The invention provides a unitary cordless dental drive apparatus with a cantilever arm extending outward and positioned to allow a dental nose cone to be connected. An activating switch is located at the free end of the cantilever arm in a position that is convenient for manipulation by a user. In a second embodiment, the switch is in the form of a contactor mounted below the cantilever arm to contact the nose cone when pressed. In a third embodiment, a foot pedal connected to a wireless transmitter is provided to send a signal to a receiver located within the handpiece for activating the handpiece.

A dental laser system for treatment of hard and/or soft tissue includes a main chamber housing optical and primary fluid supply subsystems, for directing a laser beam and fluid to a treatment area. A hand piece affixable to the main chamber, includes mating optical and secondary fluid supply subsystems. The hand piece can be rotatable or re-orientable about an optical axis within the hand piece. A lock can maintain a selectable angular orientation of the hand piece relative to the main chamber. A coupling can maintain a fluidic communication between the primary and secondary fluid supply subsystems even when the hand piece is rotated or re-oriented. A sensor and controller can sense a selected angular orientation of the hand piece and adjust the main optical subsystem according to the sensed angular orientation, to align the two optical subsystems. The laser may be controlled using a variable speed foot pedal.

A system for driving an electric handpiece in response to a pneumatic control signal may provide for fast interchange of handpieces, self-calibration and wide dynamic range of operation with precise speed control. The system may be incorporated into virtually any dental treatment center using traditional pneumatic drive handpieces, and a conversion kit may facilitate such conversion. The system may provide not only for controlling the speed and torque of a tool coupled to an electric drive handpiece responsive to a pneumatic control signal, it may also provide for coupling cooling air and treatment media, such as air and/or water to the handpiece. Coupling of a handpiece to an operating base of the system, including coupling of media lines and electrical connections may be made with a simple press and twist action using quick connection structure.

A dental device is disclosed comprising a dental handpiece, a controller including a microcontroller and a foot control pressure sensor, and a foot pedal. The foot pedal is in communication with the controller and controls the dental handpiece. The dental device is arranged to configure between at least two of a speed limiting mode, a feathering mode, and a standard mode. In the speed limiting mode, the controller proportions air flow so as to limit the speed of the dental handpiece to a specified speed. In the feathering mode, the foot pedal proportions air to the controller which then transmits the air to the dental handpiece such that the foot pedal controls the speed of the dental handpiece. In the standard mode, the speed of the dental handpiece is set without limiting by the controller and without feathering by the foot pedal.

The invention provides a unitary cordless dental drive apparatus with a cantilever arm extending outward and positioned to allow a dental nose cone to be connected. An activating switch is located at the free end of the cantilever arm in a position that is convenient for manipulation by a user. In a second embodiment, the switch is in the form of a contactor mounted below the cantilever arm to contact the nose cone when pressed. In a third embodiment, a foot pedal connected to a wireless transmitter is provided to send a signal to a receiver located within the handpiece for activating the handpiece.

A foot control unit enables a dentist to operate a dental hand piece using the dentist's knowledge of selected positions of the control unit, along with the ability of the dentist to feel when the control unit is in a selected position.

A dental laser system for treatment of hard and/or soft tissue includes a main chamber housing optical and primary fluid supply subsystems, for directing a laser beam and fluid to a treatment area. A hand piece affixable to the main chamber, includes mating optical and secondary fluid supply subsystems. The hand piece can be rotatable or re-orientable about an optical axis within the hand piece. A lock can maintain a selectable angular orientation of the hand piece relative to the main chamber. A coupling can maintain a fluidic communication between the primary and secondary fluid supply subsystems even when the hand piece is rotated or re-oriented. A sensor and controller can sense a selected angular orientation of the hand piece and adjust the main optical subsystem according to the sensed angular orientation, to align the two optical subsystems. The laser may be controlled using a variable speed foot pedal.

Various types of medical devices incorporating a light therapy system are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the medical device provides an ultrasonic driver and a light therapy driver. The ultrasonic driver provides an ultrasonic vibration signal output port and is configured to discharge an ultrasonic frequency vibration signal therefrom. The light therapy driver provides a laser light output port and is configured to discharge laser light therefrom. A handpiece housing of the medical device provides an input assembly connected to each of the ultrasonic vibration signal output port and laser light output port. The input assembly provides an ultrasonic tip assembly configured to output each of the vibration signal and laser light at an operational end of the tip assembly. Thus, the vibration signal and laser light are capable of being simultaneously or alternatingly delivered via the tip assembly.

A tooth cleaning apparatus for an incapacitated patient which utilizes pressurized liquid to dislodge debris from a tooth area and a suction pump to remove the debris and spent liquid from the incapacitated patient. A handle portion has a first channel which delivers the pressurized liquid and a second channel for the suction function. These channels communicate with a head portion which is configured to be placed over a tooth of the incapacitated patient to simultaneously both rinse and suction the debris and liquid. In this manner, excess water and debris is prevented from collecting in the mouth of the incapacitated patient.

The present invention includes an apparatus and method for a hands-free foot pedal to attenuate and interrupt suction that attaches externally around suction tubing, in the context of any system where the flow of suction is through tubing.