Multiple solution dental irrigator

• US 6,390,815 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2000
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Inter-Med Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gary J. Pond
• Inventors: Pond, Gary J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEHNER, CARY ELLEN
• Application Number:
  US09/538,255
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 433/80, 433/84, 433/85, 433/99, 433/100, 433/32, 433/98, 433/27
• US Class Current: 433/80
• 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 1/0084 Supply units, e.g. reservoir arrangements, specially adapted pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/0217 having means for manually controlling the supply of two or more fluids, e.g. water and air

Abstract

A fluid dispensing assembly that may be used to supply fluid for use in dental instrumentation including irrigation, application, and aeration for treating a patient'"'"'s mouth. The fluid dispensing assembly includes a fluid supply system that conveys fluid by pressurized air, and also includes a handpiece to allow flow between the fluid supply system and the patient'"'"'s mouth. The fluid dispensing assembly further includes a separate handpiece for the delivery of only air into a patient'"'"'s mouth.

Claims

1. A fluid dispensing assembly for dispensing a fluid selected from a plurality of fluid sources, the fluid dispensing assembly comprising:

a handpiece;

fluid discharge means disposed on the handpiece;

a handpiece manifold disposed within the handpiece;

said handpiece manifold including a plurality of fluid inlets and at least one fluid outlet;

a first control mechanism disposed on the handpiece, for controlling the amount of fluid flowing from said manifold fluid outlet to said fluid discharge means;

a second control mechanism disposed on the handpiece, said second control mechanism including an electrically operated selector circuit having momentary switching means for selecting a fluid from said plurality of fluids and for directing the selected fluid to one of said manifold fluid inlets.

2. A fluid dispensing assembly in accordance with claim 1, the fluid dispensing assembly further comprising:

a second handpiece for delivering only air;

an air-only discharge means disposed on the second handpiece; and

a third control mechanism disposed on the second handpiece, for controlling the amount of air flowing through said second handpiece to said air-only discharge means.

3. A fluid dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fluid dispensing assembly further comprises:

a fluid supply system;

a housing for the fluid supply system; and

a plurality of fluid outlet lines, the fluid outlet lines being communicatively coupled between the fluid supply system and the fluid inlets of said handpiece manifold.

4. A fluid dispensing assembly according to claim 3, wherein the fluid supply system comprises:

a plurality of fluid reservoirs;

a reservoir manifold arranged to detachably support said plurality of reservoirs;

a volume of fluid contained within each reservoir; and

a plurality of reservoir heads, each head being coupled to the reservoir manifold and each head being adapted to detachably support and enclose a respective reservoir.

5. A fluid dispensing assembly according to claim 4, wherein the fluid outlet lines are communicatively coupled with the reservoir heads, and wherein the fluid supply system further comprises:

a fluid draw line contained within each reservoir, each fluid draw line being communicatively coupled with its respective reservoir head.

6. A fluid dispensing assembly according to claim 5, each fluid outlet line having a proximal end and a distal end, each fluid draw line having a proximal end and a distal end, the fluid supply system further comprising:

a fluid passage disposed through each reservoir head, the fluid passage having an interior end and an exterior end;

the proximal end of each of the fluid draw lines coupled with the interior end of one of the fluid passages, the proximal end of each of the fluid outlet lines coupled with the exterior end of one of the fluid passages, the distal end of each of the fluid outlet lines coupled to one of the handpiece manifold fluid inlets.

7. A fluid dispensing assembly according to claim 6, wherein the fluid supply system further comprises:

a check valve coupled with at least one fluid outlet line.

8. A check valve according to claim 7, wherein a respective one of a plurality of said check valves is located within said handpiece manifold and said check valve is in communication with a respective handpiece manifold fluid inlet.

9. The fluid dispensing assembly in accordance with claim 7, wherein said check valve is formed integrally within the handpiece manifold.

10. The fluid dispensing assembly according to claim 7, wherein said check valve comprises oppositely disposed, flexible bill-like members in a normally closed relationship, and when said bill-like members are opened under fluid pressure, fluid is permitted to pass therethrough to said fluid discharge means, and when said flexible bill-like members are permitted to return to normally closed relationship, said check valve will block fluid back flow from the fluid discharge means into the fluid supply system.

11. A fluid dispensing assembly according to claim 4, wherein the fluid supply system further comprises:

a source of pressurized air; and

an air supply line communicatively coupled between the source of pressurized air and each reservoir head, the pressurized air being at a pressure capable of forcing fluid from each reservoir to a respective one of the fluid inlets of the handpiece manifold.

12. A fluid dispensing assembly according to claim 11, wherein the fluid supply system further comprises:

air pressure regulating means coupled with the air supply line, said means being disposed between the source of pressurized air and each reservoir head.

13. A fluid dispensing assembly according to claim 11, wherein the fluid supply system additionally comprises:

air pressure regulating means coupled with the air supply line, said means being disposed between the source of pressurized air and each reservoir head; and

a common tee fitting including an air inlet port and first and second outlet ports, said first outlet port being in communication with said air pressure regulating means and said second outlet port being in communication with a second handpiece for delivering only air.

14. A fluid dispensing assembly according to claim 13, wherein the air pressure regulating means includes an adjustable air pressure regulator.

15. A fluid dispensing assembly according to claim 13, wherein the air pressure regulating means includes a fixed air pressure regulator.

16. A fluid dispensing assembly according to claim 13, wherein the air pressure regulating means includes both a fixed air pressure regulator and an adjustable air pressure regulator.

17. A fluid dispensing assembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein the fluid supply system further comprises:

electrically operated valve means located between the source of pressurized air and the reservoir; and

said electrically operated valve means being controlled by the electrically operated selector circuit.

18. The fluid dispensing assembly in accordance with claim 17, wherein the electrically operated selector circuit includes a programmable logic controller.

19. A fluid dispensing assembly in accordance with claim 17, wherein said electrically operated valve means includes a valve manifold;

said valve manifold adapted to support and retain a plurality of said electrically operated valves, a respective one of said plurality of electrically operated valves being in fluid communication with a selected one of said reservoirs.

20. A fluid dispensing assembly in accordance with claim 19, wherein said electrically operated valve means comprises a single electrically operated valve controlled by the electrically operated selector circuit;

and

wherein said electrically operated valve includes a plurality of fluid outlet ports, each of said ports being in fluid communication with a selected one of said reservoirs.

21. A fluid dispensing assembly according to claim 20, wherein the fluid supply system additionally comprises:

air pressure regulating means coupled with the air supply line, said means being disposed between the source of pressurized air and each reservoir head;

a first common tee fitting including an air inlet port and first and second outlet ports, said first outlet port being in communication with said air pressure regulating means and said second outlet port being in communication with a second handpiece for delivering only air;

an air pressure gauge;

a second common tee fitting including an air inlet port and first and second outlet ports, said air inlet port being in communication with said air pressure regulating means; and

said first air outlet port being in communication with said air pressure gauge; and

said second air outlet port being in communication with said single electrically operated valve.

22. A fluid dispensing assembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein the fluid supply system further comprises a hydrophobic air filter located between the source of pressurized air and the reservoir head.

23. A fluid dispensing assembly in accordance with claim 22, wherein said hydrophobic air filter is disposed within each reservoir head.

24. A fluid dispensing assembly in accordance with claim 4, wherein the fluid supply system further includes a light emitting diode display for indication of the fluid flow from a selected reservoir.

25. A fluid dispensing assembly according to claim 3, wherein the fluid supply system further comprises fluid heating means.

26. The fluid heating means of claim 25, said fluid heating means being arranged proximate to at least a portion of said fluid outlet lines, and being further adapted to warm a fluid being transported through a respective fluid outlet.

27. A fluid dispensing assembly according to claim 3, wherein the momentary switching means is disposed on the first handpiece, and said momentary switching means being communicatively coupled to the fluid supply system.

28. A fluid dispensing assembly according to claim 3, wherein the momentary switching means is disposed on a remote touch pad, said remote touch pad switching means being communicatively coupled to the fluid supply system.

29. A fluid dispensing assembly according to claim 3, wherein the momentary switching means is disposed both on the first handpiece and on a remote touch pad, said momentary switching means being communicatively coupled to the fluid supply system.