Dental treatment system

• US 5,350,299 A
• Filed: 03/25/1993
• Issued: 09/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Dental Technologies
• Original Assignee: American Dental Technologies
• Inventors: Gallant, Ben J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, John J.
• Application Number:
  US08/029,732
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 433/88, 51/410, 51/438
• US Class Current: 433/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 3/025 Instruments acting like a sandblast machine, e.g. for cleaning, polishing or cutting teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 5/00 Filling or capping teeth
• CPC Class Codes: B24C 7/0061 of feed pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B24C 7/0084 the abrasive material being fed in a mixture of liquid and gas B24C7/0038, B24C7/0076 take precedence; blasting medium with additives B24C11/005

Abstract

A system of treating teeth or associated tooth structure using an abrasive-laden fluid stream provides fluid at high pressure to a manifold with selectively operable valves to deliver fluid at a selected pressure to a mixer for the fluid and abrasive and delivery to a device for application to a patient'"'"'s mouth. Priming air at low pressure pressurizes the mixer. An alternate air path bypasses the mixer. A selective control delivers a stream of fluid or fluid and abrasive to the tooth or tooth structure. Upon termination of treatment, pure air is diverted through a purge line to purge the system of abrasive. A vacuum is selectively operable to remove abrasive and debris from the mouth during and after the abrasive treatment. The abrasive delivery device includes a hand-held nozzle having ports operable by the fingers for control. The vacuum includes a rigid, disposable collection chamber for sterile disposal of the abrasive and debris and has a common filter for the purge circuit and for removal of abrasive and debris from the mouth. Connection to the dental office suction system or a water powered venturi provides suction. Pressure regulation and relief insures instantaneous change from one pressure level to the next.

Claims

1. A system for performing a dental procedure on teeth or associated tooth structure by means of abrasive particles carried by a fluid stream comprising, in combination with a source of fluid;

(a) means for increasing the pressure of said fluid to about an initial pressure;

(b) pressure selection means for selectively providing said fluid at at least a first pressure or a second pressure, each of said first and second pressures being less than about said initial pressure;

(c) abrasive mixing means for combining the abrasive particles with said fluid at either said first pressure or said second pressure to provide an abrasive-laden fluid stream;

(d) selectively operable means for activating and deactivating said abrasive mixing means;

(e) nozzle means for delivering said abrasive-laden fluid stream to the teeth or tooth structure undergoing said dental procedure; and

(f) means for evacuating excess abrasive materials, post-use abrasive materials and other debris from the area of the mouth of the patient being treated, said evacuation means including means in juxtaposition to the mouth of the patient for creating a negative pressure in the mouth region effective to withdraw abrasive materials and debris from the mouth.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said means for creating a negative pressure further comprises a collection device adapted to be placed adjacent the patient'"'"'s mouth, a conduit leading from said collection device, said conduit including a connection means for connection of said conduit to the dental office suction system.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said evacuation means further includes a rigid substantially closed abrasive collection container for collection of said abrasive materials and other debris.

4. A system according to claim 1, further including a purge conduit means intermediate said abrasive mixing means and said nozzle means, means for activating said purge conduit means to effect removal of abrasive particles from said system downstream of said abrasive mixing means when said abrasive mixing means is deactivated, said purge conduit means and said evacuation means having a common connection to a source of negative pressure.

5. A system according to claim 4, further including an abrasive and debris removing filter common to said purge conduit means and said evacuation means.

6. A system according to claim 4, wherein said source of negative pressure comprises means for connection to the dental office suction means.

7. A system according to claim 4, wherein said source of negative pressure comprises a sealable, disposable abrasive collection container, a vacuum device for drawing abrasive materials and debris into said container and a common filter between said collection container and said vacuum device.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for creating a negative pressure comprises a water venturi, means for circulating a stream of water through the low pressure region of said venturi and a negative pressure conduit extending from the low pressure region of the venturi and said means in juxtaposition to the mouth of the patient, whereby abrasive materials and debris are withdrawn into the stream of water circulating through said venturi.

9. A system for the practice of a dental procedure on teeth or associated tooth structure by the use of an abrasive-laden fluid stream comprising, in combination with a source of pressurized fluid:

(a) manifold means connected to said source of pressurized fluid for providing at least first and second parallel flow paths for said pressurized fluid;

(b) first pressure reducing means in said first flow path for providing said fluid at a first pressure in a downstream portion of said flow path, said first pressure being less than about said initial pressure;

(c) second pressure reducing means for providing said fluid at a second pressure in a downstream portion of said second flow path, said second pressure being less than about said first pressure;

(d) second manifold means for combining said first and second flow paths;

(e) blocking means for selectively blocking or unblocking fluid communication between said second manifold means and said downstream portion of said second flow path;

(f) abrasive mixing means for combining pressurized fluid from said second manifold means with the abrasive material to produce a pressurized stream of abrasive-laden fluid;

(g) delivery means for delivering said stream of abrasive-laden fluid to the teeth or tooth structure undergoing said dental procedure;

(h) an abrasive evacuation means, including a negative pressure device positioned in juxtaposition to the mouth of the patient for evacuation of abrasives and tooth debris, said evacuation means including a rigid, sealable and removable disposable abrasive collection container for disposal of said abrasive and said debris;

(i) a purge conduit means in communication with said nozzle means and said fourth flow path, said purge conduit means including a purge valve selectively operable and control means for activating said purge valve for direction of fluid from said fourth flow path and said nozzle means through said purge valve, activation of said purge valve effecting removal of abrasive particles from portions of said system downstream from said abrasive mixing means; and

(j) means interconnecting said purge conduit means with said disposable abrasive collection container.

10. A system according to claim 9, further including a vacuum device for drawing abrasive into said disposable abrasive collection container and a common abrasive particle and debris removing filter for fluid drawn through said purge conduit means and from said evacuation means.

11. A system for the practice of a dental procedure on teeth or associated tooth structure by the use of an abrasive-laden fluid stream comprising, in combination with a source of pressurized fluid:

(a) manifold means connected to said source of pressurized fluid for providing at least first and second parallel flow paths for said pressurized fluid;

(b) first pressure reducing means in said first flow path for providing said fluid at a first pressure in a downstream portion of said flow path, said first pressure being less than about said initial pressure;

(c) second pressure reducing means for providing said fluid at a second pressure in a downstream portion of said second flow path, said second pressure being less than about said first pressure;

(d) second manifold means for combining said first and second flow paths;

(e) blocking means for selectively blocking or unblocking fluid communication between said second manifold means and said downstream portion of said second flow path;

(f) abrasive mixing means for combining pressurized fluid from said second manifold means with the abrasive material to produce a pressurized stream of abrasive-laden fluid;

(g) delivery means for delivering said stream of abrasive-laden fluid to the teeth or tooth structure undergoing said dental procedure;

(h) an abrasive evacuation means, including a negative pressure device positioned in juxtaposition to the mouth of the patient for evacuation of abrasives and tooth debris, said evacuation means including a rigid, sealable and removable disposable abrasive collection container for disposal of said abrasive and said debris;

(i) a purge conduit means in communication with said nozzle means and said fourth flow path, said purge conduit means including a purge valve and control means for opening said purge valve for direction of fluid from said fourth flow path and said nozzle means through said valve, opening of said purge valve effecting removal of abrasive particles from portions of said system downstream from said abrasive mixing means;

(j) means interconnecting said purge conduit means with said disposable abrasive collection container;

(k) an abrasive evacuation means including a collection device positioned adjacent the mouth of the patient for evacuation of abrasives and tooth debris; and

(l) means for connection of said collection device to a source of negative pressure.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said source of negative pressure comprises a water venturi device, means for circulation of a stream of water through said venturi device whereby a zone of negative pressure is established and a negative pressure fluid line interconnecting said negative pressure zone and said abrasive evacuation means for withdrawal of said abrasive and said tooth debris into the stream of water circulating through said venturi.

13. A system according to claim 12, further including means establishing a fluid connection between said purge conduit means and said negative pressure fluid line.

14. A system according to claim 11, wherein said source of negative pressure is the dental office suction system.