Patent ID: 12257114

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the figures. The figures represent an illustration of some of the embodiments of the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. Some of the figures may not show all of the features and components of the invention for ease of illustration, but it is to be understood that where possible, features and components from one figure may be an included in the other figures. Further, the figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Also, use of “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components described herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the scope of the invention. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described herein and are illustrated in the accompanying figures. The embodiments described are only for purposes of illustrating the present invention and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention, and certain modifications, combinations and improvements of the described embodiments, will occur to those skilled in the art and all such alternate embodiments, combinations, modifications, improvements are within the scope of the present invention.

Referring now toFIGS.1to7, an exemplary vacuum light apparatus10has a light switch38to turn the light source30on and off, and may change the intensity of the emitted light from the light source, and a vacuum valve lever42to open and close the vacuum valve40configured to open and close the body conduit23extending through the body20. A vacuum valve lever42is configured for manual interface to open and close the vacuum valve40. The light source30, which may be a light emitting diode31(LED), may receive power from a battery32, or from a power cable35, such as a USB cable to produce projected light55. The power cable has a power cable connector36that detachably attaches to the power connector34, such as a universal serial port29(USB) connector, on the body20of the vacuum light apparatus10. A vacuum hose25is coupled to the coupler end24of the body20by the vacuum hose coupler28(shown inFIG.9) to provide suction through the light pipe50to produce suction on the suction end26of the body20.

A light source30, such as a LED, produces light that is transmitted along the light pipe50to the projection end54of the light pipe50, as shown inFIG.1. The light pipe50is detached from the body20inFIGS.2and3. The light pipe may extend from a body end56to the projection end54. The light pipe50forms a light pipe conduit51and may extend a substantial portion of the body conduit23of the body20and may extend the entire length of the conduit of the body. The body may have an opaque cover22that extend around the light pipe to prevent the light from projecting out from around the body.

The vacuum is produced by a vacuum source (not shown) that produces a vacuum in the vacuum hose25. The vacuum hose connected to the vacuum light apparatus10produces suction on the suction end26of the body20. This suction can be used to remove bodily fluids, debris and the like during a dental procedure, such as a dental cleaning. Attachments may be detachably attached to the suction end to enable reach into smaller oral cavities, for example.

As shown inFIGS.1and4, a controller33may be configured to control the light intensity of the light source30from the input to the light switch38. Also, a light pipe orifice27in the body20may be configured to receive the light pipe50therein. The body end56of the light pipe50may be inserted into the light pipe orifice27to locate the body end56proximal to the light source30.

As shown inFIGS.8and9, the exemplary vacuum light apparatus10has a vacuum hose25and power cable35detachably attachable to the body20of the vacuum light apparatus10. InFIG.9, the vacuum hose25and power cable35are detached. The power cable35has a power cable connector36for connecting with the power connector34on the body20. The vacuum hose25may have a vacuum hose connector44for connecting to the vacuum hose coupler28on the coupler end24of the body. An attachment80is coupled to the suction end26of the body20. The vacuum valve lever42may be used to control the amount of suction on the projection end of the light pipe. The light pipe50may have an opaque cover61over a portion of the light pipe leaving the projection end uncovered for illumination of the oral cavity.

Referring now toFIGS.10to16, an exemplary vacuum light apparatus10utilizes a light pipe50that transfers light from a body end56to a projection end54. The light pipe50shown inFIGS.10to13has a light pipe flange70that extends from the projection end54and may be configured to direct fluid and particles into the light pipe conduit. The light pipe flange70may be used to shield spray of water or other fluids during a dental procedure. The light pipe flange70has a length72from the projection end54of the light pipe50to an extended end74.

The light pipe50is configured to transmit an effective amount of light from the body end56to the projection end54and incorporates a light transfer protrusion58that protrudes into the otherwise circular shaped light pipe conduit51. The light transfer protrusion is an integral part of the light pipe that extends inward into a cross sectional area of the light pipe conduit, as shown inFIGS.10,12,14, and16. The light transfer protrusion58may have a curved outer surface to aid in the flow of liquid and debris up along the light pipe conduit51. As shown, the light transfer protrusion58has an outer surface within the light pipe conduit51that extends along a radius of curvature that is less than the diameter of the light pipe conduit51. As described herein, the light transfer protrusion may occupy a portion of the volume of the otherwise circular light pipe conduit, such as about 20% or more, about 30% or more, about 40% or more or even about 50% or more, and any range between and including the percentages provided. A dashed line inFIGS.12and16is used to show the diameter of the light pipe conduit51and therefore more clearly show the volume of the otherwise circular light pipe conduit occupied by the light transfer protrusion58.

As shown inFIG.13, the wall thickness57of the light transfer protrusion58is much greater than the wall thickness59of the light pipe50opposite the light pipe protrusion58. Again, this increased wall thickness and geometry enables a high and effective amount of light to be transferred down the light pipe50.

As shown inFIGS.14to16, the light pipe50has projection end54with an offset angle75from orthogonal to a length axis of53of the light pipe conduit51that may be about 10 degrees or more, about 15 degrees or more, about 25 degrees or more, about 45 degrees or more, about 60 degrees or more, and any range between and including the offset angle values provided. This offset angle may enable better manipulation an access to the oral cavity and tighter locations in the oral cavity. The higher the offset angle, the more pointed and narrow the projection end is.

As shown inFIG.17, a clinician90is using an exemplary vacuum light apparatus10to illuminate an oral cavity92and reduce spray and aerosol from escaping the oral cavity. The clinician may use the vacuum valve lever to adjust the amount of vacuum during the procedure.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Specific embodiments, features and elements described herein may be modified, and/or combined in any suitable manner. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications, combinations and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.