Oral cavity washer with video scope

• US 6,468,076 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2001
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawamura, Taturou
• Primary Examiner(s): WEHNER, CARY ELLEN
• Application Number:
  US09/774,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20010012605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 433/29, 433/30, 433/31, 433/80
• US Class Current: 433/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/24 for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors tongue depressors per se A61B13/00; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth combined with saliva removers A61C17/00; mouth openers for animals A61D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/0202 Hand-pieces

Abstract

An oral cavity washer with a video scope, has

a video scope having image-forming means of forming an image from light from an object, an image pick-up device for converting the light from which the image is formed by the image-forming means into an electric signal, and a first grip portion for being held by an operator;

a display for displaying an image picked up by the video scope; and

an oral cavity washer having a nozzle for jetting a fluid and a second grip portion for being held by the operator, for washing an oral cavity by jetting the fluid to teeth or gums,

wherein the first grip portion and the second grip portion are capable of being made integral with each other.

Claims

1. An oral cavity washer with a video scope, comprising:

a video scope having image-forming apparatus forming an image from light from an object, and an image pick-up device for converting the light from which the image is formed into an electric signal;

a grip portion;

an oral cavity washer for jetting a fluid to wash an oral cavity; and

a display of displaying an image picked up by said video scope, said display displaying an aiming marker for indicating a target point of said fluid on an image picked up by said video scope.

2. The oral cavity washer with a video scope according to claim 1, further comprising an illuminating device for illuminating said object.

3. The oral cavity washer with a video scope according to claim 1, wherein said video scope has an optical window for transmitting light from said object and a removal device for removing any deposit on said optical window, and said image-forming apparatus forms an image from light from said object which transmits through said optical window.

4. The oral cavity washer with a video scope according to claim 3, wherein said removal device provides jetting the fluid onto said optical window.

5. The oral cavity washer with a video scope according to claim 4, wherein said oral cavity washer causes said fluid to pulsate, and said fluid is alternately jetted onto said object and said optical window in synchronism with the pulsation.

6. The oral cavity washer with a video scope according to claim 4, wherein said oral cavity washer serves as said jetting device.

7. The oral cavity washer with a video scope according to claim 3, further comprising control means provided in said grip portion for controlling operation of said removal device.

8. The oral cavity washer with a video scope according to claim 3, wherein said optical window is subjected to a water-repellent treatment, which permits transmission of visible light.

9. The oral cavity washer with a video scope according to claim 8, wherein said water-repellent treatment includes a compound selected from the group consisting of dimethyl silicone-based organic polymer water repellent and silane coupling agent having straight alkyl chain.

10. The oral cavity washer with a video scope according to claim 3, wherein said optical window is subjected to a hydrophilic treatment, which permits transmission of visible light.

11. The oral cavity washer with a video scope according to claims 1-10, wherein said display is provided on a charger for charging an apparatus installed in said grip portion, or on an installation apparatus on which said grip portion is installed when the oral cavity washer is not used.

12. An oral cavity washer with a video scope comprising:

a video scope having image-forming apparatus forming an image from light from an object, and an image pick-up device for converting the light from which the image is formed into an electric signal;

a grip portion;

a display of displaying an image picked up by said video scope; and

a toothbrush portion having a brush portion.

13. An oral cavity washer with a video scope comprising:

a video scope having an optical window for transmitting light from an object, image-forming apparatus forming an image from said light, and an image pick-up device for converting said light into an electric signal;

a grip portion;

a display of displaying an image picked up by said video scope; and

an oral cavity washer for alternately jetting a fluid onto said object and said optical window for removing a deposit on said optical window.

14. An oral cavity washer with a video scope comprising:

a video scope having an optical window for transmitting light from an object, image-forming apparatus forming an image from said light, an image pick-up device for converting said light into an electric signal, and a jetting device of jetting a fluid to remove a d eposit on said optical window;

a grip portion;

a display of displaying an image picked up by said video scope; and

an oral cavity washer for jetting said fluid to wash an oral cavity, said oral cavity washer having a higher jetting velocity of said fluid than said jetting device.

15. An oral cavity washer with a video scope comprising:

a video scope having an optical window for transmitting light from an object, image-forming apparatus forming an image from said light, an image pick-up device for converting said light into an electric signal, and a device of vibrating said optical window to remove a deposit on said optical window;

a grip portion;

a display of displaying an image picked up by said video scope; and

an oral cavity washer for jetting a fluid to wash an oral cavity.