Abstract:
A periodontal irrigator flushes out bacteria at the base of a periodontal pocket. The periodontal pocket irrigator is a handheld device that can be used by patients in their homes to irrigate periodontal pockets. The device includes a handle, a liquid container, and a plunger or other mechanism for dispensing Listerine, water, antibacterial fluid, or various prescriptions from the container, to treat periodontal disease. The container can be easily removed for cleaning. The liquid contents can be dispensed from the container through a removable tip either manually or by a solenoid or other motor. A lever can be used to move the plunger. Dispensing can be continuous, or limited to predetermined doses. The dispensing tip is angled, and can be oriented in more than one direction with respect to the handle. The device can include a light to illuminate the mouth, as periodontal disease frequently starts in the interproximal area of the molars in the darker parts of the mouth.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/804, 258, filed May 15, 2007, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from provisional application Ser. No. 60/801,141, filed May 17, 2006. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to periodontal irrigators, and more particularly to periodontal pocket irrigators for patients&#39; home use. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is estimated that one in three adults in the United States has some form of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease, including gingivitis and periodontis, are infections that if left untreated can lead to tooth loss. These diseases are chronic bacterial infections that infect the gums and bones surrounding teeth. 
         [0004]    Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria in plaque causing the gums to become inflamed. In an initial form of the disease (gingivitis), the gums redden, swell and bleed easily. If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontis, which is caused by plaque spreading and growing below the gum line. This bacteria irritates the gums, which in turn stimulates a chronic inflammatory response in which the gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums that frequently become infected). As periodontal disease progresses, the pockets deepen and the infection advances. In order to stop the progression of periodontal disease, the periodontal pockets must be kept clean of plaque and bacteria. A home care program typically entails brushing, flossing, and irrigating these periodontal pockets with water or antibacterial agents. However, there exists a need for a hand-held periodontal irrigator that is easy to use as part of this home treatment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In keeping with one aspect of this invention, a periodontal irrigator is designed to flush out bacteria at the base of periodontal pockets. The periodontal pocket irrigator is a handheld device that can be used by patients in their homes to clean periodontal pockets. The device includes a handle, a liquid container filled with Listerine®, water, antibacterial fluid, or various prescriptions to treat periodontal disease, and a mechanism to dispense the contents of the liquid container. The container can be easily removed for cleaning. 
         [0006]    The liquid contents can be dispensed through a removable tip, either manually or by a solenoid or other motor. Dispensing can be continuous, or limited to predetermined doses. The dispensing tip is preferably angled, and can be positioned in more than one orientation with respect to the handle. The device can include a light to illuminate the mouth, as periodontal disease frequently starts in the interproximal area of the molars in the darker parts of the mouth. 
         [0007]    The liquid container can be a syringe having a plunger that dispenses the contents of the syringe. The plunger can be advanced using a cantilevered lever mechanically linked to the plunger on one end, and linked to an actuator on the other end. The actuator can be a manually operated handle, or a solenoid or other motor. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The above mentioned and other features of this invention and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side plan view of an embodiment of the periodontal pocket irrigator of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a partial cutaway view of the irrigator of  FIG. 1 ;  FIG. 3  is a side plan view of an alternate embodiment of the periodontal pocket irrigator of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the irrigator of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the front end of a first alternate embodiment of the periodontal pocket irrigator of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the front end of a second alternate embodiment of the periodontal pocket irrigator of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the front end of a third alternate embodiment of the periodontal pocket irrigator of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a partial cutaway view of a fourth embodiment of the periodontal pocket irrigator of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the irrigator of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a full cutaway view of the irrigator of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a partial cutaway view of a fifth embodiment of the periodontal pocket irrigator of the present invention; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a full cutaway view of the irrigator of  FIG. 11 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a periodontal pocket irrigator  10  has a handle  12  attached to a barrel  14 , which is attached to a dispenser  16 . The barrel  14  contains a cylindrical chamber  18 , which is accessed by opening a hinged door  20  on barrel top  22 . Chamber  18  has an opening  26  at chamber front end  24  through which fluid may flow to the dispenser  16 . 
         [0021]    A removable syringe  28 , which can be filled with water, an antibacterial fluid or the like, is placed in the chamber  18 . The syringe  28  has a plunger  30  which is attached to a shaft  32 . Shaft  32  projects from chamber rear end  25  when a fully loaded syringe is placed in chamber  18 . The rear end  25  of chamber  18  adjacent to handle  12  has an opening at least large enough to admit the shaft  32  of syringe  28 . The shaft  32  includes ribs  34  on at least part of its circumference. 
         [0022]    The syringe  28  is initially loaded with fluid by placing the syringe tip  36  in treating fluid and then retracting plunger  30  until syringe  28  is filled. After the hinged door  20  is opened, the syringe tip  36  may placed into an indentation  38  at chamber front end  24 . Syringe tip  36  and indentation  38  are preferably designed to mate so that a fluid seal is formed when syringe tip  36  is placed into indentation  38 . The syringe is then held in place by closing the hinged door  20 . Axial movement of the syringe can be prevented by retaining clips or the like. 
         [0023]    Barrel  14  preferably contains a cutout  40  in barrel top  22  through which the syringe may be viewed by a user. Alternately this cutout can be replaced by a transparent window  42  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0024]    When the syringe  28  is secured in place, the ribs  34  of the syringe shaft  32  engage a drive transmission mechanism  44  attached to motor  48 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , this mechanism consists of two spur gears that engage a spindle  46  of motor  48 . Any sort of drive transmission mechanism may be used to transmit the rotation of motor spindle  46  to the ribs  34  of shaft  32 . Alternately, this mechanism could be omitted altogether and the gears on the rotating spindle  46  may directly engage the ribs of plunger shaft  30 . 
         [0025]    Motor  48  is powered by battery  50 . Motor  48  is preferably activated by a user-controlled motor drive switch  54 , which is preferably a button-type switch actuated by the user, which completes a circuit between the motor  48  and the battery  50 . The motor drive switch may use either manual or timed control. With manual control, the motor operates when the user depresses the motor drive switch  54  and continues to operate as long as the button remains depressed. In timed operation, the device is programmed to dispense a predetermined amount of fluid when the motor drive button  54  is pressed. The fluid can be metered by a timer that actuates the motor for a predetermined time advancing the shaft a predetermined distance thus dispensing a predetermined volume of fluid. This timer can be any form of conventional circuit or control known in the art. 
         [0026]    Preferably a light source  56  such as an LED is provided at the barrel front adjacent to the dispensing assembly  16 . This light source is activated by a light control  58 , which is preferably an on/off push button mechanism where the circuit is open or shut by depressing a button such that the user need not continuously operate the control. The light source  56  is powered by battery  50 . 
         [0027]    The light control button  58  and motor control button  54  may be located on the front of the handle, the rear of the handle or one of its sides, as seen in  FIGS. 1-3 . More than one motor control button  54  can be used, if desired, for both left handed and right handed use and different user grips, as it is believed that users may hold the device differently depending upon the location of the periodontal pocket to be irrigated. 
         [0028]    To use the irrigator  10 , the user turns on light  56  by depressing light control button  58 , so that the user can see the pocket to be irrigated in a mirror and the user can position the dispensing tip  16  in the periodontal pocket to be irrigated. The user then depresses the motor drive button  54 , activating the motor  48 , driving the spindle  48 , through the mechanical linkage  46 , which engages the ribs  34  of shaft  32 , advancing the plunger  30  towards the syringe tip  36 . This forces the fluid contents from the syringe  18  through the opening  26  through dispensing tip  16  into the periodontal pocket. 
         [0029]    Turning now to  FIG. 4 , the dispensing tip  16  may be a multi-part apparatus including a base portion  60  attached to the front end of barrel  14  and a removable tip  62 . The removable tip  62  may include a metal cannula  64 , which is encased in an outer sheath  66  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Sheath  66  is preferably made of soft plastic or rubber. Alternately, the removable tip  62  may be made entirely of soft plastic or rubber. 
         [0030]    The removable tip may include an angled fluid path defined by two segments. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the first segment runs along the axis of the syringe  28  and then from this axis bends at an angle Θ to the second which ends at the discharge point  80 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , this angle (180°-Θ) is approximately 45°. The angle between the segments of the removable tip may be any angle sufficient to enable the device to be oriented with respect to periodontal pockets in the user&#39;s upper or lower teeth while handle  19  is gripped in a convenient position. 
         [0031]    The removable adjustable tip  62  is preferably secured to the base portion  60  in any suitable way. Preferably removable tip  62  is secured to the base portion  60  in such a manner as to allow the tip to be rotated to multiple orientations, to enable the placement of the angled portion of the adjustable tip in multiple positions with respect to a periodontal pocket in the user&#39;s mouth so that fluid can be dispensed through discharge point  80  into pockets on the inside, or outside of teeth in the upper or lower jaw. 
         [0032]    In one embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  a ring  70  is used to secure the tip  62  to the base  60 . In this embodiment, base  60  is generally conical or cylindrical and the removable tip has a flange  72  at the end opposite the angled tip. In this embodiment, the tip is secured in place by ring  70  which holds the removable tip  62  against the base  60 . Once the tip  62  is placed atop the base  60 , and the tip flange  72  is flush against the front of the barrel, the ring  70  is positioned over the tip  62 , and the tip  62  passes through an opening in the ring  70 , until the ring  70  compresses the tip  62  around the base  60 . The ring  70  can later be pulled away from the barrel  14  to permit rotation of the tip  62  to a desired orientation and re-tightened. Thus the tip can be easily removed and discarded when desired. 
         [0033]    In this manner, the tip and ring form a seal that prevents the escape of the fluid, but allows the tip to rotate with respect to the axis of the syringe shaft. 
         [0034]    The position of dispensing tip  62  is controlled by loosening the ring  72 , which enables the tip to be oriented in different positions or orientations. It is anticipated that at least four positions, or continuous positions, will be provided for the pocket irrigator, so that pockets on either side of a tooth on either side of the mouth, on the upper or lower jaw, may be irrigated. 
         [0035]    Alternately, in an embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , a cap with an annular hole is used instead of a ring. Cap  74  has a hole sized to permit dispensing tip  62  to project through it. Cap may be made of plastic with interior threads. In this embodiment, the base  60  is also threaded and the dispensing tip  62  has a planar base that abuts atop the top surface of base  60 . The cap is placed over the dispensing tip and tightened onto the base threads, holding the tip in place. 
         [0036]    In another alternate embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , a cap shaped section is incorporated directly into the removable tip  62  with a single projection or layer of threads. The threads on base  60  are similarly missing at least one layer of threads so that when the tip  62  is completely threaded onto the base, it will overshoot the threads on the base, and be able to rotate freely on the base  62 . 
         [0037]    Another embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 8-10 . An irrigator  400  includes a handle  402  having a front surface  404  and a rear surface  406 . The rear surface can include a plurality of indentations  408  which are shaped to accommodate fingers. 
         [0038]    A dispensing tip assembly  410  is provided at one end of the handle  402  adjacent the front surface  404 . The dispensing assembly  410  includes a cap  412  and a dispensing tip  414 . The cap  412  can be made of plastic or other suitable material that can be snap-fit onto a syringe receptacle  416  that is attached to the handle  402 . The tip  414  is press-fit between the receptacle  416  and the cap  412 . 
         [0039]    A removable syringe  422  has a liquid container  424 , a plunger  426  and a tip  428 . The container  424  rests in a pocket on a fixed surface  430  of the handle  402 . Sidewalls  432  hold the syringe in place. The tip  428  fits into openings in the receptacle  416  and tip assembly  410 , so that liquid dispensed from the container  424  is ejected through the tip  414 . 
         [0040]    The handle  402  also has a movable sled  434  beneath the surface  430 . The sled  434  has a plurality of openings  436 , and a catch  436  that secures an end  438  of the piston  426 . 
         [0041]    The piston  426  is shown in two positions in the drawings, as best seen in  FIG. 10 . The syringe is withdrawn in position  436   a  and is fully inserted in the liquid container  424  in the position  436   b.    
         [0042]    The sled  434  is driven by a lever  440 . An end  441  of lever  440  is mechanically linked to the plunger  424  through the sled  434 , by engaging the openings  436 . 
         [0043]    A trigger  442  or other actuator is also mechanically linked to an end  444  of the lever  440 , so that pressing the actuator  442  inwardly advances the plunger  424  towards the dispensing tip, to dispense fluid from the syringe. The lever  440  rotates about an axis  446 . 
         [0044]    An LED light  448  can be provided, if desired. The light  448  is powered by one or more batteries  450 , which can be rechargeable batteries, if desired. An electric switch  452  in the actuator trigger  442  can be used to turn the light  448  on and off. Wires (not shown) connect one battery terminal to a light terminal, the other battery terminal to a switch terminal, and the other switch terminal to the other light terminal. The light  448  can be located in the cap  412  by making the cap  412  is transparent or translucent. 
         [0045]    Yet another embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 11-12 . This embodiment has many of the components of the previous embodiment, which will not be separately described here. In this embodiment, though, the actuator that controls the operation of the lever and advancement of the plunger is a solenoid  454  that is activated by the switch  456  when the trigger  442  is depressed. Wires  455  connect the solenoid to the battery through the switch. 
         [0046]    In use, the irrigator  400  can be oriented with the trigger  442  and tip  414  toward the user&#39;s mouth. The user&#39;s fingers can easily fit into the indentations  408  on the side  406  of the handle. By depressing the trigger  442  with the thumb, liquid in the container  424  is dispensed as the syringe piston  424  is depressed, either manually or by the solenoid  454 . 
         [0047]    Various features of each embodiment can be combined with features of other embodiments. 
         [0048]    While the principles of the invention have been described above in connection with specific apparatus and applications, it is to be understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation on the scope of the invention.