Dental instrument and processes
US6179614A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 21, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jan 30, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 21, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61C3/025
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A dental instrument includes a handpiece having a nozzle from which is ejected a stream of abrasive particles, and a valve operated under the control of a microprocessor which regulate, as selected by a user, the stream of abrasive particles either as a continuous flowing stream or a pulsed flowing stream. The microprocessor enables the valves to be operated at a plurality of different pulse durations. A remote control unit, small enough to fit into the palm of a hand of a user, provides control of the basic parameters of the instrument, allowing the instrument to be conveniently placed and allowing fingertip control of the instrument without having to move away from the patient. The handpiece is integrated with a main dental unit foot control for a dental drill, so that the main dental unit foot control operates both the dental drill and the handpiece.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.