Patent ID: 8517731

Claim:
A supply pipe for connecting an instrument for dental or surgical use to a control and supply unit, said supply pipe comprising: (a) a plurality of fluid conduits and a plurality of electric lines; and (b) at a front end, a universal coupling for connecting different types of said instrument in a removable manner to part or all of the plurality of fluid conduits and the plurality of electric lines, wherein the universal coupling includes a plurality of fluid connectors coupled to the plurality of fluid conduits and a plurality of electric connectors coupled to the plurality of electric lines, wherein each fluid connector of the plurality of fluid connectors and each electric connector of the plurality of electric connectors occupies a place on a front face of the universal coupling; (c) an insulating body made of insulating synthetic material; and (d) at least one dual fluidic and electric function connector, wherein the at least one dual function connector is one of the plurality of fluid connectors of the universal coupling, and the at least one dual function connector includes at least one additional electric line including an additional conductor that is not coupled to one of the plurality of electric connectors, wherein the additional conductor is coupled to the at least one dual function connector, and the at least one dual function connector extends into the insulating body in the supply pipe and is arranged to provide a choice between a fluid connection, an electric connection, or both the fluid connection and the electric connection.