Illumination – Light fiber – rod – or pipe – Medical
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-05
2004-04-13
Tso, Laura K. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Light fiber, rod, or pipe
Medical
C362S572000, C362S558000, C362S554000, C362S580000, C362S577000, C385S117000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06719447
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field
This invention pertains to operatory lighting systems, particularly such systems for illuminating the oral cavity of a dental patient. It is particularly directed to a versatile system which provides both hard wired and fiber optic illumination capabilities for dental handpieces.
2. State of the Art
Modern dental offices are conventionally equipped with hand held devices called “handpieces. ” A handpiece, most typically an air-driven dental drill, is connected to its drive air supply through a conduit system comprising a portion of a utility bundle. The bundle is usually contained within a long flexible umbilical casing, often called a “hose,” or “handpiece tubing,” and conventionally includes passageways to accommodate drive air, exhaust air, chip air, water and lighting for the handpiece. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,334,863; 4,553,938; 4,975,058; 5,088,924 and 5,145,370 describe representative conventional handpiece tubing assemblies of this type.
Lighting has been provided to handpieces by two distinct approaches. According to one approach, a fiber optic bundle is connected at a proximal end to a light generator and at a distal end to a handpiece. The fiber bundle is positioned within the umbilical utility hose (handpiece tubing). The fiber bundles used commercially for this purpose originally comprised glass fibers, although more recently, other light-transmitting fibers, notably acrylic fibers, have been proposed. An alternative arrangement, sometimes called the “power optic” system, positions a high intensity subminiaturized light bulb at the distal end of the umbilical hose. Power is delivered to the bulb through wires strung down the umbilical hose for connection to a power supply. This approach is best illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 4,334,863.
A major inconvenience in the field has been the incompatibility of components of the fiber optic and power optic systems generally. Fiber optic systems conventionally utilize high intensity “projector” bulbs operated at standard house voltage, e.g. 120 volts. Power optic systems require a low voltage power generator dissimilar from those available in fiber optic systems. Moreover, the power generators furnished by any particular manufacturer have been incompatible with the bulbs associated with the handpiece tubings of the power optic systems supplied by other such manufacturers. Current major suppliers of power optic systems utilize subminiature bulbs which operate at 3.5 volts, 4.09 volts and 5.5-6 volts, respectively. These bulbs each require suitably matched power supplies. Accordingly, once a selected power optic system is acquired, and the appropriate power supply is installed in the field, the purchaser has limited options with respect to replacement parts or upgrades to the system.
Recently, adjustable power supplies for power optic installations have become available. The output voltage of these devices may be adjusted for use with a selected bulb voltage. Once adjusted, however, a single output voltage is available for use. Accordingly, the installation is limited as a practical matter to interfacing with the handpiece tubings of a single selected power optic system. Under current conditions, it remains necessary to provide a plurality of distinct power supplies in association with a dental operatory to support the operation of handpiece tubings furnished by a corresponding plurality of original equipment suppliers.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,957,347; 5,052,778 and 5,067,831 together disclose linear optical conduits, and their disclosures are instructive concerning the state of the art with respect to fiber optic technology generally. Among other things, these patents disclose various embodiments of a flexible, clad, monofilament optical conduit constructed around a flexible, light-transmitting, polymeric core characterized by a relatively high refractive index. The core is surrounded by a shrunk, heat shrinkable cladding, which has a relatively low refractive index compared to that of the core. The disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,957,347; 5,052,778 and 5,067,831 are incorporated into this disclosure by reference for their teachings of materials and structures which may be incorporated into certain preferred embodiments of this invention.
Typically dental fiber optic handpiece hose assemblies have a smooth-walled aseptic outer tubing that contains a plurality of internal components to provide drive air, an exhaust line, chip air and coolant air to a dental handpiece. Typical dental handpiece bundles use a single airline (drive air) to power an associated handpiece. The drive air line delivers air at positive pressure as it enters a chamber to contact an impeller which drives a turbine, collet and burr. Air continues around the turbine chamber and out the main air exhaust port. The exiting air meets resistance, known as static pressure. Static pressure creates back pressure that retards the turbine assembly from spinning to its full potential.
The fiber optic bundle of a handpiece is typically comprised of stranded glass or acrylic. While either fiber optic bundle allows sufficient light to pass from one end to the other, the characteristically cylindrical strands of such bundles, when packed together, leave voids between the strands. The presence of these voids between the optic fibers results in a failure to utilize all of the available area in the bundle to transmit light.
Certain otherwise suitable light sources have been found to burn out acrylic optic bundles very rapidly; e.g., within 30 seconds from the time the light source is activated. The cause of this rapid destruction has been found to be infra red radiation produced by the light source. These light sources also characteristically produce a heat build-up. Acrylic fibers will burn out or melt down when exposed to minimal amounts of infra red radiation and/or temperatures which exceed 140 degrees Fahrenheit for a duration longer than a few seconds. Acrylic fibers are preferred because of their relatively high light output properties. It has not heretofore been feasible to utilize them in connection with these high intensity light sources.
The coupling of terminal ends of fiber bundles, particularly at plug connections, has been problematic. For example, dental handpiece assemblies typically have a smooth wall aseptic outer tubing that contains a plurality of internal components and lines or tubings in addition to a fiber optic bundle. The output end of the assembly consists of a plastic or metal tube separator with hose barbs, and is shielded with a threaded outer sleeve called a handpiece nut. This nut connects to an optic-containing device. Due to the variety of lengths of the fiber optic pins on the back of the optic-containing device, the fiber optic receptacle in the assembly must be excessively recessed to avoid compression damage. Otherwise, the two juxtaposed, rigidly mounted bundles may be compressed with excessive force, causing damage to the respective optic ends. The recessed receptacle inevitably results in a gap between the optic bundles, thereby effecting a loss in light transmission.
The present invention relates generally to fiber optic light illuminators. Typically, a fiber optic light source consists of a high intensity projector style bulb with a cooling fan. Down sizing a modern light source is restricted by the size of fan needed to cool the bulb. Another disadvantage of the modern day light source is its large size, which requires it to be mounted in a cabinet some distance from chair side. This limitation imposes a length requirement for the fiber optic tubing used to connect a handpiece to the light source. The longer fiber optic tubing adds excessive weight and greater loss of light due to the distance the light must travel from the light source to the handpiece. Low light output and excessive weight are undesirable qualities in fiber optic tubing, as these characteristics cause both eye and hand fatigue to the operator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a low voltage power supply capable of functioning
Heckerman Brad B.
Meuchel Dennis A.
Woodward Gary W.
Micron Dental Manufacturing, Inc.
TraskBritt
Tso Laura K.
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