Dentistry – Apparatus – Having motor or means to transmit motion from motor to tool
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-22
2001-08-14
Lucchesi, Nicholas D. (Department: 3732)
Dentistry
Apparatus
Having motor or means to transmit motion from motor to tool
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273716
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to dental instruments and in particular to prophylactic covers for dental instruments and methods for making the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the various health professions have come under close scrutiny due to the increased possibility of the transmission of infectious diseases from doctor to patient, patient to doctor, and patient to patient. This is particularly true in the dental office, where dental appliances come in direct contact with potentially harmful fluids or blood-born pathogens, such as Hepatitis B and HIV, found within the oral cavity. With the predicted increase in the number of cases of infection with the Hepatitis B and HIV viruses, dentists will be treating more patients carrying these infections, knowingly or unknowingly. Consequently, the possibility of accidental transmission of these dangerous infectious diseases will correspondingly increase.
One particular path of pathogen transmission within the dental office is through the high speed and low speed air-driven dental hand pieces. These appliances come in direct contact with the patient's oral cavity during use and often collect blood, minute debris and other microbial and particulate matter, which have been shown to be a source of blood-born pathogen transmission, including the transmission of the Hepatitis B and HIV viruses. Because of the potential for transmission of pathogens by dental hand pieces, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued detailed guidelines for proper handling and sterilization of these devices following each patient use. Among other things, proper hand piece sterilization involves autoclaving the instrument at approximately 15 psi and 121° C. for a period of thirty minutes (cold sterilization using a disinfectant solution is often ineffective). This requirement, although necessary, drastically reduces the number of patients that can be effectively treated during the dentist's normal work day due to the increased time required to both autoclave and cool instruments. (The cost of dental hand pieces range from a few hundred to well over a thousand dollars, which makes it economically difficult to maintain a large number of such appliances in order to handle an increased patient load). Moreover, repetitive autoclaving has been shown to decrease the useful life of the instruments themselves.
Another concern related to the use of high-speed dental hand pieces is the noise level at which the dentist is exposed. The typical high-speed dental hand piece produces noise in the frequency range of 2,000 to 3,500 Hertz, with a typical amplitude of 80 decibels at approximately 2,000 Hertz. With the average dentist spending many hours per week, over a number of years, exposed to the noise from dental appliances, the potential readily exists for the dental practitioner to experience some type of hearing disorder.
In sum, the need has arisen for apparatus and methods which provide a practical means for preventing dental hand pieces from coming in direct contact with potentially harmful fluids or blood-born pathogens found within the oral cavity. Moreover, it would be highly advantageous if such methods and apparatus could also reduce the noise level to which the dental practitioner is exposed during the use of such hand pieces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The principles of the present invention are embodied in a cover for a selected dental hand piece. The body includes first and second halves of a shape and dimensions selected to substantially conform with a shape and dimensions of the selected hand piece. The halves are mirror symmetric. Means are also provided for coupling the first and second halves of the body and allowing the first half to rotate with respect to the second half to thereby form an enclosure for enclosing a substantial portion of the hand piece. The enclosure includes a head portion, handle portion and a substantially rigid neck portion between handle portion and head portion, each corresponding to a portion of the hand piece.
The inventive principles are also embodied in a prophylactic device for minimizing exposure of selected portions of a dental hand piece to potentially contaminated matter. The device includes a body formed of a layer of substantially rigid material including integral handle, neck and head portions each having a shape and dimensions preselected to substantially conform with the corresponding handle, neck and head portions of the hand piece. The body comprises first and second halves, symmetric along a longitudinal axis of the body. An integral hinge is included for rotating the first half of the body for engagement with the second half, a first sidewall of the body defining an enclosures for encompassing the handle, neck and head portions of the hand piece.
The invention can also be embodied in a dental appliance including a dental hand piece and a protective cover enclosing the hand piece. The protective cover includes a body substantially conforming in shape and dimensions with the hand piece and having first and second halves symmetric along a longitudinal axis of the body. The cover further includes integral means for rotating the first half of the body for engagement with the second half, thereby defining an enclosure adapted to enclose the hand piece. Integral means retain the first and second halves in engagement and enclosure of the hand piece.
A method of constructing a protective cover for a dental hand piece is also disclosed. A mold is constructed having a shape and dimensions corresponding to a selected model of dental hand piece and defining symmetric halves of head, neck and handle portions of the cover along with hinge means for folding the halves into engagement. The cover is then formed from the selected plastic using the mold.
The principles of the present invention provide substantial advantages over the prior art. Among other things, both halves of the protective cover can be formed and distributed as a single unitary body. Moreover, according to these principles, each cover is specifically designed to conform with the dimensions and shape of various available dental hand pieces. Moreover, ribs are provided on the inner surface of the hand piece to isolate the hand piece from the cover and thereby reduce the noise experienced by the dental practitioner.
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Lucchesi Nicholas D.
Murphy, Esq. James J.
Winstead Sechrest & Minick
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