6502results about "Boring tools" patented technology

An identification type instrument assembly detachably connected to a main body of a medical apparatus for use in diagnosis and treatment. The instrument assembly is provided with identification signal output means for actively outputting unique self-identification signals prepared in advance under a predetermined procedure, and the connected instrument assembly can be specified in the main body by the identification signals outputted from the identification signal output means when the instrument assembly is connected to the main body.

A surgical tool system comprising a control console, a powered surgical device, an intermediate attachment removably connected to the surgical device and a cutting accessory removably connected to the intermediate attachment. Internal to the cutting accessory is an identification device that contains data specific to the operation of the accessory. The control console, through the transfer of signals through the powered surgical device and the intermediate attachment reads the data in the cutting accessory. Based on these data, the control console selectively actuates the powered surgical device. In some versions of the invention, the identification device may be an RFID chip. Signals are exchanged between the surgical device and the intermediate attachment and between the intermediate attachment and cutting accessory by inductive coupling. An identification device internal to the intermediate attachment provides the control console with data describing the intermediate attachment.

A dental prophy angle includes a housing and a rotor. The housing defines a first bore and a second bore in communication with the first bore, and rotor is disposed within the second bore. The rotor includes a gearing system, and rotor includes a lock having a lock channel configured to receive a tip of a drive shaft. The housing includes a lock receiver for receiving the lock receiver permits rotation of the lock within the lock receiver and restrains linear movement of the lock in a direction substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the rotor.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a unique surgical handpiece having improved operation, durability and reliability. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a motorized handheld surgical instrument having one or more sensors for sensing motion, position, pressure, humidity, and various other environmental conditions relevant to the operation and maintenance of the surgical instrument.

The present invention provides a new family of ultrasonically powered medical devices and systems for powering such devices. Disclosed are methods for improving the overall power transfer efficiency of devices according to the present invention, as well as a wide variety of medical uses for such devices and systems. Devices of the present invention comprise a transducer that, during operation, converts electrical energy into high frequency, low amplitude mechanical vibrations that are transmitted to a driven-member, such as a wheel, that produces macroscopic rotary or linear output mechanical motions. Such motions may be further converted and modified by mechanical means to produce desirable output force and speed characteristics that are transmitted to at least one end-effector that performs useful mechanical work on soft tissue, bone, teeth and the like. Power systems of the present invention comprise one or more such handheld devices electrically connected to a power generator. Examples of powered medical tools enabled by the present invention include, but are not limited to, linear or circular staplers or cutters, biopsy instruments, suturing instruments, medical and dental drills, tissue compactors, tissue and bone debriders, clip appliers, grippers, extractors, and various types of orthopedic instruments. Devices of the present invention may be partly or wholly reusable, partly or wholly disposable, and may operate in forward or reverse directions, as well as combinations of the foregoing. The devices and systems of the present invention provide a safe, effective, and economically viable alternative source for mechanical energy, which is superior to AC or DC (battery) powered motors, compressed air or compressed gas, and hand powered systems.

Interactive, computer based orthodontist treatment planning, appliance design and appliance manufacturing is described. A scanner is described which acquires images of the dentition which are converted to three-dimensional frames of data. The data from the several frames are registered to each other to provide a complete three-dimensional virtual model of the dentition. Individual tooth objects are obtained from the virtual model. A computer-interactive software program provides for treatment planning, diagnosis and appliance from the virtual tooth models. A desired occlusion for the patient is obtained from the treatment planning software. The virtual model of the desired occlusion and the virtual model of the original dentition provide a base of information for custom manufacture of an orthodontic appliance. A variety of possible appliance and appliance manufacturing systems are contemplated, including customized archwires and customized devices for placement of off-the shelf brackets on the archwires, and removable orthodontic appliances.

A light emitting electric toothbrush and method therefore is disclosed which is intended for use by children, is comprised of a robust high-strength, plastic construction, and employs both light and vibration to assist in the development of suitable dental hygiene skills. In its most fundamental embodiment, the light emitting electric toothbrush comprises a construction including a handle having a bottom end and a top end and a toothbrush shaft mounted to the top end of the handle. The brush shaft is comprised of a plastic resin including a fluorescent colored light refractive additive for optimizing light transmission through the brush shaft. A high intensity light source is mounted within the top end of the handle for generating light and a domed-shaped optical lens is positioned over the high intensity light source for directing the generated light into the brush shaft. Finally, a switched electrical source is included for energizing the light source and the generated light therefrom creates a glowing illumination in the brush shaft for illuminating a dental cavity of a person during brushing of the teeth. In a preferred embodiment, the toothbrush also includes a vibrating motor mounted within the handle for causing the brush shaft to vibrate. The vibrating motor is also energized by the switched electrical source simultaneously with the light source.

There is disclosed a shower plate 1, wherein the shower plate has a plurality of holes 3 for inserting the head of the fastening member and holes 4 for fitting the head are formed integrally along a concentric circle in the outside region of the gas feeding holes 2 on a side facing the supporting member, each hole for fitting extending in one direction of the concentric circle from each hole for insertion, each hole for fitting has a groove portion 4b through which the shank of the fastening member is to pass and a fitting portion 4a which is wider than the groove portion and in which the head of the fastening member is to be fitted, and the head of the fastening member fixed in the supporting member is inserted into the hole for insertion of the shower plate and the shower plate is turned so that the head of the fastening member is fitted in the fitting portion, and thereby the shower plate is supported by the supporting member without exposure of the fastening member. There can be provided a shower plate for a plasma processing apparatus, wherein effective diameter is large enough, contamination of a substrate to be treated can be prevented, it is easy to manufacture, and it is easy to fix to a supporting member.

The present invention relates to a unique solution for relieving repetitive stress to dental professionals during the course of a day and is directed to sets of identical instruments, having handles made with varying diameters for grasping, designed to be used interchangeably throughout the day, thus cutting down on the repetitive grasping action through the change of grasp. Therefore, even if a dental professional uses the same type of instrument throughout the day, the hands, wrists and elbows can experience varying rather than repetitive action because the positioning of the hands, wrists and elbows are interchanging throughout the day. The dental instrument may also be ergonomically designed. Additionally, the instrument may also have a vibratory module. Further, a rotator may also be implemented.

A tool for use with an electronic tool recognition system includes a tool blank with a distal tip configured for performing a procedure and a proximal handle encasing, fixedly, a proximal end of the tool blank. A tool-identifying apparatus including a mechanical resonator is embedded in a proximal end of the tool blank to provide a tool identifier. A conductive wire in electrical contact with the resonator provides the identifier to a processor. In another arrangement, conductive brushes in contact with slip rings provide the identifier to a processor. In another arrangement, a dental tool handle includes an insulating portion defining a recess in a proximal end of the handle configured to receive either a sensor or an information-managing chip.

Systems and methods related to ultrasonic microtube dental instruments designed to cut around a broken instrument by allowing the broken instrument to be placed within a lumen of the microtube instrument while simultaneously boring with the broken instrument and being guided by the broken instrument.

A cordless ultrasonic scaler includes a cleaning tip, an actuator, power supply, control circuitry, a water reservoir and a pumping mechanism within the hand piece. A piezoelectric stack actuator drives both the cleaning tip and pumping mechanism. The reservoir in the hand piece supplies liquid to the pump for cooling the actuator, the cleaning tip and the teeth being cleaned. The reservoir defines a battery compartment. A pair of electrodes enable recharging the battery in a docking station when the device is not in use. Controls are provided for the actuator and fluid flow.

The invention relates to a medical or dental-medical treatment instrument (1) having a grip sleeve (11), an oscillatory rod (13) which extends longitudinally in the grip sleeve (11) and is mounted therein in a radially or also axially elastically yielding manner, and an oscillation generator (31) for transmitting oscillations to the oscillatory rod (13). In order to attain a compact construction, the oscillatory rod (13) is of a base part and an attachment part which is fixed on the base part.

A high-intensity light source is formed by a micro array of a semiconductor light source such as a LEDs, laser diodes, or VCSEL placed densely on a liquid or gas cooled thermally conductive substrate. The semiconductor devices are typically attached by a joining process to electrically conductive patterns on the substrate, and driven by a microprocessor controlled power supply. An optic element is placed over the micro array to achieve improved directionality, intensity, and / or spectral purity of the output beam. The light module may be used for such processes as, for example, fluorescence, inspection and measurement, photopolymerzation, ionization, sterilization, debris removal, and other photochemical processes.

A dental device for exposing teeth to electromagnetic radiation includes a carrier and at least one source of electromagnetic radiation attached to the carrier and oriented so that the electromagnetic radiation is emitted from the source to a surface of a tooth. The dental device may also include a power source internally or externally disposed with respect to the carrier, and may include a circuit for controlling radiation emitted from the source. The dental device may be used for whitening teeth, and dental hygiene in general. Related methods are also disclosed.

Light Emitting Diode Light Sources for Dental Curing are disclosed. Some embodiments of the invention include structures such as Light Emitting Diode Array(s), heat sink, heat dissipation, heat pipe, and control circuitry are disclosed.

A 3-D camera and a method for recording surface structures on an object of interest by triangulation, in particular for dental purposes. The camera provides for producing a group of light beams in order to illuminate the object of interest via a projection optical path, an image sensor for receiving light back-scattered by the object of interest via an observation optical path, and provides, in the projection optical path, for producing a pattern projected onto the object of interest. To avoid ambiguities in the event of large height differences, the camera provides for the projection optical path and / or the observation optical path for altering the triangulation angle, which is defined by the angle between the centroid beam of the projection optical path and the centroid beam of the observation optical path. The proposed process involves the taking of at least two 3-D measurements of the same object of interest with different triangulation angles.

The present invention relates to compositions for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump systems wherein the composition comprises a fluoroolefin and at least one other component. The compositions of the present invention are useful in processes for producing cooling or heat, as heat transfer fluids, foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, and fire suppression and fire extinguishing agents.

An MOCVD reactor such as a rotating disc reactor (10) is equipped with a gas injector head having diffusers (129) disposed between adjacent gas inlets. The diffusers taper in the downstream direction. The injector head desirably has inlets (117) for a first gas such as a metal alkyl disposed in radial rows which terminate radially inward from the reactor wall to minimize deposition of the reactants on the reactor wall. The injector head desirably also has inlets (125) for a second gas such as ammonia arranged in a field between the rows of first gas inlets, and additionally has a center inlet (135) for the second gas coaxial with the axis of rotation.

An oral hygiene device including, in combination, a system for relatively effortlessly and effectively cleansing dental, inter-dental, gingival and deep-gum surfaces and crevices, and a convenient teeth bleaching system that may be selectively implemented following cleansing of the oral surfaces, wherein the present invention may be utilized in conjunction with, or in lieu of, conventional brushing and / or flossing practices.

Systems and methods support dental implant patient scheduling and treatment process relating to packaging one or more dental appliances as a kit which is readily used by dental professional during surgery, by communicating manufacturing progress information with a doctor over a network and performing patient scheduling and treatment when the dental appliances reach a certain manufacturing progress. A network-based service may also provide a doctor with a treatment solution including a surgical kit derived from patient data.

The invention relates to a method and device for placing implants (1) using a surgical template (11) which is made from tomographic cuts in the patient's jawbone (7). According to the invention, step drills (4) and calibrating drills (5), having a single standard diameter for each type of implant (1), are guided through drill bushings (18) which are inserted into bores (15) in the template (11) in order to produce any drilling sequence corresponding to an implant plan. The penetration depth of the drills (4, 5) is controlled by the height of the bores (15) or by the drill rings (21). The aforementioned template (11) bores (15) serve as a guide for the precise placement of the implants (1) owing to the adapted implant supports (3). Moreover, washers (23), which are mounted around the implant supports (3), limit compression in relation to the implants (1) while said implants are being placed (20). The above-mentioned characteristics serve to limit the required number of drills (4, 5) and implant supports (3) to the longest models only. The inventive method and device are particularly suitable for computer-assisted implantology systems.

An arrangement that may be used in combination with selected tools having a tooth cutting surface for the care and maintenance such as removing a selected portion of the exposed surface of equine teeth. The selected tool in communication with a source of powered motion and mounted in and supported by a hand piece which is guided into the mouth of the horse. The cutting surface of the powered tool is partially guarded so as to protect fleshy portions of the horse's mouth from being engaged by the cutting surface. The hand piece provides for quick on and off attachment of a selected cutting surface for maintenance of a preselected portion of teeth within the same hand piece or another hand piece sized to ease access to the next selected portion of the horse's mouth. The selected hand piece arrangement may further incorporate a vacuum channel whereby the tooth dust and debris created by the powered cutting surface removing a portion of tooth is sucked out of the mouth of the horse. The motion of the tooth surface removal tool may be changed from rotary to powered reciprocating motion for a selected portion of the teeth or changed to be at a preselected angle. Attaching the powered drive to the rotary cutting surface by means of an adjustable clutch further enhances protection from injury to the inside of the mouth of the horse.

An electromagnetically induced cutting mechanism provides accurate cutting operations on soft tissues. The electromagnetically induced cutter is adapted to interact with atomized fluid particles. A non-thermal tissue remover comprises an aspiration cannula housing a fluid and energy guide for conducting electromagnetically induced mechanical cutting forces to the site within a patient's body for aspiration of soft tissue. The cannula is provided with an aspiration inlet port adjacent the cannula distal end. The proximal end of the cannula is provided with fluid flow connection to an aspiration source. Separated soft tissue and fluid are aspirated through the aspiration inlet port and the cannula by an aspiration source at the proximal end of the cannula.

An electrical impedance probe is provided that includes a surgical needle. In an exemplary embodiment, the probe is a two-part trocar needle designed to acquire impedance measurements at its tip. The impedance measurements are representative of the local properties of a biological substance at the needle tip. Thus, the probe may be used to confirm needle insertion into a desired anatomical target or to identify the nature of the cells surrounding the tip of the needle. In urology, this sensor is used for confirming the needle insertion into the urinary tract, for localizing renal cell carcinoma, and prostate cancer.

A holder for a bit is disclosed. The bit may include a first locking element. The holder may include a housing; a base assembly including a first hole; a second locking element partially disposed within the first hole and configured to move between a locking position in which the second locking element engages the first locking element to prevent removal of the bit, and an unlocking position in which the second locking element is spaced from the first locking element allowing the bit to be removed; and a follower assembly contained within the housing and configured to move relative to the housing and base assembly between a first position in which the follower assembly supports the second locking element in the locking position, and a second position in which the follower assembly allows the second locking element to move from the locking position to the unlocking position.

An identification connector is disclosed that provides a link between a laser housing and a laser handpiece. The connector integrates a laser delivery guide with ancillary connections and provides information for verifying proper connection and protection against use of unauthorized delivery systems.

A method and apparatus for curing photosensitive materials uses LEDs and an optical concentrator to generate high optical power intensities. An LED array, comprising a plurality of LED assemblies, generates collimated light. A collection lens functions as an optical concentrator and focuses the collimated light to a desired spot size at a desired location. The LED assemblies may be at least partially disposed in a cooling plenum, where the cooling plenum is at least partially defined by the collection lens. Each LED assembly within the LED array may be detachably coupled to a mounting surface, enabling easy replacement of individual LED assemblies within the LED array. The photocuring assembly may also include a redirecting assembly disposed between the collection lens and the desired location that may further concentrate the light at the desired location. The photocuring assembly may include more than one of the above features.