Patent ID: 6800478
Filing Date: 2004-10-05
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A dental unit comprising:a water line equipped with a plurality of conduits that supply fluids to handpieces and fluid consuming units that use fluid from a main supply or accessory fluids from corresponding independent lines; and an apparatus for detecting biofilm in the water conduits, especially biofilm adhering to the inside surfaces of the conduits, the apparatus adapted to dispense a fluid reagent and comprising means for detecting a reaction between the biofilm and the fluid reagent, at least on the surfaces of a conduit portion of one of the conduits, wherein said conduit portion is transparent to allow a direct visual check, and wherein the detecting means, at least in the conduit portion, are of the direct detection type to detect an alteration in the biofilm caused by the fluid and comprise feed means for introducing the reagent or coloring fluid connected to, and acting on, said transparent conduit portion, wherein the feed means comprise a tank containing the reagent or coloring fluid and means for pumping the fluid into the conduit portion through a first connecting channel leading into a first end of the transparent conduit portion, and wherein the other end of the conduit portion is connected to a second channel for draining out the mixture consisting of the reagent or coloring fluid and the fluid already present in the conduit portion.