DEVICE AND METHOD FOR LUBRICATING DYNAMIC INSTRUMENT HOLDERS

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for lubricating a dynamic instrument holder (300), characterized in that it comprises a disposable lubricating set including: a container (100) containing a pre-dosed quantity of lubricant, said quantity corresponding to the quantity required for the lubrication of a single dynamic instrument holder (300); and a tubular end piece (200) preformed with a communicating hollow core (230) and comprising two ends, the first end (210) of said end piece (200) attaching to an open end of said dynamic instrument holder (300) in such a way as to allow the flow of a lubricant to the dynamic instrument holder (300), and the container being connected to the second end (220). The invention also relates to a method for lubricating dynamic instrument holders. The invention is applicable to the lubrication of surgical tools such as dynamic instrument holders.

Claims

1. Lubrication device for a dynamic instrument holder (300), CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it comprises a disposable lubricating set including: a container (100) containing a pre-dosed quantity of lubricant, said quantity corresponding to the quantity required for the lubrication of a single dynamic instrument holder (300), a tubular end piece (200) preformed with a communicating hollow core (230) and comprising two ends, the first end (210) of said end piece (200) attaching to an open end of said dynamic instrument holder (300) in such a way as to allow the flow of the lubricant to the dynamic instrument holder (300), the container (100) being connected to the second end (220).

2. The device according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said container (100) is preformed with an end (110) forming a neck and the second end (220) of said end piece (200) being preformed so that the end (110) forming a neck of said container (100) fits by friction into said end piece (200).

3. The device according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the end piece and the container form a single unit ready to be attached to the open end of the dynamic instrument holder to be lubricated.

4. The device according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said container (100) is flexible and contains a pre-dosed quantity of lubricant and air entering into the dynamic instrument holder (300) under the pressure exerted by the user on the walls of the container (100).

5. The device according to claim 2, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the end (110) forming the neck of the container (100) that fits into said end piece (200) is sealed and must be broken to be opened before fitting into the end piece (200).

6. The device according to claim 2, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said container (100) is preformed in a beveled shape tapering away from the end (110) forming the neck.

7. The device according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it comprises a first packaging receiving a single container (100) and a single end piece (200), said first sealed package being received alone in a second slightly larger sealed package.

8. The device according to claim 2, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the tubular end piece (200) has a hollow core (230) preformed to include three adjacent coaxial hollow portions: a first hollow cylindrical portion (231) of a first diameter starting from the first end (210), the diameter of which allows the end piece (200) to fit into the rear end of the dynamic instrument holder (300), a second hollow cylindrical portion (232), of a second diameter smaller than the first, allowing to receive and retain by friction, once opened, the end (110) forming the neck of the container (100), a third hollow frustoconical portion (233), flaring out toward the second end (220), allowing the end piece to center and receive the end of the container (100) which is preformed under the end (110) forming the neck of a frustoconical shape.

9. The device according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the end piece is made of polyethylene associated with a material such as SEBS (thermoplastic elastomer).

10. The device according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the lubricant is a white oil.

11. The device according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said container forms a one-piece assembly with its end forming the neck engaging with the end piece, the neck being sealed after filling.

12. The device according to claim 2, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said container (100) is preformed with a first widened neck having an externally and internally threaded cylindrical shape, the internal thread (111) receiving a screwable sleeve (130) forming a narrow neck preformed to engage with the end piece (200), the external thread (112) receiving a screw cap (B).

13. The device according to claim 2, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the base of the end forming the neck of the container fitting into said end piece is preformed with an external thread, said end being closed by means of a cap screwed onto the thread.

14. The device according to claim 2, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the tubular end piece (200) has a hollow core (230) preformed to include three adjacent coaxial hollow portions: a first hollow cylindrical portion (231) of a first diameter starting from the first end, the diameter allowing the end piece to fit into the rear end of the dynamic instrument holder and tapering inwards up to a second diameter smaller than the first, a second hollow cylindrical portion (232), taking on said second diameter, allowing to receive and retain by friction, once opened, the end forming the neck of the container, a third hollow frustoconical portion (233), flaring out toward the second end, allowing the end piece to center and receive the end of the container, which is preformed, under the neck of a frustoconical shape.

15. The device according to claim 14, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the third (233) and second (232) portions are dimensioned so that once the container is installed in the end piece, the open end (131) of the container (100) opens into the first portion (231).

16. The device according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the outer surface of the end piece (200) has a frustoconical shape for the first end attached to the open end of the dynamic instrument holder.

17. Method for lubricating a dynamic instrument holder (300) using the device according to any one of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it includes the following operations: filling a flexible container (100) with a lubricant and air, closure by means of a cap (111), placing said container (100) and an end piece (200) in a first packaging, sealing of the first package, placing the first sealed package in a second slightly larger package, sealing of the second package, packaging sterilization, sterilization of the dynamic instrument holder (300), opening of the second packaging, opening of the first packaging, opening of the container (100), fitting of the open container (100) into an end (220) of the end piece (200), fitting of the end piece (200) into the rear end of the dynamic instrument holder (300), pressing on the container (100) by the user until completely empty.

18. The method of claim 17, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the sterilization of the packaging is carried out by gamma irradiation.

19. The method of claim 17, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the second packages containing the first packages are placed in lots in cartons, the whole being sterilized.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0070] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of an external perspective view of an embodiment of a container according to the invention;

[0071] FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of an external side view of the container of FIG. 1;

[0072] FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of an exterior perspective view of an embodiment of an end piece according to the invention;

[0073] FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of a side sectional view of the end piece of FIG. 3;

[0074] FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of an external view of the assembly of the container from which the breakable cap has been removed with the end piece;

[0075] FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of a sectional view of the assembly of the container with the end piece;

[0076] FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing of an external side view of an assembly of the container with the end piece installed on a dynamic instrument holder;

[0077] FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing of a side perspective view of another embodiment of a container according to the invention;

[0078] FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing of a sectional view of another embodiment of an end piece according to the invention;

[0079] FIG. 10 is a schematic drawing of a sectional view of the container of FIG. 8 fitted onto the end piece of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0080] The lubricating device of the invention mainly comprises a container 100, illustrated alone in the drawings of FIGS. 1 and 2, and an end piece 200, illustrated alone in the drawings of FIGS. 3 and 4. Their fitting is illustrated by the drawings of FIGS. 5 and 6. Their installation on a dynamic instrument holder 300 for lubrication purposes is illustrated in the drawing of FIG. 7.

[0081] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a container 100 comprising a hollow body equipped at its front end with a frustoconical shape ending in a neck 110, and at its other end 120 with a beveled shape tapering toward the rear. The container 100 is made of a plastic material (here in polyethylene) and its neck 110 is closed after filling by means of a cap 111. The beveled shape facilitates the expulsion of the entire volume.

[0082] FIGS. 3 and 4 show an end piece 200 comprising a tubular body having an outer shoulder 201 made of polyethylene. This end piece 200 is preformed to be universal so that it can be inserted at a first end 210 in all dynamic instrument holders, all the handpieces and contra-angles used in dental surgery and to receive the open neck 110 of container 100 at a second end 220. The outer shoulder 201 makes it possible to differentiate the end 220 engaging with the container 100 from the end 210 engaging with the dynamic instrument holder 300 (see FIG. 7).

[0083] The hollow core 230 is preformed to include three adjacent hollow coaxial portions: [0084] a first hollow cylindrical portion 231 of a first diameter starting from the first end 210, the diameter of which allows the end piece 200 to fit into the rear end of the dynamic instrument holder 300 (see FIG. 7), [0085] a second hollow cylindrical portion 232 having a second diameter smaller than the first, making it possible to receive and retain by friction the open neck 110 of the container 100, [0086] a third hollow frustoconical portion 233, flaring out toward the second end 220, allowing the end piece to center and receive the end of the container 100, which is preformed in a frustoconical shape, under the neck 110.

[0087] That friction also contributes to the tightness of the bond. The frustoconical shape facilitates the positioning of said neck.

[0088] As illustrated in the drawings of FIGS. 5 and 6, this friction and sealing are made possible by: [0089] the tight fit created between the inner surface of the hollow cylinder 232 and the outer surface of the neck 110, [0090] the concave frustoconical preformation (corresponding to the portion 233) for the end piece 200 and convex 130 for the container 100.

[0091] The material of the container 100 is flexible and contributes to the elasticity of the neck 110 which can be deformed to allow its introduction into the cylinder 231 and to retain the container 100 by friction in the end piece 200. The material of the end piece 200 is also flexible to facilitate insertions, frictional retention and sealing.

[0092] According to a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, the end piece 200 and the container 100 are made of polyethylene. The material of the end piece 200 is also combined with a SEBS-type thermoplastic elastomer in order to achieve a 50 Shore A hardness.

[0093] The length as well as the diameter of the hollow cylinder 231 is determined so as to allow its insertion onto the open end corresponding to the rear of the dynamic instrument holder 300, as illustrated in the drawing of FIG. 7. The outside diameter of the first end 210 of the end piece 200 is also defined to establish a tight friction bond with the end of the dynamic instrument holder. The dynamic instrument holder 300 is then ready to be lubricated.

[0094] In accordance with the invention, this dynamic instrument holder 300 has already been sterilized before the lubrication operation and the container 100 and its end piece 200 are removed from a sterile packaging (not shown).

[0095] The user ensures the breaking of the cap 111 in a sterile environment and fits the container 100 in the end piece 200, as illustrated in the drawing of FIG. 5.

[0096] The assembly is then fitted onto the open end of the dynamic instrument holder 300. The assembly is oriented in a vertical position with the dynamic instrument holder down and the container up. The user then presses the container 100 to move the lubricant into the dynamic instrument holder 300 through the end piece 200. Conventionally, the lubricant escapes through the lower end of the dynamic instrument holder 300. The latter is then sterile and lubricated, fully operational.

[0097] The end piece 200 and the container 100 are disposable and are therefore discarded after a single use.

[0098] The drawings of FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 illustrate other embodiments, both for the container and for the end piece.

[0099] As illustrated by the drawing of FIG. 8, the container 100 is a container which is closed by means of a screw cap B.

[0100] As illustrated in more detail in the drawing of FIG. 10, said container 100 takes on the same rear shape as the container 100 but differs from the latter because of the screwing method used for closing the container 100 as well as for receiving a sleeve 130 which is screwed into the neck 110 and engages with the end piece 200.

[0101] Therefore, this container 100 is preformed with a first widened neck 110 having an externally and internally threaded cylindrical shape. The internal thread 111 receives a screwable sleeve 130 forming, at a first end, a narrow neck 131 preformed to engage with the end piece 200 and, at a second end, an externally threaded cylinder 132. The external thread 112 receives the screw cap B. Therefore, the narrow neck 131 remains smooth and can engage with the hollow core 230 of the end piece for wedging and maintaining the seal during the passage of the fluid from the container to the dynamic instrument holder.

[0102] As illustrated in the drawing of FIG. 9, the tubular end piece 200 has a hollow core 230 preformed to include three adjacent coaxial hollow portions: [0103] a first hollow frustoconical portion 231 of a first diameter starting from the first end allowing the end piece 200 to fit into the rear end of the dynamic instrument holder and tapering toward the interior up to a second diameter smaller than the first, [0104] a second hollow cylindrical portion 232 adopting said second diameter, allowing to receive and retain by friction, once opened, the end 131 forming the neck of the container 100, [0105] a third hollow frustoconical portion 233, flaring out toward the second end, allowing the end piece 200 to center and receive the end of the container which is preformed in a frustoconical shape 133 under the neck 131.

[0106] The outward flaring (or inward tapering) of the first portion 231 is illustrated but hardly visible because the taper angle is small.

[0107] Likewise, the outer surface does not take on the shape of a simple cylinder but that of two trunks of a cone so that the two outer ends of the end piece are tapered relative to the median part of the end piece. These conical shapes are hardly visible because the taper angle is small. The two ends of the end piece 200 are tapered, the one which engages with the container 100 to allow unmolding this plastic part, and the one which engages with the dynamic instrument holder so that it can adapt and provide a seal when fitted to different opening diameters of the dynamic instrument holder.

[0108] As illustrated in the drawing of FIG. 10, the open end 131 of the container 100 opens into the first portion 231.

[0109] The first end of the end piece 200 is chamfered to facilitate its insertion into the dynamic instrument holder.

[0110] It will be understood that the device and the method, which were described and represented above, were for the purpose of disclosure rather than limitation. Various arrangements, modifications and improvements may obviously be made to the above example, without departing from the scope of the invention.