Dental cleaning instrument

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A dental instrument comprising: a) a handle portion adapted to be grasped by a user, said handle portion having a first channel and a second channel therein; b) a head portion attached to an end of the handle portion and configured to be placed over one tooth, said head portion having, 1) irrigation ports communicating with the first channel in the handle portion, said irrigation ports configured to direct a liquid flow against the tooth, and, 2) suction ports communicating with the second channel in the handle portion, said suction ports adapted to remove liquid and debris from the area of the tooth.

2. The dental instrument according to claim 1, wherein the handle portion and the head portion are capable of being subjected to autoclave sterilization temperatures and pressures.

3. The dental instrument according to claim 1, further including a manually operated valve controlling the liquid flow through said first channel.

4. The dental instrument according to claim 3, wherein pressure on the head portion causes said manually operated valve to open.

5. The dental instrument according to claim 3, wherein the manually operated valve is attached to the handle portion.

6. The dental instrument according to claim 3, wherein said manually operated valve also controls an amount of suction being applied to the second channel.

7. The dental instrument according to claim 1, further including: a) a first connector for securing the first channel to a pressurized liquid source; and, b) a second connector for securing the second channel to a suction source.

8. The dental instrument according to claim 1, further including a catch basin secured to the head portion and adapted to collect spent liquid, and wherein the suction ports are at least partially directed towards the catch basin.

9. An assembly for tooth cleaning comprising: a) a liquid pump drawing liquid from a reservoir and delivering it under pressure; b) a suction pump creating a less than atmospheric pressure environment; c) a handle portion adapted to be grasped by a user, said handle portion having a first channel communicating with a pressurized side of the liquid pump and a second channel communicating with the less than atmospheric pressure environment of the suction pump; and, d) a head portion attached to an end of the handle portion and configured to be placed over one tooth, said head portion having, 1) irrigation ports communicating with the first channel in the handle portion, said irrigation ports configured to direct a pressurized liquid flow against the tooth, and, 2) suction ports communicating with the second channel in the handle portion, said suction ports adapted to withdraw liquid and debris from the area of the tooth.

10. The assembly for tooth cleaning according to claim 9, further including: a) a first disconnect adapted to selectively secure the liquid pump to the first channel; and, b) a second disconnect adapted to selectively secure the suction pump to the second channel.

11. The assembly for tooth cleaning according to claim 10, further including: a) a removable liquid reservoir configured to supply liquid to the liquid pump; and, b) a removable debris reservoir configured to collect liquid and debris withdrawn from the tooth area by the suction pump.

12. The assembly for tooth cleaning according to claim 10, wherein the handle portion and the head portion are capable of being subjected to autoclave sterilization temperatures and pressures.

13. The assembly for tooth cleaning according to claim 10, further including a manually operated valve controlling the liquid flow through said first channel.

14. The assembly for tooth cleaning according to claim 13, wherein pressure on the head portion causes said manually operated valve to open.

15. An assembly for tooth cleaning comprising: a) a liquid pump drawing liquid from a reservoir and delivering it under pressure; b) a suction pump creating a less than atmospheric pressure environment; c) a handle portion adapted to be grasped by a user; and, d) a head portion attached to an end of the handle portion and configured to be placed over one tooth, said head portion having, 1) irrigation ports configured to direct a pressurized liquid flow from said liquid pump against the tooth, and, 2) suction ports adapted to withdraw liquid and debris from the area of the tooth in response to the suction pump.

16. The assembly for tooth cleaning according to claim 15, further including: a) a removable liquid reservoir configured to supply liquid to the liquid pump; and, b) a removable debris reservoir configured to collect liquid and debris withdrawn from the tooth area by the suction pump.

Description

DRAWINGS IN BRIEF

[0026] FIG. 1, graphically illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0027] FIG. 2, illustrates the preferred embodiment for the head portion.

[0028] FIG. 3, illustrates an embodiment of the valve mechanism used in the invention.

[0029] FIGS. 4A and 4B, are top and side views of an embodiment of a head portion of the invention which addresses more than one tooth and which cleans both the outside and inside of the tooth.

DRAWINGS IN DETAIL

[0030] FIG. 1, graphically illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0031] The assembly shown in FIG. 1, has a handle portion 10 which is adapted to be grasped by a user 12A. Within the handle are two channels (not shown) which are used to communicate, via hose 14B, the liquid (e.g. water or sterilizing agent) drawn from reservoir 15 and pressurized using pump 16. The second channel (not shown) is used to evacuate the debris and spent liquid via suction 17 (less than atmospheric pressure) allowing the withdrawn liquid/debris mixture to be collected in reservoir 15A.

[0032] In one embodiment, user's hand 12A is able to activate switch 13A on handle portion 10 to activate pump 16 and suction 17; in an alternative embodiment, user's foot 12B activates foot switch 13B to perform the activation process.

[0033] Head 11 is positioned on the end of handle portion 10 and is used to apply the liquid (from pump 16) and the suction (from suction 17) against the tooth and surrounding area being treated.

[0034] In the preferred embodiment, handle 10 is disengaged from tubing 14A and tubing 14B using disconnects 18A and 18B respectively. This allows the combination of handle 10/head 11 to be either disposed or, alternatively, to be sterilized using autoclave sterilization temperatures and pressures. If autoclave sterilization is desired, the handle 10/head 11 must be manufactured using a material which is capable of withstanding the autoclave procedure.

[0035] FIG. 2, illustrates the preferred embodiment for the head portion.

[0036] Head portion 11 is attached to an end of the handle portion (not shown) and configured to be placed over a tooth 25. The pressurized liquid 21 is directed against tooth 25 via ports 22A. Pressurized liquid 21 causes debris around tooth 25 to be dislodged. The spent liquid and dislodged debris is removed via port 22B by suction 24.

[0037] In this embodiment, catch basin 23 is used to enhance the collection of the spent liquid and dislodged debris, thereby allowing suction 24 to be more effective.

[0038] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a pressure sensor 26 is secured to the bottom face of head 11. This sensor activates liquid 21 and suction 24 when the head 11 contacts tooth 26. In this embodiment, excess uncontrolled spray of the liquid is minimized.

[0039] FIG. 3, illustrates an embodiment of the valve mechanism used in the invention.

[0040] Valve 30 is used to connect the suction 31A and the pressurized liquid 31B with their respective channels in the handle portion (not shown) for communication with the head portion (not shown).

[0041] Suction 31A is communicated with valve 30 using tubing 33A which passes through chamber 36 and is communicated to tubing 33B.

[0042] In like manner, pressurized liquid 31B is communicated to valve 30 via tubing 34A, passing through chamber 36, to tubing 34B.

[0043] Note that tubing 33A (the suction) is larger than tubing 34A (the liquid) in this embodiment to assure that the debris/spent liquid is fully removed without a back up of the liquid within the patient's mouth.

[0044] Dual plunger 35 has a dual shut off 32A and 32B operate in a gang relationship to close off or open when plunger 35 is moved as indicated by the arrow. This permits a single valve 30 to control both the liquid delivery and the suction removal.

[0045] In the preferred embodiment, the suction component is opened via plunger 35 before the liquid component is to assure full and complete removal of the spent liquid and debris.

[0046] FIGS. 4A and 4B, are top and side views of an embodiment of a head portion of the invention which addresses more than one tooth and which cleans both the outside and inside of the tooth.

[0047] In this embodiment, head portion 40 is generally U shaped with aprons 41A and 41B adapted to address the interior and exterior of teeth 45. Note that in this embodiment, head portion 40 is able to address two or more teeth simultaneously, but the invention is not intended to be so limited and is ideally designed to address a single tooth for maximum manipulation by the operator.

[0048] Aprons 41A and 41B direct jets of water 42 against the teeth to dislodge debris which is then evacuated via suction openings 43 to be discharged 44.

[0049] The present embodiment is particularly useful as a single swipe of the instrument cleans both sides of the teeth. If a sterilizing agent is employed instead of water, this invention assists in reducing any contaminants which might affect an instrument during intubation of the patient; thereby reducing the secondary infections experienced during intubation.

[0050] It is clear the present invention provides for an improved instrument for cleaning the teeth of patients who are in various states of invalidity.