Patent ID: 6379150
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: A61C

Abstract:
A filter unit for a dental instrument, said dental instrument having a fluid connector for supply of a plurality of fluids to the dental instrument, at least one of which fluids is to be filtered and at least one other of said fluids is not to be filtered, said connector being adapted to mate with a fluid connector on the fluid supply line, the filter unit comprising:a) a waterline connector having a body adapted to mate with the fluid connector on the fluid supply line and a plurality of fluid connectors adapted to mate with tubing, one fluid connection for each fluid passing through the waterline connector; b) a handpiece connector having a body adapted to mate with the fluid connector on the dental handpiece, and a plurality of fluid connectors adapted to mate with tubing, one fluid connection for each fluid passing through the handpiece connector; c) at least one filter housing having a body with a central filter chamber, the body being separable into a first section and a second section at the filter chamber, such that a filter may be inserted into the filter chamber; the first section and the second section having fluid connections adapted to mate with tubing and passages for fluid connecting the fluid connections to the central filter chamber, such that fluid entering a fluid connection on the first section passes into the central filter chamber and exits from the fluid connection on the second section; d) at least one length of flexible tubing, connecting a fluid connection on the waterline connector to a fluid connection on the first section of the filter housing; e) at least one length of flexible tubing, connecting a fluid connection on the handpiece connector to a fluid connection on the second section of the filter housing; f) at least one length of flexible tubing connecting a fluid connection on the waterline connector to a fluid connection on the handpiece connection; such that for each fluid to be filtered, fluid from the fluid supply line passes through the waterline connector into a length of flexible tubing, through the filter housing, and through a length of flexible tubing to the handpiece connector, and then to the dental instrument; and for each fluid which is not filtered, fluid from the fluid supply line passes through the waterline connector into a length of flexible tubing to the handpiece connector, and then to the dental instrument.