Air-abrading tool

• US 5,941,702 A
• Filed: 02/03/1998
• Issued: 08/24/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Parkell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Parkell, Inc.
• Inventors: Klocek, Kevin, Sharp, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, John J.
• Application Number:
  US09/018,079
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 433/88, 433/80, 433/86
• 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

Abstract

A handpiece for a dental instrument includes a solid body having internally reamed passageways through which a fluid is carried. The handpiece may be a dental air-abrading tool for etching hard surfaces to enhance bond strength of adhesives, which includes a solid body having internally reamed passageways through which a gaseous fluid and an abrasive material are carried. A connector is mounted on one end of the body for connecting one of the body'"'"'s internal passageways to a supply of gaseous fluid and a nozzle is mounted on the other end of the body for directing the gaseous fluid to a surface. A supply of an abrasive material is coupled to another internal passageways of the body. The nozzle includes an internal mixing chamber for mixing the gaseous fluid and abrasive material entering therein from the body'"'"'s internal passageways. A switch is mounted on the body for activating the flow of gaseous fluid and abrasive material through the body. The switch includes a valve which is slidably mounted within a gaseous fluid passageway between a first position and a second position such that in its first position the valve blocks the flow of gaseous fluid and in its second position the valve allows the gaseous fluid to flow through the body. The switch also includes a trigger pivotally mounted on the body to move the valve alternatively between its two positions. The components of the handpiece are all made from high temperature materials allowing the entire handpiece to be sterilized by autoclaving.

Claims

1. A handpiece for a dental instrument comprising:

an elongated solid body made from a high temperature material, said handpiece body forming a handle for being grasped by a user and having a plurality of substantially parallel longitudinal passageways bored through said solid body, said passageways forming a fluid flow conduit extending from a first end of said body connectable to a supply of fluid to a second end of said body for discharge therefrom, and wherein said handpiece is sterilizable by autoclaving.

2. The handpiece defined in claim 1, wherein said handpiece further comprises a nozzle attachable to said second end of said body for directing said material to a surface.

3. The handpiece as defined in claim 1, wherein said handpiece further comprises a switch for activating the flow of said fluid.

4. The handpiece as defined in claim 2, wherein said handpiece further comprises a switch for activating the flow of said fluid.

5. An air-abrading tool for etching hard surfaces to enhance bond strength of adhesives which comprises:

a handpiece in the form of an elongated solid body forming a handle for being grasped by a user and having an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end, a plurality of substantially parallel longitudinal passageways bored through said solid body, said passageways forming a fluid flow conduit extending from said proximal end to said distal end, and a first connector for connecting said handpiece body proximal end to a supply of a gaseous fluid and a second connector for connecting said handpiece body to a supply of an abrasive material;

a nozzle attachable to said distal end of said handpiece body, said nozzle having a discharge orifice for directing said abrasive material and said gaseous fluid to a surface to be abraded; and

a switch for activating a flow of said gaseous fluid through said handpiece.

6. The air-abrading tool defined in claim 5, wherein said air-abrading tool is made from a high temperature material and is thereby sterilizable by autoclaving.

7. The air-abrading tool defined in claim 5, wherein said solid body comprises,

a first radial bore extending perpendicularly to said body outer surface and positioned between said proximal end and said distal end,

a second radial bore extending perpendicularly to said body outer surface and positioned between said proximal end and said distal end for coupling said supply of an abrasive material thereto,

a first axial bore formed within said body extending from said proximal end and terminating at said first radial bore to be in fluid communication therewith,

a second axial bore formed within said body extending from said distal end and terminating at said first radial bore to be in fluid communication therewith,

a third axial bore formed within said body extending from said distal end and terminating at said second radial bore to be in fluid communication therewith, and

a connector mounted on said proximal end for connecting said first axial bore to a supply of a gaseous fluid,

and wherein said nozzle includes an internal chamber for mixing the gaseous fluid entering therein from said second axial bore and the abrasive material entering therein from said third axial bore,

and wherein said switch is coupled to said first radial bore.

8. The air-abrading tool defined in claim 7, wherein said switch comprises a valve and a trigger, said valve being slidably mounted within said first radial bore between a first position and a second position such that when said valve is in said first position said valve blocks said first axial bore relative to said second axial bore, and when said valve is in said second position gaseous fluid may flow from said first axial bore to said second axial bore and wherein said trigger is pivotally mounted on said outer surface of said body to move said valve alternatively from said first position to said second position.

9. The air-abrading tool defined in claim 8, wherein said supply of abrasive material to said body comprises a tube and a canister, wherein said tube has a first end and a second end, said first end being generally disposed within said canister and said second end having a cooperating coupling device for coupling said canister to said second radial bore.

10. The air-abrading tool defined in claim 7, wherein said supply of abrasive material to said body comprises a tube and a canister, wherein said tube has a first end and a second end, said first end being generally disposed within said canister and said second end having a cooperating coupling device for coupling said canister to said second radial bore.

11. The tool as set forth in claim 7, wherein said connector comprises a quick connect fitting for attachment to a mating quick connect coupling of the supply of gaseous fluid.

12. An air-abrading tool, for etching hard surfaces to enhance bond strength of adhesives, which comprises:

an elongated solid body having an outer surface, a proximal end and a distal end, said body further comprising,

a first radial bore extending perpendicularly to said body outer surface and positioned between said proximal end and said distal end,

a second radial bore extending perpendicularly to said body outer surface and positioned between said proximal end and said distal end for coupling a supply of an abrasive material thereto,

a first axial bore formed within said body extending from said proximal end and terminating at said first radial bore to be in fluid communication therewith,

a second axial bore formed within said body extending from said distal end and terminating at said first radial bore to be in fluid communication therewith,

a third axial bore formed within said body extending from said distal end and terminating at said second radial bore to be in fluid communication therewith;

a connector mounted on said proximal end for connecting said first axial bore to a supply of a gaseous fluid;

a nozzle disposed on said distal end for directing the abrasive material to a surface, said nozzle including an internal chamber for mixing the gaseous fluid entering therein from said second axial bore and the abrasive material entering therein from said third axial bore; and

a switch coupled to said first radial bore for activating the flow of gaseous fluid and abrasive material through said body.

13. A handpiece for a dental instrument which comprises:

an elongated solid body made from a high temperature, autoclavable material and having a plurality of internally formed substantially parallel longitudinal passageways extending from a proximal end of said body to a distal end of said body, said passageways permitting fluid flow from said proximal end to said distal end;

a material supply canister having a top and body, said top being connected to said body between said proximal end and said distal end for supplying a material to said flow, said canister being dimensioned to be held in the hand of a user of said handpiece; and

a switch connected to said body between said canister and said distal end for activating said fluid flow, said switch being positioned relative to said canister so as to be accessible by the hand holding said canister.

14. The handpiece defined in claim 13, wherein said switch comprises a valve and trigger, said valve being slidably mounted within said body between a first position and a second position such that when said valve is in said first position said valve seals one of said longitudinal passageways, and when said valve is in said second position gaseous fluid may flow from said proximal end to said distal end of said body, and wherein said trigger is pivotally mounted on an outer surface of said body to move said valve alternatively from said first position to said second position.