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US 5,348,711 AGranted
Dental handpiece sterilizer
AssigneeMDT Corporation
InventorsKenneth A. Johnson, Steven W. White
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dental handpiece sterilizer includes a sterilization chamber with an internal manifold system having outlet connectors into which dental handpieces can be plugged. A sterilant vapor introduced to the manifold flows through the dental handpieces coupled to the manifold and into the interior of the chamber so that it contacts the exterior surfaces of the handpieces before exiting the sterilant chamber.
Claims11
A dental handpiece sterilizer comprising:
- a sealed sterilization chamber having an interior and an access door in sealable communication with said interior;
- an inlet fitting extending through a wall of said sterilization chamber;
- and
- coupler means fixed inside said sterilization chamber and connected to said inlet fitting, said coupler means including a rigid outlet connector, said outlet connector being structured and arranged for releasably coupling to a plurality of dental handpieces, said coupler means further including fluid pathways between said inlet fitting and said connecter and through said connector to the interior of each connected dental handpiece;
- sterilant supply means constructed and arranged to introduce vaporized sterilant to said inlet fitting;
- whereby sterilant introduced to said inlet fitting flows through said coupler means, through each dental handpiece coupled to said coupler means and throughout said interior of said sealed sterilization chamber, thereby to contact substantially the entire outer surface of each dental handpiece within said sterilization chamber;
- and valve controlled vacuum means opening into said chamber.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.