Patent ID: 7192279

Claim:
A dental handpiece comprising: an elongated body having a longitudinal axis; a seat positioned at one end of said body; a head rotatably mounted on said seat, said head being rotatable about a first axis of rotation oriented angularly with respect to said longitudinal axis, said head having a center of rotation co-incident with said longitudinal axis; a dental instrument mounted on said head and rotatable about a second axis of rotation, wherein rotation of said head about said first axis of rotation changes the orientation of said second axis of rotation relatively to said longitudinal axis, said head being rotatable to an orientation wherein said second axis of rotation is coaxial with said longitudinal axis; an air turbine rotatably mounted within said head and connected to said dental instrument, said dental instrument being rotated by said air turbine; an air inlet positioned within said head in fluid communication with said turbine; an air outlet positioned within said head in fluid communication with said turbine; an inlet channel positioned within said body and said head, said channel being in fluid communication with said air inlet and providing compressed air thereto for rotating said turbine; and an exhaust channel positioned within said head, said exhaust channel being in fluid communication with said air outlet for discharging air from said turbine.