Dental prophylactic apparatus
First Claim
1. A prophylactic apparatus for cleaning teeth with a flow of air containing powder particles, said apparatus comprising a hand piece with a first nozzle opening and a second nozzle opening, a water line with a valve means extending from a source of water and being connected to the first nozzle opening, a first air line extending from a source of pressurized air to a mixing device, first control means disposed in said first air line for controlling flow of air therethrough, said first air line between the first control means and the mixing device having a section containing at least one air filter, said mixing device having a chamber for receiving powder to be fluidized and mixed with air to form air laden with powder particles, said mixing device having a nozzle connected to the first air line being disposed in the chamber above the level of powder therein and a discharge opening disposed above the level of powder in the chamber connected to a second air line extending to the second nozzle opening of the hand piece, second control means for controlling the flow of air laden with powder particles in said second air line and means for unclogging each filter by creating a reverse flow of air through the chamber, the jet nozzle, the section of the first line and through each filter.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A prophylactic apparatus for cleaning teeth with a flow of air containing powder particles and a flow of water characterized by a first air line extending from a source of pressurized air through at least one filter to a mixing device, a first control device arranged in the first air line for controlling the flow therethrough, the mixing device having a chamber for receiving powder to be fluidized and mixed with air to form an air laden with powder particles, a nozzle connected to the first air line disposed above the level of the particles, a discharge opening disposed above the level of the particles in the chamber connected to a second air line extending to a second nozzle opening, a second control arrangement for controlling the flow of air laden with powder particles in the second air line and an arrangement for unclogging each filter by creating a backflow from at least the chamber of the mixing device and a portion of the first line. Preferably, the first control arrangement comprises a valve which enables selectively connecting the source of pressurized air to the first line and venting the first line to the atmosphere to create the reverse flow for unclogging the filters.
214 Citations
18 Claims
- 1. A prophylactic apparatus for cleaning teeth with a flow of air containing powder particles, said apparatus comprising a hand piece with a first nozzle opening and a second nozzle opening, a water line with a valve means extending from a source of water and being connected to the first nozzle opening, a first air line extending from a source of pressurized air to a mixing device, first control means disposed in said first air line for controlling flow of air therethrough, said first air line between the first control means and the mixing device having a section containing at least one air filter, said mixing device having a chamber for receiving powder to be fluidized and mixed with air to form air laden with powder particles, said mixing device having a nozzle connected to the first air line being disposed in the chamber above the level of powder therein and a discharge opening disposed above the level of powder in the chamber connected to a second air line extending to the second nozzle opening of the hand piece, second control means for controlling the flow of air laden with powder particles in said second air line and means for unclogging each filter by creating a reverse flow of air through the chamber, the jet nozzle, the section of the first line and through each filter.
- 16. A valve for closing a collapsible conduit comprising a housing having a cylindrical chamber with a base at one end for receiving the collapsible conduit, a first piston slidably received in said chamber, spring means biasing the piston away from said base, means for applying a fluid pressure in said chamber to urge said piston toward said base against an abutment limiting movement of the piston toward the base, an intermediate member carried by said piston, spring means for biasing the intermediate member away from the first piston toward said base so that when the first piston is engaging the abutment, said intermediate member pinches the conduit closed.
Specification