Nozzle head, hand piece and powder jet device for applying a dental material

• US 9,888,980 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2013
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Boehm, Andreas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abreu, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US14/652,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20150335395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/087 Supplying powder or medicines
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/02 Rinsing or air-blowing devices, e.g. using fluid jets or comprising liquid medication combined with receptacles for spittle A61C17/14; combined with power-driven cleaning or polishing devices A61C17/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 3/025 Instruments acting like a sandblast machine, e.g. for cleaning, polishing or cutting teeth

Abstract

A nozzle head (12) for a powder jet device (10) for use in applying dental material, the nozzle head (12) comprising: a first portion (16) and a second portion (18) transitioning into one another; the first portion (16) adjacent a first end (20) of the nozzle head (12) having a coupling (22) for removably connecting the nozzle head (12) to a hand piece (14) of the powder jet device (10); the second portion (18) adjacent a second end (26) of the nozzle head (12) forming a nozzle outlet (28) for the dental material; the second portion (18) comprising at least a first fluid channel (30) which is formed between the nozzle outlet (28) and a channel inlet (32); wherein the channel inlet (32) is arranged at the transition (34) between the first portion (16) and the second portion (18) between the nozzle outlet (28) and the coupling (22).

Claims

1. A nozzle head for a powder jet device for use in applying dental material, the nozzle head comprising:

a first portion and a second portion transitioning into one another;

the first portion adjacent a first end of the nozzle head having a coupling for removably connecting the nozzle head to a hand piece of the powder jet device;

the second portion adjacent a second end of the nozzle head forming a nozzle outlet for the dental material;

the second portion comprising at least a first fluid channel which is formed between the nozzle outlet and a channel inlet defined by the nozzle head;

wherein the channel inlet is arranged at the transition between the first portion and the second portion between the nozzle outlet and the coupling; and

wherein the nozzle head defines an interior channel configured to receive a protruding portion defined by the hand piece.

2. A powder jet device for use in applying dental material, comprising:

a nozzle head according to claim 1; and

the hand piece, the hand piece comprising;

a body;

an outer tube arranged within the body; and

at least one first fluid tube protruding from the outer tube, wherein the nozzle head and the hand piece are removably connected to each other.

3. The powder jet device of claim 2, wherein the body of the hand piece is removably connected to the coupling of the first portion of the nozzle head, wherein the first fluid tube protrudes from the outer tube so as to extend to the transition from the first portion to the second portion such that the first fluid tube and the first fluid channel are in fluid communication with one another at the channel inlet, and wherein the protruding portion comprises the first fluid tube.

4. The powder jet device of claim 3, wherein the second portion further comprises at least a second fluid channel and a third fluid channel, wherein the second fluid channel and the third fluid channel are arranged side by side with the first fluid channel therebetween, wherein the outer tube and the first fluid tube are arranged such that an interior space is formed therebetween, wherein the interior space at least partially defines a fluid supply line, wherein the interior space is formed such that the fluid supply line is in fluid communication with the second fluid channel and the third fluid channel.

5. The powder jet device of claim 3, wherein the first portion comprises a fourth fluid channel and a fifth fluid channel, wherein the first portion of the nozzle head and the hand piece are formed such that a second annular space is formed therebetween, wherein the fluid supply line is in fluid communication with the fourth fluid channel and the fifth fluid channel within the first portion by means of the second annular space.

6. The powder jet device of claim 2, further comprising a powder reservoir configured to contain a powder material, wherein the powder reservoir is fluidically connected to the nozzle head.

7. The powder jet device of claim 6, wherein the nozzle head is configured to discharge at least the powder material through the nozzle outlet.

8. The powder jet device of claim 6, wherein the powder reservoir is fluidically connected to the nozzle head through the at least one fluid tube of the hand piece.

9. The nozzle head of claim 1, wherein the second portion further comprises at least a third fluid channel, wherein the second fluid channel and the third fluid channel are arranged side by side with the first fluid channel therebetween.

10. The nozzle head of claim 9, wherein the second portion comprises a first annular space arranged coaxially to the first fluid channel, wherein the second fluid channel and the third fluid channel open into the first annular space.

11. The nozzle head of claim 9, wherein the first portion comprises a fourth fluid channel and a fifth fluid channel, wherein the fourth fluid channel is in fluid communication with the second fluid channel and the fifth fluid channel is in fluid communication with the third fluid channel.

12. The nozzle head of claim 1, wherein the first portion extends along a first longitudinal axis and the second portion is angled relative to the first longitudinal axis.

13. The nozzle head of claim 12, wherein the first fluid channel extends along a second longitudinal axis angled relative to the first longitudinal axis.

14. The nozzle head of claim 1, wherein the transition of the first portion and the second portion is arranged closer to the nozzle outlet than to the coupling.

15. The nozzle head of claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises at least one second fluid channel arranged parallel to the first fluid channel.

16. The nozzle head of claim 1, wherein the coupling of the first portion is connectable to the hand piece such that the nozzle head is rotatable relative to the hand piece.

17. The nozzle head of claim 1, wherein the nozzle head is injection molded.

18. The nozzle head of claim 1, wherein the first portion and second portion are formed in one piece.

19. The nozzle head of claim 1, wherein the nozzle head is configured to discharge at least a powder material through the nozzle outlet.