Prophy cup for dental handpiece

Abstract

A prophy cup has an outer surface with dimples formed therein. The dimples increase the turbulent flow in a boundary layer proximate to the surface. The increased turbulent flow reduces the separation of fluid (a slurry of saliva, blood and pumice) at the boundary layer to minimize the quantity of fluid ejected from the surface. A dental handpiece housing is configured to split longitudinally so that a wiper is positioned proximate to the outer surface of the prophy cup. The wiper removes slurry as the prophy cup rotates during a dental cleaning procedure to further reduce the quantity of fluid ejected from the surface during the procedure.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

130 314 formed therein as part of the injection process. The main housing portion includes the pair of tabs 432, which are spaced apart from the hinge portion by substantially the same distance as the pair of openings 434 formed in the hinged housing portion. The main housing portion also includes a pair of generally oval-shaped protrusions 450, and the hinged housing portion includes a pair of generally oval-shaped recesses 452 that are sized to receive the protrusions. The protrusions are spaced apart from the hinge portion by substantially the same distance as the recesses.

When the hinged housing portion 410 is rotated about the flexible hinge portion 430, the pair of protrusions 450 on the main housing portion are inserted into the pair or recesses 452 in the hinged housing portion to align the hinged housing portion with the main housing portion. In addition, the tabs 432 on the main housing portion enter into and engage with the openings 434 in the hinged housing portion to fixedly secure the two housing portions together. Thus, the tabs and the openings operate as snap joints.

As further shown in FIG. 12, the main housing portion 400 includes first half 470 of a first channel that extends to the drive head 330. A corresponding second half 472 of the first channel extends to the drive head in the hinged housing portion 410. When the two housing portions are secured together the two halves of the first channel form a cylindrical channel that supports the first shaft 320. As shown in FIG. 13, the first shaft advantageously includes a pair of enlarged cylindrical portions 474 that act as bearings for the first shaft and that center the first shaft in the cylindrical channel. The first shaft is relatively long with respect to the diameter. By providing the enlarged cylindrical portions at spaced apart locations on the first shaft, the cross section of the first shaft varies along the length of the first shaft. The varying cross section reduces harmonics that might otherwise be produced on the first shaft.

As further shown in FIG. 12, the main housing portion 400 includes an first half 480 of an enlarged cavity in the drive head 330, a first half 482 of an upper bearing chamber and a first half 484 of a lower bearing channel. The hinged housing portion 410 includes a respective second half 490 of the enlarged cavity, a respective second half 492 of the upper bearing chamber and a respective second half 494 of the lower bearing channel.

As shown in FIG. 13, prior to rotating the hinged housing portion 410 and interconnecting the hinged housing portion with the main housing portion 400, the first shaft 320 is positioned in the first half 470 of the first channel. A first bevel gear 500 attached to the first shaft is positioned in the first half 480 of the enlarged cavity in the drive head 330. The second shaft 332 is positioned in the first half 484 of the lower bearing channel. A second bevel gear 510 attached to the second shaft is positioned in the first half of the enlarged cavity with its respective teeth engaged with the respective teeth of the first bevel gear. An extended portion 512 of the second shaft is centered within the first half 482 of the upper bearing channel. When the hinged housing portion is engaged with the main housing portion, the respective second halves of the cavity and the channels are aligned with the respective first halves of the cavity and the channels maintain the proper alignment of the two shafts so that rotation of the first shaft results in rotation of the second shaft via the two bevel gears.

As further shown in FIG. 12, the main housing portion 400 includes a first half 530 of a recessed channel positioned proximal to the drive head 330. An oval-shaped protrusion 532 extends from the first half of the recessed channel. As shown in FIG. 13, the proximal portion of the wiper 340 includes an oval-shaped through-bore 534 that is sized and shaped to receive the third protrusion when the proximal portion of the wiper is positioned in the recessed channel. The proximal portion of the wiper fits snugly within the recessed channel. When the hinged housing portion 410 is engaged with the main housing portion, a second half 540 of the recessed channel in the hinged housing portion also constrains the upper portion of the wiper. The combined effects of the two halves of the recessed channel and the third protrusion prevent the wiper from moving in any direction. Thus, the wiper is properly positioned with respect to the prophy cup 200 as described above.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the wiper 340 may be formed as an integral part of either the main housing portion 400 or the hinged housing portion.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown) of the housing 310, the main housing portion 400 and the hinged housing portion 410 are secured together by ultrasonic welding of the medical-grade plastic material. The ultrasonic welding may be used instead of the tabs and openings described above or in addition to the tabs and openings.

In certain embodiments (not shown) of the housing 310, the outer surfaces of the main housing portion 400 and the hinged housing portion may be knurled to enhance a user's ability to grip the handpiece.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all the matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A prophy cup for a dental cleaning system, the prophy cup reducing the ejection of fluids during a dental cleaning procedure, the prophy cup comprising:

a body symmetrical about a rotational axis, the body having an outer surface, the body comprising:

a proximal portion having an interconnection cavity that receives a shaft to rotate the body about the rotational axis;

an intermediate tapered portion that extends distally from the proximal portion; and

a flareable distal portion engageable with a dental surface to be cleaned; and

a plurality of indented dimples formed on a substantial portion of the outer surface of at least the flareable distal portion and the intermediate tapered portion of the body, the dimples sized and positioned to cause turbulent flow of fluids in a boundary layer proximate to the outer surface of the flareable distal portion and the intermediate tapered portion.

2. A prophy cup for a dental cleaning system, the prophy cup reducing the ejection of fluids during a dental cleaning procedure, the prophy cup comprising:

a body symmetrical about a rotational axis, the body having an outer surface, the body comprising:

a proximal portion having an interconnection cavity that receives a shaft to rotate the body about the rotational axis;

an intermediate tapered portion that extends distally from the proximal portion; and

a flareable distal portion engageable with a dental surface to be cleaned; and

a plurality of dimples formed on a substantial portion of the outer surface of at least the flareable distal portion and the intermediate tapered portion of the body, wherein the plurality of dimples includes at least a first set of dimples having a first size and a second set of dimples having a second size, the dimples having the second size interleaved with the dimples having the first size.

3. The prophy cup as defined in claim 1, wherein each dimple has a respective radius at the outer surface, and wherein each dimple is formed into the outer surface to a respective depth, the respective depth of each dimple being less than the radius of the dimple.

4. A dental handpiece, comprising:

a first shaft that rotates about a first axis;

a second shaft coupled to the first shaft, the second shaft rotating about a second axis when the first shaft rotates about the first axis;

a prophy cup coupled to the second shaft to rotate about the second axis, the prophy cup having an outer surface, the outer surface having a contour; and

a wiper positioned proximal to the prophy cup, the wiper having at least one blade edge, the at least one blade edge having a shape selected to conform to at least a portion of the contour of the outer surface of the prophy cup, the wiper positioned with the at least one blade edge sufficiently close to the outer surface of the prophy cup to remove fluid from the outer surface of the prophy cup and thereby reduce accumulation of fluid on the outer surface.

5. The A dental handpiece as defined in claim 4,, comprising:

a first shaft that rotates about a first axis;

a second shaft coupled to the first shaft, the second shaft rotating about a second axis when the first shaft rotates about the first axis;

a prophy cup coupled to the second shaft to rotate about the second axis, the prophy cup having an outer surface, the outer surface having a contour; and

a wiper positioned proximal to the prophy cup, the wiper having at least one blade edge, the at least one blade edge having a shape selected to conform to at least a portion of the contour of the outer surface of the prophy cup, the wiper positioned with the at least one blade edge sufficiently close to the outer surface of the prophy cup to remove fluid from the outer surface of the prophy cup and thereby reduce accumulation of fluid on the outer surface;

wherein the outer surface of the prophy cup comprises a plurality of dimples formed therein to further reduce the accumulation of fluid on the surface.

6. The A dental handpiece as defined in claim 4, wherein:, comprising:

a first shaft that rotates about a first axis;

a second shaft coupled to the first shaft, the second shaft rotating about a second axis when the first shaft rotates about the first axis;

a prophy cup coupled to the second shaft to rotate about the second axis, the prophy cup having an outer surface, the outer surface having a contour; and

a wiper positioned proximal to the prophy cup, the wiper having at least one blade edge, the at least one blade edge having a shape selected to conform to at least a portion of the contour of the outer surface of the prophy cup, the wiper positioned with the at least one blade edge sufficiently close to the outer surface of the prophy cup to remove fluid from the outer surface of the prophy cup and thereby reduce accumulation of fluid on the outer surface;

wherein the first shaft and the second shaft are housed in a housing, the housing comprising a first housing portion and a second housing portion, the first housing portion and the second housing portion interconnectable to form the housing; and

the wiper is positioned between the first housing portion and the second housing portion to constrain the wiper at a fixed position proximal to the prophy cup with the at least one blade edge of the wiper adjacent to the outer surface of the prophy cup.

7. A dental handpiece, comprising:

a first shaft that rotates about a first axis;

a second shaft coupled to the first shaft, the second shaft rotating about a second axis when the first shaft rotates about the first axis;

a prophy cup coupled to the second shaft to rotate about the second axis, the prophy cup having a distal end and an outer surface, the outer surface having a contour; and

a wiper positioned proximal to the prophy cup, the wiper having at least one blade edge, the at least one blade edge having a shape selected to conform to at least a portion of the contour of the outer surface of the prophy cup, the wiper positioned with the at least one blade edge sufficiently close to the outer surface of the prophy cup to remove fluid from the outer surface of the prophy cup and thereby reduce accumulation of fluid on the outer surface, the blade edge not extending beyond the distal end of the prophy cup.

8. The dental handpiece of claim 7, wherein the wiper is connected to the handpiece.

9. The dental handpiece of claim 7, wherein the wiper blade has first and second blade edges to remove fluid from the outer surface of the prophy cup which first and second blade edges are inclined relative to each other at an obtuse angle.

10. The dental handpiece of claim 7, wherein the at least one blade is tapered toward the blade edge so as to be more flexible than an outer portion of the at least one blade which is further from the second axis than the tapered blade edge.

11. A dental handpiece, comprising: a first shaft that rotates about a first axis:

a second shaft coupled to the first shaft, the second shaft rotating about a second axis when the first shaft rotates about the first axis;

prophy cup having an outer surface with a distal end, the outer surface having a contour: and

a wiper positioned proximal to the prophy cup, the wiper having at least one blade edge, the at least one blade edge having a shape selected to conform to at least a portion of the contour of the outer surface of the prophy cup, the wiper positioned with the at least one blade edge sufficiently close to the outer surface of the prophy cup to remove fluid from the outer surface of the prophy cup and thereby reduce accumulation of fluid on the outer surface, the blade edge extending to a location intermediate a proximal and distal end of the prophy cup.

12. The dental handpiece of claim 11, wherein the wiper is connected to the handpiece.

13. The dental handpiece of claim 11, wherein the at least one at least one blade edge is straight.

14. The dental handpiece of claim 11, wherein the wiper blade has first and second blade edges to remove fluid from the outer surface of the prophy cup which first and second blade edges are inclined relative to each other at an obtuse angle.

15. The dental handpiece of claim 11, wherein the at least one blade is tapered toward the blade edge so as to be more flexible than an outer portion of the at least one blade which is further from the second axis than the tapered blade edge.

16. A dental handpiece, comprising: a first shaft that rotates about a first axis:

a second shaft coupled to the first shaft, the second shaft rotating about a second axis when the first shaft rotates about the first axis;

a prophy cup coupled to the second shaft to rotate about the second axis and having an outer surface, the prophy cup having a smaller diameter transition portion and a larger diameter, flarable distal portion having a distal end, the outer surface having a contour: and

a wiper positioned proximal to the prophy cup, the wiper having at least one blade edge, the at least one blade edge having a shape selected to conform to at least a portion of the contour of the outer surface of the prophy cup, the wiper positioned with the at least one blade edge sufficiently close to the outer surface of the prophy cup to remove fluid from the outer surface of the prophy cup and thereby reduce accumulation of fluid on the outer surface, the blade edge being inclined relative to the outer surface of the distal end of the prophy cup in an undeformed configuration with a distance between the blade edge being closer to the tapered middle portion of the prophy cup and further away from the distal end of the prophy cup in an undeformed configuration, the blade the having a length along the second axis that is shorter than a length of the prophy cup along the second axis.

17. The dental handpiece of claim 16, wherein the wiper is connected to the handpiece and extends in a direction parallel to the second axis.

18. The dental handpiece of claim 16, wherein the at least one at least one blade edge is straight.

19. The dental handpiece of claim 16, wherein the wiper blade has first and second blade edges to remove fluid from the outer surface of the prophy cup which first and second blade edges are inclined relative to each other at an obtuse angle.

20. The dental handpiece of claim 16, wherein the at least one blade is tapered toward the blade edge so as to be more flexible than an outer portion of the at least one blade which is further from the second axis than the tapered blade edge.