Abstract:
Adapter units enabling a disposable tip to connect to an existing dental syringe configured to receive a different type of tip such as an autoclavable tip. In addition, adapter units constructed in accordance with this invention provide built-in light sources and/or video camera units, thereby providing the syringe bodies to which the adapters attach capabilities that they could not have without the adapters. A self-contained module, removably coupled to the retainer body, includes a light-emitting diode (LED), a battery powering the LED, and a switch to turn the LED ON and OFF, the LED generating light generally proximally toward the distal end of the disposable tip. In the preferred embodiments, the retainer body includes a cavity into which the self-contained module is removably received. The conversion kit may further include a lens to direct light from the LED toward the distal end of the disposable tip.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/907,296, filed May 31, 2013, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/841,280, filed Mar. 15, 2013, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/619,578, filed Apr. 3, 2012. This application also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/898,605, filed Nov. 1, 2013. The entire content of each application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to air/water syringes and, in particular, to adapter units that enable replaceable, disposable tips to be used with various handle assemblies including European style syringes, and which provide built-in light sources and video cameras. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Dental syringes are hand-held instruments which deliver water and air under pressure into a patient&#39;s mouth for washing and drying purposes. Such instruments are widely used by dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons, dental hygienists and dental assistants. A typical dental includes a head unit which is coupled to hoses that supply water at about 40 PSI and air at about 80 PSI. An elongated tip coupled to the head unit is inserted into a patient&#39;s mouth, and buttons on the head unit are operated to discharge water or air through the distal end of the tip. 
         [0004]    Cross contamination is one of the principal problems encountered with dental syringes. Bacteria and viruses can be communicated from patient to patient unless the syringe tip is adequately sanitized. The safest and most desirable approach is to replace the syringe tip from the head after each patient treatment. In addition, it is desirable to be able to replace worn tips or change to tips of different configurations quickly and easily. 
         [0005]    Several decades ago, dental syringe tips were not readily removable from the syringe head units. Removal often necessitated the unscrewing of a coupling from the head and the sliding of the coupling off of the tip. Around this time, the tip once removed and the associated coupling were autoclaved. A number of small elastomeric O-rings had to be removed before autoclaving because they could not withstand the heat and pressure of the autoclaving process. The entire process was a time consuming, often frustrating experience. 
         [0006]    Around 1980, dental syringe quick-disconnect tips were invented. U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,589, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a dental syringe that includes a head  10 , a coupling  12 , and a removable, replaceable tip  14  ( FIG. 1 ). It is important to note that this tip/adapter only fitted  1  syringe at that time—Adec. No other syringe in the world would accept that tip or adapter. The head  10  has internal water and air passages  16  and  18  in communication with an internally threaded cylindrical cavity  22  in the top frontal surface of the head ( FIG. 2 ). The head and tip include a corresponding number of fluid passages. The coupling  12  includes a cylindrical base and a lock nut which screws over the base. The base and the lock nut define an axially extending bore which communicates with the passages through the head and removably receives the rearward portion of the tip  14 . An elastomeric O-ring is positioned between the base and the lock nut and surrounds the bore. When the rearward portion of the tip is fully inserted in the bore the O-ring seats in a groove surrounding the rearward portion of the tip. When the lock nut is fully screwed over the base, deformation of the O-ring is substantially prevented and the tip cannot be withdrawn or ejected from the coupling. 
         [0007]    The tip  14  comprises inner and outer elongate, coaxial, spaced apart pipes  36  and  38  which define water and air passages  40  and  42 , respectively. The forward portions of the pipes are angled with respect to the rearward portions. The forward end  44  of the inner pipe  36  is open and the forward end  46  of the outer pipe  38  is bent inwardly and is sealed to the inner pipe  36 . The forward end  46  has a plurality of annularly spaced nozzle apertures such as  48 . 
         [0008]    The rearward portion  50  of the outer pipe  38  terminates short of the rearward portion  52  of the inner pipe  36  and is bent inwardly and sealed to the rearward portion  52 . The rearward end  53  of the inner pipe  36  is open and coaxial with the water passage  16  and abuts the bottom of the cavity  22  when inserted in the coupling  12 . The periphery of the rearward portion  50  is formed with a pair of axially spaced, rearward and forward annular grooves  54  and  56 . A pair of diametrically positioned inlet apertures  58  and  60  extend through the wall of the outer pipe  38  in the groove  54 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0009]    Ducts  82  and  84  in the base  62  extend from the bore  72  in the base to a chamber  80 . When the rearward portion of the tip is fully inserted in the bore  72 , air can flow from the air passage  18  into the chamber  80 , through the ducts  82  and  84 , into the bore  72 , through the apertures  58  and  60 , into the air passage  42  and through the tip. 
         [0010]    Push buttons  24  and  26  on the top rear surface of the head are coupled to normally closed valves and are selectively hand-operated to discharge water, air, or both through the distal end  28  of the tip  14 . A handle  30  can be threaded with the shank  20  to connect water and air supply hoses  32  and  34  to the water and air passages  16  and  18 , respectively. When the push buttons  24  and  26  are simultaneously depressed water spray mist is produced. 
         [0011]    Since the development of the quick-release syringe tip system just described several improvements have taken place. Central to such improvements is the development of the disposable tip which is retrofittable to the older metal units which must be autoclaved to reuse. Disposable air/water syringe tips resemble bent, plastic straws with multiple cannulations to receive and deliver air and water from existing hand-held units. One leading manufacturer is Crystal Tip of Irvine, Calif. 
         [0012]    As with the earlier, autoclavable metal syringe tips, the proximal end of the Crystal Tip includes a central, protruding tube to receive water which, like its predecessors, seals against an O-ring in the syringe body. However, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the tip does not have proximal side ducts through which the air flows; rather the proximal end surrounding the water tube does not ‘bottom out’ within the syringe body, allowing air to enter the cannulations surrounding the central water tube. Crystal Tips are designed to be used directly on common U.S. and Canadian syringes. In particular, Crystal Tips fit syringes from Adec (Newberg, Oreg.), DCI International (Newberg, Oreg.) and Unic/Heka (Ishoj, Denmark) without the need for any so-called adapter units. 
         [0013]    Currently in Europe, however, most syringes use autoclavable tips. As a result, there has been little attempt to upgrade to new standards that have been in place for years. As such, disposable tips, including Crystal Tips, cannot be used directly on any European syringe. Syringes with autoclavable tips use a variety of routing patterns to deliver air and water to the tip. However, all U.S. disposable tips receive their air flow through the base of the tip that is inserted into the syringe. Autoclavable tips route air flow through a side port (hole) directly below an O-ring grove on the metal tip. As such, without some type of conversion, disposable tips are incompatible with European-style syringes that use autoclavable tips. 
         [0014]    Given that there are numerous proprietary designs outside North America, it would be advantageous to provide these syringes with appropriate adapter kits enabling them to utilize standard, disposable quick-release air/water tips. 
         [0015]    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/841,280, filed Mar. 15, 2013, discloses numerous conversion kits enabling disposable tips to be used on multiple different syringe bodies, including European designs that use autoclavable tips. However, the embodiments described in this previous application use two subassemblies—a cap subassembly that receives the disposable tip, and an adapter subassembly that couples the cap to the syringe body after the non-disposable or autoclavable tip has been removed. 
         [0016]    The cap subassembly  402 , shown in  FIG. 4 , includes an outer body  403  with a distal end to receive the tip  400  and a proximal end configured to receive a ferrule  420  shown in  FIG. 5 . The ferrule includes a cup-shaped receptacle that receives the proximal end of the disposable tip once inserted into the cap body  403 . The disposable tip is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6  at  400 . View  401  is an end view showing the central water-carrying tube  404  surrounded by air-carrying channels  406 . In the tip shown, a Crystal Tip from Westside Resources of Irvine, CA, the water tube protrudes from the proximal end of the tip at  408 , facilitating an additional O-ring seal at  410  for enhanced air/water separation. The proximal end of tip  400  includes a tapered region to ensure that the tip end does not “bottom out” against the bottom of the ferrule cup. This allows air to flow through side grooves  502  and into the air-carrying channels  406  of the tip. Again, however, as long as access to the air-carrying channels is provided, such a tapered region is not necessarily required. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    This invention resides in adapter units enabling a disposable tip to connect to an existing dental syringe configured to receive a different type of tip such as an autoclavable tip. In addition, adapter units constructed in accordance with this invention provide built-in light sources and/or video camera units, thereby providing the syringe bodies to which the adapters attach capabilities that they could not have without the adapters. 
         [0018]    A conversion kit according to the invention includes a retainer body having an outer surface and a proximal end that attaches to a dental syringe providing air and water. The retainer body further includes a distal opening into which the proximal end of an elongated disposable tip is inserted, the disposable tip having a central, water-carrying tube surrounded by air-carrying channels terminating in a distal end. One or more components within the retainer body have cut-outs, grooves or channels to direct the air and water from the syringe body to the air-carrying channels and water-carrying tube of the disposable tip. 
         [0019]    A self-contained module, removably coupled to the retainer body, includes a light-emitting diode (LED), a battery powering the LED, and a switch to turn the LED ON and OFF, the LED generating light generally proximally toward the distal end of the disposable tip. In the preferred embodiments, the retainer body includes a cavity into which the self-contained module is removably received. The conversion kit may further include a lens to direct light from the LED toward the distal end of the disposable tip following insertion into the retainer body. 
         [0020]    In addition to a manually operated ON/OFF switch, the fluid going thru the nozzle or the tip or thru the adapter may act as an ON/OFF circuit. For example, the water in the syringe going thru the adapter may power a micro turbine that would also power the LED. The ON/OFF switch may be in electrical communication with a touch panel on the outer surface of the retainer body used to turn the switch ON and OFF. Alternatively, the switch may be in electrical communication with a motion detector disposed within the self-contained module, whereby the detection of motion turns the LED ON, and the absence of motion for a predetermined period of time turns the LED OFF. 
         [0021]    An optional, miniature video camera may also be disposed in the self-contained module, the camera being powered by the battery and controlled by the switch. This embodiment may include an electronic interface enabling the video information to be retrieved from the module for further recording or display purposes. Alternatively, a wireless transmitter may be disposed in the self-contained module, with a receiver for receiving video information from the camera through the wireless transmitter for further recording or display purposes. In all embodiments, the video camera may have a field of view corresponding to the light generated by the LED light source. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is an exploded isometric view of a prior art dental syringe showing its quick-release tip withdrawn; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged side elevational view of the dental syringe of  FIG. 1  with portions broken away; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a drawing in partial cross section showing an existing cap subassembly and disposable tip; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a ferrule used in the cap subassembly of  FIG. 4 , showing side grooves configured for the passage of air; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view illustrating how the invention replaces an autoclavable tip on a generic, European-style with a conversion kit and disposable tip; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a threaded ferrule constructed in accordance with the present invention, also including side grooves configured for the passage of air; 
           [0029]      FIGS. 8A-8G  illustrate syringe systems to which the invention is applicable that feature stems protruding from the syringe body; 
           [0030]      FIGS. 9A-9C  illustrate syringe systems to which the invention is applicable that feature threaded connections between the syringe body and the tip which is removed; 
           [0031]      FIGS. 10A-10F  illustrate syringe systems to which the invention is applicable that feature stems protruding from the removed tip and into the syringe body; 
           [0032]      FIGS. 11A-11D  illustrate syringe systems to which the invention is applicable that feature tube projections from the removed tip and into the syringe body; 
           [0033]      FIG. 12A  is a side view of an embodiment of the invention wherein an LED light is disposed on an outer retainer of an adapter; 
           [0034]      FIG. 12B  is a cross section of the embodiment of  FIG. 12A ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 13A  is a side view of an embodiment of the invention wherein an LED light is attached to an inner sleeve of an adapter; 
           [0036]      FIG. 13B  is a cross section of the embodiment of  FIG. 13A ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 14A  is a side view of an embodiment of the invention wherein an LED light an optional camera are attached to an inner sleeve of an adapter; 
           [0038]      FIG. 14B  is a cross section of the embodiment of  FIG. 14A ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 15  is a cross section of an adapter with an LED light source for an ADEC syringe; 
           [0040]      FIG. 16A  is a cross section of an adapter with an LED light source for a KAVO K4 syringe; 
           [0041]      FIG. 16B  is a cross section of an adapter with an angled LED light source for a KAVO K4 syringe; 
           [0042]      FIG. 16C  is a cross section of an adapter with an LED light source and optional camera for a KAVO K4 syringe; 
           [0043]      FIG. 17A  is a cross section of an adapter with an LED light source for a CGE syringe; 
           [0044]      FIG. 17B  is a different cross section of the adapter of  FIG. 17A  illustrating air and water channels; 
           [0045]      FIG. 17C  is a cross section of an adapter with an angled LED light source for a CGE syringe; 
           [0046]      FIG. 17D  is a cross section of an adapter with an LED light source and optional camera for an ADEC syringe; 
           [0047]      FIG. 18A  is a cross-sectional drawing showing a Sirona syringe wherein light is brought in via optical conduit; 
           [0048]      FIG. 18B  shows how a two-piece prism may be replaced with a single-piece light guide; 
           [0049]      FIG. 18C  illustrates the alternate use of an optical fiber; 
           [0050]      FIG. 18D  shows a component that rotates or swivels to direct the light to a desired location; 
           [0051]      FIG. 18E  shows the component of  FIG. 18D  used with a single optical light guide; 
           [0052]      FIG. 18F  shows the component of  FIG. 18D  used with an optical fiber or conduit; and 
           [0053]      FIGS. 19A-19E  depict the use of an adapter that receives a disposable tip for use in conjunction with a Kayo model syringe which includes a fiber optic light source. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0054]    This invention improves upon existing air/water syringe instrumentation by providing conversion kits that enable replaceable, disposable tips to be used with various syringe assemblies, including European-style syringes. The invention is also applicable to disposable tips with disposable tips having extended proximal water tubes as well as tips with flush air/water passages on opposing flat proximal and distal ends. Nor is the invention limited in terms of the number of air-carrying channels surrounding the central water-carrying tube. The invention is further not limited in that addition to air and/or water gels, abrasives, other liquids or materials used in dental procedures may be accommodated. 
         [0055]      FIG. 6  is a simplified drawing showing a generic syringe body  602  with air/water control buttons  604 . The figure also shows a generic autoclavable tip  606  which is removed from the body  602  and replaced with a retainer body  610  having a distal end  612  to receive disposable tip  400 . The retainer is illustrated in broken-line form because it is a generic example with specific embodiments being described below with respect to detailed cross-sectional drawings. In all embodiments, however, air/water directing components internal to the retainer are installed through a proximal opening  614  in the retainer, such that the proximal portion  616  of the retainer can be flush against a corresponding portion  618  of the syringe body so that the outer surface  620  of the retainer can be smooth and seamless from the syringe to the distal end  612 . 
         [0056]    The components associated with the retainer body span a range of parts and complexity depending upon the type of syringe and the tip being replaced. That said, the invention accommodates all current styles and may be extended to yet-to-be developed designs with appropriate engineering modification. In particular, the invention includes conversion kits with retainers and components to accommodate syringe systems with stems that protrude from the syringe body, as exemplified in  FIGS. 8A-8G ; syringe systems that feature threaded connections between the syringe body and the tip without any prominent protrusions, as depicted in  FIGS. 9A-9C ; syringe systems with stems protruding from the removed tip, as shown in  FIGS. 10A-10F ; and syringe systems that feature tube projections from the removed tip, as shown in  FIGS. 11A-11D . 
         [0057]    One component internal to the retainer body is a cup-shaped ferrule to receive the proximal end of the disposable tip once inserted into the distal end of the retainer. Such a ferrule, shown in  FIG. 5 , includes a central opening through which water passes into the water-carrying tube of the disposable tip and one or more side cut-outs  502  through which air passes into the air-carrying channels of the disposable tip. The ferrule  420  further includes a central opening to receive a water-carrying tube extending from the proximal end of the disposable tip. As with the other components internal to the retainer body, the ferrule is installed through the proximal opening in the retainer.  FIG. 7  shows a different ferrule with side cut-outs  702 , but which is threaded at  704  to maintain its position. 
         [0058]      FIG. 12A  is a side view of an embodiment of the invention wherein an LED light  1202  is disposed on an outer retainer  1204  of an adapter.  FIG. 12B  is a cross section of the embodiment of  FIG. 12A , showing the LED as part of a module  1206 , preferably with a generally cylindrical body to frictionally fit into a cylindrical bore made in the body of the adapter retainer. The self-contained module  1206 , removably coupled to the retainer body, includes a light-emitting diode (LED), a battery powering the LED, and a switch (not shown) to turn the LED ON and OFF. The assembly may further include a lens  1210  to direct light from the LED toward the distal end of the disposable tip following insertion into the retainer body. 
         [0059]    The ON/OFF switch may be in electrical communication with a touch panel on the outer surface of the retainer body used to turn the switch ON and OFF. Alternatively, the switch may be in electrical communication with a motion detector disposed within the self-contained module, whereby the detection of motion turns the LED ON, and the absence of motion for a predetermined period of time turns the LED OFF. 
         [0060]      FIG. 13A  is a side view of an embodiment of the invention wherein an LED light module  1306  is attached to an inner sleeve  1302  of an adapter  1304 .  FIG. 13B  is a cross section of the embodiment of  FIG. 13A . In this case the module  1306  may be curved or bent, and may include a lens  1210  to direct light from the LED toward the distal end of the disposable tip following insertion into the retainer body. 
         [0061]      FIG. 14A  is a side view of an embodiment of the invention wherein an LED light and optional camera  1412  are attached to an inner sleeve of an adapter.  FIG. 14B  is a cross section of the embodiment of  FIG. 14A . In this case as well the module  1406  may be curved or bent, and may include a lens  1410  to direct light from the LED toward the distal end of the disposable tip and to image the distal tip with the camera. 
         [0062]    The optional, miniature video camera is also be disposed in the self-contained module, the camera being powered by the battery and controlled by the switch. This embodiment may include an electronic interface enabling the video information to be retrieved from the module for further recording or display purposes. Alternatively, a wireless transmitter may be disposed in the self-contained module, with a receiver for receiving video information from the camera through the wireless transmitter for further recording or display purposes. In all embodiments, the video camera may have a field of view corresponding to the light generated by the LED light source. 
         [0063]      FIGS. 15 to 17  are detailed cross-sectional drawings that show conversion kits for particular syringe styles and, in some cases, modified ferrules depending upon the design requirements. In these drawings, the existing syringe body is shown without cross-hatching, whereas the cap and adapter subassemblies are cross-hatched. Air and water flows are also illustrated with text in each cross section. All conversion kits further include multiple O-rings, depicted as black circles. In terms of materials, the ferrules are preferably constructed of a brass alloy to achieve demanding tolerances, whereas the other hard components may be constructed of aluminum or hard plastic. Although certain of the conversion kits provide three or more components in addition to the O-rings, those of skill in the art will recognize that fewer pieces may be used through appropriate machining. For example, the ferrule and end cap may be formed of an integral unit by machining a single piece of brass or aluminum. While such fabrication may complicate the manufacturing process somewhat, the end result eliminates O-rings and simplifies assembly by the user. 
         [0064]      FIG. 15  is a cross section of an adapter with an LED light source  1502  for an ADEC syringe. Ferrule  1510  screws into the retainer body  1500 . The disposable tip is depicted at  1504 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 16A  is a cross section of an adapter with an LED light source for a KAVO K4 syringe.  FIG. 16B  is a cross section of an adapter with an angled LED light source for the KAVO K4, and  FIG. 16C  is a cross section of an adapter with an LED light source and optional camera for the KAVO K4. Note that in this and other embodiments of the invention, not all of the OEM O-rings provided on the stem  1608  of the syringe  1602  are replaced once removed to receive the conversion components. Ferrule  1610  screws into the retainer body  1600 , followed by component  1604  including stepped cavities to receive the stepped stem protruding from the syringe system. A radial air flow is produced at  1612 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 17A  is a cross section of an adapter with an LED light source for a CGE syringe.  FIG. 17B  is a different cross section of the adapter of  FIG. 17A  illustrating air and water channels.  FIG. 17C  is a cross section of an adapter with an angled LED light source for a CGE syringe, and  FIG. 17D  is a cross section of an adapter with an LED light source and optional camera for an ADEC syringe. 
         [0000]    Syringes with Existing Light Sources 
         [0067]    In addition to adapters that provide light sources to syringes that do not already have light sources, other embodiments of the invention provide adapters that preserve the light from syringes that include lights sources. Two examples will be described in detail as representative, one from Sirona and another from Kayo, with the understanding that other models may be accommodated with appropriate engineering modification apparent to a person of skill in the art. 
         [0068]      FIG. 18A  is a cross-sectional drawing showing a Sirona syringe  1802  wherein light is brought in via optical conduit  1804 . Air and water are delivered via the channels labeled AIR and WATER. To preserve the light, the adapter in this case includes a stem component  1806  with an optical component  1802  that guides the light to a device  1810  enabling the light to exit the body of the adapter at  1812 . The disposable tip is indicated at  1800 , with other components including the ferrule  1801  being described elsewhere herein. 
         [0069]    In  FIG. 18A , the component  1810  used for light guiding comprises a  2 -piece prism including light guide  1811 . As with other embodiments, the light-carrying assembly may include a mirror  1814 . As shown in  FIG. 18B , the two-piece prism may be replaced with a single-piece light guide  1820 .  FIG. 18C  illustrates the alternate use of an optical fiber  1830 . In all embodiments, in the region where the light exits, a light redirection component may be used to aim the light.  FIG. 18D , for example, shows such a component  1840 , which swivels to direct the light to a desired location.  FIG. 18D  shows the redirection component  1840  with a multi-prism optical system, whereas  FIG. 18E  shows the component with a single optical light guide, and  FIG. 18F  illustrates its use with an optical fiber or conduit. 
         [0070]      FIGS. 19A-19E  depict the use of an adapter that receives a disposable tip for use in conjunction with a Kayo (Esthetica) model syringe which includes a fiber optic light source. As with  FIG. 18 , the various diagrams illustrate the use of single and multi-piece prisms, light guides and rotatable redirection components.