Patent ID: 6893261

Claim:
A footswitch for a dental scaler, comprising: a sealed footswitch housing, the footswitch housing including a power switch disposed within the housing, a pivoting member operable by a foot to engage and disengage a power switch in the footswitch housing, a circuit energized by the power switch to drive an oscillator for providing power to an ultrasonic transducer in a dental scaler for converting electrical energy to mechanical energy, and a potentiometer for regulating the power to an ultrasonic transducer relative to the movement of the footswitch; and a hydraulic solenoid energized by the power switch for opening a valve disposed in the housing for causing the movement of water through the footswitch housing to the dental scaler; a cable for connecting an electrical power supply to the housing; a hose for connecting to a water supply to the housing; a remote head for providing an electrical and a fluid connection to a handpiece of the dental scaler and a valve disposed in the head for the adjustment of water flow to the handpiece; and, a conductor bundle for providing an electrical and a fluid connection between the footswitch housing and the head.