Dental treatment system

• US 5,525,058 A
• Filed: 07/19/1994
• Issued: 06/11/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Dental Technologies
• Original Assignee: American Dental Technologies
• Inventors: Parker, William S., Gleeman, Alan N., Gallant, Ben J.
• Primary Examiner(s): YAN, REN LUO
• Application Number:
  US08/276,964
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 433/88, 451/75, 451/101, 451/102
• 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: 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

Treating teeth or associated tooth structure by the use of an abrasive-laden fluid stream which provides fluid at high pressure to a manifold with selectively operable valves, delivers fluid at a selected pressure to a mixer for fluid and abrasive and delivers the mix to a handpiece for application of abrasive-laden air to a tooth or tooth structure. Low pressure priming air pressurizes the air abrasive device. A path for pure air bypasses the air/abrasive device. A control allows for delivery of air or air and abrasive as desired. Fluid pressure is controlled by a manually-operable servo system. Following treatment with the air/abrasive, a purge line purges the system downstream from the abrasive device of excess abrasive particles. A vacuum removes abrasive particles and debris from the patient'"'"'s mouth. The abrasive delivery device may include a hand-held nozzle having fluid ports operable by the fingers of the operator to control system functions. The vacuum includes a ridge, disposable collection chamber for sterile disposal of abrasive and debris and may include a common filter for the purge circuit and the system for removal of abrasive particles and debris. Connection to the existing suction system in the dental office or use of a water powered venturi to provide suction is disclosed. Pressure regulating and relief means insure instantaneous change of pressure levels.

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:

(a) a source of fluid under pressure;

(b) a source of abrasive particles;

(c) abrasive-mixing means supplied with said fluid under pressure and said abrasive particles, for combining said fluid under pressure with said abrasive particles to produce an abrasive-laden fluid stream;

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

(e) pressure control means supplied with said fluid under pressure for controlling the pressure of said fluid supplied to said abrasive-mixing means;

(f) wherein said pressure control means comprises a servo valve having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, electrically controllable valve means positioned between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, and an electrical control terminal, said valve means being responsive to changes in the level of an electrical command signal at said electrical control terminal for adjusting said valve means to any selected one of a plurality of selected conditions, to set said pressure of said fluid supplied to said abrasive-mixing means to any of a corresponding plurality of selected pressure values.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising manually controllable means for adjusting said command signal level to select said pressure.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said manually controllable means comprises pushbutton controls for adjusting said command signal level.

4. The system of claim 1, comprising means for visually displaying the output pressure of said servo valve.

5. The system of claim 1, comprising means for producing a flashing light indicator of the selected target pressure level toward which the servo valve output pressure is moving.