# US 5,700,147 A · Air controlled sterile irrigation system (ACSIS) > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,700,147 A - Document ID: US5700147A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/498,831 - Filed: 1995-07-06 - Granted: 1997-12-23 - Earliest claimed: 1995-07-06 - Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force - Inventors: Shannon E. Mills; Randy Shaffer; Michael T. Freeman; Thomas J. Plamondon; Barry L. Oakes, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5700147A ## CPC - A61C 1/0061: {Air and water supply systems; Valves specially adapted therefor (A61C1/052 takes precedence; rinsing or air-blowing devices A61C17/02)} - A61C 1/0076: {Sterilising operating fluids or fluid supply elements such as supply lines, filters} - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) ## Abstract A new apparatus and method for delivering sterile irrigating solution to dental sites during restorative and surgical procedures is disclosed. A new sterilizable handpiece line adapter is connected between prior art dental handpieces and dental unit air-water hoses. The handpiece line adapter includes an input port for sterile irrigating solution and an outlet port for the sterile irrigating solution replacing a prior art outlet port for tap water. A standard IV bag containing sterile irrigating solution is pressurized with a standard infuser bag. Standard IV tubing connects the IV bag to the input port of the line adapter. An air-controlled, normally-closed pinch valve girdles part of the IV tubing. The pinch valve is connected to a spare outlet of a standard foot pedal controlled dental unit so that, when the foot pedal is depressed to operate the dental handpiece, the pinch valve automatically opens to allow delivery of sterile irrigating solution from the IV bag. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An air controlled sterile irrigation system for providing sterile irrigating solution for dental procedures, comprising: (a) a sterilizable in-line adapter for connecting between an unmodified standard dental handpiece and a dental handpiece hose, the in-line adapter including an inlet port structurally adapted for receiving sterile irrigating solution from the dental handpiece hose and an outlet port structurally adapted for delivering sterile irrigating solution to the dental handpiece; and, (b) an air operated pinch valve for controlling the flow of sterile irrigating solution through an irrigating solution hose connected between a source of sterile irrigating solution and the inlet port for the sterilizable in-line adapter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The air controlled sterile irrigation system according to claim 1, further comprising a dental unit for supplying pressurized air to the dental handpiece, wherein the dental unit supplies pressurized air to the pinch valve at the same time it supplies pressurized air to the dental handpiece. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The air controlled sterile irrigation system according to claim 1, the air operated pinch valve further comprising: (a) a resiliently biased pincher for pinching closed the irrigating solution hose; (b) an inlet for receiving pressurized air from a standard dental unit; and, (c) an air-controlled actuator connected to the pincher such that, when pressurized air is delivered through the inlet to the actuator, the actuator pushes the pincher against its resilient bias to incrementally open the irrigating solution hose. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The air controlled sterile irrigation system according to claim 3, further comprising a foot pedal control for connecting to a standard dental unit for controlling the delivery of pressurized air to the actuator. ### Claim 5 An air controlled sterile irrigation system for providing sterile irrigating solution for dental procedures, comprising: (a) a sterilizable in-line adapter for connecting between an unmodified standard dental handpiece and a dental handpiece hose, the in-line adapter including an inlet port structurally adapted for receiving sterile irrigating solution from the dental handpiece hose and an outlet port structurally adapted for delivering sterile irrigating solution to the dental handpiece, wherein the sterilizable in-line adapter is adapted for connecting to a 4-hole ISO dental unit air-water hose and blocks the flow of water and chip air from the air-water hose through the in-line adapter; (b) an air operated pinch valve for controlling the flow of sterile irrigating solution through an irrigating solution hose connected between a source of sterile irrigating solution and the inlet port for the sterilizable in-line adapter. ### Claim 6 A sterile irrigation system for providing sterile irrigating solution for dental procedures, comprising: (a) a sterilizable in-line adapter for connecting between an unmodified dental handpiece and a dental handpiece hose, the in-line adapter including an inlet port structurally adapted for receiving sterile irrigating solution from the dental handpiece hose and an outlet port structurally adapted for delivering sterile irrigating solution to the dental handpiece; and, (b) a pinch valve for controlling the flow of sterile irrigating solution through an irrigating solution hose connected between a source of sterile irrigating solution and the inlet port for the sterilizable in-line adapter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The sterile irrigation system according to claim 6, further comprising a dental unit for supplying power to the dental handpiece, wherein the dental unit supplies power to the pinch valve at the same time it supplies power to the dental handpiece. ### Claim 8 A method for providing sterile irrigating solution to a dental site for surgical and restorative procedures, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sterilizable in-line adapter connected between an unmodified dental handpiece and a dental handpiece hose, the in-line adapter including an inlet port connected to the dental handpiece hose and an outlet port connected to the dental handpiece; (b) providing an air operated normally-closed pinch valve girdling an irrigating solution hose connected between a source of sterile irrigating solution and the inlet port for the sterilizable in-line adapter, wherein the pinch valve is connected through an air hose to a dental unit and wherein the dental unit is controlled by a controller for controlling the supply of pressurized air to the dental handpiece; and, (c) activating the controller to deliver pressurized air to the dental handpiece and simultaneously deliver pressurized air to the pinch valve to release the pinch valve and permit the flow of sterile irrigating solution through the irrigating solution hose into the inlet port for the in-line adapter and out the outlet port into the dental handpiece. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method for providing sterile irrigating solution to a dental site for surgical and restorative procedures according to claim 8, further comprising the step of providing a foot control as the dental unit controller.