Patent ID: 8777614

Claim:
A system for remotely monitoring the rotational speed of a rotating tip of a pneumatic dental handpiece, comprising: a dental handpiece having a proximal end and a distal end; a rotating tip located at the distal end of the handpiece; a light at the distal end of the handpiece; a fluid supply; a fluid conduit connected to the proximal end of the handpiece to provide fluid communication from the fluid supply to the handpiece to drive the rotating tip; a hose coupling attached at one end to the fluid conduit, and at the other end to the handpiece, the hose coupling further comprising a female assembly having a first passageway providing fluid communication with the tip, the first passageway having a diameter with a predetermined axial location, a male assembly having a second passageway providing fluid communication between the fluid conduit and the first passageway of the female assembly, wherein the fluid from the fluid supply is air for driving the tip, the male assembly further comprising a movable ring having a first position that blocks the second drive air passageway and communication to the female assembly when the male assembly is removed from the female assembly, and having a second position that retracts from the second drive air passageway when the male assembly is assembled to the female assembly, thereby providing an aperture of predetermined size for flow of drive air from the second drive air passageway in the male assembly to the first drive air passageway in the female assembly when the male assembly is assembled to the female assembly, a light source communicating light from the male assembly to the distal end of the handpiece by a fiber optic, and an additional passageway for exhaust air; a sensor for detecting the rotating tip speed of the tip; a control valve in the fluid conduit to regulate the flow of fluid from the fluid supply into the handpiece; and a controller in communication with the sensor and with the valve, wherein the controller receives a signal from the sensor, the controller comparing the detected speed to a preset speed range, and adjusts the control valve to meter fluid to the handpiece as required so that the rotating speed of the tip is maintained within the reset speed range.