Dentistry – Apparatus – Having suction orifice
Patent
1991-02-25
1993-02-23
Wilson, John J.
Dentistry
Apparatus
Having suction orifice
A61C 1706
Patent
active
051885301
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention concerns a process and a device for preventing functional breakdowns in a dental suction unit, in which a mixture of a liquid and solid matter is suctioned out of the patient's mouth using a vacuum and goes through an initial suction line that ends at a trap, where the air is separated out and goes to the vacuum pump. The trap also preferably separates the liquid from the solid matter, which is caught in a removable collection container, and the liquid is drained off.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Dental suction units, as described for example in WO-A-86/03669, are plagued with special problems because of the composition of the mixture to be suctioned and treated (blood, saliva, water, pus, tooth material, residues of amalgam, etc.), which can lead to serious functional breakdowns. These problems come from cleaning and disinfecting the part of the system through which the mixture flows, which is hereafter called the initial suction line, and also from the fact that blood mixing with the hydrogen peroxide constantly used in dentistry can cause an intensive build-up of foam, which shuts down the system, since the outlet to the vacuum from the trap must naturally be safeguarded against foreign matter flowing through it. The foam that is created has a particularly great stability, and dissolving it automatically takes several hours. On the other hand, dissolving, cleaning and sterilizing a trap is not only time-consuming, but is also an unhygienic activity, since the mixture has a very high concentration of bacteria.
We know how to simplify at least the cleaning or disinfection from EP-B-23036. In it, the outflow duct for the trapped, unseparated mixture of liquids and solid matter has a siphon that siphons off a cleaner from a cleaner container with a rinsing duct at the end whose other end can be connected to a suction hose. The unit can be cleaned or disinfected at the end of a working period, usually at the end of the daily office hours, by connecting the suction hose to the rinsing duct and hooking up the suction unit so that the additive to be added then flows through the initial suction line.
While work is going on, it is hardly possible to add the additive since the equipment makes it impossible for the dentist to work in the interim. According to EP-A-237708, on the other hand, the trap, which has an extraction pump for the trapped liquid and preferably also a centrifuge, is fitted with a propeller, which is between the air trap and the liquid collection space. The foam that builds up is supposed to be destroyed using the propeller. This may work satisfactorily when the pump is running, but when the pump is turned off, the propeller does not prevent the undisturbed, built-up foam from passing through. (The foam build-up takes place gradually, even when the unit is temporarily stopped.) On the other hand, the foam that has gotten into the air trap prevents the suction unit from being turned on, which causes the breakdown mentioned at the beginning. Adding a cleaner or disinfectant is not described in that publication.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based then on the idea that the prevention of foam build-up or at least its fast, direct destruction would practically rule out functional breakdowns caused by foam, and that more frequent cleaning and disinfection would also prevent at least those functional breakdowns that result from excess accumulation of contaminants.
The task of the invention is therefore to create a process and a device to prevent such functional breakdowns, in order, if possible, to extend the maintenance intervals so that the corresponding maintenance work will be needed when the whole unit is serviced or when the collection container is emptied, etc.
The invention does this by adding a free-flowing additive to at least one component of the mixture within the initial suction line at intervals during each period that the suction unit is operating.
Free-flowing additives are understood to be any agents suitable for eliminating at least one of the problems
REFERENCES:
patent: 2895220 (1959-07-01), Johnston et al.
patent: 3746033 (1973-07-01), Keiper, II
patent: 4054998 (1977-10-01), Hesselgren
patent: 4245989 (1981-01-01), Folkenroth et al.
Instructions for the use of anti-foaming pills, Cattani S.p.A., Parma, Italy date--prior to Aug. 1988.
Pregenzer Bruno
Trawoger Werner
LandOfFree
Process and device for preventing malfunction of a dental evacua does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Process and device for preventing malfunction of a dental evacua, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Process and device for preventing malfunction of a dental evacua will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2201023