Patent Publication Number: US-2015072308-A1

Title: Dental Implant Cleaner

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0107495 filed on Sep. 6, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a dental implant cleaner, and more particularly, to the dental implant cleaner enabling to quickly and easily clean foreign substances such as dental plaque, inflammatory tissue or bacteria which are built up the surface of the dental implant after a dental implant surgery. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A dental implant is for making an artificial tooth instead of a functional missing tooth, and a fixture is fixedly implanted to an alveolar bone, an abutment is fixedly connected to the fixture, and an artificial tooth (prosthetic appliance) is fixedly connected to the abutment. 
     The present applicant has a Korean Registered Patent No. 10-1157406 (Brush for removing foreign substances built up the surface of a dental implant) for cleaning a dental implant, and its representative figure is shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the prior removing brush  10  has one end portion provided with a chuck portion  11  which is fixedly mounted to a chuck of a hand-piece and the other end portion provided with a brush portion  15  which is rotated by the driving force of the hand-piece and removes foreign substances such as dental plaque, inflammatory tissue or bacteria which are built up the surface of the implant. 
     The brush portion  15  is composed of a brush body  16  which is coaxially extended from the end of the other end portion and a plurality of brushes  17  formed to the surface of the brush body  16 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the chuck portion of the prior removing brush  10  is mounted to the hand-piece  1 , and the brush  10  is enough deeply inserted between the dental implant  2  and the gum  3 . At this time, the gum  3  is swollen by the foreign substances such as dental plaque, inflammatory tissue or bacteria, and the alveolar bone  4  is partially damaged and absorbed. 
     The brush  10 , which is enough deeply inserted, is rotated in a high or low speed in the arrow direction and removes the foreign substances built up the dental implant  2 , the gum  3  or the alveolar bone  4 . 
     The conventional removing brush having the above mentioned structure has caused inconvenience and long time in work to remove the foreign substances because a worker should very carefully move the brush following to the surface of the dental implant to remove the foreign substances. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is created to solve the above mentioned conventional problem, and the goal of the present invention is to provide a dental implant cleaner enabling to quickly and easily clean the infected surface of a dental implant by providing a plurality of elastic supporting legs to encompass the infected surface of a dental implant with a determined gap and by providing a plurality of cleaning tips at the elastic supporting legs to contact the infected surface of a dental implant. 
     To accomplish the aim of the present invention, the present invention provides a dental implant cleaner comprising a main body, a shank provided at the upper surface of the main body to be mounted on a hand-piece, a plurality of elastic supporting legs provided at the lower surface of the main body to encompass the surface of the dental implant, and a plurality of cleaning tips provided inwardly at the end portion of the elastic supporting legs respectively to be contacted on the surface of the dental implant. 
     In the first aspect, the present invention is characterized in that the elastic supporting legs are straightly stretched downwardly, further characterized in that the cleaning tips are bent from the end portion of the elastic supporting legs respectively, still further characterized in that the bent angle is 45°-145°, and still further characterized in that the bent angle is an obtuse angle. 
     In the second aspect, the present invention is characterized in that the elastic supporting legs are inclined to be narrower inwardly in downward, further characterized in that the cleaning tips are bent from the end portion of the elastic supporting legs respectively, still further characterized in that the bent angle is 45°-145°, and still further characterized in that the bent angle is an obtuse angle. 
     In the third aspect, the present invention is characterized in that the elastic supporting legs are inclined to be narrower inwardly in downward and have a pot shaped upper portion, further characterized in that the cleaning tips are bent from the end portion of the elastic supporting legs respectively, still further characterized in that the bent angle is 45°-145°, and still further characterized in that the bent angle is an obtuse angle. 
     According to the present invention, a plurality of elastic supporting legs are provided to encompass the infected surface of a dental implant with a determined gap, a plurality of cleaning tips are provided at the elastic supporting legs to contact the infected surface of the dental implant, and the cleaning tips are rotated in one way or two way, or vibrated by the driving force of the hand-piece following to the surface of the dental implant, and therefore the infected surface of a dental implant can be quickly and easily cleaned and the cleaning work can be successfully done even by unskilled worker. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the conventional removing brush; 
         FIG. 2  is an exemplary view illustrating a state to clean the infected surface of the dental implant using the brush in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a concept view illustrating the dental implant cleaner according to the first aspect of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are views illustrating the dental implant cleaners according to various embodiments according to the first aspect in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a concept view illustrating the dental implant cleaner according to the second aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a view illustrating the dental implant cleaner according to one embodiment according to the second aspect in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a concept view illustrating the dental implant cleaner according to the third aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a view illustrating the dental implant cleaner according to one embodiment according to the third aspect in  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is an exemplary view illustrating one example to use the dental implant cleaner in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures. 
     Hereinafter, the dental implant cleaner according to the various aspects and the preferred embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail referring to the accompanying drawings. 
     1st Aspect 
       FIG. 3  is a concept view illustrating the dental implant cleaner according to the first aspect of the present invention. 
     The dental implant cleaner  30  according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a plurality of elastic supporting legs  33  to encompass the surface of the dental implant and a plurality of cleaning tips  34  provided at the end portion of a plurality of elastic supporting legs  33  respectively to contact the surface of the dental implant. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the main body  31  has an upper surface provided with the shank  32  which will be mounted to a hand-piece, and a lower surface provided with a plurality of elastic supporting legs  33  to be straightly stretched downwardly. And, the plurality of elastic supporting legs  33  have end portions provided with the cleaning tips  34  inwardly. At this time, the distance dl between the elastic supporting legs  33  is greater than the distance d between the cleaning tips  34 . Also, the cleaning tips  34  are inwardly bent with respect to the elastic supporting legs  33 , and the bending angle  13  is preferably 45°-145°. The dental implant may be much easily entered in the cleaning tips  34  if the angle  13  is smaller than 90°, meanwhile the cleaning force may be improved if the angle  13  is greater than 90°. 
     Various embodiments according to the first aspect of the present invention are shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B .  FIGS. 4A and 4B  are views illustrating the dental implant cleaners according to various embodiments according to the first aspect in  FIG. 3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4A , the dental implant cleaner  40   a  of one embodiment according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a main body  41   a , a shank  42   a,  a plurality of elastic supporting legs  43   a  and a plurality of cleaning tips  44   a.    
     The main body  41  a is cylindrically made by the injection molding with plastic materials in the light of decreasing its manufacturing cost, otherwise it may be made of metal materials to fit its usage. 
     The shank  42   a  is a portion to be mounted a driving apparatus such as a hand-piece, and its structure is identical with the general shank, and therefore the structure is not specifically explained herein. 
     The elastic supporting legs  43   a  are portions to encompass the surface of the dental implant, and they are formed to have a circle cross section and enough elasticity. The material of the elastic supporting legs  43   a  is preferably Ti alloy such as NiTi or stainless such as CrCo. The elastic supporting legs  43   a  have a diameter of 0.1 mm-0.7 mm, and preferably 0.2 mm-0.4 mm. 
     The cleaning tips  44   a  are portions to contact the surface of the dental implant, and they are formed to have a circle cross section and inwardly bent with respect to the elastic supporting legs  43   a  respectively. At this time, each cleaning tip  44   a  has an obtuse angle with respect to the elastic supporting leg  43   a  so as to enhance a cleaning force. 
     Each cleaning tip  44   a  has a length as much as the depth of the thread formed on the outer periphery surface of the dental implant, and it has a thickness to be enough thin to be easily inserted in the thread. Further, each end of the cleaning tips  44   a  is formed to be sharp or round, in  FIG. 4A , the end of the cleaning tips  44   a  is formed to be round. The cleaning tips  44   a  have a length of 0.1 mm-0.7 mm, preferably 0.3 mm-0.5 mm and a diameter of 0.1 mm-0.7 mm, preferably 0.2 mm-0.4 mm. Also, all tips of the cleaning tips  44   a  are positioned at the same level. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4B , the dental implant cleaner  40   b  of another embodiment according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a main body  41   b , a shank  42   b,  a plurality of elastic supporting legs  43   b  and a plurality of cleaning tips  44   b.    
     The main body  41   b , the shank  42   b  and the plurality of elastic supporting legs  43   b  are identical with the main body  41   a , the shank  42   a  and the plurality of elastic supporting legs  43   a  in  FIG. 4A , and therefore the specific explanations for them are omitted to avoid repetition of its explanation. 
     The cleaning tips  44   b  are positioned at the different level otherwise the cleaning tips  44   a  in  FIG. 4   a . When the level of the tips  44   b  differs from each other, the cleaning area for the surface of the dental implant is widened and therefore the time required for cleaning may be decreased. 
     2nd Aspect 
       FIG. 5  is a concept view illustrating the dental implant cleaner according to the second aspect of the present invention. 
     The dental implant cleaner  50  according to the second aspect of the present invention comprises a plurality of elastic supporting legs  53  to encompass a surface of a dental implant and a plurality of cleaning tips  54  provided at the end portion of the elastic supporting legs  53  respectively to contact the surface of the dental implant. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the main body  51  has an upper surface provided with the shank  52  which will be mounted to a hand-piece, and a lower surface provided with a plurality of elastic supporting legs  53 . And, the plurality of elastic supporting legs  53  are respectively inclined to have an α 1  to be narrower inwardly downwardly, and they have an end portion provided with the cleaning tips  54  inwardly. At this time, the distance d 2  between the elastic supporting legs  53  is greater than the distance d between the cleaning tips  54 , and even greater than the distance dl between the elastic supporting legs  33  in  FIG. 3 . Also, the cleaning tips  54  are inwardly bent with respect to the elastic supporting legs  53 , and the bending angle  13  is preferably 45°-145°. The dental implant may be much easily entered in the cleaning tips  54  if the angle  13  is smaller than 90°, meanwhile the cleaning force may be improved if the angle  13  is greater than 90°. 
     One embodiment according to the second aspect of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  is a view illustrating the dental implant cleaner according to one embodiment according to the second aspect in  FIG. 5 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the dental implant cleaner  60   a  of one embodiment according to the second aspect of the present invention comprises a main body  61  a, a shank  62   a,  a plurality of elastic supporting legs  63   a  and a plurality of cleaning tips  64   a.    
     The main body  61   a , the shank  62   a  and the plurality of cleaning tips  64   a  are identical with the main body  41   a , the shank  42   a  and the plurality of cleaning tips  44   a  in  FIG. 4A , and therefore the specific explanations for them are omitted to avoid the repetition of its explanation. 
     The plurality of elastic supporting legs  63   a  are respectively inclined to be narrower inwardly downwardly otherwise the plurality of elastic supporting legs  43   a  in  FIG. 4A . Even not shown, at this time, the inclined angle is identical with the inclined angle α 1  of the elastic supporting legs  53  in  FIG. 5 . 
     The plurality of cleaning tips  64   a  are positioned at the same level, but they may be positioned at the different level as like  FIG. 4B . 
     3rd Aspect 
       FIG. 7  is a concept view illustrating the dental implant cleaner according to the third aspect of the present invention. 
     The dental implant cleaner  70  according to the third aspect of the present invention comprises a plurality of elastic supporting legs  73  to encompass a surface of a dental implant and a plurality of cleaning tips  74  provided respectively at end portions of the elastic supporting legs  73  to contact the surface of the dental implant. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the main body  71  has an upper surface provided with the shank  72  which will be mounted to a hand-piece, and a lower surface provided with a plurality of elastic supporting legs  73 . And, the plurality of elastic supporting legs  73  are respectively inclined to have an angle α 2  to be narrower inwardly downwardly, and they respectively have a upper portion having a pot shape and an end portion provided with the cleaning tip  74  inwardly. At this time, the distance d 3  between the elastic supporting legs  73  is greater than the distance d between the cleaning tips  74 , also greater than the distance d 1  between the elastic supporting legs  33  in  FIG. 3 , but smaller than the distance d 2  the elastic supporting legs  53  in  FIG. 5 . Further, the inclined angle α 2  of the elastic supporting legs  73  is smaller than the inclined angle α 1  of the elastic supporting legs  53  in  FIG. 5 . 
     Also, the cleaning tips  74  are respectively bent with respect to the elastic supporting legs  73  inwardly, and the bending angle  13  is preferably 45°-145°. The dental implant may be much easily entered in the cleaning tips  74  if the angle  13  is smaller than 90°, meanwhile the cleaning force may be improved if the angle  13  is greater than 90°. 
     One embodiment according to the third aspect of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 8  is a view illustrating the dental implant cleaner according to one embodiment according to the third aspect in  FIG. 7 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the dental implant cleaner  80   a  of one embodiment according to the third aspect of the present invention comprises a main body  81   a , a shank  82   a,  a plurality of elastic supporting legs  83   a  and a plurality of cleaning tips  84   a.    
     The main body  81   a , the shank  82   a  and the plurality of cleaning tips  84   a  are identical with the main body  41   a , the shank  42   a  and the plurality of cleaning tips  44   a  in  FIG. 4A , and therefore the specific explanations for them are omitted to avoid the repetition of its explanation. 
     The plurality of elastic supporting legs  63   a  respectively have a upper portion having a pot shape and they are respectively inclined with the angle α 2  to be narrower inwardly downwardly. Even not shown, at this time, the inclined angle is identical with the inclined angle α 2  of the elastic supporting legs  73  in  FIG. 7 . 
     The cleaning tips  84   a  are positioned at the same level, but otherwise they may be positioned at the different level as like  FIG. 4B . 
       FIG. 9  is an exemplary view illustrating one example to use the dental implant cleaner in  FIG. 3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the dental implant cleaner  30  is used to clean the dental implant which is partially exposed outwardly because the alveolar bone is partially lost. At this time, the exposed dental implant  1  is inserted in the plurality of elastic supporting legs  33  such that the cleaning tips  34  of the cleaner  30  are contacted to the surface of the dental implant  1 , and then a hand-piece is operated. With the operation of the hand-piece, the cleaning cleaner  30  is rotated in high or low speed, and then the cleaning tips  34  clearly remove the foreign substances such as dental plaque, inflammatory tissue or bacteria built up the surface of the dental implant  1 . At this time, the operation of the hand-piece is basically one way rotation, but otherwise it may be two way rotation or vibration. 
     Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.