Abstract:
This disclosure relates generally to lighted dental instruments and, more particularly, to powered dental scalers incorporating both an integral light source and a fluid passageway that directs fluid adjacent to tooth surfaces with which the scalers are in contact.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/705,437, entitled “POWERED SCALER WITH LIGHTED BACTERIA-REDUCING INSERT” and filed Sep. 25, 2012, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. Additionally, this application claims priority to U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/840,849, entitled “MAGNETOSTRICTIVE SCALER WITH PHOSPHOR-LIGHTED INSERT AND LED-GENERATED VISIBLE LIGHT BLOCK” and filed Jun. 28, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates generally to lighted dental instruments and, more particularly, to powered dental scalers incorporating both an integral light source and a fluid passageway that directs fluid adjacent to tooth surfaces with which the scalers are in contact. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Lighted dental scaler systems have been developed and marketed. Some of these existing systems rely on electromagnetic induction, by which current from a first coil, which induces vibration in a magnetostrictive stack, also induces a current flow in a second coil. The induced current in the second coil causes a visible light source, in the form of an electrically-powered bulb, to illuminate. 
         [0004]    Other conventional lighted dental scaler systems rely on vibration of the scaler tip to induce an electric current in a second coil (i.e., as opposed to relying directly on magnetic fields induced by electrical current in a first coil that induces vibrations in the magnetostrictive stack). The electric current in the second coil is then used to power the visible light source. 
         [0005]    Both of these systems depend upon the alternating current in the first coil to power the visible light source. This dependence leads to a number of drawbacks, such as the problem of fluctuations in power levels, which may be desirable to alter the intensity of vibration of the scaler tip, resulting in fluctuations in brightness of the visible light source. Another drawback is that when power to the scaler tip is turned off, the visible light source will no longer illuminate. 
         [0006]    Another lighted dental scaler system has been proposed that utilizes an independent battery to power the visible light source. Such a system advantageously overcomes problems of intensity variation and illumination when power is not being supplied to the scaler, but providing a separate power source in the form of a battery raises costs and can render sterilization of the system more complicated as compared to other lighted dental scaler systems. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    A lighted dental scaler system employs energy from one or more electromagnetic energy sources operating in the visible or non-visible light spectrum, referred to herein as “energy sources.” For example, the one or more energy sources may be a set or array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that generates blue light, white light, infrared (IR) radiation, or ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The energy is transmitted from the energy source through an energy conductive medium to a lens that is coated with phosphor material. Alternatively or additionally, phosphor material is embedded into material from which the lens is made. As such, the lens is referred to herein as a “phosphor lens,” which generally refers to both phosphor-coated and phosphor-embedded lenses. The phosphor material of the lens is excited or activated upon exposure to the energy generated by the energy sources which, in turn, causes the phosphor material to emit visible light (i.e., glow). The visible light emitted by the phosphor material may be directed or focused to illuminate the area around the scaler tip or to illuminate the oral cavity. For example, the lens may be of a cone shape having a concave surface coated with phosphor so that light generated by the phosphor material is focused by the cone, but the phosphor coating is protected from wearing away. Powered dental scaler systems of the present disclosure also may include a fluid passageway that directs fluid adjacent to tooth surfaces with which the scalers are in contact. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment, the energy conductive medium (or “energy conductor”) through which the energy generated by the energy source is conducted to reach and activate the phosphor lens is a light pipe. For example, a handpiece or an insert of a dental scaler may include one or more energy sources that generate visible light having wavelengths in the visible spectrum, e.g., between 400 nm and 700 nm. The visible light generated by the energy sources may be conducted through the light pipe to activate the phosphor lens. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment, the energy conductive medium or energy conductor through which the energy generated by the energy source is conducted to reach and activate the phosphor lens is a set of filters, e.g., a set of one or more filters. The set of filters may block the passage of electromagnetic energy in the visible spectrum (e.g., visible light) while allowing the passage of electromagnetic energy in the non-visible spectrum to activate the phosphor lens. For example, a handpiece or an insert of a dental scaler includes one or more energy sources that generate electromagnetic energy in the non-visible spectrum. In an embodiment, the energy source or sources generate energy having a wavelength in the UV spectrum, e.g., between 200 nm and 400 nm. Non-visible UV energy within this wavelength range is found to be sufficient to activate the phosphor material of a lens to generate visible light. 
         [0010]    In this embodiment, the non-visible electromagnetic energy is conducted through the set of filters. The set of filters blocks any visible light which may have been incidentally generated by the non-visible energy sources. For example, if the energy sources are UV energy sources, the set of filters blocks electromagnetic energy at the high end of the wavelength emission curve of the UV energy sources. As such, only non-visible electromagnetic energy is allowed to pass through the set of filters to excite the phosphor material. 
         [0011]    By filtering out any visible light which may have been incidentally generated by the non-visible electromagnetic energy sources, the actual visible light produced and emitted by the lighted dental scaler system or instrument is wholly generated by the activation of the phosphor material. Consequently, the intensity and focus of all visible light produced by the lighted dental scaler system or instrument may be easily known and controlled. This control of generated visible light in dental instruments is important, especially in dental applications where the diffusion of uncontrolled visible light may inadvertently cause the curing of a dental compound, or may cause other undesired effects during a dental procedure. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment, the set of filters that block visible light are disposed in between non-visible electromagnetic energy sources and the phosphor material. For example, one edge surface of the set of filters abuts or is disposed directly adjacent to the energy sources. Additionally or alternatively, an opposite edge surface of the set of filters may abut or be disposed directly adjacent to the phosphor material. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a handpiece of the lighted dental scalar system includes one or more energy sources, an energy conductor, a primary coil, and a driving circuit that causes an essentially constant voltage to be conducted to the one or more energy sources. The handpiece may selectively receive a modular scaler insert portion, which includes (in the case of a magnetostrictive dental scaler) a stack of nickel leafs, a metal connecting body having an irrigating fluid channel therein, and a scaler tip, as well as one or more filters and a phosphor lens. When the scaler insert is engaged in the handpiece and an alternating current (AC) is applied to the primary coil of the handpiece, an alternating magnetic field is generated by the primary coil, which causes the stack of nickel leafs to vibrate, and consequently, the scaler tip to move. The driving circuit of the handpiece also receives the alternating current, and converts the alternating current into a steady or constant voltage to power the energy source. In an embodiment, the driving circuit is a voltage regulator that may be tuned to control the intensity of the energy emitted by the energy source. 
         [0014]    In an example configuration, the energy source generates visible light, and the energy conductor is a light pipe. In an alternate example configuration, the energy source generates non-visible electromagnetic energy (e.g., UV light), and the energy conductor is a set of filters configured to block visible light while allowing the passage of the non-visible electromagnetic energy. 
         [0015]    In an alternate embodiment, the handpiece includes a primary coil. The one or more energy sources, the energy conductor, the phosphor lens, the driving circuit for the one or more energy sources, and a secondary coil are provided as a modular insert component of the lighted dental insert system that can be selectively received within the handpiece. The modular insert component can advantageously be appropriately dimensioned so as to be received within a conventional handpiece. When the scaler insert is engaged in the handpiece and an alternating current is applied to the primary coil, an alternating magnetic field is generated by the primary coil which causes the stack of nickel leafs to vibrate, and consequently, the scaler tip to move. The secondary coil included in the insert is inductively coupled to the primary coil, and thus the secondary coil generates an alternating current corresponding to the alternating magnetic field generated by the primary coil. The driving circuit of the insert receives the alternating current generated by the secondary coil, and converts the generated alternating current into a steady or constant voltage to power the energy source. In an embodiment, the driving circuit is a voltage regulator that may be tuned to control the intensity of the energy source. Thus, in this alternate embodiment, the light generation means for the scaler system is entirely included in an autoclavable modular insert, which may be compatibly used with various different types of dental scaler handpieces. Further, in this alternate embodiment, the energy sources generates non-visible electromagnetic energy, and the energy conductor may comprise one or more filters that block visible light while allowing non-visible electromagnetic energy to be conducted to reach the phosphor lens. 
         [0016]    In another aspect of the present disclosure, the phosphor lens may be in the form of a coated conical member that is selectively engageable with the scaler tip, the one or more filters, or with a portion of the insert that supports the scaler tip and/or the one or more filters. The coated conical member may have variations in the types of phosphor material coated thereon, such that depending on an adjustable orientation of the coated cone member, the activated phosphor coating exhibits different characteristics. For instance, the coated cone member of a lighted dental scaler system of the present disclosure may be variably coated in such a manner that, when installed on the scaler tip in a first orientation relative to the orientation of the tip and exposed to UV energy from a UV energy source, the phosphor material of the coated conical member generates visible white light, which is useful to a dental practitioner to illuminate the oral cavity of a patient for increased visibility, and when rotated to a second orientation relative to the orientation of the tip and exposed to UV energy from the UV energy source, the phosphor material generates fluorescent light, such as black light, which is useful for diagnostic purposes in identifying food deposits, plaque, or tartar on the patient&#39;s teeth. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment, the one or more filters may be selectively engageable with the insert or with a portion of the insert that supports the scaler tip and/or the phosphor lens. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a semi-schematic view of a first embodiment of a lighted dental scaler system of the present disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the lighted dental scaler system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the lighted dental scaler system of  FIG. 2 , illustrating the scaler insert partially withdrawn from the handpiece thereof; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged, longitudinally cross-sectional view of a portion of the lighted dental scalar system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a enlarged, bottom plan view of a portion of the lighted dental scalar system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged bottom perspective view of a portion of the lighted dental scalar system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a semi-schematic view of a second embodiment of a lighted dental scaler system of the present disclosure; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of a modular insert component of the lighted dental scaler system of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a side plan view of a modular insert component of the lighted dental scaler system of  FIG. 7  illustrated in cross-section; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a phosphor lens which may be used with the lighted dental scaler system of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of the modular insert component of the lighted dental scaler system of  FIG. 7 , with the scaler tip and hermetic seal omitted from the illustration; 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a modular insert component of the lighted dental scaler system of  FIG. 7 , with the scaler tip and hermetic seal included in the illustration; 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is a front plan view of a modular insert component of the lighted dental scaler system of  FIG. 7 , with portions of the modular insert component illustrated in cross-section; 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  is a top plan view of a scaler tip and integral connecting body of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view illustrating the insertion of a phosphor-coated cone on a scaler tip of a lighted dental scaler system of the present disclosure; 
           [0033]      FIG. 16  is a front perspective view of the lighted dental scaler system of  FIG. 15 , illustrating an ability to rotate the phosphor-coated cone relative to an orientation of the scaling tip of the lighted dental scaler system; 
           [0034]      FIG. 17  is a front perspective view of the lighted dental scaler system of  FIGS. 15 and 16 , wherein the phosphor-coated cone is arranged to emit, upon excitation by UV energy, visible white light; 
           [0035]      FIG. 18  is a front perspective view of the lighted scaler system of  FIGS. 15 and 16 , illustrating rotation of the phosphor-coated cone thereof from a first position, as illustrated in  FIG. 17 , to a second position; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 19  is a front perspective view of the lighted dental scaler system of  FIGS. 15 and 16 , wherein the phosphor-coated cone is arranged to emit, upon excitation by UV energy, fluorescent light, such as UV black light, that is useful in a diagnostic mode to facilitate identification of plaque, tartar, food deposits, or fluorescent light-activated mouthwash. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0037]    With reference to the drawing figures, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , a lighted dental scaler system  10  of a first embodiment of the present disclosure includes a handpiece  12  and an insert  14  with a stack  16  of nickel leafs, a connecting body  18 , and a scaler tip  20 . The insert  14  is selectively received in the handpiece  12 , and when so received in the handpiece, a primary coil  22  provided in the handpiece  12  is disposed about the nickel stack  16 . When alternating current (AC) is applied to the primary coil  22 , a corresponding alternating magnetic field is generated. The alternating magnetic field causes the stack  16  to vibrate, which in turn causes transmission of vibration through the connecting body  18 , ultimately resulting in desired rapid vibration of the scaler tip  20 , which movement facilitates the removal of calculus from tooth enamel. 
         [0038]    The lighted dental scaler system  10  further includes a light assembly having a driving circuit  24  that receives alternating current from the primary coil  22 , converts the alternating current to a direct current at a steady voltage or constant voltage, and provides the direct current to an energy source  26 . The energy source  26  may include a set of one or more devices that receive power and consequently generate electromagnetic energy. The one or more devices included in the energy source  26  may be arranged in any configuration, such as linearly, in a ring or other two-dimensional shape, or some other suitable configuration. For instance, the energy source  26  may comprise an array of two or more LEDs. As used herein, the term “array” includes both linear and non-linear arrangements of two or more objects, and the plurality of objects within the array may or may not be evenly spaced from one another. The driving circuit  24  preferably includes a voltage regulator that may be tuned to control the brightness or intensity of the energy source  26 . 
         [0039]    The energy source  26  may emit energy in the visible light spectrum (e.g., in an electromagnetic wavelength range from about 400 nm to about 700 nm), in the near-infrared (IR) spectrum (e.g., in an electromagnetic wavelength range from about 700 nm to about 2,200 nm) or in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum (e.g., in an electromagnetic wavelength range from about 200 nm to about 400 nm). In some embodiments, different devices included in the energy source  26  may emit different ranges of wavelengths, e.g., one device may emit blue light while another device emits UV light. In an embodiment, at least one of the devices included in the energy source  26  generates electromagnetic energy in the non-visible UV range of 200 nm to 400 nm. UV energy within this range is found to be sufficient to activate phosphor material to generate visible light. 
         [0040]    The energy source  26 , when activated by current conducted by the driving circuit  24 , emits energy that is received at the phosphor lens  30 . In an embodiment, the energy source  26  emits energy that is conducted through an energy conductor  28 . In the embodiment of the system  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the energy conductor  28  is a light pipe  28  included in the insert  14 , and the energy source  25  generates visible electromagnetic energy or light. 
         [0041]    In some cases, more stringent control over the emission and diffusion of visible light may be desired, such as when curable dental compounds are being used within the vicinity of the scaler system  10 . For these cases, in an embodiment of the system  10  (not shown), the energy source  26  is configured to emit non-visible electromagnetic energy, such as UV energy, and the phosphor lens  30  is the primary or sole source of visible light emitted from the system  10 . In this embodiment, instead of the energy conductor  28  being a light pipe, the energy conductor  28  comprises one or more filters. The one or more filters may be configured to block visible light. For example, when the insert  14  is engaged in the handpiece  12 , the energy source  26  may abut or may be disposed directly adjacent to a first side edge of the one or more filters without any light pipe, energy pipe, or other physical, conductive, electromagnetic transmission medium disposed therebetween. Additionally or alternatively, an opposite side edge of the one or more filters may abut or may be disposed directly adjacent to the phosphor lens  30 . In this embodiment, the one or more filters block any incidentally generated visible light emitted by the energy source  26  from reaching the phosphor lens  30 , e.g., only non-visible electromagnetic energy reaches the phosphor lens  30 . 
         [0042]    Upon exposure to the electromagnetic energy generated by the energy source  26 , the phosphor material of the lens  30  is activated. In an embodiment, the phosphor material coats the lens  30 . Alternately or additionally, the phosphor material is embedded in the material from which the lens  30  is made. 
         [0043]    Depending on the characteristics of the phosphor material of the lens  30 , upon activation, the phosphor material emits visible electromagnetic energy, e.g., a visible white light. Additionally or alternatively, the phosphor material generates fluorescent light. In some embodiments, more than one type of phosphor material is used with the lens  30  so that light of multiple different wavelength ranges is generated (e.g., both white light and fluorescent light). As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the phosphor lens  30  may be in the form of a conical member  30 . In other embodiments, a separate focusing component (not shown) may be removably attached to the insert  14  to focus the light emitted by the phosphor lens  30  in a desired direction. 
         [0044]    The connecting body  18  includes an irrigating fluid flow channel  32 . The fluid flow channel  32  has an outlet port  34  that permits liquid (e.g., water) to spray onto a tooth surface in the vicinity of the scaler tip  20  for the purpose of cooling the tooth and the scaler tip  20 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a gasket  36 , such as a o-ring, is disposed about the connecting body  18  at an intersection of the light pipe  28  and the phosphor lens  30 . 
         [0045]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the irrigation fluid flow channel  32  is disposed on an external surface of the connecting body  18 . In an embodiment, a portion of an exterior surface of the connecting body  18  may be longitudinally chamfered to form an external portion  40  of the irrigation fluid flow channel  32 . The remainder internal portion of the irrigation fluid flow channel  32  is entirely surrounded the connecting body  18  and is not visible in  FIGS. 1-3 . However, for clarity,  FIG. 3  illustrates a fluid inlet port  42  disposed at the end of the irrigation fluid flow channel  32  that is distal from the scaler tip  20 . At the inlet port  42 , fluid may be delivered into the channel  32  for passage through the internal portion of the channel  32  and the external portion  40  of the channel to the fluid outlet port  34  proximate to the scaler tip  20 . 
         [0046]      FIGS. 4-6  illustrate the arrangement of the tip  20 , the energy conductor  28 , and the external portion  40  of the irrigation fluid flow channel  32  included in  FIGS. 1-3 . The fluid inlet port  42  is visible in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0047]    Although  FIGS. 1-6  depict the exterior portion  40  of the irrigation fluid flow channel  32  as a single chamfer, the external portion  40  of the irrigation fluid flow channel  32  may be configured with any number, pattern, size, and/or cross-sectional shape of chamfers. For example, the connecting body  18  may include multiple, parallel chamfers originating at and branching out from the junction between the internal and external 40 portions of the irrigation fluid flow channel  32 . In some embodiments, at least two chamfers may have different cross-sectional shapes and/or may have different radial depths. 
         [0048]    Turning to  FIGS. 7-14 , an alternate embodiment of a lighted dental scaler system  110  of the present disclosure is illustrated. According to this embodiment, a scaler insert  114 , an energy source  126 , one or more filters  128 , a phosphor lens  130 , a gasket  136  (such as an o-ring), and a driving circuit  124  for the energy source  126  are all provided as a modular insert component  142  of the lighted dental insert system  110 . The modular insert component  142  can be selectively received within a handpiece  112  that includes a primary coil  122 . In this alternate embodiment, the energy source  126  generates non-visible electromagnetic energy, such as UV energy, and may be similar to the embodiment of the non-visible energy source  26  previously discussed with respect to  FIGS. 1-3 . Similarly, the one or more filters  128  and the phosphor lens  130  may be respectively similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3  having the set of filters and phosphor lens  30 , as previously discussed. 
         [0049]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , the energy source  126  and the filter  128  are enclosed by a hermetic seal  141  that abuts the phosphor lens  130 . The hermetic seal  141  may further aid in preventing any undesired incidental visible light from being diffused into the environs of the dental scaler system  110 , and may ensure that only filtered, non-visible electromagnetic energy generated by the energy source  126  reaches the phosphor lens  130 . Additionally, the hermetic seal  141  may add to the ability of the modular insert component  142  to be autoclavable. 
         [0050]    The scaler insert  114  includes a nickel stack  116 , a connecting body  118 , and a scaler tip  120 . In this alternate embodiment, a secondary coil  144  is provided as part of the modular insert component  142 . The secondary coil  144  is a harvesting coil that does not extend axially along the full length of the nickel stack  116 , but rather, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , only extends a short axial distance along the stack  116 . In an embodiment, the secondary coil  144  is wound around or otherwise supported by a bobbin  145  that is, in turn, supported by the connecting body  132 . In an embodiment, the bobbin  145  and the connecting body  132  are an integral unit. 
         [0051]    When the modular insert component  142  is engaged in the handpiece  112  and an alternating current (AC) is applied to the primary coil  122  of the handpiece  112 , an alternating magnetic field is generated by the primary coil  122 , which causes the stack of nickel leafs  116  to vibrate and consequently, upon transmission of the vibration through the connecting body  118 , the scaler tip  120  moves. The secondary coil  144  is inductively coupled to the primary coil  122 , and as such, the secondary coil  144  generates a secondary alternating current based on the alternating current flowing through the primary coil  122 . The secondary alternating current is provided to the driving circuit  124 , which converts the secondary AC into a direct current at a steady or constant voltage to power the energy source  126 . In an embodiment, the driving circuit  124  is a voltage regulator that may be tuned to control the brightness of the energy source  126 . In the lighted dental scaler system  110 , the non-visible energy emitted by the energy source  126  may be conducted through and filtered by the energy conductor  128  so that only non-visible electromagnetic energy excites the phosphor lens  130 , in a manner similar to that previously discussed with respect to the previous embodiment  10 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the modular insert component  142 , with at least the tip  120 , the connecting body  118 , and the hermetic seal  141  omitted for illustrative purposes only. As shown in  FIG. 11 , a housing  148 , such as a resin housing, supports an electrical contact  150 . The electrical contact  150  delivers current generated by the secondary coil  144  to the driving circuit  124  (which is not visible in  FIG. 11 ), so that the driving circuit  124  powers the energy source  126 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the modular insert component  142 .  FIG. 12  illustrates the hermetic seal  141  surrounding at least the resin housing  148 , the driving circuit  124 , the energy source  126 , and the visual light filter  128 , and thus obscuring these elements from view in the illustration. 
         [0054]    Additionally, as discussed with respect to the previous embodiment  10 , in this alternate embodiment  110  the connecting body  118  includes an irrigating fluid flow channel  132 . The arrangement of the tip  120 , the one or more filters  128 , and the external portion  140  of the irrigation fluid flow channel  132  may be similar to the arrangement shown in  FIGS. 4-6 . 
         [0055]    With respect to  FIGS. 15-19 , a particular phosphor-coated lens  230  is illustrated that could be used with either of the above-described embodiments of a lighted dental scaler system of the present disclosure. The phosphor-coated lens  230  includes a first portion coated with a first phosphor material that, when the phosphor-coated lens  230  is in a first orientation relative to a UV energy conductor  228 , upon exposure to UV energy from the UV energy conductor  228 , the phosphor-coated lens  230  emits visible white light, as illustrated in  FIG. 17 . A second portion of the phosphor-coated lens  230  is coated with a second phosphor material that, when the phosphor-coated lens  230  is in a second orientation relative to the UV energy conductor  228 , upon exposure to UV energy from the UV energy conductor  228 , the phosphor-coated lens  230  emits a fluorescent light, such as UV black light, as illustrated in  FIG. 19 . This fluorescent light may be useful in a diagnostic mode of the lighted dental scaler system of the present disclosure, as the fluorescent light intensifies contrast between tooth enamel and plaque, tarter, food particles, or other foreign objects to be removed during a dental procedure. 
         [0056]    While various embodiments have been described above, it will be appreciated that variations may be made thereto that are still within the scope of the appended claims.