Dentistry – Apparatus – Having motor or means to transmit motion from motor to tool
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-30
2001-01-23
Lewis, Ralph A. (Department: 3732)
Dentistry
Apparatus
Having motor or means to transmit motion from motor to tool
C433S118000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176703
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a medical or dental treatment instrument of the type which vibrates an abrasive tool for chip-removing treatment of living tissue.
2. Description of the Related Art
Treatment instruments with an abrasive tool and a vibration drive of a frequency lying preferably in the sonic or ultrasonic range are known for the chip-removing treatment of body tissue or a substitute material (tissue substitute or a prosthesis). A treatment instrument of this kind is described for example in WO 96/14024. It has an oblong handpiece in the form of a sleeve-shaped casing, in the front area of which a vibration part is supported in an elastically flexible manner, which part can be set vibrating in functional operation by a vibration generator and is connectable detachably in its front area to the tool by a holding device. In the rear end area, the handpiece has a coupling part, in particular a screw-on or plug-in coupling part, with which it can be coupled to a so-called connection piece of a supply device in the form of a flexible hose, which extends to a supply and control device and contains media lines for providing energy and supplying treatment media such as water, air or a spray.
A treatment instrument of this kind can be used in the dental field also as a device for removing tartar, a treatment instrument of this kind known from the Austrian patent specification 379 505 having a tool with a wedge-shaped working tip.
The known treatment instruments are coordinated with reference to their vibration function to a certain type of tool or to a certain treatment. The application range of such a treatment instrument is thereby restricted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to improve a treatment instrument of the type described above in order to make it suited to a wide range of uses.
This object is achieved according to one aspect of the invention by providing a vibration part, a vibration generator and a control device, all arranged in a handpiece. The vibration part extends from the front end area of the handpiece and supports a tool. The vibration generator is connected to the vibration part for setting it into vibration. The vibration generator is variable and is connectable via a flexible supply line to a power supply; and the control device is arranged to increase and decrease the output of the vibrator.
According to a more specific aspect of the invention, a control device for increasing and reducing the output of a treatment instrument is assigned to the vibration generator, which facilitates the adjustment of an output setting in increments or steplessly. It is thereby possible to adapt the output of the treatment instrument to different treatments. The treatment instrument according to the invention is suitable for a wide range of uses, e.g. for treatments using different tools, in particular of varying size and/or shape and/or removal capacity (abrasiveness), with which it can optionally be fitted. In addition, both in cases where just one tool and different tools are available, the output of the treatment instrument is adaptable to treatments of differing intensity, to be precise rough and fine treatments or rough, medium and fine treatments, it being possible to effect these modifications taking identical materials or different materials, -of the tool and/or the material to be treated into account. The configuration according to the invention also facilitates adaptation of the treatment instrument to different types of treatment, e.g. for the removal of coatings, as in the case of a tartar removal device, or for working out a cavity, as in the case of preparing a tooth, for example.
A vibratory medical or dental treatment instrument of the present type can be susceptible to faults in respect of its power output, since the vibration generator which is contained therein is designed to emit a constant and defined vibration output, in order to achieve an optimum vibration operation. The optimum vibration operation can be impaired relatively easily when the output magnitude is changed. This often causes undesired vibration resonances which exert a detrimental effect on the vibration behavior. This is true in particular in case of a treatment instrument having a vibration generator which can be driven by compressed air.
Accordingly, it is another object of the invention to configure a treatment instrument of the above described type such that a constant vibration output is achieved irrespective of changes in supply pressure.
This object is achieved by providing a vibration part and a vibration generator arranged in a handpiece. The vibration part extends from the front end area of the handpiece and supports a tool. The vibration generator is connected to the vibration part for setting it into vibration. The vibration generator is drivable by compressed air from a flexible supply line which extends from the rear of the handpiece and which is connectable to a compressed air power supply. A pressure regulator is provided in the supply line and is constructed to provide an essentially constant working pressure at the vibration generator even in the presence of operating pressures of different levels.
According to a more specific aspect of the invention, a pressure regulator is provided in the treatment instrument in a manner which ensures that a constant working pressure is maintained at the vibration generator. It is thereby guaranteed that in the event of scarcely avoidable fluctuations in the operating pressure, or if the treatment instrument is used at treatment locations at which different operating pressures prevail (different manufacturers), the vibration output remains the same and thus an optimum vibration operation can be maintained.
It is particularly advantageous to provide an adjustable pressure regulator, so that setting the output magnitude and an optimum output setting is possible in each case independently of the operating pressure level.
In a treatment instrument of the type described above, a vibration generator in the instrument is driven pneumatically by compressed air. The compressed air flows through and produces vibrations is a vibration part by mechanical impact. In a vibration generator of this kind, noise is created which can be considerable and distract the user of the instrument.
It is therefore another object of the invention to reduce the drive noise in a treatment instrument of the above described type.
This object is achieved by providing a vibration part and a vibration generator arranged in a handpiece. The vibration part extends from the front end area of the handpiece and supports a tool. The vibration generator is connected to the vibration part for setting it into vibration. The vibration generator is connected to a flexible supply line which extends from the rear of the handpiece and which is connectable to a power supply. The vibration generator is surrounded by an additional inner casing.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the vibration part is encapsulated in an additional internal casing. The additional casing serves to deaden the drive noise so as not to disturb the user significantly. The configuration and arrangement of the additional internal casing according to the invention, is also distinguished by a simple, small construction which can be manufactured cheaply and assembled or dismantled easily.
It is also an object of the invention to provide an instrument of the above described type which can be used for treatment of teeth and which avoids or reduces damage to the teeth in the event of contact with the handpiece shank.
This object is achieved by providing a vibration part and a vibration generator arranged in a handpiece. The vibration part extends from the front end area of the handpiece and supports a tool. The vibration generator is connected to the vibration part for setting it into vibration. The vibration generator is connected to a flexible supply line which extends from the rear of the handpiece and is connectable to
Gugel Bernd
Lohn Gerd
Mossle Walter
Xeller Uli
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Kaltenbach & Voigt GmbH & Co.
Lewis Ralph A.
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