Dental handpiece with disposable drill head assembly

The combination of a disposable head assembly for a dental drill and a handle;

• comprising:
• a housing forming a head with first and second opposite ends and a neck extending from aside of said head between said first and second opposite ends to a coupling end,
• a head cavity formed in said head with first and second openings at said first and second ends respectively leading to said head cavity,
• a shaft having first and second ends with said second end of said shaft being adapted to have, a drill burr coupled thereto,
• a turbine coupled to said shaft between said first and second ends of said shaft,
• said shaft and said turbine being located in said head cavity with said second end of said shaft located near said second opening at said second end of said head such that when a drill burr is coupled to said second end of said shaft, said drill burr extends out of said second opening at said second end of said head,
• first and second bearing means located in said cavity for supporting said shaft and said turbine for rotation,
• said first bearing means comprising a first outer bearing member coupled to said housing at said first end of said head, a first inner bearing member coupled to said first end of said shaft, and bearing means located between and engaging said first outer bearing member and said first inner bearing member,
• said first end of said housing being formed to engage and secure said first outer bearing member to said housing,
• said second bearing means comprising a second outer bearing member coupled to said housing at said second end of said head, a second inner bearing member coupled to said second end of said shaft, and bearing means located between and engaging said second outer bearing member and said second inner bearing member,
• an air inlet channel and an air exhaust channel extending from said coupling end of said neck and leading to said head cavity for directing air onto said turbine and from said head cavity for rotating said turbine,
• a neck cavity extending from said coupling end of said neck to an outlet opening located close to and directed toward a drill burr when extending out of said second opening at said second end of said head,
• a handle adapted to be releasably coupled to said neck of said head assembly,
• said handle having a proboscis adapted to be located in said neck cavity by way of said coupling end of said neck and to be located next to said outlet opening of said neck cavity when said handle is coupled to said head assembly,
• said handle having an air inlet channel and an air exhaust channel extending from an inlet end of said handle to an outlet end portion adapted to be coupled to said air inlet channel and said air exhaust channel respectively of said neck at said coupling end of said neck when said handle is coupled to said neck of said head assembly,
• said handle having at least two conduits extending from said inlet end of said handle to said proboscis at least one of which is employed for directing a fluid through said outlet opening of said neck cavity when said handle is coupled to said neck.

A disposable head assembly and a handle for a dental drill, comprising:

• a housing forming a head with first and second opposite ends and a neck extending from a side of said head between said first and second opposite ends to a coupling end,
• a head cavity formed in said head with first and second openings at said first and second ends respectively leading to said head cavity,
• a shaft having first and second ends,
• a turbine coupled to said shaft between said first and second ends of said shaft with said second end of said shaft being adapted to have a drill burr coupled thereto,
• said shaft and said turbine being located near said second opening at said second end of said head such that when a drill burr is coupled to said second end of said shaft, said drill burr extends out of said second opening at said second end of said head,
• first and second bearing means located in said cavity for supporting said shaft and said turbine for rotation,
• an air inlet channel and an air exhaust channel extending from said coupling end of said neck and leading to said head cavity for directing air onto said turbine and from said head cavity for rotating said turbine, and
• a neck cavity extending from said coupling end of said neck to an outlet opening located close to and directed toward said drill burr when extending out of said second opening of said second end of said head,
• said handle being adapted to be releasably coupled to said neck of said head assembly,
• said handle having a proboscis adapted to be located in said neck cavity by way of said coupling end of said neck and to be located next to said outlet opening of said neck cavity when said handle is coupled to said head assembly,
• said handle having an air inlet channel and an air exhaust channel extending from an inlet end of said handle to an outlet end portion adapted to be coupled to said air inlet channel and said air exhaust channel respectively of said neck at said coupling end of said neck when said handle is coupled to said neck of said head assembly,
• said handle having at least two conduits extending from said inlet end of said handle to said proboscis at least one of which is employed for directing a fluid through said outlet opening of said neck cavity when said handle is coupled to said neck.

A high speed dental apparatus, comprising:

• a reusable dental handpiece handle having a body and a neck;
• a disposable head assembly removably coupled to said neck of said handle, said disposable head assembly having a housing forming a cavity;
• a turbine rotatably located in said cavity in said housing of said head assembly;
• a burr coupled to said turbine, said burr being located in said cavity and extending out of said housing of said head assembly;
• a plurality of bearings located between and rotatably contacting said turbine and said housing;
• said burr is removably coupled to a shaft of said turbine within said housing of said head assembly;
• an air conduit extending from an end of said handle into said handle and into said head assembly, said air conduit extending into said housing of said head assembly to said cavity, said air conduit being located to direct air from an air source against said turbine in said cavity for rotating said turbine;
• an exhaust conduit extending from said cavity adjacent said turbine through said housing of said head assembly into said handle, through said handle to said end of said handle, said exhaust conduit being located to exhaust air from said cavity through said end of said handle;
• a one way valve located in said air conduit in said neck of said handle to allow air flow only from said air conduit to said cavity.

A high speed dental apparatus, comprising:

• a reusable dental handpiece handle having a body and a neck;
• a nozzle coupled to said neck extending away from said handle, said nozzle having a passage extending therethrough from a nozzle end through said neck of said handle, said nozzle end having a nozzle aperture extending therethrough and communicating with said passage;
• a removable head assembly having a drill head and connecting portion, said head assembly being removably coupled to said neck of said handle at an end of said connecting portion, said connecting portion extending between said handle and said drill head;
• said connecting portion having a nozzle receptacle extending therethrough, said nozzle being removably located therein, where said connecting portion has a housing aperture extending therethrough adjacent said nozzle aperture through said nozzle end;
• a water conduit extending through said handle into said passage in said nozzle and extending through said passage to said nozzle end, said water conduit being located at said nozzle end to dispense water from a water source through said nozzle and housing apertures;
• a burr extending out of said drill head;
• means for rotating said burr located within said drill head;
• fiber optic means extending through said handle into said passage in said nozzle and extending through said passage to said nozzle end, said fiber optic means being located adjacent said nozzle and housing apertures, said fiber optic means being capable of illuminating said burr through said nozzle and housing apertures;
• a first air conduit extending from an end of said handle through said handle and into said head assembly, said first air conduit extending into said connecting portion of said head assembly to said drill head, said first air conduit being located to direct air from an air source against said means for rotating said burr;
• a second air conduit extending through said handle into said passage in said nozzle and extending through said passage to said nozzle end, said second air conduit being located to direct air from an air source through said nozzle and housing apertures;
• a one way valve located in said first air conduit in said neck of said handle to allow air flow only from said air conduit to said head assembly.

A high speed dental apparatus, comprising:

• a reusable dental handpiece handle having a body and a neck;
• a disposable head assembly removably coupled to said neck of said handle, said disposable head assembly having a housing forming a cavity;
• a turbine rotatably located in said cavity in said housing of said head assembly;
• a burr coupled to said turbine, said burr being located in said cavity and extending out of said housing of said head assembly;
• an air conduit extending from an end of said handle through said handle and into said head assembly, said air conduit extending through said housing of said head assembly to said cavity, said air conduit being located to direct compressed air from a compressed air source against said turbine in said cavity for rotating said turbine and said burr;
• a one-way valve located in said air conduit in said neck of said handle to allow air to flow only from said air conduit to said cavity.

A handle to be removably coupled to a head assembly of a dental drill of the type having a turbine coupled to a shaft located in a cavity wherein a drill burr may be coupled to the shaft at one end of the head assembly, comprising:

• a body having a forward end and an opposite rear end such that said forward end may be removably coupled to the head assembly,
• said body having an air inlet passage and an air outlet passage at said forward end for use for directing and removing air to and from the turbine for rotating the turbine,
• said body having a light conduit and a fluid conduit at said forward end for use for directing light and fluid toward the drill burr,
• said body having a top portion, a bottom portion and two opposite sides,
• said body comprising a proboscis member extending forward from a forward facing wall at said forward end of said body with said wall being located at said top portion of said body with said inlet and outlet passages extending through said wall above said proboscis member,
• said light and fluid conduits extending through first and second orifices respectively at the forward end of said proboscis member at said bottom portion of said body at positions forward of said wall.

A disposable head assembly and a handle for a dental drill, comprising:

• a housing forming a head with first and second opposite ends and a neck extending from a side of said head between said first and second opposite ends to a coupling end,
• a head cavity formed in said head with first and second openings at said first and second ends respectively leading to said head cavity,
• a shaft having first and second ends,
• a turbine coupled to said shaft between said first and second ends of said shaft with said second end being adapted to have a drill burr coupled thereto,
• first and second bearing means located in said cavity for supporting said shaft and said turbine, for rotation,
• an air inlet channel and an air outlet channel extending from said coupling end of said neck and leading to said head cavity for directing air onto said turbine and from said head cavity for rotating said turbine;
• and
• a neck cavity extending from said coupling end of said neck to an outlet opening located close to and directed toward said drill burr when extending out of said second opening of said second end of said head;
• said neck cavity being adapted to receive the proboscis of a handle to be located next to said outlet opening of said neck cavity;
• said neck cavity having a cross-sectional area at said coupling end of said substantially greater than that of either of said air inlet channel and said air outlet channel.