Testing of useful dental vaccum
US5779472A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 21, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jul 14, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 21, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61C17/12
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus provide for testing the useful vacuum of a dental vacuum system having at least one high volume evacuator valve (HVE) or hose. The vacuum tester is simple, inexpensive, can be used by non-technical personnel, is easily fabricated to test a wide range of performance standards, and evaluates useful vacuum performance during full flow (that is a real-life situation). The tester includes two simple components, an adaptor tube that is placed into contact with an HVE or hose, and a vacuum indicating weight which cooperates with the adaptor tube. With the dental vacuum system operating the weight is brought into position with respect to the tube so that gravity acts to move the weight away from the tube, and then the weight is released. If the weight moves away from the tube the useful vacuum conditions of the dental vacuum system are insufficient, whereas if the weight stays in operative position with respect to the tube the useful vacuum conditions are sufficient. The tube and the weight can each have a wide variety of configurations, and the weight can have an adjustable mass and/or internal cross-sectional configuration.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.