Dental delivery device

Abstract

A single use cartridge 10 is disclosed for dispensing a medicament or other substance for dental, medical, or veterinarian applications. A motive fluid can contact the medicament to mix and dispense from reservoir 12, or the motive fluid can act on a plunger 21 to dispense the medicament. A handpiece 15 can sealably connect the cartridge 10 to a source of the motive fluid. The cartridge 10 can be easily replaced to facilitate the use of multiple cartridges with a single handpiece 15. An ultrasonic cleaning element 30 with a channel for fluid flow can be used in a handpiece 25 with a single use medicament cartridge 28 to dispense medicament during ultrasonic dental procedures. A cartridge 72 can contain a mixing element 70 to mix the motive fluid and abrasive particles for tooth surface polishing.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 162,069, filed Aug. 26, 2005, which application claims the benefit of my earlier application U.S. Ser. No. 60 / 604,967 filed Aug. 27, 2004.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to dental delivery devices, more particularly, to a single use medicament delivery device with a replaceable cartridge. The invention addresses such current issues as infection control, medicament dispensing, dental scaling, polishing, and surface abrading while maintaining ease of use, size, and portability.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Dental equipment and techniques have evolved over the past decades of use. New concerns such as infection control and sterility of equipment and materials have become increasingly important, both to the patient and to the dental professional. Dental professionals require equipment for dispensing many substances including air, water, medicament, surface abrad...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Most dental equipment is required to be sterilized which consumes time and labor.

Each device requires time, labor, and capital to own, operate, and sterilize.

Dental dispensing devices can require a gas, liquid, or electrical means for operation, which can lead to a complicated supply system.

In addition to the expense, having a multitude of supply systems can lead to an unsafe environment due to the close proximity to the patient and dental professional.

Some medicaments require mixing with a gas, a liquid, or both, which can require different connections to the office air and water supply creating even more complications.

This powder can absorb moisture from the surroundings and clog the orifices and tubing.

Operators of these units can have difficulties in cleaning the powder reservoirs and keeping them dry, and removing, cleaning, and disinfecting their assemblies.

Moreover, the base reservoir does not facilitate easy change of the polishing compound for different patients who require a different type or would like a different flavor.

This requires additional equipment to be purchased and sterilized for each patient if a medicament is used with the ultrasonic scaler treatment, in addition to the time wasted by the dental professional setting up and switching equipment.

Images