Dental tool and nozzle therefor

• US 4,984,984 A
• Filed: 07/18/1988
• Issued: 01/15/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kerr Corporation (Envista Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bernard S. Esrock
• Inventors: Esrock, Bernard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEHNER, CARY ELLEN
• Application Number:
  US07/221,028
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 433/80, 433/126, 433/88, 433/82, 433/125, 51/439
• US Class Current: 433/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 3/025 Instruments acting like a sandblast machine, e.g. for cleaning, polishing or cutting teeth

Abstract

A nozzle for the simultaneous discharge of first and second fluids through a distal end thereof and for attachment to the hand piece of a dental tool comprising sources of the first and second fluids. The nozzle comprises first and second conduits and coupling means for removably coupling the nozzle to the hand piece. The first and second conduits have coaxial intake ports for fluid communication with the sources of the first and second fluids and coaxial discharge ports at the distal end of the nozzle for discharging the first and second fluids. The first conduit is contained at least partially within the second conduit and the discharge ports are proximately located with respect to one another. Upon coupling of the nozzle to the hand piece, the first conduit is automatically aligned with and connected to the source of the first fluid to enable quick connection and disconnection of the nozzle to the hand piece.

Claims

1. A removable nozzle for the simultaneous discharge of first and second fluids through a distal end of the nozzle and for attachment to the hand piece of a dental tool comprising sources of the first and second fluids, the nozzle comprising:

first and second conduits having coaxial intake ports for fluid communication with the sources of the first and second fluids and coaxial discharge ports at the distal end of the nozzle for discharging the first and second fluids, the first conduit being contained at least partially within the second conduit and the conduits being bent to constrain the first conduit in the second conduit without bonding the conduits together, the discharge ports of the conduits being proximately located with respect to one another, and

coupling means for releasably coupling the nozzle to the hand piece,

wherein upon coupling the nozzle to the hand piece the first conduit is automatically aligned with and connected to the source of the first fluid to enable quick connection and disconnection of the nozzle to the hand piece.

2. A nozzle in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of the first and second conduits is adapted to transport abrasive laden air and the other conduit is adapted to transport a liquid.

3. A nozzle in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first and second conduits are curved to permit discharge of the fluids at oblique angles with respect to the hand piece.

4. A nozzle in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first and second conduits are constructed of a bendable material to enable bending of the conduits.

5. A nozzle in accordance with claim 1 wherein the coupling means comprises a Luer-type fastener secured to the second conduit and adapted for interconnection with the hand piece.

6. A nozzle in accordance with claim 1 wherein the coupling means comprises a Luer-type fastener integrally formed with the second conduit.

7. An improved dental tool of the type adapted to deliver a mixed stream of two fluids to teeth of a patient, the dental tool including a nozzle and a hand piece with the nozzle having first and second conduits, a proximal end, and a distal end, and the hand piece adapted for delivering a first fluid stream through a downstream end of the hand piece to the proximal end of the nozzle and through the first conduit and for delivering a second fluid stream through a downstream end of the hand piece to the proximal end of the nozzle and through the second conduit, the improvement comprising:

matable male and female Luer-type connectors for removably connecting the nozzle to the hand piece, wherein one of the connectors is secured to the proximal end of the second conduit and the other connector is secured to the downstream end of the hand piece so that when the connectors are mated the first conduit communicates with the first fluid stream and the second conduit communicates with the second fluid stream, said first fluid stream being delivered to the first conduit by a tube in the hand piece, said first conduit being engageable with said tube.

8. A dental tool in accordance with claim 7 wherein the first and second conduits comprise coaxial intake ports adjacent the proximal end and coaxial discharge ports adjacent the distal end, wherein the first conduit is contained at least partially within the second conduit and the discharge ports of the conduits are proximately located with respect to one another, and wherein the first and second conduits are adapted for fluid communication with the first and second fluid streams, respectively, for discharging the fluid streams from the distal end of the nozzle.

9. A dental tool in accordance with claim 8 wherein one of the conduits is adapted to transport an abrasive laden air stream and the other conduit is adapted to transport a liquid stream.

10. A dental tool in accordance with claim 8 wherein the first and second conduits are curved for discharging the fluid streams at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hand piece.

11. A nozzle in accordance with claim 10 wherein the curvature of the conduits constrains the first conduit within the second conduit.

12. A dental tool in accordance with claim 7 wherein the nozzle is constructed of a bendable material for varying the angle which the ejected streams make with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hand piece.

13. A dental tool adapted for the simultaneous discharge of first and second fluids through a distal end thereof comprising a hand piece and a nozzle,

the hand piece having means for providing the first and second fluids and means for coupling to the nozzle,

the nozzle having means for coupling to the hand piece, first and second conduits with coaxial intake ports for fluid communication with the first and second tubes of the hand piece and coaxial discharge ports proximately located at a distal end of the nozzle for discharging the first and second fluids, the first conduit being contained at least partially within the second conduit, the conduits having sufficient curvature to constrain the first conduit within the second conduit,

wherein upon coupling the nozzle to the hand piece, the first conduit is automatically aligned with and connected to the means for providing the first fluid to enable quick connection and disconnection of the nozzle to the hand piece.

14. A dental tool in accordance with claim 13 wherein one of the first and second conduits is adapted to transport abrasive laden air and the other conduit is adapted to transport a liquid.

15. A dental tool in accordance with claim 13 wherein the first and second conduits are curved to permit discharge of the fluids at oblique angles with respect to the hand piece.

16. A dental tool in accordance with claim 13 wherein the first and second conduits are constructed of a bendable material to enable bending of the conduits.

17. A dental tool in accordance with claim 13 wherein the hand piece coupling means and the nozzle coupling means comprise matable male and female Luer-type fastener means.