Illumination and connector dental handpiece assembly

Abstract

An illumination system for use in combination with a fluid-driven, fiber optic dental handpiece having a proximal end with a light transmitting fiber optic rod and a plurality of fluid transmitting conduits extending therefrom in standardized configuration. The illumination system includes a control unit for supplying a regulated source of electric power, a air/water supply tube including a pair of electrical wires connected to the control unit for supplying fluid and electric power to the dental handpiece. Also included is a connector assembly for releaseably connecting the supply tube to the dental handpiece. The connector assembly includes a connector unit in the form of a generally cylindrical block of conductive material, preferably aluminum, which has a plurality of longitudinally oriented fluid transmitting channels extending therethrough and an axially aligned socket disposed along an outer periphery thereof which socket is sized for receiving a replaceable miniature halogen light bulb assembly. The connector unit body functions as a grounded electrical connection and a heat sink for the light bulb assembly. The connector unit is contained within an outer cylindrical strain relief shield housing. An improved quick-disconnect fluid tight coupling including a rotatable latch ring is provided for fastening the strain relief shield housing and connector unit to the proximal end of the dental handpiece upon a 1/4 turn rotation of the latch ring.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.