US 4,642,738 AGranted

Illuminated dental drill

OwnerMoshe Mellerinventor

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Abstract

A pneumatic dental drill handpiece has a light-bulb (40) fastened in its head, so directed that it illuminates the tip of the burr (32). An electric cell (2) is positioned in a semicylindrical chamber (15) located in the rear part (10) of the handpiece casing; the chamber is eccentric to the axis of the casing and is accessible through an opening therein, this opening being closed by a thin sleeve (9) slidable on the rear part. Ducts for admission of air (13) and water (12) extend through a channel (17) in the portion of the casing opposite the opening. Electric contact between the front pole of the cell (2) and one terminal of the bulb (40) is made by a conductor wire (21) passing through the hollow front part (20), and between the rear pole of the cell and the second terminal of the bulb through the anodized aluminum parts (10) and (20) of the casing. The aluminum parts are conductively connected through non-anodized contacting surfaces.

Claims11

Dependent claims

Illuminating means for a high-speed drill handpiece, said handpiece comprising an oblong casing in the shape of a cylindrical rear part and a front part, an air-propelled turbine wheel positioned in said front part adapted to drive a burr directly connected to said turbine wheel, and air- and water-duct means, extending from said rear part to said front part, said illuminating means comprising:

a light source positioned in said front part in a position effecting light rays to be directed towards the tip of said burr;
an electric cell exchangeably placed in a chamber in the cylindrical rear part of said casing, said chamber being positioned eccentrically to the axis of said rear part and being openable through the cylindrical periphery of said rear part, permitting sideways insertion and removal of said electric cell;
a first contact point mounted in the rear of said chamber adapted to contact the rear terminal of said electric cell and conductively connected to a first bulb terminal;
a second contact point firmly fixed in the front of said chamber and adapted to contact the front terminal of said cell and conductively connected to a second bulb terminal;
and switching means adapted to energize or de-energize said light source.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.