument,

C. fluid coupling means adapted for connecting said fluid dispensing means to the dental instrument so that fluid from said fluid reservoir means is in communicating relationship to the dental handpiece for dispensing therethrough,

D. said pumping means when operational maintaining the fluid in said coupling means under continuous pressure so as to obtain an immediate flow of fluid to the dental instrument for dispensing through the handpiece,

E. said reservoir means includes a container having a closure at one end thereof and said pumping means includes a pair of elements for opening said closure, one of said elements adapted for the flow of air into said container to pressurize same with the other of said elements adapted to carry the fluid from said container to said coupling means,

F. control means comprising;

(1) first switch means electrically connected to said pumping means such that activation of said switch means energizes said pumping means, and

(2) second switch means operatively connected to said container to automatically vent said pumping means if said container is improperly positioned relative to said reservoir means.

15. An auxiliary enclosed fluid supply unit for use in conjunction with a dental instrument having a handpiece with a tip adapted to be inserted within the oral cavity and simultaneously supplying fluid through the handpiece, the dental instrument being operational on a generally intermittent basis, said fluid supply unit comprising:

A. fluid dispensing means having pumping means adapted to be maintained continuously operational,

B. fluid reservoir means communicating with said dispensing means to permit the utilization of fluids contained in said reservoir means for performing of oral hygienic procedures in conjunction with the dental instrument,

C. fluid coupling means adapted for connecting said fluid dispensing means to the dental instrument so that fluid from said fluid reservoir means is in communicating relationship to the dental handpiece for dispensing therethrough,

D. said pumping means when operational maintaining the fluid in said coupling means under continuous pressure so as to obtain an immediate flow of fluid to the dental instrument for dispensing through the handpiece,

E. said fluid reservoir means is adapted to receive thereon a container having the fluid therein for dispensing to the dental instrument through the open end of said container, said container including a closure resiliently mounted on said container normally closing said open end, and

F. opening means operatively associated with said reservoir means for depressing said closure so as to permit a flow of fluid from said container into said pumping means.

16. An auxiliary enclosed fluid supply unit for use in conjunction with a dental instrument having a handpiece with a tip adapted to be inserted within the oral cavity and simultaneously supplying fluid through the handpiece, the dental instrument being operational on a generally intermittent basis, said fluid supply unit comprising:

A. fluid dispensing means having pumping means adapted to be maintained continuously operational,

B. fluid reservoir means communicating with said dispensing means to permit the utilization of fluids contained in said reservoir means for performing of oral hygienic procedures in conjunction with the dental instrument,

C. fluid coupling means adapted for connecting said fluid dispensing means to the dental instrument so that fluid from said fluid reservoir means is in communicating relationship to the dental handpiece for dispensing therethrough,

D. said pumping means when operational maintaining the fluid in said coupling means under continuous pressure so as to obtain an immediate flow of fluid to the dental instrument for dispensing through the handpiece,

E. said fluid reservoir means is adapted to receive thereon a container having the fluid therein for dispensing to the dental instrument through the open end of said container, said container including a closure resiliently mounted on said container normally closing said open end,

F. opening means operatively associated with said reservoir means for depressing said closure so as to permit a flow of fluid from said container into said pumping means, and

G. means for mounting said container in releasably fixed relationship to said reservoir means.

17. An auxiliary enclosed fluid supply unit for use in conjunction with a dental instrument having a handpiece with a tip adapted to be inserted within the oral cavity and supplying fluid through the handpiece, the dental instrument being operational on a generally intermittent basis, said fluid supply unit comprising:

A. fluid dispensing means having pumping means maintained continuously operational,

B. fluid reservoir means communicating with said dispensing means to permit the utilization of fluids contained in said reservoir means for performing of oral hygienic procedures in conjunction with the dental instrument,

C. said fluid reservoir means adapted to receive thereon a container having the fluid therein for dispensing to the dental instrument through the open end of said container, said container including a closure resiliently mounted on said container normally closing said open end,

D. opening means operatively associated with said reservoir means for depressing said closure so as to permit a flow of fluid from said container into said pumping means,

E. fluid coupling means adapted for connecting said fluid dispensing means to the dental instrument so that fluid from said fluid reservoir means is communicated to the dental handpiece and dispensed therethrough,

F. said pumping means by being continuously operational maintains the fluid in said coupling means under pressure so as to obtain an immediate flow of fluid to the handpiece upon each occasion that the dental instrument is operational,

G. said opening means includes an element for engaging said closure and opening same,

H. said dispensing means includes a hose member adapted to be removably secured to the dental instrument and said dispensing means so as to permit the flow of said fluid through said hose member to the dental instrument, and

I. means for mounting said container in releasably fixed relationship to said fluid reservoir means.

18. An enclosed fluid supply unit as in claim 17, wherein said dental instrument is an ultrasonic dental prophylaxis unit.

19. An enclosed fluid supply unit for use in conjunction with a dental instrument having a handpiece with a tip adapted to be inserted within the oral cavity and simultaneously supplying fluid through the handpiece, the dental instrument being operational on a generally intermittent basis, said fluid supply unit comprising:

A. fluid dispensing means including pumping means being maintained continuously operational,

B. fluid reservoir means adapted to be readily engaged and interchangeable with said fluid dispensing means and communicating with said pumping means to permit the utilization of a variety of fluids for performing oral hygienic procedures with the dental instrument, said pumping means adapted to pump air into said reservoir means for pressurizing same,

C. said reservoir means comprising a container having an open end and said pumping means comprising a pair of elements for extending within said open end of said container, one of said elements adapted for the flow of air into said container to pressure same with the other of said elements adapted to carry the fluid from said container,

D. fluid coupling means adapted for connecting said fluid carrying element from said container to the dental instrument so that fluid from said fluid dispensing means is communicated to the dental handpiece,

E. said pumping means maintaining the fluid in said coupling means under continuous pressure so as to obtain an immediate flow of fluid to the handpiece upon the dental instrument being operational, and

F. control means comprising;

(1) first switch means electrically connected to said pumping means such that activation of said switch means energizes said pumping means, and

(2) second switch means operatively connected to said container to automatically vent said pumping means if said container is improperly positioned relative to said reservoir means.

20. A self contained dental system for supplying sterile fluids comprising in combination:

A. a dental instrument having a handpiece with a tip adapted to be inserted within the oral cavity for supplying said sterile fluid through the handpiece, said dental instrument being operational on a generally intermittent basis,

B. fluid supply means for use in conjunction with said dental instrument, said fluid supply means comprising

(1) fluid dispensing means having pumping means maintained continuously operational,

(2) fluid reservoir means communicating with said dispensing means to permit the utilization of sterile fluids contained in said reservoir means for performing of oral hygienic procedures in conjunction with said dental instrument,

(3) said fluid reservoir means adapted to receive thereon a container having the fluid therein for dispensing to said dental instrument through the open end of said container, said container including a closure resiliently mounted on said container normally closing said open end,

(4) opening means operatively associated with said reservoir means for depressing said closure so as to permit a flow of fluid from said container into said pumping means,

(5) fluid coupling means adapted for connecting said dispensing means to said dental instrument so that fluid from said reservoir means is communicated to said dental handpiece and dispensed therethrough, and

(6) said pumping means by being continuously operational maintains the fluid in said coupling means under presusre so as to obtain an immediate flow of fluid to said handpiece upon each occasion that said dental instrument is operational.

21. A dental system as in claim 20, wherein said dental instrument is an ultrasonic dental prophylaxis unit.

22. A dental system as in claim 20, wherein said dental instrument is a rotary drill having interchangeable tips.

23. A dental system as in claim 20, wherein said fluid reservoir means is vented to the atmosphere so as to permit air to replace the dispensed fluid from said container.

24. A dental system as in claim 20, wherein said dispensing means includes a cable member adapted to be removably secured to said dental instrument and said dispensing means so as to permit the flow of said fluid through said cable to said dental instrument.

25. A dental system as in claim 20, and further including means for mounting said container in releasably fixed relationship to said fluid reservoir means.

26. A dental system as in claim 20, wherein said pumping means is adapted to pump air for pressurizing said reservoir means.

27. A dental system as in claim 26, and further including venting means operatively associated with said pumping means and said dispensing means, said venting means movable between an open position to vent air supplied by said pumping means to the atmosphere to a closed position so as to cause the air supplied by the pumping means to be supplied to said reservoir means.

28. A dental system as in claim 20, wherein said pumping means creates a blanking pressure which is below the pressure that the total dental system is capable of sustaining, such that the fluid is continuously pressurized when said supply means is operational.

29. The method of supplying a selected fluid for dental and medical usages, comprising the steps of:

A. providing an instrument having a handpiece with a tip adapted to be inserted at the work site for supplying said selected fluid through the handpiece, said instrument being operational on a generally intermittent basis,

B. coupling fluid supply means to said handpiece for use in conjunction with said instrument,

C. securing fluid reservoir means in operational relationship with said fluid supply means to permit the utilization of said selected fluid contained in said reservoir means for performing of procedures in conjunction with said instrument,

D. continuously pumping said fluid from said reservoir means to said instrument so as to create and maintain a pressure which is below the pressure that said instrument is capable of sustaining, such that said selected fluid is maintained at a pressurized level, whereby an intermediate flow of said fluid to said handpiece is obtained upon each said intermittent occasion that said instrument becomes operational,

E. venting said reservoir means to the atmosphere so as to permit air to replace said fluid dispensed therefrom, and

F. releasably mounting a container on said fluid reservoir means having said fluid therein.

30. The method as in claim 29, wherein said instrument is an ultrasonic dental prophylaxis unit.

31. The method as in claim 29, wherein said instrument is a dental rotary drill having interchangeable tips.