Patent Publication Number: US-RE46086-E

Title: Dental instrumentation unit

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to provisional patent application U.S. 61/117,209, filed 23 Nov. 2008 which is incorporated herein by reference in the entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to dental operating equipment, and in described embodiments, relates more particularly to instrumentation units enabling interchangeability of equipment or convenient maintenance by a dental assistant. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Dental delivery systems are often configured with a series of holders into which hand pieces are placed for storage. The holders are normally slotted, each in the shape of a half circle or half cylinder that has an opening slot suitably sized to assure that the hand pieces can be placed in the holders. Commonly, the hand pieces are connected to supplies such as a water line, a pressurized source of air and partial vacuums. Other hand pieces may be electrically powered. Prior arrangements of holders and hand pieces have typically been of fixed design. For example, it is common for a delivery system to be configured for a typical user without an ability to customize to the needs of a particular procedure or to the preferences of a specific user. Further, even to the extent a system is suitable for one user, e.g., dental assistant, such systems are not readily convertible to easily accommodate users with different needs or preferences such that two or more persons may use the same unit, each with optimal convenience. Embodiments of the present invention provide for a dental assistant&#39;s unit which supports hand-held instruments used in dental procedures and that allows for interchangeability of instruments or for convenient cleaning of the unit by a user. 
     In accord with a first exemplary embodiment of the invention, there is provided an instrumentation delivery unit of the type which supports hand-held instruments used in dental procedures. A housing includes a plurality of member components which are collectively configurable in an open position and a closed position. For example, first and second members, when configured in the closed position, provide a sealed chamber and, when configured in the open position, permit access to the interior of the chamber. The chamber includes a first port suitable for connection to a vacuum line to create a partial vacuum in the chamber. At least a second port provides a connection via a second vacuum line between the chamber and a first hand-held instrument to operate the instrument when a partial vacuum is applied through the second vacuum line. The housing includes, along an exterior portion thereof, a series of hand piece holders. One or more of the holders are suitable for releasably holding the first hand-held instrument when the device is not in operation. The first and second member components include a fastening mechanism for releasably holding the members together when the housing is configured in its closed position and enabling separation of the members to permit access to the interior of the chamber when the housing is configured in the open position. 
     In accord with a second exemplary embodiment of the invention, an instrumentation delivery unit, also of the type which supports hand-held instruments for use by a dentist or dental assistant in performing dental procedures via the use of the hand-held instruments, includes a housing adapted to be supported by a dental delivery arm in a position adjacent a dental chair also formed of a series of member components configurable in multiple positions. A series of hand piece holders are formed long an exterior portion, e.g., surface, of the housing. Each holder is of an initial diametric size (which size may vary among different holders) for receiving hand pieces up to a maximum diametric dimension. One or more of the hand piece holders is formed along two adjoining ones of the housing members, and with each such hand piece holder formed by two adjoining housing members an insert can be secured therebetween. With the insert so secured, the holder in combination with the insert provides a second diametric size smaller than the initial diametric size of the holder, and the invention enables selectable accommodation of hand pieces having a maximum diametric dimension smaller than the initial diametric size of the holder. By way of example, the hand pieces may be hand-held instruments of the types used in a variety of dental procedures, including instruments that operate based on vacuum forces or on electrical power. One of the housing members may be manually removable to enable an assistant to modify an arrangement of several such inserts by repositioning inserts for individual holders between the adjoining housing members, i.e., pairs of housing members may be configured to secure multiple inserts between one another. 
     In a described embodiment, such an instrumentation delivery unit includes a housing wherein, when first and second housing members are brought together, a sealed chamber is formed therein and, when separated, access is permitted to the interior of the chamber, e.g., for maintenance purposes. The exemplary chamber includes a first portal suitable for connection to a vacuum line to create a partial vacuum in the chamber, and at least a second portal providing a connection via a second vacuum line between the chamber and a first dental device, e.g., a hand held instrument, to operate the device when a partial vacuum is extended through the second vacuum line. The housing includes, along an exterior portion thereof, a plurality of hand piece holders each of an initial diametric size for receiving hand pieces up to a maximum diametric dimension, with one of the hand piece holders formed along two adjoining ones of the housing members. The two adjoining housing members are configured to secure one or more inserts between one another to provide a second diametric size smaller than the initial diametric size and thereby selectably accommodate a hand piece having a smaller than maximum diametric dimension. Multiple such inserts may be of varied size diametric sizes, each interchangeably positionable in multiple ones of the hand piece holders. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an instrumentation delivery unit of the type which supports hand-held instruments such as used in dental procedures; 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the instrumentation delivery unit shown in  FIG. 1 , illustrating features observable when the unit is in an open position; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of a lower member of the unit shown in  FIG. 1  with numerous components attached thereto; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the unit shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5A  is a first elevation view of the lower member shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5B  is another elevation view of the lower member shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5A  wherein numerous other components of the unit are incorporated; 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of an exemplary design for a vacuum line connector also shown in  FIGS. 3-5 ; 
         FIG. 6B  is a exploded perspective view of a portion of the unit shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 4  illustrating an exemplary design for an insert useful for modifying the size of an opening of hand piece holders formed on the unit as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the unit shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  with a cover removed, illustrating component features of the unit; and 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the assembled unit incorporating exemplary dental instruments and vacuum lines attached in accord with the invention. 
     
    
    
     Like reference characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the figures. In order to emphasize certain features relating to the invention, certain features shown in the figures may not be to scale. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Before describing in detail the particular methods and apparatuses related to embodiments of the invention, it is noted that the present invention resides primarily in a novel and non-obvious combination of components. So as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, certain conventional components (e.g., air and water supply lines) have been omitted or presented with lesser detail, while the drawings and the specification describe in greater detail other elements and steps pertinent to understanding the invention. Further, the following embodiments do not define limits as to structure or method according to the invention, but only provide examples which include features that are permissive rather than mandatory and illustrative rather than exhaustive. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown an instrumentation delivery unit  10  of the type which supports hand-held instruments such as used in dental procedures. The unit  10 , shown to have an oblong, somewhat elliptical shape, comprises multiple housing members and attachments. The illustrated unit comprises a base member  14 , (also shown in  FIG. 5 ) over which are positioned a central upper housing cover  16  and two other upper housing members  18 , each positioned along a different side of the central upper housing cover  16 . The central upper housing cover  16  is rotatably attached to the base member  14  to provide an arrangement wherein the cover  16  may be placed in an open position to provide access through an opening  22  into the unit  10  and in a closed position against other members of the unit. 
     The base member  14 , the cover  16  and the other upper housing members  18  and  20  each include numerous features which may be integrally formed during manufacture of the respective component, e.g., with injection molding or another common casting process. For example, to provide a hinge-like means of attachment, with which the central upper housing cover  16  may swing between open and closed positions, the cover  16  includes a pair of protruding hinge pins  26  which may be integrally formed with the cover  16  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The hinge pins  26  are each insertable into an aperture  28  formed in one of a corresponding pair of hinge posts  30  formed on the base member  14 . In the illustrated embodiment, the posts are integrally formed along a rear portion  32  of the base member  14 . See, also,  FIG. 5 . With this arrangement the cover  16  may be placed in a closed position resting along adjacent edges which define the opening  22 , i.e. edges  40 a,  40 b along the two other upper housing members  18 ,  20  and edge  42  along an upper surface of the base member  14 . The central upper housing cover  16  may be rotatably displaced via the hinge pins  26  and posts  30 , from the closed position as shown in  FIG. 2  to the open position shown in  FIG. 1 . Operation of the housing arrangement of the members  14  and  16  may be effected with any of multiple other hinge designs, including snap-on arrangements which permit complete removal of the central upper housing member  16  from the base member  14 . 
     The upper housing cover  16  and the base member  14  include mating latch members to tightly secure the cover  16  against the base member in a closed position. The cover  16  includes a resilient latch tongue  34  having a catch portion  36  which can be snapped into a suitably shaped opening  38  when the cover  16  is urged into a closed position. The opening  38  is positioned along an upper exterior surface  45  of the base member  14  and a sufficient distance below the edge region  42  to assure that, when the opening  38  receives the catch portion  36 , the cover  16  fits tightly against the base member  14 . Also, as further described herein, when the cover  16  is in the closed position, this arrangement imparts a desirable amount of pressure between each of the cover  16  and base member  14  and an intervening seal to enable a chamber formed within the housing  10  to sustain a desired partial vacuum. The latch tongue  34  can be released from the opening  38  by applying a modest upward force to the cover  16  which sufficiently flexes the cover  16  to displace the catch portion  36  out of the latch opening  38  and allow upward movement of the cover  16  away from the latch opening  38 . 
     A feature of the unit  10  is that when the central upper housing cover  16  is in a closed position with respect to the base member  14 , a sealed vacuum chamber is formed within the enclosed volume of the unit. The vacuum chamber is formed as two separable components  44  and  46 . A lid component  44  serves as a removable cover which is formed along an inner surface of the central upper housing member  16 . A vessel component  46 , formed along an inner surface  48  of the base member  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , serves as a vessel for receiving liquid and debris collected during dental procedures. The lid component  44  is positionable over and about the vessel component  46  to press against the inner surface  48  of the base member  14 . The lid component  44  includes a seal  50  positioned along the distal edge region  54 . When the central upper housing cover  16  is in a closed position over the opening  22 , the edge region  54  and the seal  50  of the lid component  44  press against the inner surface  48  of the base member  14 . In this configuration, the lid component  44 , with the seal  50  pressed between the edge region  54  and the inner surface  48 , encloses wall portions  47  of the vessel component  46  extending above the inner surface  48  of the base member  14 . See  FIG. 7 . This arrangement effects a sufficiently air tight assembly to sustain a partial vacuum in the closed chamber  44 / 46 . 
     The base member  14  includes a series of ports which extend into the vessel component  46  of the chamber. See  FIGS. 3-7 . A main vacuum portal  62 , shown in the plan views of  FIGS. 5A and 5B , is connectable through a main vacuum line  63  as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The line  63  is connected to a pump (not shown) to provide the source for the partial vacuum in the chamber when the lid component  44  is pressed into a sealing engagement against the inner surface  48  of the base member  14 . 
     Also with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the chamber further includes three exemplary instrument line portals  64  within the vessel component  46  and positioned along the inner surface  48  of the base member  14 . As shown in  FIGS. 5B and 6A , vacuum line connectors  66  are attached to the base member  14  through each portal  64  for delivery of a vacuum force via a secondary vacuum line  67  to an instrument  99  or other dental device. See, again,  FIG. 8 . The exemplary vacuum line connector  66  shown in the perspective view of  FIG. 6A  has a generally cylindrical shape with an intermediate washer-shaped rim  68  of greater diameter than the general cylindrical shape. The rim  68  is positioned adjacent an upper end  69  of the cylindrical shape to facilitate securement of the connector  66  in a portal  64 . With a washer-shaped recess  70  formed about each portal and along the inner surface  48 , the rim  68  is sized to fit snugly within the recess to stabilize the position of the connector  66 . See, also,  FIG. 7 . Various arrangements of seals (not shown) may be incorporated in the connectors  66  to sustain partial vacuum conditions. 
     A filter element is positioned in the flow path leading from the instrument line portals  64  into the main vacuum portal  62  to prevent debris which may enter the chamber through one of the portals  64  from exiting the vessel through the main vacuum portal  62 . The filter element is schematically shown as a simple screen  72  in  FIG. 5B , but it is to be understood that other well known filter designs can be employed to trap debris while permitting vacuum flow to travel into the main portal  62 . 
     The instrumentation delivery unit  10  further includes a series of hand piece holders  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82  and  84  positioned along the periphery of the unit  10 . The holders are recesses or slots in the shapes of half cylinders which each extend along an upper member  18  or  20  and along the base member  14 . Having half cylinder shapes, the holders are each capable of accommodating tools of varied diametric sizes which may be slid into the slot. By diametric size it is meant that, with hand held dental instruments typically being of an elongate but often irregular profile, and having an associated thickness or girth which may vary, the instruments each have an associated diametric-like dimension which corresponds to the diameter of an elongate, regular cylindrically shaped body. With this understanding, it will be apparent from the figures that each of the hand piece holders provides a slot formed with a characteristic diametric size suitable to receive a dental instrument having a corresponding diametric feature up to a like dimension. The hand piece holders  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82  and  84  are each schematically shown in the plan view of  FIG. 5A  as a half-cylinder shape 92 having a diameter d and positioned so that the open portions (i.e., the slots) indicated by arrows  90  face outward from the unit  10  to receive instruments  99  having thicknesses up to that same diameter. 
     With the unit  10  formed in multiple components, including the upper members  18 ,  20  and the base member  14 , a feature of the invention is that the holders  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82  and  84  can be formed as sleeve-like receptacles each comprising two connectable sections:  74 a,  74 b;  76 a,  76 b;  78 a,  78 b;  80 a,  80 b; and  82 a,  82 b; and  84 a,  84 b. The perspective views of  FIGS. 2 and 4  illustrate features of the holders  78 ,  80  and  82 , which features are also common to the holders  74 ,  76 , and  84 . Interior portions of the housing member  20  and the base member  14  are viewable with the instrument delivery unit  10  in the open position shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in this view, and the view of  FIG. 6B , the holder  82  comprises an upper section  82 a, formed as part of the housing member  20 , and a lower section  82 b formed as part of the base member  14 . The sections  82 a and  82 b are connectable to one another through an insert  96  (see also  FIG. 4 ) which reduces the size of the hand piece holder from the diameter d to accommodate instruments having thicknesses smaller than the diameter d with a close or snug fit for secure placement of an instrument through the slot of the holder  78 . With each of the holders  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82  and  84  formed with two separable sections (e.g.,  78 a,  78 b;  80 a,  80 b, etc.) such inserts  96  may be interposed between the two sections. Accordingly, the inserts  96  can be selected based on diametric size to selectively alter and customize the maximum diametric dimensions of each slot-shaped hand piece holder  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82  and  84 . The exemplary design for such an insert  96 , shown in the perspective view of  FIG. 6B , comprises a body generally in the shape of a half cylinder suitably sized to fit concentrically within one of the holders  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82  and  84 . When installed in a holder, an open portion of each insert, indicated in  FIG. 5B  with arrows  98 , extends outward from the unit  10 , more or less aligned with the open portion  90  of the holder so that pairs of open portions  90  and  98  are aligned to receive instruments having thicknesses d i  which range up to about the inside diameter of the insert  96 . See  FIG. 5B . In  FIG. 8  a series of instruments  99  are shown installed in the holders  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82  and  84 . 
     A major outside surface  97  of the inserts  96  has an outer diameter substantially the same as the diameter “d” of the hand piece holder  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82  or  84  into which it is inserted. 
     Each of the inserts  96  includes along an upper end a shoulder  100  which is sufficiently greater than d such that when the shoulder  100  is positioned between the separable upper and lower sections (e.g.,  82 a,  82 b) of a holder, the shoulder  100  can be nested against the upper section (e.g.,  82 a). The lower sections of the holders (e.g.,  82 b) each include at an upper end a shoulder  110  including a recessed ridge with the shoulder  110  having a diameter sufficiently greater than a lower portion  112  of an insert  96  so that when the lower portion  112  of an insert is positioned in the shoulder it can be nested against the lower section (e.g.,  82 b). With this arrangement of inserts positioned between upper and lower holder sections, the upper members  18 ,  20  can be fastened to the base member  14  in order to secure the nested inserts  96  in place. Numerous fastening means are suitable to assemble the unit and secure the holders. For example, a series of hollow base posts  104 a (shown in  FIG. 4 ) may be formed in the base member  14  for alignment with posts  104 b in one of the upper members  18 ,  20  having threaded blind holes (not shown) so that a screw may extend through each base post  104 a and be turned in a blind hole for fastening to a post  104 b. With a suitable fastening arrangement, the shoulders  100  and  110  are clamped against opposing ends of each insert  96  to secure the insert. A feature of this arrangement is that a user of the unit can easily disassemble components to interchange inserts  96  of different inner diametric sizes in order to receive instruments having different thicknesses d i  which range up to about the inside diameter of the insert  96 . With inserts of varying sizes accommodating dental instruments  99  of different thicknesses, the effective sizes of the holders  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82  and  84  can be readily customized as needed by users on a day-to-day basis or even more frequently. 
     A feature of the invention is provision of multiple inserts  96  having different diametric dimensions (e.g., interior diameters) for receiving hand tools of varied diametric dimension. Although the hand piece holders are illustrated as being of uniform dimensions, they may be manufactured with different diametric dimensions. Thus, while the hand piece holders may be formed of identical, or different, diametric dimensions, inserts  96  may be customized to fit among the like or dissimilar hand piece holders  70 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78  and  80  and also provide differing receiving diameters (i.e., diametric dimensions) suitable for specific hand tools of different sizes. 
     This customization enables the unit  10  to be fitted for varied combinations of differently sized hand tools, and also affords the dental specialist a flexibility to rearrange configurations of hand piece holders according to personal preferences. For example, two persons may have different preferences with respect to the location of specific hand tools. The preferences may be based on whether a specialist is right handed or left handed, or may be based on specialization of work and the frequency with which certain tools are used. The upper side members  18  and  20  may be removed from the base member by various means. For example, the members may be fastened to the base member with screws, or the members  18  and  20  with the base member  14  may incorporate multiple mating latch members such as described herein for securement of the cover  16  with a latch tongue  34  having a catch portion insertable within a latch opening. In lieu of a hinged relation such as described for the cover  16 , the members  18  and  20  may be secured to the base member  14  with pairs of mating latch members which can be released by exerting small squeezing forces upon the members  18  and  20  to release the catch portions from the base member. This simple, manual release means enables an assistant to easily modify an arrangement of inserts  90  based on tool preferences and preferred locations. 
     An embodiment of a dental instrumentation delivery unit has been described. In one series of embodiments the unit includes a housing with multiple members that are configurable in multiple positions. For example, first and second members, when brought together in a closed position, provide a sealed chamber inside the unit and, when separated in an open position, permit access to the interior of the chamber for purposes of removing debris and for maintenance. The chamber includes a main port suitable for connection to a vacuum line to create a partial vacuum in the chamber. Multiple second ports may each provide connections via second vacuum lines between the chamber and a dental instrument  99  to operate the dental instrument when a partial vacuum is extended through the second vacuum line. The housing may include, along an exterior periphery thereof, a plurality of hand piece holders. The holders are suitable for reversibly holding dental tools when each of the tools is not operating. To effect provision of a partial vacuum in the chamber, the first and second members may be coupled to one another in a hinged arrangement so that the members may be separated to permit access through an opening to the interior of the chamber. With respect to an embodiment having a hinged arrangement, the access is effected by rotation of the first member with respect to the second member. In one embodiment, the chamber is formed with a lid portion, positioned along an interior surface of the first member, and a vessel portion, positioned along an interior surface of the second member to receive the lid portion in a sealing relationship to sustain at least a partial vacuum. The sealing relationship may be had by pressing a seal between the lid portion and an interior surface formed along the second member. 
     In another series of embodiments, a customizable dental instrumentation delivery unit supports a variety of hand-held instruments of differing sizes and shapes for use in dental procedures. A housing includes a plurality of members configurable in multiple positions. The housing includes, along an exterior periphery thereof, a plurality of hand piece holders, each having an initial diametric size for receiving hand pieces up to a maximum diametric dimension. One of the hand piece holders is formed along two adjoining ones of the housing members and the two adjoining housing members are configured to secure an insert along an interface between the two adjoining housing members. Such positioning of the insert provides the holder with a second diametric size smaller than the initial diametric size and permits selectable accommodation of differing hand pieces each having a smaller than maximum diametric dimension. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is only limited by the claims which follow.