Seal for a medical handpiece

• US 20050026110A1
• Filed: 07/19/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: W&H Dentalwerk Burmoos GmbH (PM Privatstiftung)
• Original Assignee: W&H Dentalwerk Burmoos GmbH (PM Privatstiftung)
• Inventors: Hochradl, Gerhard, Schatz, Norbert
• Application Number:
  US10/894,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20050026110A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/115
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/14 Tool-holders , i.e. operating tool holders, e.g. burr holders
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/181 Bearings or lubricating arrangements, e.g. air-cushion bearings

Abstract

The present invention relates to a seal in the tool side of a straight or contra angle handpiece head for sealing the interior of straight or contra angle handpieces. The seal is characterised by a spring, which prestresses a gasket of compressible elastic material against a fixed component and a rotating disk located in the immediate vicinity of the seal. Moreover, the present invention relates to a straight or contra angle handpiece with such a seal.

Claims

1. A seal for sealing a tool end of a medical straight or contra angle handpiece, said seal comprising

a fixed component,

a gasket of compressible elastic material,

a spring which urges the gasket against the fixed component, and

a rotating disk located in the immediate vicinity of the seal.

2. A seal according to claim 1, which further comprises a substantially rigid washer interposed between the gasket and the rotating disk.

3. A seal according to claim 2, wherein said washer is composed of metal.

4. A seal according to claim 2, wherein said rotating disk is positioned to engage said washer.

5. A seal according to claim 1, wherein said rotating disk is positioned to contact the gasket.

6. A seal according to claim 1, which further comprises a substantially rigid washer interposed between the spring and gasket.

7. A seal according to claim 1 wherein the handpiece has a rotatable tool carrier and the rotating disk is detachably connected to the tool carrier.

8. A seal according to claim 7, wherein said gasket comprises a ring which encircles a portion of the rotatable tool carrier.

9. A seal according to claim 8, wherein said fixed component surrounds the tool carrier and the gasket and has a radially inwardly directed shoulder against which a portion of said gasket rests.

10. A seal according to claim 1, wherein said spring comprises a leaf spring.

11. A seal for sealing a tool end of a medical straight or contra angle handpiece having a rotatable tool carrier, said seal comprising

a fixed component surrounding a portion of said tool carrier,

a gasket of compressible elastic material,

a spring which urges the gasket against the fixed component,

a rotating disk detachably connected to the tool carrier and located in the vicinity of the seal,

a substantially rigid washer interposed between the gasket and rotating disk, and

a substantially rigid washer interposed between the spring and the gasket.

12. A seal according to claim 11, wherein said gasket comprises a ring which encircles a portion of the rotatable tool carrier.

13. A seal according to claim 12, wherein said fixed component surrounds a portion of the gasket and has a radially inwardly directed shoulder against which a portion of said gasket rests.

14. A seal according to claim 11, wherein said spring comprises a leaf spring.

15. A medical straight or contra angle handpiece with an outer sleeve containing a shaft to drive a rotatable tool carrier adapted to receive a treatment tool, said handpiece having a seal assembly comprising

a fixed component,

a gasket of compressible elastic material,

a spring which urges the gasket against the fixed component, and

a rotating disk located in the immediate vicinity of the seal.

16. A handpiece according to claim 15, which further comprises a substantially rigid washer interposed between the gasket and the rotating disk.

17. A handpiece according to claim 16, wherein said washer is composed of metal.

18. A handpiece according to claim 16, wherein said rotating disk is positioned to engage said washer.

19. A handpiece according to claim 15, wherein said rotating disk is positioned to contact the gasket.

20. A handpiece according to claim 15, which further comprises a substantially rigid washer interposed between the spring and gasket.

21. A handpiece according to claim 15, wherein the rotating disk is detachably connected to the tool carrier.

22. A handpiece according to claim 15, which further comprises a bushing which guides said tool carrier and has a recess in which said spring is located.