Patent ID: 7153287

Claim:
A medical irrigator comprising: a handpiece; a discharge tube extending from said handpiece for receiving irrigating fluid, said discharge tube having a distal end with an opening through which irrigating fluid is discharged; a splash shield that extends forward beyond the distal end of said discharge tube, said splash shield being shaped to define a discharge chamber that has a first end adjacent the distal end of said discharge tube and a second end spaced forward of the discharge tube, said splash shield being shaped so that the second end is open, said discharge tube and said splash shield being collectively positioned and dimensioned so that irrigating fluid is discharged from the discharge tube opening into the first end of the discharge chamber towards the second end of the discharge chamber, and said splash shield is further formed to have an opening that extends from the discharge chamber, the opening being located between the first and second ends of the discharge chamber; and a suction conduit that extends from the opening in the splash shield discharge chamber.