Tooth surface cleaning device

Abstract

To provide a tooth surface washing device that generates a powder mixed gas uniformly and continuously, and injects the powder mixed gas onto a tooth surface to remove dirt in dental treatment.SOLUTION: A tooth surface washing device 100 includes: a powder storage tank 110 for storing tooth surface washing powder; a dental treatment mixing instrument 120 for generating a powder mixed gas M by mixing the powder taken out from the powder storage tank, with the gas A supplied from an outside pressurized gas supply source; and a tooth surface washing handpiece 130 connected to this dental treatment mixing instrument, and washing the tooth surface by the powder mixed gas supplied. The dental treatment mixing instrument includes: a mixer body forming a cylindrical mixing chamber for generating the powder mixed gas, by mixing the powder taken out of the powder storage tank with the gas supplied from the outside pressurized gas supply source; and a truncated-cone-shaped mixing adjustment valve coaxially inserted in the cylindrical mixing chamber of the mixer body with the powder storage tank seated thereon, and oppositely arranged while partially protruding in the powder storage tank.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tooth surface cleaning device that sprays a powder-mixed gas onto a tooth surface to remove stains during dental treatment. [Background technology]

[0002] Periodontal disease and peri-implantitis are inflammatory diseases of the gums and oral mucosa caused by the adhesion of contaminants such as plaque and tartar derived from oral bacteria, which destroy the supporting tissues around natural teeth and implants, significantly shortening their lifespan. For this reason, treatments to remove these contaminants from the surfaces of natural teeth and implants are widely used in dental clinical practice. This treatment is known as "maintenance therapy" or SPT (Supportive Periodontal (Periimplant) Therapy) and is routinely applied in clinical dentistry, with the effect of significantly extending the lifespan of natural teeth and implants.

[0003] Regarding the removal of such contaminants from within the oral cavity, the effectiveness of ordinary washing with running water or detergents is limited. The reason for this is that contaminants adhere firmly to natural teeth and implant bodies, and when cleaning them, first of all, since they are inside the human oral cavity, when using running water or the like, care must be taken not to damage oral tissue, interfere with breathing, or have a negative effect on the respiratory or digestive organs. For this reason, when using running water alone, the amount and pressure of the running water must be limited, and it is difficult to achieve the ability to sufficiently remove contamination attached to natural teeth and implant bodies by using running water alone.

[0004] Next, when it comes to cleaning with detergents, although chemicals such as alkalis and acids have a remarkable cleaning effect, options are limited because chemicals that have a harmful effect on the human body cannot be used. Furthermore, even if a detergent contains a relatively low level of biotoxicity, its use in high concentrations or large quantities should be avoided.

[0005] Therefore, the current practice in dental clinical practice for removing contamination from the surfaces of natural teeth and implants involves using a scaler, a small rotating brush, or a tip connected to an ultrasonic transducer to manually scrub off the dirt in a pinpoint manner. However, tartar adheres firmly to the surface of natural teeth or implants, or if the tartar is present in a subgingival periodontal pocket, it is difficult to remove using a scaler. In such cases, the surgeon inserts a cutting tip into the periodontal pocket and scrapes and removes the contaminated surface, which is a very time-consuming and labor-intensive process. Furthermore, when the periodontal pocket is 5 mm or deeper, surgical procedures may be used to separate and scrape the gums around the natural teeth and implants, which places a huge burden on both the patient and the surgeon.

[0006] For this reason, dental abrasive spraying devices for effectively removing stains attached to tooth surfaces are conventionally known (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0007] The above-mentioned dental abrasive spraying device is connected to a handpiece having at its tip a nozzle device that discharges a jet of a mixture of compressed air and abrasive powder supplied from a mixing chamber arranged below the discharge port of a powder tank, and is equipped with a discharge valve having a closing body that is biased toward the closing position of the discharge port of the powder tank to prevent the discharge of powder into the mixing chamber, and a driving means connected to the closing body of the discharge valve and that mixes the powder discharged from the powder tank with the compressed air flow passing through the mixing chamber by alternately moving the closing body between the closing position of the discharge port and the opening position of the discharge port by pulses, and has a powder tank that is configured to determine the desired amount of powder to be mixed with the compressed air by selecting the pulse frequency of the driving means connected to the closing body of the discharge valve. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-291767 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] However, in the above-mentioned dental abrasive spraying device, the desired amount of powder to be mixed with the compressed air is determined by selecting the pulse frequency of the driving means connected to the closure of the discharge valve, so that delicate adjustment of the complex generating mechanism required to set the pulse frequency is extremely difficult.If such adjustment is insufficient, the powder may become clogged in the elongated discharge port, or the powder and gas may be intermittently mixed depending on the pulse frequency, causing the mixing ratio of the powder mixture gas to change intermittently, resulting in uneven spraying of the abrasive from the powder mixture gas onto the tooth surface and making it difficult to spray the abrasive accurately.

[0010] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned dental abrasive spraying device, the empty powder tank can be replaced with a new one filled with dental powder. However, since the discharge port of the powder tank is always left open, in the case of a new powder tank, powder will leak from the discharge port. Similarly, in the case of a used powder tank, if powder remains in the tank, powder will leak from the discharge port in a similar manner, causing the powder used for cleaning the teeth during dental treatment to be inadvertently dispersed, significantly polluting the dental treatment environment. Furthermore, if an attempt is made to prevent the powder from leaking from the discharge port, the powder will easily become clogged in the discharge port, making it impossible to mix uniformly with the gas. As a result, there is a problem in that it is difficult to continuously supply a powder-mixed gas, which is a mixture of powder and gas, to the handpiece.

[0011] In addition, the powder tank in the above-mentioned dental abrasive spraying device simply has a cylindrical tank interior for storing powder for cleaning the teeth surface, and there is a problem in that the powder remaining inside such a tank is prone to clumping, also known as the bridging phenomenon, and the powder gets clogged in the discharge outlet in the funnel-shaped part below the tank, hindering mixing with the gas.

[0012] Therefore, the present invention is intended to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and the object of the present invention is to provide a tooth surface cleaning device that uniformly and continuously generates a powder mixed gas for spraying the powder mixed gas onto the tooth surface to remove dirt during dental treatment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 provides a tooth surface cleaning device comprising a powder storage tank for storing powder for tooth surface cleaning, a dental treatment mixing instrument for mixing the powder taken out of the powder storage tank with gas supplied from an external pressurized gas supply source to generate a powder mixed gas, and a tooth surface cleaning handpiece connected to the dental treatment mixing instrument and cleaning the tooth surface with the supplied powder mixed gas, characterized in that the dental treatment mixing instrument comprises a mixer body forming a cylindrical mixing chamber in which the powder taken out of the powder storage tank is mixed with gas supplied from an external pressurized gas supply source to generate a powder mixed gas, and a truncated cone-shaped mixing adjustment valve arranged opposite the mixer body, coaxially inserted into the cylindrical mixing chamber of the mixer body on which the powder storage tank is seated, and partially protruding into the powder storage tank.

[0014] The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in addition to the configuration of the tooth surface cleaning device described in claim 1, the mixer body of the dental treatment mixing instrument has a gas inlet hole portion for spraying the gas supplied from the pressurized gas supply source in a tangential direction of the outer peripheral wall surface forming the cylindrical mixing chamber of the mixer body, and a mixed gas outlet hole portion for outletting the powder mixed gas in a tangential direction of the outer peripheral wall surface forming the cylindrical mixing chamber of the mixer body.

[0015] The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in addition to the configuration of the tooth surface cleaning device described in claim 2, the mixed gas outlet hole of the dental treatment mixing instrument is provided at a position above the cylindrical mixing chamber relative to the gas inlet hole provided at a lower position of the cylindrical mixing chamber.

[0016] The invention of claim 4 is characterized in that, in addition to the configuration of the tooth surface cleaning device described in claim 2 or claim 3, the hole diameter of the mixed gas outlet hole portion of the dental treatment mixing instrument is larger than the hole diameter of the gas inlet hole portion for spraying the gas supplied from the pressurized gas supply source.

[0017] The invention of claim 5 is characterized in that, in addition to the configuration of the tooth surface cleaning device described in any one of claims 1 to 4, the mixing adjustment valve of the dental treatment mixing instrument is freely positioned and adjusted in the vertical direction relative to the powder storage tank.

[0018] The invention of claim 6 is characterized in that, in addition to the configuration of the tooth surface cleaning device described in any one of claims 1 to 5, the powder storage tank comprises a storage tank body for containing powder for tooth surface cleaning, a funnel member provided at the lower end of the storage tank body, and an inner plug provided within the storage tank body.

[0019] The invention of claim 7 is characterized in that, in addition to the configuration of the tooth surface cleaning device described in any one of claims 1 to 6, the powder storage tank is replaceably attached to a dental treatment mixing instrument that supplies powder mixed gas to the tooth surface cleaning handpiece.

[0020] The invention of claim 8 is to 6 In addition to the configuration of the tooth surface cleaning device described above, the funnel member of the powder storage tank is threadably connected to the dental treatment mixing tool so as to be detachable.

[0021] The invention of claim 9 is to 6In addition to the configuration of the tooth surface cleaning device described above, the inner plug of the powder storage tank is characterized by being composed of a rod-shaped plug body standing upright within the storage tank body, a fixed wing piece horizontally installed at the top end of the plug body and fixed integrally to the inner wall of the storage tank body, a conical powder guide installed around the lower end of the plug body, a valve protruding freely slidably from the lower end of the plug body, and a spring built into the plug body for urging the valve toward the outside of the tank.

[0022] The invention of claim 10 is to 6 In addition to the configuration of the tooth surface cleaning device described above, the present invention is characterized in that the inner plug of the powder storage tank and the funnel member are sealed via a seal ring.

[0023] The invention of claim 11 is to 6 In addition to the configuration of the tooth surface cleaning device described above, the inner plug of the powder storage tank is characterized in that it can be freely opened by pushing up the top of a mixing adjustment valve coaxially inserted into the cylindrical mixing chamber of the dental treatment mixing instrument in which the funnel member of the powder storage tank is seated.

[0024] The invention of claim 12 is to 6 In addition to the configuration of the tooth surface cleaning device described above, the funnel member of the powder storage tank has a hole depth dimension smaller than a diameter of the outlet hole of the funnel member. Effect of the Invention

[0025] The tooth surface cleaning device of the present invention is equipped with a powder storage tank that contains powder for tooth surface cleaning, a dental treatment mixing instrument that mixes the powder taken out of the powder storage tank with gas supplied from an external pressurized gas supply source to generate a powder mixed gas, and a tooth surface cleaning handpiece that is connected to the dental treatment mixing instrument and cleans the tooth surface with the supplied powder mixed gas.Not only can the powder mixed gas, which is a mixture of powder and gas for tooth surface cleaning, be sprayed onto the tooth surface to remove dirt during dental treatment, but the device configuration unique to the invention of this application can also provide the following special effects.

[0026] That is, according to the tooth surface cleaning device of the invention of claim 1, the dental treatment mixing instrument is equipped with a mixer body forming a cylindrical mixing chamber in which powder taken out of a powder storage tank is mixed with gas supplied from an external pressurized gas supply source to generate a powder mixed gas, and therefore the mixing area of ​​the powder and gas in the mixer body is an area independent of the powder storage tank and is not directly affected by the amount of powder remaining in the powder storage tank. Therefore, the amount of powder remaining in the powder storage tank does not affect the degree of mixing of the powder mixed gas, and continuous and uniform mixing can be achieved, and handling such as refilling the powder storage tank can be easily achieved.

[0027] The dental treatment mixing instrument includes a mixer body forming a cylindrical mixing chamber that mixes powder taken out of a powder storage tank with gas supplied from an external pressurized gas supply source to generate a powder mixed gas, and a truncated cone-shaped mixing adjustment valve that is inserted coaxially into the cylindrical mixing chamber of the mixer body on which the powder storage tank is seated and arranged to face each other with a portion of the valve protruding into the powder storage tank, so that the truncated cone-shaped mixing adjustment valve that is arranged to face each other with a portion of the valve protruding into the powder storage tank sinks under its own weight from the powder storage tank into the cylindrical mixing chamber of the mixer body. The powder to be dropped is temporarily retained in a clogged state in an annular gap formed between the powder storage tank and a mixing adjustment valve that protrudes partially into the powder storage tank, and this retained powder is scraped off by gas supplied from a pressurized gas supply source, and these retention and scraping are repeatedly induced. As a result, the mixture ratio of the powder to the gas, that is, the solid-gas ratio, changes periodically, so that the powder scraped off from the powder storage tank is intermittently and periodically mixed into the gas supplied from the pressurized gas supply source and diffused widely, thereby allowing continuous and uniform mixing.

[0028] In addition, since the dental treatment mixing instrument is equipped with a truncated cone-shaped mixing adjustment valve that is coaxially inserted into the cylindrical mixing chamber of the mixer body and arranged facing the powder storage tank with part of it protruding into the powder storage tank, the truncated cone-shaped mixing adjustment valve forms an annular gap between it and the powder storage tank, and the total weight of the powder contained in the powder storage tank is evenly distributed over the entire area of ​​this annular gap, thereby preventing the powder from solidifying excessively to the point where it cannot be removed from the powder storage tank.

[0029] According to the tooth surface cleaning device of the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effects of the tooth surface cleaning device of claim 1, the mixer body of the dental treatment mixing instrument has a gas inlet port part for injecting the gas supplied from the pressurized gas supply source in the tangential direction of the outer peripheral wall surface forming the cylindrical mixing chamber of the mixer body, and a mixed gas outlet port part for outletting the powder mixed gas in the tangential direction of the outer peripheral wall surface forming the cylindrical mixing chamber of the mixer body, so that the gas injected from the gas inlet port part circulates along the outer peripheral wall surface in the cylindrical mixing chamber of the mixer body and is mixed. A swirling flow is generated while flowing toward the mixed gas outlet hole, and the swirling flow is induced to flow upward as it follows the surface of the truncated cone portion of the mixing adjustment valve, scraping the powder out of the powder storage tank. The scraped powder is then mixed with the gas, and a powder mixed gas containing the powder and gas is continuously generated. The powder mixed gas can be continuously supplied to the tooth surface cleaning handpiece, and as a result, the powder mixed gas can be sprayed onto the tooth surface during dental treatment to remove dirt, thereby improving the cleanability of the tooth surface during dental treatment.

[0030] In addition, the mixer body of the dental treatment mixing instrument has a gas inlet port portion for injecting the gas supplied from the pressurized gas supply source in a tangential direction of the outer peripheral wall surface forming the cylindrical mixing chamber of the mixer body, and a mixed gas outlet port portion for outletting the powder mixed gas in a tangential direction of the outer peripheral wall surface forming the cylindrical mixing chamber of the mixer body, and is provided with a truncated cone-shaped mixing adjustment valve that is inserted coaxially into the cylindrical mixing chamber of the mixer body and is arranged facing the cylindrical mixing chamber while partially protruding into the powder storage tank. As the mixed gas circulates along the outer wall surface and flows toward the mixed gas outlet hole, a swirling flow is generated, and the flow rate of this swirling flow is relatively faster in the lower region on the outer wall surface side than in the upper region on the truncated cone-shaped mixing adjustment valve side. As a result, even heavy powder can be mixed into the swirling flow in the lower region on the outer wall surface side, and the total weight of the powder contained in the powder storage tank is uniformly distributed and loaded throughout the entire annular gap, so that even if there is some variation in the weight and particle size of the powders, they can be mixed uniformly.

[0031] According to the tooth surface cleaning device of the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effects achieved by the tooth surface cleaning device described in claim 1 or claim 2, the mixed gas outlet port of the dental treatment mixing instrument is located at a position above the cylindrical mixing chamber relative to the gas inlet port located at a lower position of the cylindrical mixing chamber, so that when the gas injected from a lower position within the cylindrical mixing chamber through the gas inlet port generates a swirling flow along the outer wall surface forming the cylindrical mixing chamber, this swirling flow flows upward in a spiral shape along the truncated cone-shaped mixing adjustment valve toward the mixed gas outlet port, and as a result, this spirally ascending swirling flow scrapes off the powder that has temporarily remained near the funnel member into the cylindrical mixing chamber, reliably dispersing and diffusing it within the cylindrical mixing chamber, so that the powder mixed gas in which the powder is uniformly mixed with the gas supplied and injected from the pressurized gas supply source can be continuously and reliably discharged from the mixed gas outlet port.

[0032] According to the tooth surface cleaning device of the invention of claim 4, in addition to the effects achieved by the tooth surface cleaning device described in claim 2 or claim 3, the hole diameter of the mixed gas outlet hole of the dental treatment mixing instrument is larger than the hole diameter of the gas inlet hole for injecting the gas supplied from the pressurized gas supply source, so that the flow rate of the powder mixed gas outlet hole is slower than the flow rate of the gas injected from the gas inlet hole. As a result, the time required for mixing the powder and gas in the cylindrical mixing chamber is sufficiently secured, and the powder and gas in the cylindrical mixing chamber can be mixed more uniformly and reliably.

[0033] According to the tooth surface cleaning device of the invention of claim 5, in addition to the effects achieved by the tooth surface cleaning device described in any one of claims 1 to 4, the mixing adjustment valve of the dental treatment mixing instrument is freely positioned and adjusted in the vertical direction relative to the powder storage tank, so that the area of ​​the annular gap between the powder storage tank and the mixing adjustment valve, i.e., the opening area, can be adjusted.Therefore, when the powder is scraped off from the powder storage tank into the cylindrical mixing chamber of the mixer body by the swirling flow, even various powders with different components, shapes, etc. can be scraped off smoothly without getting stuck in the powder storage tank.

[0034] According to the tooth surface cleaning device of the invention of claim 6, in addition to the effects achieved by the tooth surface cleaning device described in any one of claims 1 to 5, the powder storage tank is equipped with a storage tank body for storing powder for tooth surface cleaning, a funnel member provided at the lower end of the storage tank body, and an inner plug provided within the storage tank body, so that when the powder storage tank is stored or carried until it is attached to a dental treatment mixing instrument and used, the powder for tooth surface cleaning is contained in the storage tank body and sealed by the inner plug to prevent leakage to the outside, and when it is attached to a dental treatment mixing instrument and used, the powder for tooth surface cleaning can be sequentially removed from the funnel member provided at the lower end of the storage tank body.

[0035] According to the tooth surface cleaning device of the invention of claim 7, in addition to the effects achieved by the tooth surface cleaning device described in any one of claims 1 to 6, the powder storage tank is replaceably attached to the dental treatment mixing instrument that supplies the powder mixed gas to the tooth surface cleaning handpiece, so that the powder storage tank can be replaceably attached to the dental treatment mixing instrument for supplying the powder mixed gas to the tooth surface cleaning handpiece, making it possible to easily supply powder for tooth surface cleaning by simply attaching the powder storage tank to the dental treatment mixing instrument for supplying the powder mixed gas to the tooth surface cleaning handpiece, thereby ensuring a clean dental treatment environment without inadvertently diffusing the powder for tooth surface cleaning during dental treatment.

[0036] According to the tooth surface cleaning device of the invention according to claim 8, to 6 In addition to the effects of the described tooth surface cleaning device, the funnel member of the powder storage tank is screwed onto the dental treatment mixing instrument so that it can be freely attached and detached. Therefore, when attaching or detaching the powder storage tank to or from the dental treatment mixing instrument, the funnel member of the powder storage tank is screwed onto the dental treatment mixing instrument while seated on the dental treatment mixing instrument, and when powder is supplied from the powder storage tank to the dental treatment mixing instrument, the powder in the powder storage tank sinks into the funnel member under its own weight, making it easy to attach and detach the powder storage tank to or from the dental treatment mixing instrument, and ensuring that all of the powder in the powder storage tank is transferred reliably and completely to the funnel member.

[0037] According to the tooth surface cleaning device of the invention according to claim 9, to 6 In addition to the effects of the tooth surface cleaning device described above, the inner plug of the powder storage tank is composed of a rod-shaped plug body standing upright in the storage tank body, a fixed wing piece horizontally installed at the top end of the plug body and fixed integrally to the inner wall of the storage tank body, a conical powder guide circumferentially installed at the bottom end of the plug body, a valve slidably protruding from the bottom end of the plug body, and a spring built into the plug body for biasing the valve. With the fixed wing piece installed on the plug body of the inner plug fixed to the inner wall of the storage tank body, the valve of the inner plug is biased by the elastic biasing force of the spring installed in the plug body of the inner plug. The lub opens and closes the funnel member, and the fixed wing pieces on the plug body of the inner plug break up any clumps of powder remaining in the storage tank body, also known as the bridge phenomenon, and the conical powder guidance guide on the plug body disperses and guides the powder that attempts to settle under its own weight into the cylindrical mixing chamber of the mixer body through the funnel member around the entire circumference of the funnel member, thereby preventing the powder from clumping excessively in the funnel member to the point where it cannot be removed.Moreover, since the inner plug is always present in the powder storage tank, there is no need to store the inner plug separately when the powder storage tank is in use, significantly improving the usability of the powder storage tank.

[0038] According to the tooth surface cleaning device of the invention according to claim 10, to 6In addition to the effects of the tooth surface cleaning device described above, since the inner plug and funnel member of the powder storage tank are sealed via a seal ring, even if there is some misalignment or misalignment in the fit between the funnel member and the inner plug when closing the powder storage tank with the inner plug, the seal ring elastically absorbs the misalignment that tends to occur between the funnel member and the inner plug and fully performs the sealing function, and when the inner plug is opened from the powder storage tank, the seal ring elastically deforms to make it easy to open. Therefore, when the powder storage tank is stored or transported, the inner plug reliably seals the funnel member of the powder storage tank to prevent powder leakage, and when the powder storage tank is attached to a dental treatment mixer, the powder storage tank can be easily opened without applying excessive pressure load to the dental treatment mixer.

[0039] According to the tooth surface cleaning device of the invention according to claim 11, to 6 In addition to the effects of the described tooth surface cleaning device, the inner plug of the powder storage tank can be opened and closed by pushing up the mixing adjustment valve coaxially inserted into the cylindrical mixing chamber of the dental treatment mixing instrument in which the funnel member of the powder storage tank is seated. Therefore, the inner plug can be opened and closed by the up and down movement of the mixing adjustment valve in the cylindrical mixing chamber of the dental treatment mixing instrument. Therefore, even after the dental treatment mixing instrument is attached, the funnel member of the powder storage tank can be closed, and deterioration of the quality of the powder remaining in the powder storage tank can be suppressed.

[0040] According to the tooth surface cleaning device of the invention according to claim 12, to 6In addition to the effects of the described tooth surface cleaning device, since the hole depth dimension of the funnel member of the powder storage tank is smaller than the diameter of the removal hole of the funnel member, it is easier to remove powder from inside the powder storage tank compared to when the hole depth dimension of the funnel member is larger than the diameter of the removal hole of the funnel member.Therefore, when scraping powder from the funnel member of the powder storage tank into the cylindrical mixing chamber of the dental treatment mixing instrument, even various powders with different ingredients, shapes, etc. can be scraped off smoothly without getting stuck in the funnel member of the powder storage tank. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0041] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an overview of a tooth surface cleaning device according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the powder storage tank and dental mixing tool shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a side view of the dental treatment mixing tool with the powder storage tank shown in FIG. 1 attached. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the funnel member and its surroundings in FIG. 4 . [Figure 6] A diagram showing the assembly procedure for the powder storage tank. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for attaching a powder storage tank to a dental treatment mixing instrument. [Figure 10A] FIG. 9(A) is an enlarged view of the funnel member and its surroundings. [Figure 10B] FIG. 9(B) is an enlarged view of the funnel member and its surroundings. [Figure 11A] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the operation before a swirling flow is generated in the cylindrical mixing chamber. [Figure 11B] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the operation when a swirling flow is generated in a cylindrical mixing chamber. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a mixing operation of powder and gas. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] The present invention relates to a tooth surface cleaning device comprising a powder storage tank for storing powder for cleaning tooth surfaces, a dental treatment mixing instrument for mixing the powder taken out of the powder storage tank with gas supplied from an external pressurized gas supply source to generate a powder mixed gas, and a tooth surface cleaning handpiece for cleaning tooth surfaces with the supplied powder mixed gas, the dental treatment mixing instrument comprising a mixer body forming a cylindrical mixing chamber for mixing the powder taken out of the powder storage tank with gas supplied from an external pressurized gas supply source to generate a powder mixed gas, and a truncated cone-shaped mixing adjustment valve coaxially inserted into the cylindrical mixing chamber of the mixer body on which the powder storage tank is seated and arranged opposite the valve with a portion of it protruding into the powder storage tank, and the specific embodiment may be any as long as the device can uniformly and continuously generate the powder mixed gas for spraying the powder mixed gas onto the tooth surface to remove dirt in dental treatment.

[0043] Here, the powders used for cleaning tooth surfaces in the tooth surface cleaning device of the present invention include granules of silica, calcite, hydroxyapatite, β-TCP (β-tricalcium phosphate), plastic powder, agar powder, etc., but when used inside the oral cavity, plastic powder, agar powder, etc. are more preferable from the standpoint of ensuring safety, such as toxicity. In particular, when agar powder is used, it is easy to add cleaning agents and antibacterial agents, and since agar is a food, there is little risk of adverse effects even if it enters the digestive tract. Even if any remains in the oral cavity, it will eventually dissolve and disappear when warm water is added, so it is highly safe in the oral cavity, provides a sufficient cleaning effect, and has no adverse effects on the target object.

[0044] The powder storage tank used in the tooth surface cleaning device of the present invention may be either a type that is fixed to the mixer body, or a type that is attached freely replaceable in cartridge form, so long as the funnel member can be seated coaxially in the cylindrical mixing chamber of the mixer body.

[0045] The gas supplied from the external pressurized gas supply source may be air or a gas other than air.

[0046] Furthermore, the tooth surface cleaning handpiece used in the tooth surface cleaning device of the present invention may be any type that is connected to a dental treatment mixing instrument and can clean the tooth surface with the supplied powder-mixed gas.

[0047] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a tooth surface cleaning device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, configurations denoted by the same reference numerals in different drawings are regarded as similar, and the description thereof may be omitted.

[0048] A tooth surface cleaning device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 12.

[0049] <Overall Overview of Tooth Surface Cleaning Device 100> First, the tooth surface cleaning device 100 of this embodiment is used for dental treatment and removes contaminants adhering to the surfaces of natural teeth and implant bodies by spraying a powder mixed gas that is a mixture of gas A supplied from an external pressurized gas supply source (not shown) and powder P for tooth surface polishing taken from a powder storage tank 110. Here, Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an overview of a tooth surface cleaning device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an assembly and disassembly diagram of a powder storage tank 110 and a dental treatment mixing instrument 120 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of the dental treatment mixing instrument 120 with the powder storage tank 110 shown in Fig. 1 attached.

[0050] That is, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the tooth surface cleaning device 100 of this embodiment comprises a powder storage tank 110, a dental treatment mixing instrument 120, and a well-known tooth surface cleaning handpiece 130 that is connected to the dental treatment mixing instrument 120 to clean the tooth surface, and is configured to send the powder mixed gas M generated by the dental treatment mixing instrument 120 to the tooth surface cleaning handpiece 130, and spray the powder mixed gas M onto the tooth surface via the tooth surface cleaning handpiece 130. The tooth surface cleaning device 100 of this embodiment is installed in a position that is easy for an operator to use, for example, near a work table of a dental treatment unit equipped with a plurality of dental instruments.

[0051] (1) Specific configuration of powder storage tank 110 The specific configuration of the powder storage tank 110 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.

[0052] First, the powder storage tank 110 comprises a cylindrical storage tank body 111 for containing powder P for cleaning the tooth surface, an inverted cone-shaped funnel member 112 provided at the lower end of the storage tank body 111, an inner plug 113 provided within the storage tank body 111, and an upper cap 114 for closing the upper end opening of the storage tank body 111.

[0053] This storage tank body 111 is provided with a threaded portion 111a on the outer circumferential surface of its upper end portion for screwing into upper cap 114, and a fitted portion 111b for fitting into funnel member 112 is provided at its lower end portion. Furthermore, an outer circumferential groove is formed around the lower end of the threaded portion 111a provided on the storage tank body 111, and a seal ring for sealing the gap with the upper cap 114 is fitted into this outer circumferential groove.

[0054] On the other hand, the fitted portion 111b is provided by enlarging the inner diameter of the storage tank body 111 upward from the lower end of the opening of the storage tank body 111 so that the fitting portion 112aa of the funnel member 112 is fitted inside.

[0055] In addition, the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank 110 described above is composed of a columnar large diameter fitting portion 112a and a small diameter fitting portion 112b connected to the large diameter fitting portion 112a and having an outer diameter smaller than that of the large diameter fitting portion 112a on the terminal side where the extraction hole 112ca, which serves as the extraction port for the powder P, is formed.

[0056] The large diameter fitting portion 112a is provided with a fitting portion 112aa which fits into the fitted portion 111b of the storage tank body 111, and a threaded portion 112ab which screws into the fixing screw hole 121a of the mixer body 121.

[0057] On the other hand, the small diameter fitting portion 112b is a portion that is fitted into the outer peripheral wall surface 121c of the cylindrical mixing chamber C, and a seal ring for sealing the gap between the outer peripheral wall surface 121c is fitted into a groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter fitting portion 112b.

[0058] Such a funnel member 112 is provided with a powder guide section 112c that runs through in a funnel shape from one end side, where the powder P flows down from the storage tank main body 111, to the end side, where an extraction hole 112ca, which serves as an outlet for the powder P, is formed. This powder guide portion 112c has a maximum diameter at the end face of the large diameter fitting portion 112a, which is on the upstream side in the flow direction of the powder P, and a minimum diameter at the end face of the small diameter fitting portion 112b, in which an extraction hole 112ca, which serves as an outlet for the powder P, is formed.

[0059] Here, as shown in FIG. 5, funnel member 112 has hole depth dimension S1 set to be smaller than diameter S2 of extraction hole 112ca of funnel member 112. In other words, the depth of the extraction hole 112ca, which is the minimum diameter of the lower end of the powder guide portion 112c, is set to be shallow.

[0060] Next, the inner plug 113 of the above-mentioned powder storage tank 110 is composed of a plug body 113a, a fixed wing piece 113b, a powder guiding guide 113c, a valve 113d, and a spring 113e.

[0061] Here, the plug body 113a is rod-shaped and is arranged in the storage tank body 111 in an upright state. More specifically, this plug body 113a has a cylindrical shape as a whole, and when in an upright position within the storage tank body 111, the upper end is closed by a substantially conical wall and the lower end is open.

[0062] The fixed wing piece 113b is disposed horizontally on the top end of the plug body 113a and is fixed integrally to the inner wall of the storage tank body 111. That is, the plug body 113a is fixed at a predetermined height within the storage tank body 111 by the fixed wing piece 113b. The plug body 113a is fixed at a height position within the storage tank body 111 near the lower end where the extraction hole 112ca serving as an outlet for the powder P is formed.

[0063] The powder guide 113c of the powder storage tank 110 described above is a cone-shaped portion provided around the lower end of the plug body 113a.

[0064] The valve 113d is held by the plug body 113a with a portion of the valve 113d inserted into the opening at the lower end of the plug body 113a so as to slidably protrude from the lower end of the plug body 113a. This valve 113d has a generally cylindrical shape, and a seal ring 113da for sealing the gap between the valve 113d and the extraction hole 112ca is fitted in a groove formed in the outer circumferential surface of the lower end portion.

[0065] The spring 113e is built into the plug body 113a and biases the valve 113d. This spring 113e has one end abutting against the closed upper inner surface of the plug body 113a and the other end abutting against the valve 113d, urging the valve 113d downward, toward the outside of the storage tank body 111.

[0066] (2) Assembly procedure for powder storage tank 110 The procedure for assembling the powder storage tank 110 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the procedure for assembling the powder storage tank 110. As shown in FIG. The powder storage tank 110 may be assembled manually or automatically using an automatic assembly device.

[0067] First, the inner plug 113 is fixed at a predetermined position in the storage tank body 111 shown in FIG. 6(A). Here, the inner plug 113 is inserted into the storage tank body 111 from the lower end side of the tank, as shown in FIG. 6(B), and the fixed wing piece 113b is fixed to the inner wall of the storage tank body 111. In this operation, since the mounting position of the inner plug 113 within the tank is near the lower end of the storage tank body 111, the inner plug 113 is inserted into the tank from the lower end side rather than from the upper end side of the storage tank body 111.

[0068] Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6(C), the funnel member 112 is attached to the storage tank body 111. Here, fitting portion 112aa of funnel member 112 is fitted into fitted portion 111b of storage tank body 111 while valve 113d is passed through extraction hole 112ca from the upper end to the lower end of powder guide portion 112c of funnel member 112. Then, the valve 113d is biased toward the extraction hole 112ca by the spring 113e, and seals the extraction hole 112ca via the seal ring 113da provided at the lower end of the valve 113d.

[0069] Thereafter, a predetermined amount of powder P is poured into the storage tank body 111 through the opening at the top end thereof, as shown in FIG. 6(D). Here, the powder P put into the storage tank body 111 flows down toward the outlet hole 112ca, but since the outlet hole 112ca is sealed by the valve 113d, the powder P does not leak out from the outlet hole 112ca.

[0070] Finally, as shown in FIG. 6(E), the upper cap 114 is attached to the upper end of the storage tank body 111, thereby completing the assembly of the powder storage tank 110. Here, when the upper cap 114 is screwed onto the upper end of the storage tank body 111, the upper opening of the storage tank body 111 is completely sealed by a seal ring provided around the lower end of the threaded portion 111a of the storage tank body 111.

[0071] (3) Specific configuration of the dental treatment mixing instrument 120 The specific configuration of the dental treatment mixing instrument 120, which is the most distinctive feature of the tooth surface cleaning device 100 of this embodiment, will be described with reference to Figs. 2 to 5, 7 and 8. Here, Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the mixing adjustment valve 122. As shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5, the dental treatment mixing instrument 120 used in this embodiment includes a mixer body 121 forming a cylindrical mixing chamber C in which powder P taken out of the powder storage tank 110 is mixed with gas A supplied from an external pressurized gas supply source (not shown) to generate a powder mixed gas M, and a truncated cone-shaped mixing adjustment valve 122 arranged opposite to the mixer body 121, which seats the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank 110, and which is coaxially inserted into the cylindrical mixing chamber C of the mixer body 121 and partially protrudes into the funnel-shaped funnel member 112 formed in the powder storage tank 110.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 2, the mixer body 121 of the above-mentioned dental treatment mixing instrument 120 has a block shape as a whole, and the powder storage tank 110 for storing the powder P is attached to the upper surface side. On the upper surface of this mixer main body 121, for example, a holder 121h for holding a tooth surface cleaning handpiece 130 is provided, and on the side surface, two pipe connection parts 121f, 121g are provided to connect a pressurized gas guide pipe 140 for guiding pressurized gas supplied from a pressurized gas supply source (not shown), and a mixed gas guide pipe 150 for guiding the powder mixed gas M generated in the cylindrical mixing chamber C to the tooth surface cleaning handpiece 130.

[0073] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the cylindrical mixing chamber C is provided in a mixer body 121 independent of the powder storage tank 110, and is formed cylindrically by an inner circumferential wall surface 121b and an outer circumferential wall surface 121c provided on the outside of the inner circumferential wall surface 121b. The inner peripheral wall surface 121b is formed by the peripheral surface of a truncated cone portion 122a of the mixture adjustment valve 122, which will be described later. On the other hand, the outer peripheral wall surface 121c is a wall surface that forms a cylindrical space in the mixer body 121.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 7, the mixer body 121 has a gas inlet hole 121d for injecting gas A supplied from a pressurized gas supply source in a tangential direction of the outer peripheral wall surface 121c that forms the cylindrical mixing chamber C of the mixer body 121, and a mixed gas outlet hole 121e for outletting the powder mixed gas M in a tangential direction of the outer peripheral wall surface 121c that forms the cylindrical mixing chamber C of the mixer body 121.

[0075] Here, the gas introduction hole 121d of the mixer body 121 is a hole that constitutes part of a flow path within the mixer body 121, which introduces the pressurized gas supplied from the pressurized gas supply source from the pipe connection parts 121f, 121g to which the pressurized gas guide pipe 140 is connected, to the cylindrical mixing chamber C, and is formed on the outer peripheral wall surface 121c of the cylindrical mixing chamber C. The gas introduction hole 121d is provided at a lower position of the cylindrical mixing chamber C. The gas inlet hole 121d is set to have a smaller diameter than the diameter of the upstream flow passage that guides the pressurized gas from the pipe connection part 121f to which the pressurized gas guide pipe 140 is connected into the mixer body 121. In other words, the gas inlet hole 121d is connected by narrowing the diameter of the flow passage of the gas A supplied from the pressurized gas supply source before it is connected to the cylindrical mixing chamber C.

[0076] On the other hand, the mixed gas outlet hole portion 121e of the mixer body 121 is a hole that constitutes part of the flow path within the mixer body 121 that guides gas A from the cylindrical mixing chamber C to the mixed gas guide tube 150, and is formed on the outer peripheral wall surface 121c of the cylindrical mixing chamber C. The gas mixture outlet hole 121e is provided at a position above the cylindrical mixing chamber C with respect to the gas introduction hole 121d. The hole diameter of the gas mixture outlet hole 121e is set to be larger than the hole diameter of the gas introduction hole 121d.

[0077] In this embodiment, the gas inlet hole 121d and the mixed gas outlet hole 121e are formed at different heights, but the gas inlet hole 121d and the mixed gas outlet hole 121e may be formed at the same height.

[0078] Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the mixing adjustment valve 122 of the above-mentioned dental treatment mixing instrument 120 has a truncated cone-shaped portion 122a at its upper portion, and a cylindrical portion 122b is provided below the truncated cone-shaped portion 122a, continuing to the lower end. Here, as described above, the circumferential surface of the truncated cone-shaped portion 122a of the mixing adjustment valve 122 constitutes the inner peripheral side wall surface 121b of the cylindrical mixing chamber C. The diameter of the truncated cone-shaped portion 122a at its lower end, which is the maximum diameter, is set smaller than the diameter of the outer peripheral side wall surface 121c.

[0079] On the other hand, the diameter of the continuous portion between the cylindrical portion 122b and the truncated cone portion 122a around the lower end thereof is approximately equal to the diameter of the cross-sectional circle of the outer peripheral wall surface 121c, and is set to a degree that allows sliding against the outer peripheral wall surface 121c. Further, the columnar portion 122b has a screw thread formed on the peripheral surface that is a region below the portion that fits with the outer peripheral side wall surface 121c, the screw thread being fitted into a screw groove formed in the lower portion of the outer peripheral side wall surface 121c. Furthermore, a groove 122c into which a flat-head screwdriver or the like can be freely engaged is formed on the bottom surface of the columnar portion 122b. Furthermore, in mixing adjustment valve 122, shaft pin 122d that projects from the upper end surface of truncated cone portion 122a and constitutes the tip portion of mixing adjustment valve 122 is provided along the axis.

[0080] Such a mixing adjustment valve 122 can be freely positioned and adjusted in the vertical direction relative to the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank 110 by engaging a flat-head screwdriver or the like with the groove 122c on the bottom surface and rotating it about its axis and moving it along the outer peripheral wall surface 121c.

[0081] (4) Procedure for mounting the powder storage tank 110 to the dental treatment mixing instrument 120 The procedure for mounting the powder storage tank 110 to the dental treatment mixing instrument 120 used in this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 9, 10A, and 10B. Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for mounting the powder storage tank 110 to the dental treatment mixing instrument 120. Fig. 10A is an enlarged view of the funnel member 112 and its surroundings in Fig. 9(A). Fig. 10B is an enlarged view of the funnel member 112 and its surroundings shown in Fig. 9(B).

[0082] For example, when the powder storage tank 110 attached to the mixer body 121 of the dental treatment mixing instrument 120 becomes empty and needs to be replaced with a new powder storage tank 110, the empty powder storage tank 110 is removed from the mixer body 121 and then the new powder storage tank 110 is attached.

[0083] Here, as shown in FIG. 9(A), with the bottom surface of the funnel member 112 of the new powder storage tank 110 facing the fixing screw hole 121a of the mixing adjustment valve 122, the new powder storage tank 110 is lowered and rotated about its axis, whereby the threaded portion 112ab of the funnel member 112 is screwed into the fixing screw hole 121a of the mixer body 121, as shown in FIG. 9(B). This causes the powder storage tank 110 to be fixed to the mixer body 121 . In this manner, when the powder storage tank 110 is fixed to the mixer body 121, the large diameter fitting portion 112a of the powder storage tank 110 is screwed into the fixing screw hole 121a of the mixer body 121, and the small diameter fitting portion 112b of the powder storage tank 110 is fitted along the outer peripheral wall surface 121c of the cylindrical mixing chamber C, and the gap between the small diameter fitting portion 112b and the outer peripheral wall surface 121c of the cylindrical mixing chamber C is sealed by a seal ring formed on the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter fitting portion 112b.

[0084] In addition, when a new powder storage tank 110 is attached to the mixer body 121 while being lowered toward the mixer body 121, as shown in FIG. 10A, the valve 113d sealing the outlet hole 112ca is abutted against the top of the mixing adjustment valve 122, i.e., the pivot pin 122d, as shown in FIG. 10B, and is moved upward against the elastic force of the spring 113e. As a result, an annular gap G is formed between the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank 110 and the mixing adjustment valve 122. In this embodiment, the powder P is set to be packed in the annular gap G, so that the powder P is temporarily retained in the annular gap G in a packed state.

[0085] In this manner, the operation of replacing the empty powder storage tank 110 with a new powder storage tank 110 is completed.

[0086] In addition, in the explanation of the specific handling of this powder storage tank 110, the procedure for attaching a new powder storage tank 110 to the mixer body 121 was described, but when removing an empty powder storage tank 110 from the mixer body 121, the procedure is reversed. That is, the powder storage tank 110 screwed into the fixing screw hole 121a of the mixer body 121 is moved upward while being rotated about its axis in a direction in which the screw connection is released. Then, biased by spring 113e, valve 113d with its lower end abutting the top of mixing adjustment valve 122 is moved toward a position where it will seal extraction hole 112ca, and when the top of mixing adjustment valve 122 moves away from a position outside extraction hole 112ca, extraction hole 112ca is sealed by valve 113d.

[0087] (5) Mixing Operation of Powder P and Gas A in Dental Treatment Mixing Instrument 120 The mixing operation of the powder P and the gas A in the dental treatment mixing instrument 120 used in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 7, 11A, 11B, and 12. FIG. Here, Fig. 11A is an explanatory diagram of the operation before a swirling flow is generated in the cylindrical mixing chamber C. Fig. 11B is an explanatory diagram of the operation after a swirling flow is generated in the cylindrical mixing chamber C. Fig. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the mixing operation of the powder P and the gas A.

[0088] As shown in FIG. 11A, before starting operation, the dental treatment mixing instrument 120 is in a set state in which the powder storage tank 110 containing powder P is attached to the mixer body 121, and the powder P remains stuck in the annular gap G formed between the powder storage tank 110 and the mixing adjustment valve 122 that protrudes partially into the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank 110. On the other hand, the mixing adjustment valve 122 is positioned and arranged vertically relative to the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank 110, so that the area of ​​the annular gap G between the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank 110 and the mixing adjustment valve 122 is adjusted to the desired size. When the dental treatment mixing instrument 120 is set in this state, and the operator starts operating the dental treatment mixing instrument 120, gas A starts to be supplied from the pressurized gas supply source to the mixer body 121 through the pressurized gas guide tube 140, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0089] Then, when gas A starts to be supplied from the pressurized gas supply source to the mixer body 121, as shown in FIG. 7, gas A is injected from the gas inlet hole 121d into the cylindrical mixing chamber C from the tangential direction of the outer peripheral wall surface 121c that forms the cylindrical mixing chamber C, so that a swirling flow that circulates along the outer peripheral wall surface 121c is generated in the cylindrical mixing chamber C. Here, gas inlet hole 121d is connected to cylindrical mixing chamber C with a smaller diameter than the upstream flow passage, so that gas A is introduced into cylindrical mixing chamber C with an increased flow rate.

[0090] Next, when a swirling flow is generated in the cylindrical mixing chamber C, as shown in Figures 11B, 12(A), and 12(B), the swirling flow travels around the annular exposed underside of the powder P packed in the annular gap G, scraping the powder P off the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank 110. The swirling flow generated in the cylindrical mixing chamber C scrapes down the powder P stuck in the annular gap G from below, and the powder P that has settled down due to its own weight remains in the part where the powder P has been scraped off, and this retained powder P is then scraped down by the swirling flow, and this operation is repeated.

[0091] However, at the lower end of the powder storage tank 110, that is, around the funnel member 112, the powder P may be compressed to form a so-called bridge. This bridge occurs at a position further inward in the funnel member 112 than the position at which the powder P would clog in a state in which no bridge occurs. Even when such a bridge occurs, a swirling flow flows along the peripheral surface of the truncated cone portion 122a of the mixing adjustment valve 122, and an upward flow is induced by the viscosity of gas A, which acts up to a position further inward in the funnel member 112. As a result, the bridges of the powder P are scraped off by the swirling flow that acts up to a position further inward of the funnel member 112, causing the bridges to collapse, and then, just like the powder P for which no bridges have formed, the powder P that has settled down due to its own weight remains, and this remaining powder P is scraped off by the swirling flow, and this operation is repeated.

[0092] The powder P intermittently and periodically scraped into the gas A by the swirling flow falls into the cylindrical mixing chamber C and is mixed with the gas A, and the powder mixed gas M, which is a mixture of the gas A and the powder P, flows toward the mixed gas outlet hole 121e and is sent to the tooth surface cleaning handpiece 130 through the mixed gas outlet hole 121e.

[0093] <Effects of the tooth surface cleaning device 100 of this embodiment> The effects achieved by the tooth surface cleaning device 100 of this embodiment as described above are as follows.

[0094] (1) In the dental treatment mixing instrument 120, the mixing area of ​​the powder P and gas A in the mixer body 121 is an area independent of the powder storage tank 110 and is not directly affected by the remaining amount of powder P in the powder storage tank 110. Therefore, the powder P can be mixed continuously and uniformly without the remaining amount of powder P in the powder storage tank 110 affecting the degree of mixing of the powder-mixed gas M.

[0095] (2) In the dental treatment mixing instrument 120, the mixing adjustment valve 122 temporarily retains powder P that attempts to sink due to its own weight from the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank 110 into the cylindrical mixing chamber C of the mixer body 121 in a clogged state in the annular gap G formed between the funnel member 112 and the mixing adjustment valve 122, and scrapes off the retained powder P with gas A supplied from a pressurized gas supply source, repeatedly inducing the retention and scraping off of the powder P. As a result, the mixture ratio of the powder P and the gas A, that is, the solid-gas ratio, changes periodically, so that the powder P scraped out from the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank 110 is intermittently and periodically mixed into the gas A supplied from the pressurized gas supply source and diffused widely, thereby enabling continuous and uniform mixing.

[0096] (3) In the above-mentioned dental treatment mixing instrument 120, the truncated conical portion 122a of the mixing adjustment valve 122 forms a circular gap G between the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank, and the total weight of the powder P contained in the powder storage tank 110 is uniformly distributed over the entire area of ​​this circular gap G, thereby preventing the powder P from excessively solidifying in the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank 110 to the extent that it cannot be removed.

[0097] (4) In the dental treatment mixing instrument 120, the mixer body 121 has the gas inlet hole portion 121d and the mixed gas outlet hole portion 121e, so that in the cylindrical mixing chamber C of the mixer body 121, the gas A sprayed from the gas inlet hole portion 121d generates a swirling flow while circulating along the outer peripheral wall surface 121c and flowing to the mixed gas outlet hole portion 121e, and the swirling flow becomes an ascending flow along the peripheral surface of the truncated cone portion 122a of the mixing adjustment valve 122, scraping out the powder P from the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank 110, the scraped out powder P is mixed with the gas A, and the powder mixed gas M containing the powder P and the gas A can be continuously generated.

[0098] (5) In this dental treatment mixing instrument 120, gas A sprayed from the gas inlet hole 121d in the cylindrical mixing chamber C of the mixer body 121 generates a swirling flow while circulating along the outer peripheral wall surface 121c and flowing to the mixed gas outlet hole 121e, and the flow velocity of this swirling flow is relatively faster in the lower region on the outer peripheral wall surface 121c side of the truncated cone portion 122a than in the upper region on the mixing adjustment valve 122 side. As a result, even heavy powder P can be mixed into the swirling flow in the lower region on the outer circumferential wall surface 121c side, and the total weight of the powder P contained in the powder storage tank 110 is uniformly distributed and loaded over the entire area of ​​this annular gap G, so that even if there is some variation in the weight and particle size of the powders, they can be mixed uniformly.

[0099] (6) In the dental treatment mixing instrument 120, gas A injected from a lower position in the cylindrical mixing chamber C through the gas inlet hole 121d flows upward in a spiral shape along the truncated cone-shaped portion of the mixing adjustment valve 122, forming a swirling flow toward the mixed gas outlet hole 121e. As a result, this spirally rising swirling flow scrapes the powder P that has temporarily accumulated near the funnel member 112 into the cylindrical mixing chamber C, reliably dispersing and diffusing it within the cylindrical mixing chamber C, so that the powder mixed gas M in which the powder P is uniformly mixed with the gas A can be continuously and reliably discharged from the mixed gas discharge hole 121e.

[0100] (7) Since the hole diameter of the aforementioned mixed gas outlet hole 121e is larger than the hole diameter of the gas inlet hole 121d, the flow velocity of the powder mixed gas M discharged from the mixed gas outlet hole 121e is made slower than the flow velocity of the gas A injected from the gas inlet hole 121d. As a result, the time required for mixing the powder P and the gas A in the cylindrical mixing chamber C is sufficiently secured, and the powder P and the gas A in the cylindrical mixing chamber C can be mixed more uniformly and reliably.

[0101] (8) The mixing adjustment valve 122 of the dental treatment mixing instrument 120 is arranged so as to be freely positioned and adjusted in the vertical direction relative to the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank 110, so that the area of ​​the annular gap G between the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank 110 and the mixing adjustment valve 122, i.e., the opening area, can be adjusted. Therefore, when the powder P is scraped off from the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank 110 into the cylindrical mixing chamber C of the mixer body 121 by the swirling flow, even various types of powder P having different components, shapes, etc. can be scraped off smoothly without getting stuck in the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank 110.

[0102] (9) Since the powder storage tank 110 is equipped with a storage tank body 111, a funnel member 112, and an inner plug 113, when the powder storage tank 111 is stored or transported until it is attached to the dental treatment mixing instrument 120 and used, the powder P for tooth surface cleaning is contained in the storage tank body 111 and sealed by the inner plug 113 to prevent it from leaking out to the outside, and when it is attached to the dental treatment mixing instrument 120 and used, the powder P for tooth surface cleaning can be sequentially removed from the funnel member 12 of the storage tank body 111.

[0103] (10) Since the powder storage tank 110 is attached to the dental treatment mixing instrument 120 in a manner that allows it to be freely replaced, the powder storage tank 110 can be attached to the dental treatment mixing instrument 120 in a manner that allows it to be easily replaced to supply powder P for tooth surface cleaning.

[0104] (11) Since the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank 110 is screwed onto the dental treatment mixing instrument 120 and can be freely attached and detached, the powder storage tank 110 can be easily attached and detached to and from the dental treatment mixing instrument 120 when attaching or detaching the powder storage tank 110 to or from the dental treatment mixing instrument 120.

[0105] (12) By providing an inner plug 113 in the powder storage tank 110, with the fixed wing piece 113b provided on this inner plug 113 fixed to the inner wall of the storage tank main body 111, the inner plug 113 opens and closes the funnel member 112 via the elastic force of the spring 113e provided in the inner plug 113, the fixed wing piece 113b provided on the inner plug 113 breaks up the agglomerations of powder P remaining in the storage tank main body 111, also known as the bridge phenomenon, and the powder guiding guide 113c of the inner plug 113 disperses and guides the powder P that attempts to settle under its own weight into the cylindrical mixing chamber C of the mixer main body 121 through the funnel member 112, throughout the entire circumference of the funnel member 112. This prevents the powder from solidifying excessively in the funnel member 112 to the extent that it becomes impossible to remove, and furthermore, the inner plug 113 is always present in the powder storage tank 110, eliminating the need to store the inner plug 113 separately when the powder storage tank 110 is in use, thereby significantly improving the ease of use of the powder storage tank 110.

[0106] (13) The inner plug 113 and the funnel member 112 are sealed via the seal ring 113da. Therefore, even if there is some misalignment or misalignment in the fit between the funnel member 112 and the inner plug 113 when closing the powder storage tank 110 with the inner plug 113, the seal ring 113da elastically absorbs the misalignment that tends to occur between the funnel member 112 and the inner plug 113, and fully performs the sealing function. Also, when the inner plug 113 is opened from the powder storage tank 110, the seal ring 113da is elastically deformed, making it easier to open the inner plug 113. Therefore, when the powder storage tank 110 is stored or transported, the inner plug 13 securely seals the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank 110 to prevent leakage of the powder P, and when the powder storage tank 110 is attached to the dental treatment mixing instrument 120, the powder storage tank 110 can be easily opened without applying excessive pressure load to the dental treatment mixing instrument 120.

[0107] (14) The inner plug 113 of the powder storage tank 110 can be opened and closed by pushing up the mixing adjustment valve 122. Therefore, the inner plug 113 can be opened and closed by the up and down movement of the mixing adjustment valve 122 in the cylindrical mixing chamber C of the dental treatment mixing instrument 120. Therefore, even after the dental treatment mixing instrument 120 is attached, the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank 110 can be closed, thereby suppressing deterioration of the quality of the powder remaining in the powder storage tank 110.

[0108] (15) Since the hole depth dimension of the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank 110 is smaller than the diameter S2 of the extraction hole 112ca of the funnel member 112, it is easier to remove the powder P from the powder storage tank 110 compared to when the hole depth dimension S1 of the funnel member 112 is larger than the diameter S2 of the extraction hole of the funnel member 112. Therefore, when powder P is scraped off from the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank 110 into the cylindrical mixing chamber C of the dental treatment mixing instrument 120, even various types of powder P with different components, shapes, etc. can be scraped off smoothly without getting stuck in the funnel member 112 of the powder storage tank 110.

[0109] Although one embodiment of the tooth surface cleaning device according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In addition, the present invention can be embodied in various forms with various improvements, modifications, and changes based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0110] 100 Tooth surface cleaning device 110 Powder storage tank 111 Storage tank body 111a ··· Threaded part 111b... Mated part 112 Funnel member 112a: Large diameter fitting portion 112aa... Mating part 112ab.... Screw part 112b... Small diameter fitting part 112c... Powder induction hole 112ca... Ejection hole 113 Inner plug 113a Plug body 113b Fixed wing piece 113c Powder Induction Guide 113d... Valve 113da... Seal ring 113e ··· Spring 114 ··· Top Cap 120 Dental treatment mixing equipment 121...Mixer body 121a ··· Screw hole for fixing 121b Inner circumference side wall surface 121c: Outer wall surface 121d: Gas inlet 121e: Gas mixture outlet hole 121f Pipe connection part 121g ··· Pipe connection part 122 Mixing adjustment valve 122a .... Cone-shaped portion 122b Cylindrical part 122c · Groove 122d ··· Axle pin 130 ··· Tooth surface cleaning handpiece 140 Pressurized gas guide tube 150 ··· Gas mixture guide tube C... Cylindrical mixing chamber G: Annular gap P...Powder A: Gas M: Powder gas mixture S1: Hole depth dimension S2: Diameter of the outlet hole

Claims

1. A tooth surface cleaning device comprising: a powder storage tank for storing powder for tooth surface cleaning; a dental treatment mixing instrument for mixing the powder taken out of the powder storage tank with gas supplied from an external pressurized gas supply source to generate a powder mixed gas; and a tooth surface cleaning handpiece connected to the dental treatment mixing instrument for cleaning the tooth surface with the supplied powder mixed gas, The dental treatment mixing instrument is characterized in that it comprises a mixer body forming a cylindrical mixing chamber that mixes powder taken out of the powder storage tank with gas supplied from an external pressurized gas supply source to generate a powder mixed gas, and a truncated cone-shaped mixing adjustment valve that is coaxially inserted into the cylindrical mixing chamber of the mixer body on which the powder storage tank is seated and arranged opposite the mixer body with a portion of the valve protruding into the powder storage tank.

2. The tooth surface cleaning device as described in claim 1, characterized in that the mixer body of the dental treatment mixing instrument has a gas inlet hole portion for injecting the gas supplied from the pressurized gas supply source in a tangential direction of the outer peripheral wall surface forming the cylindrical mixing chamber of the mixer body, and a mixed gas outlet hole portion for outletting the powder mixed gas in a tangential direction of the outer peripheral wall surface forming the cylindrical mixing chamber of the mixer body.

3. The tooth surface cleaning device according to claim 2, characterized in that the mixed gas outlet hole of the dental treatment mixing instrument is located at a position above the cylindrical mixing chamber relative to the gas inlet hole located at a lower position of the cylindrical mixing chamber.

4. 4. A tooth surface cleaning device as described in claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the hole diameter of the mixed gas outlet hole portion of the dental treatment mixing instrument is larger than the hole diameter of the gas inlet hole portion for spraying the gas supplied from the pressurized gas supply source.

5. 5. The tooth surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein a mixing adjustment valve of the dental treatment mixing instrument is provided so as to be vertically adjustable in position relative to the powder storage tank.

6. A tooth surface cleaning device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the powder storage tank comprises a storage tank body for containing powder for tooth surface cleaning, a funnel member provided at the lower end of the storage tank body, and an inner plug provided within the storage tank body.

7. 7. The tooth surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the powder storage tank is replaceably attached to a dental treatment mixing instrument that supplies a powder-mixed gas to the tooth surface cleaning handpiece.

8. 7. The tooth surface cleaning device according to claim 6, wherein the funnel member of the powder storage tank is threadably engaged with the dental treatment mixing instrument so as to be detachable.

9. The tooth surface cleaning device according to claim 6, characterized in that the inner plug of the powder storage tank is composed of a rod-shaped plug body standing upright within the storage tank body, a fixed wing piece horizontally installed at the top end of the plug body and fixed integrally to the inner wall of the storage tank body, a conical powder guide installed around the lower end of the plug body, a valve protruding freely slidably from the lower end of the plug body, and a spring built into the plug body for urging the valve toward the outside of the tank.

10. 7. The tooth surface cleaning device according to claim 6, wherein the inner plug of the powder storage tank and the funnel member are sealed via a seal ring.

11. A tooth surface cleaning device as described in claim 6, characterized in that the inner plug of the powder storage tank can be freely opened by pushing up the top of a mixing adjustment valve coaxially inserted into the cylindrical mixing chamber of the dental treatment mixing instrument in which the funnel member of the powder storage tank is seated.

12. 7. The tooth surface cleaning device according to claim 6, wherein the hole depth dimension of the funnel member of the powder storage tank is smaller than the diameter of the outlet hole of the funnel member.

Images