Dentistry – Apparatus – Having intra-oral dispensing means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-21
2001-09-25
Wilson, John J. (Department: 3732)
Dentistry
Apparatus
Having intra-oral dispensing means
C433S127000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293792
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field
This invention relates to hand held systems for discharging fluids. It is particularly directed to a quickly connectable nozzle which resists rotation, of particular benefit in a dental syringe tip.
2. State of the Art
Syringe tips used in dental practice typically connect to a handpiece having one or more valves to control flow of one or more fluids. A dental practitioner directs the controlled flow of fluids by aiming the discharge end of the syringe tip. Dental syringe tips generally have a bend between connection and discharge ends to provide ergonomic aiming of the dispensed fluids. They must be changed between patients to provide each new patient with a sterile tip. Quick-connect syringe tips and handle mechanisms, such as taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,835, the disclosure of which is incorporated as though fully set forth herein, have been developed to speed the tip changing procedure.
A dental syringe tip may also find beneficial use as a retractor mechanism to move a patient's cheek or lip away from a site of operating interest. Currently available quick-connect syringe tips rotate under influence of the cheek or lip being retracted during the retraction procedure. The rotated tip is then typically aimed for discharge of fluids in an inconvenient direction. Correction of the tip orientation then typically requires a manual manipulation of the tip by the dental practitioner. Reorienting the tip causes an interruption, disrupting smooth flow of the operation. It is desirable to provide a quick-connect syringe tip that resists rotation during cheek or lip retraction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a quick-connect dental syringe tip which resists rotation during a cheek or lip retraction procedure. An exemplary syringe tip may be used with a dental handpiece having a quick-connect device for tip attachment. A tip typically provides one or more conduits for fluids between a discharge end and a connection end The conduit at the discharge end may be oriented non linear with respect to the conduit at the connection end to provide aim of a discharge stream. An exemplary tip has retaining structure, associated with the connection end, adapted to interface in axial retaining relation with structure of a quick-connect mechanism of a dental handpiece. Anti-rotation structure, also associated with the connection end of a tip, resists a change in direction of a discharge stream when using the tip for a cheek or lip retraction procedure. The anti-rotation structure may be embodied as a first element, typically an indentation, located on the exterior of the connection end of a tip and shaped to engage in a structural interference with a cooperating second element of the dental handpiece. Alternatively, the first element (whether an indentation or other structural feature) may be shaped to engage in a structural interference with cooperating structure of the quick-connect mechanism. In certain tip configurations, both anti-rotation and retaining functions may be provided by a structural element located on the exterior of the connection end of a tip. In such configurations, the structural element may be shaped to form a structural interference with one or more elements of the quick-connect mechanism. In certain embodiments, the anti-rotation structure and the retaining structure may be formed by a plurality of indentations in the exterior of the connection end of a tip. A currently preferred tip configuration includes anti-rotation structure adapted to resist rotation of the tip from a pre-positioned orientation. That is, the rotational orientation may be set in any of a plurality of discrete rotation orientations circumferentially spaced apart about the connection end.
These features, advantages, and alternative aspects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in combination with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 35147 (1996-01-01), Apap et al.
patent: 3698088 (1972-10-01), Austin, Jr.
patent: 4248589 (1981-02-01), Lewis
patent: 4975054 (1990-12-01), Esrock
patent: 5028181 (1991-07-01), Jenkins et al.
patent: 5125835 (1992-06-01), Young
DCI International, Inc.
TraskBritt P.C.
Wilson John J.
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