# US 8,539,980 B2 · Device for controlled operation of a surgical or dental drive unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,539,980 B2 - Document ID: US8539980B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/568,596 - Filed: 2012-08-07 - Published: 2012-12-27 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-07 - Assignees: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc. - Applicants: Peter Tanner; Arthur Meili - Inventors: Peter Tanner; Arthur Meili - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8539980B2 ## CPC - A61C 1/0038: {Pneumatic systems} - A61C 1/0061: {Air and water supply systems; Valves specially adapted therefor (A61C1/052 takes precedence; rinsing or air-blowing devices A61C17/02)} - A61B 2090/0801: {Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking} - Y10T 137/88046: Biased valve with external operator - 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) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A device for operation of a surgical or dental drive unit includes a control valve attached to a drive unit to control a flow rate of a compressed fluid flowing from a compressed fluid source to the drive unit. The control valve includes (a) a first control arrangement controlling a rate of flow of the compressed fluid through the control valve; (b) a control switch; and (c) a control sleeve controlled by the control switch to axially move along a longitudinal axis of the drive unit between a first configuration in which the control valve is locked and closed to fluid flow and a second configuration in which the control valve is unlocked and the first control arrangement controls the rate of flow therethrough. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for operation of a surgical or dental drive unit, comprising: a control valve attached to a drive unit to control a flow rate of a compressed fluid flowing from a compressed fluid source to the drive unit, the control valve including: a first control arrangement controlling a rate of flow of the compressed fluid through the control valve; a control switch; and a control sleeve controlled by the control switch to axially move along a longitudinal axis of the drive unit between a first configuration in which the control valve is locked and closed to fluid flow and a second configuration in which the control valve is unlocked and the first control arrangement controls the rate of flow therethrough. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the drive unit comprises an adapter for connection of the drive unit to a tube having compressed fluid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first control arrangement is connected to a first operating means configured and dimensioned for actuation by a hand of a user. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the first operating means is a lever connected to an outer surface of the drive unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the control switch further comprises a ring member having an opening housing a portion of the control sleeve therewithin, wherein rotation of the ring member about the longitudinal axis causes axial displacement of the control sleeve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the ring member is connected to a pin, wherein rotation of the ring member causes movement of the pin into an axially stepped groove provided in the control sleeve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the control valve further comprises a valve piston extending from a first end to a second end and displaceable along the longitudinal axis by the first control arrangement. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, further comprising a valve housing having the valve piston positioned therein, wherein the first end of the valve piston comprises a shoulder having a valve seal attached thereto, the valve seal being axially pressed against a valve face of the valve housing by a spring. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a second control arrangement controlling a rate of flow of the compressed fluid through the control valve independently of the first control arrangement. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein the control sleeve is controlled by the control switch to move to a third configuration in which the control valve is unlocked and the second control arrangement controls the rate of flow therethrough. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the second control arrangement is connected to a second operating means configured and dimensioned for actuation by a foot of the user. ### Claim 12 A device for controlled operation of a surgical or dental drive unit which is driven by a compressed fluid source, comprising: a control valve attachable to a drive unit for controlling a flow rate of a compressed fluid flowing from a compressed fluid source to the drive unit; and a control sleeve axially displaceable along a longitudinal axis of the control valve, movement of the control sleeve moving the control valve between first, second and third positions, wherein in the first position, the control valve is locked and closed, in the second position, the control valve is unlocked and the flow rate of the compressed fluid is regulated by a first control arrangement, and in the third position, the control valve is unlocked and the flow rate of the compressed fluid is regulated by a second control arrangement. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the control switch is movable to a fourth position in which the control valve is partially open to permit flow therethrough at a reduced rate smaller than a maximum flow rate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, further comprising a valve body housing a valve piston therein, the valve piston being displaceable along the longitudinal axis by the first control arrangement. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein axial movement of the control sleeve is controlled by a control switch. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein the control switch is controlled by a lever. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein the control switch further comprises a ring member having an opening housing a portion of the control sleeve therewithin, wherein rotation of the ring member about the longitudinal axis causes axial displacement of the control sleeve. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the ring member is connected to a pin, wherein rotation of the ring member causes movement of the pin into an axially stepped groove provided in the control sleeve.