Ergonomic ultrasonic dental scaling devices

An ergonomic ultrasonic dental scaling device, comprising:

• an acoustic assembly including an acoustic transformer configured to detachably receive a tip and a transducer coupled to the acoustic transformer and configured to produce ultrasonic vibrational energy;
• a resilient grip having a substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration, wherein the resilient grip includes an elastomeric sleeve having a Shore A durometer hardness of from about 40 to about 60, the resilient grip positioned coaxially about the transducer and configured to reduce measured vibration acceleration at a grip surface of the resilient grip by a factor of at least about 2:1 relative to a rigid grip of similar geometry when tested according to ISO 5349-1 methodology;
• at least two rotational conductors configured to electrically couple the transducer to an ultrasonic drive system;
• and
• a fluid interface rotatably coupled to the acoustic assembly,
• wherein a combination of the tip, the resilient grip, and the acoustic assembly are configured to rotate about an assembly axis relative to a handpiece housing while maintaining the electrical coupling between the transducer and the ultrasonic drive system the coupling between the fluid interface and the acoustic assembly, and
• wherein tortional resistance applied to a user's hand is reduced during operation of the ergonomic ultrasonic dental scaling device.

An ergonomic ultrasonic dental scaling device, comprising:

• an acoustic assembly including an acoustic transformer configured to detachably receive a tip and a transducer coupled to the acoustic transformer and configured to produce ultrasonic vibrational energy in response to receipt of a drive signal from a signal source;
• a handpiece housing;
• a fluid reservoir disposed within the handpiece housing;
• a spring-loaded reservoir cap configured to maintain a relatively uniform pressure on the fluid contained in the fluid reservoir;
• a solenoid operably coupled to the fluid reservoir and configured to provide on-off control of fluid delivery, wherein the solenoid is electronically coupled to the signal source such that fluid delivery from the fluid reservoir is synchronized with a vibrational amplitude of the transducer;
• a resilient grip having a substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration, wherein the resilient grip includes an elastomeric sleeve having a Shore A durometer hardness of from about 40 to about 60, the resilient grip positioned coaxially about the transducer and configured to reduce measured vibration acceleration at a grip surface of the resilient grip by a factor of at least about 2:1 relative to a rigid grip of similar geometry when tested according to ISO 5349-1 methodology;
• at least two rotational conductors configured to electrically couple the transducer to an ultrasonic drive system;
• and
• a fluid interface rotatably coupled to the acoustic assembly,
• wherein a combination of the tip, the resilient grip, and the acoustic assembly is configured to rotate about a common axis relative to a handpiece housing,
• wherein a rotational interface of the rotation is located forward of a longitudinal center of the ergonomic ultrasonic dental scaling device, and
• wherein tortional resistance applied to a user's hand is reduced during operation of the ergonomic ultrasonic dental scaling device.