Pneumatic dental vibrator with replaceable vibrator module

Abstract

An air-driven dental instrument (10) includes a replaceable vibrator module (16) detachably accommodated in an axial lodgment defined by an elongated outer casing (14) comprised of a frontal cap (22A) and a main body (26A) coupled with each other. When the cap (22A) is coupled, the module (16) is axially positioned against the cap (22A) by a positioning sleeve (90A) and is rotationally locked against the sleeve (90A) by a hexagonal formation (128) engaging into cutouts (136) formed on a housing (134). When the cap (22A) is disconnected from the main body (26A), the module (16) is retained by the housing (134) but is partly exposed therefrom. This permits a user to grip the module to thereby facilitate replacement of the module (16). <IMAGE>

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to improvements in hand-held pneumatic dental vibrating appliances such as pneumatic dental scalers. Background technique [0002] Certain dental procedures, such as scaling and root canal reaming, have traditionally been performed using powered dental vibrators. [0003] Generally, a dynamic dental vibrating appliance includes an elongated housing suitable for being held by hand, a vibrating device disposed in the housing as a vibration source, and a dental vibrating tool (such as Scaling Heads and Root Canal Reamers), which vibrate in response to vibrations generated in a vibrating device to perform dental treatments such as tooth scaling and root canal reaming. [0004] Vibrators used in dynamic dental vibrating appliances can be divided into two categories according to their working principles: electric vibrators, which use electric energy to generate vibration; pneumatic vibrators, which use compressed air as a power...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0010] The second problem is that since the rotor or vibrating element of a pneumatic vibrator may typically only vibrate at frequencies in the subsonic or audible range, it can produce very annoying audible sounds or noises that often make the patient uncomfortable

[0023] A second difficulty is that the body of the vibrator is made of multiple components, including a pair of side plates that define the working chamber

This creates an inconvenience for the user who has to discontinue use of their scaler until the scaler is repaired and returned to the user

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