US 5,360,338 AGranted

Portable sterilizable water supply for dental appliances

AssigneeWaggoner Family Corporation

InventorMark B. Waggoner

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A compact sterilizable unit has a control box containing internal water and air supply networks and a sterilizable water supply bottle, dental handpiece and dental syringe removably connected to the control box by specially adapted connector fittings. The unit has a retrofit connection to a conventional four hole connector which supplies operating air in response to the conventional dental operatory foot control. Only sterile water is supplied to the patient from the sterile water bottle through the handpiece and syringe. The connection of the handpiece to the control box is through a high temperature resistant sterilizable tubing harness having an expanded sheath construction that does not inhibit bending. Short high temperature resistant tube sections which are strengthened by an expanded shrink fit covering sheath are disclosed. Special high temperature resistant tubing and seals are provided so that the entire unit may be sterilized.

Claims37

Dependent claims

A portable heat sterilizable dental apparatus useable at a conventional dental operatory station for delivering sterile operating fluid and operating air to dental appliances, comprising:

a separately heat sterilizable sterile water bottle and tubing harness connected thereto having air and water flow passages;
a compact portable heat sterilizable control box having:
an internal water supply network and an internal air supply network,
said separately heat sterilizable sterile water bottle and tubing harness being detachably connected to the internal water supply network and internal air supply network through air and water flow passages in said tubing harness,
a water supply fitting connected to said internal water supply network, said water supply fitting mounted on said control box being detachably connected to said tubing harness,
means for detachable connection of the internal air supply network with an air supply connector of a conventional dental operatory station to deliver intermittent pressurized air to the internal air supply network by intermittent operation of a standard foot control, and
means for connection to the standard connector of at least one detachable dental appliance, said means for connection being connected to said internal water supply network and said internal air supply network to supply sterile water from said sterile water bottle through said internal water supply network and operating air from said internal air supply network;
said apparatus being specially adapted to withstand heat sterilizing and subsequent application of conventional operating pressure and being suitable for passage of water in conformance with regulations for dental water, said apparatus including said compact control box, said internal air and water supply networks, said water supply fitting, said sterilizable water bottle and tubing harness, said means for connection and said means for detachable connection, all being repeatedly heat sterilizable at a temperature of at least 250.degree. F. and useable for delivering sterile water to a patient during dental operations.

5 more elements

A portable sterilizable apparatus movable from dental station to dental station for delivering sterile operating fluids to dental appliances, comprising:

a sterilizable portable control box having a fitting for connection of pressurized dental operating air, an internal air supply network, an internal fluid supply network, a fluid supply fitting and at least one fitting for a detachable dental appliance;
said fitting for pressurized dental operating air being connected to said internal air supply network in said control box wherein said internal air supply network fluidly interconnects at least the fluid supply fitting and the at least one fitting for a detachable dental appliance in order to supply dental operating air;
a separately sterilizable fluid supply bottle having a tubing harness having an end portion detachably engageable with the fluid supply fitting of said control box and having air and liquid flow passages connecting said fluid supply bottle and said fluid supply fitting;
said control box having said internal fluid supply network fluidly interconnecting said fluid supply fitting and said at least one fitting for a detachable dental appliance through a pilot valve comprising an air activated water relay valve;
said at least one fitting for a dental detachable appliance being fluidly connected to said internal air and fluid supply networks to receive operating air from said internal air supply network and sterile fluid through said pilot valve from said fluid supply bottle;
wherein sterile fluid from said fluid supply bottle can be supplied to a dental handpiece through said at least one fitting for a detachable dental appliance in response to pressurized operating air applied to said air supply network, said flow of sterile fluid being controlled by operation of said pilot valve.

3 more elements

A portable sterilizable apparatus for delivering substantially sterile operating fluids to dental appliances, comprising:

a sterilizable portable control box having a water supply fitting, a fitting for one detachable dental appliance, a fitting for another detachable dental appliance, an air supply connection for pressurized operating air, an internal air supply network in fluid communication with said air supply connection and an internal fluid supply network interconnected with said internal air supply network and said water supply fitting;
said internal air supply network having a main air branch in fluid communication with the fitting for said one detachable dental appliance through a junction having a first secondary branch in fluid communication with the water supply fitting for simultaneously supplying operating air to said fittings;
a separately sterilizable water supply bottle having a sterilizable tubing harness for delivery of sterile water through the tubing, the tubing harness having an end portion detachably engageable with the water supply fitting of said control box to establish water and air flow passages between the bottle and the control box;
said fitting for one detachable dental appliance being fluidly interconnected to said internal water supply network and being fluidly interconnected with said main air branch for delivering sterile water from said water supply bottle and delivering operating air;
said fitting for another detachable dental appliance being fluidly interconnected with said internal air supply network and having a connection with said internal fluid supply network through a one-way flow valve, thereby being adapted to deliver operating air and sterile water to a tubing harness of a dental syringe;
wherein sterile water from said water supply bottle and operating air may be delivered to said one and said another fittings for detachable dental appliances in response to pressurized operating air being supplied through the air supply connection when the tubing harness of the separately sterilizable water supply bottle is connected to the water supply fitting and whereby the apparatus can be disconnected from an operating air supply at one dental station and easily carried to another dental station for use.

3 more elements

A portable sterilizable apparatus movable from dental station to dental station for delivering substantially sterile operating fluids to dental appliances, comprising:

a portable control box detachably connectable to a conventional standard source of pressurized dental operating air, having a sterile water supply connector for a sterile water supply bottle and a connector for detachably connecting at least one dental appliance;
a separately sterilizable water supply bottle detachably connected to said sterile water supply connector extending from the control box, said water bottle being a sterilizable bottle having a sterilizable tubing harness having air and sterile water flow passages and a quick connector for detachably making air and sterile water connections with said sterile water supply connector extending from the control box;
the control box having an internal air supply network interconnected with an internal sterile water supply network, including means for simultaneously supplying operating air to the sterilizable water supply bottle and the connector for detachably connecting at least one dental appliance when the standard source of pressurized operating air is connected to the internal air supply network in the control box;
at least one sterilizable dental appliance which in use discharges water that contacts a patient's oral cavity, said appliance being detachably connectable to said connector for detachably connecting at least one dental appliance extending from said control box, having a water connection in fluid communication with said water supply bottle through said control box;
and
control means to selectively supply sterilized water to the dental appliance from the sterilizable water supply bottle through the control box.

3 more elements

A portable sterilizable apparatus for delivering substantially sterile operating fluids to dental appliances, comprising:

a separately sterilizable water supply bottle having a tubing harness for delivery of sterile water through the tubing, the tubing harness having an end portion detachably engageable with a water supply fitting of a control box having water and air flow passages between the bottle and the control box;
a sterilizable portable control box having an air supply connection for pressurized operating air in fluid communication with an internal air supply network in the control box, the internal air supply network interconnecting at least the tubing harness of the water supply bottle and at least one dental appliance fitting for dectachably engaging a dental appliance, said control box having an internal fluid supply network interconnecting in fluid communication at least the water supply fitting and said at least one dental appliance fitting, the internal air supply network having a main air branch in fluid communication with said at least one dental appliance fitting and a junction having a first secondary branch in fluid communication with the water supply fitting for simultaneously supplying operating air to said water supply bottle and said at least one dental appliance fitting;
wherein the main air branch has a junction with a pilot branch leading to a normally closed air operated pilot valve in the internal water supply network which controls the flow of sterile water from the sterilizable water supply bottle through the pilot valve to the at least one dental appliance fitting;
wherein sterile water from the water supply bottle and pressurized operating air may be delivered to the at least one dental appliance fitting in response to pressurized operating air being supplied through said air supply connection and said normally closed air operated pilot valve when said tubing harness and said water supply fitting are interengaged and whereby the apparatus can be disconnected from an operating air supply at one station and easily carried to another station for use.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.