U.S. patent application number 09/898309 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-03 for powdering attachment for applying powder to tooth surfaces.
Invention is credited to Qualliotine, Danny W., Qualliotine, Otto Armand.
Application Number | 20020001790 09/898309 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25409266 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020001790 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Qualliotine, Danny W. ; et
al. |
January 3, 2002 |
Powdering attachment for applying powder to tooth surfaces
Abstract
A powdering attachment for applying powder to tooth surfaces is
disclosed. Such an attachment is useful in operations such as
preparations of a tooth before the use of dental equipment in the
CEREC.RTM. family of products. The powdering attachment may be
connected to a dry air syringe that is adapted to allow for the
removable connection of dental accessories such as the powdering
attachment. When connected to the dry air syringe, the control
valve mechanism on the dry air syringe controls the air flow into
the powdering attachment. An air tip assembly is given as an
illustration of another dental accessory that may be attached to
the modified dry air syringe.
Inventors: |
Qualliotine, Danny W.;
(Greenville, NC) ; Qualliotine, Otto Armand;
(Greenville, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DANIELS & DANIELS, P.A.
SUITE 200, GENERATION PLAZA
1822 N.C. HIGHWAY 54, EAST
DURHAM
NC
27713
US
|
Family ID: |
25409266 |
Appl. No.: |
09/898309 |
Filed: |
July 3, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
433/88 ;
433/80 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61C 3/025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
433/88 ;
433/80 |
International
Class: |
A61C 003/02; A61C
017/02 |
Claims
I claim
1. A tooth powdering applicator for use as an attachment to a dry
air syringe having a dry air syringe control valve to apply powder
carried by dry air output from the dry air syringe to a tooth, the
tooth powdering applicator comprising: A. An applicator body with
integral cavity for holding tooth powdering powder; B. An air inlet
to the applicator body; C. A means for connecting the air inlet of
the applicator body to the dry air syringe such that the dry air
output from the dry air syringe is in fluid communication with the
air inlet of the applicator body; D. A down tube in fluid
communication with the air inlet of the applicator body and with
the cavity for holding tooth powdering powder such that dry air
from the dry air syringe may pass through the air inlet of the
applicator body and travel through and out of the down tube to
agitate and transport tooth powdering powder out of the cavity
holding tooth powdering powder through an outlet channel; and E. An
outlet tube assembly in fluid communication with the outlet channel
with an assembly inlet and an open distal end for directing the
transported tooth powder towards a targeted tooth, the outlet tube
assembly being removably connected to the applicator body, the
removable outlet tube assembly capable of 360 degree rotation with
respect to its connection to the applicator body.
2. The tooth powdering applicator of claim 1 wherein the means for
connecting the applicator body to the dry air syringe includes
connecting a syringe outlet tube to the dry air syringe wherein the
syringe outlet tube is adapted for connecting to the air inlet of
the applicator body.
3. The tooth powdering applicator of claim 1 wherein the removable
outlet tube assembly is connected by to the applicator body through
use of a detent to allow infinite rotation of the outlet tube
assembly with respect to the applicator body.
4. The tooth powdering applicator of claim 1 wherein the path from
air inlet of the applicator body to the outlet channel of the
cavity is always free of obstruction from control valve mechanisms
such that control of the amount of dry air entering the cavity for
holding tooth powdering powder is controlled by control mechanisms
before the air inlet of the applicator body.
5. The tooth powdering applicator of claim 1 wherein the open
distal end of the removable outlet tube assembly is not aligned
with the assembly inlet wherein the non-alignment facilitates
application of tooth powdering powder to various surfaces of the
targeted tooth.
6. The tooth powdering applicator of claim 5 wherein the angle of
non-alignment between the open distal end and the assembly inlet is
in the range of approximately 40 degrees to approximately 60
degrees.
7. A tooth powdering applicator system for applying reflective
powder to the various surfaces of a tooth comprising: A. a tooth
powdering applicator comprising: a container for holding reflective
powder to be applied to the tooth for form a reflective coating
thereon, said container having a air inlet, a powder outlet, and a
means for adding powder to the container; B. a dry air syringe
comprising: i. a syringe body with a pistol type grip; ii. an air
hose adapted for connection to a pressurized air source, the air
hose connected to the syringe body; iii. a moisture filter within
the syringe body, the moisture filter having an inlet and an
outlet, the inlet to the moisture filter in fluid communication
with the air hose; iv. a syringe body air outlet; v. a path from
the outlet of the moisture filter to the syringe body air outlet;
and vi. a control valve mechanism for selectively blocking the path
from the outlet of the moisture filter to the syringe body air
outlet wherein the control valve mechanism controls the amount of
air sent to the syringe body air outlet; and C. a rigid inlet tube
connecting the air outlet on the body of the air syringe to the air
inlet of the container.
8. The tooth powdering applicator system of claim 7 further
comprising a rigid outlet tube rotatably and removably connected to
the powder outlet of the container such that the tooth powdering
applicator system can be operated by using a first hand to hold the
dry air syringe and operate the control valve mechanism; the rigid
outlet tube may be rotated with respect to the powder outlet while
the first hand holds the dry air syringe through use of a second
hand.
9. The tooth powdering applicator system of claim 8 wherein the
rigid outlet tube is connected to the powder outlet of the
container through use of a ball and plunger assembly.
10. The tooth powdering applicator system of claim 7 wherein the
rigid outlet tube has an inlet end and an outlet end, and the
outlet end is not aligned with the inlet end so as to facilitate
the application of reflective powder to the tooth.
11. The tooth powdering applicator system of claim 7 wherein the
rigid outlet tube has a sleeve to facilitate the rotation of the
rigid outlet tube relative to the powder outlet.
12. The tooth powdering applicator system of claim 7 wherein the
air inlet of the container comprises a down tube with a bottom end
of the down tube such that air from the dry air syringe is routed
through the down tube and exits the bottom end of the down tube to
agitate and transport reflective powder out the powder outlet.
13. The tooth powdering applicator system of claim 7 wherein the
control valve mechanism for controlling the amount of air sent to
the syringe body air outlet receives input from a push button.
14. The tooth powdering applicator system of claim 13 wherein the
push button is a thumb-operated push button located above the
pistol type grip.
15. The tooth powdering applicator system of claim 7 wherein the
rigid inlet tube connecting the syringe body air outlet to the air
inlet of the container is connected through use of a hand
manipulated fastening mechanism so that the rigid tube can be
quickly released from the air inlet of the container.
16. The tooth powdering applicator system of claim 7 further
comprising an air tip assembly adapted for use on the rigid inlet
tube when the rigid inlet tube is not connected to the air inlet of
the container so that the air syringe may be used to direct dry air
into a specific location within a mouth of a dental patient.
17. A dry air syringe comprising: A. a syringe body with a pistol
type grip; B. an air hose adapted for connection to a pressurized
air source, the air hose connected to the syringe body; C. a
moisture filter within the syringe body, the moisture filter having
an inlet and an outlet, the inlet to the moisture filter in fluid
communication with the air hose; D. a syringe body air outlet; E. a
path from the outlet of the moisture filter to the syringe body air
outlet; F. a control valve mechanism for selectively blocking the
path from the outlet of the moisture filter to the syringe body air
outlet, wherein the control valve mechanism controls the amount of
air sent to the syringe body air outlet; and G. a rigid tube with a
first end and a second end, the first end adapted for reversible
connection to the syringe body air outlet, the second end adapted
for connection to a dental accessory.
18. The dry air syringe of claim 17 wherein the first end and the
second end of the rigid tube are substantially aligned.
19. The dry air syringe of claim 17 wherein the outer surface of
the rigid tube is beveled at the second end to facilitate insertion
into the dental accessory.
20. The dry air syringe of claim 17 further comprising an air tip
assembly dental accessory attached to the dry air syringe by
inserting the rigid tube into one end of the air tip assembly
tubing adaptor.
21. The dry air syringe of claim 17 further comprising a tooth
powdering applicator dental accessory attached to the dry air
syringe by inserting the rigid tube into an air inlet section of
the tooth powdering applicator and then tightening a hand
manipulated fastening mechanism, such that the control valve
mechanism of the dry air syringe is used to control the amount of
dry air provided to the air inlet of the tooth powdering applicator
and thus control the amount of air carrying tooth powder that is
emitted from the tooth powdering applicator.
22. A method of applying a powder to a tooth comprising the steps
of: A. Preparing the tooth powder applicator system, the step of
preparing the tooth powder applicator system comprising the acts
of: Place a quantity of powder into a cavity in a tooth powdering
applicator; Connect a removable, rotatable, rigid outlet tube to an
outlet of the tooth powder applicator, the outlet of the tooth
powder applicator in fluid communication with the cavity; the rigid
and outlet tube having a first end connected to an outlet of the
tooth powdering applicator and a distal second end, the second end
not aligned with the first end; and Inserting an end of a syringe
outlet tube into an air inlet of the tooth powder applicator, the
air inlet in fluid communication with the cavity so that operation
of a control valve mechanism on the dry air syringe sends dry air
out the end of the syringe outlet tube into the inlet of the tooth
powder applicator, into the cavity where the dry air agitates the
powder and transports a portion of the powder out the outlet of the
tooth powder applicator, through the rigid outlet tube towards the
tooth; B. Holding the dry air syringe with a first hand and
applying a controlled flow of dry air and powder to a tooth
surface; and C. Altering the direction of the controlled flow of
dry air and powder by rotating the rigid outlet tube relative to
the outlet of the tooth powder applicator with a second hand while
continuing to hold the dry air syringe with the first hand.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein the act of inserting an end of
the syringe outlet tube into the tooth powder applicator includes
tightening a hand manipulated fastening mechanism.
24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the steps of: A.
un-tightening the hand manipulated fastening mechanism after
applying powder to the tooth surface; B. removing the tooth
powdering applicator from the syringe outlet tube; C. inserting the
end of the syringe outlet tube into a second dental accessory; and
D. using the dry air syringe to provide dry air for use with the
second dental accessory.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The disclosed device and method for use are in the field of
dental tools.
[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art
[0004] Restorative dental work includes a computer-aided method of
making a replica tooth from a ceramic block through the use of a
computer controlled milling machine. The replica tooth is made
based on the tooth to be restored. This tooth is in the patient's
mouth. The tooth is prepared by removal of silver fillings and any
decayed material. The next step is to capture the shape of the
tooth. In order to capture the digital image of the tooth by an
imaging device, the tooth is made to contrast with the rest of the
patient's mouth by coating the surfaces of the tooth with a
suitable powder. This step is known as "powdering" the tooth. The
imaging device is used to collect an image of the powdered
tooth.
[0005] One such method uses a powder comprised of titanium dioxide
and talc. The imaging system is a handheld infrared camera. Such a
system is manufactured by Siemens Dental Products Division and
distributed in the United States by Patterson Dental Supply, Inc.
of St. Paul, Minn. under the name CEREC.RTM. 3.
[0006] Although the CEREC.RTM. 1, CEREC.RTM. 2 and now CEREC.RTM. 3
systems have been used for over a decade, the powdering devices are
not well liked by the dentists that powder teeth. The powdering
device is important because powdering is the first step towards
successful completion of this restorative dental work. Problems
with the application of the powder interfere with the attainment of
suitable results in the imaging and digitizing steps. More
specifically, the CEREC.RTM. 3 computer converts the light and dark
areas of the image of the tooth into values representative of the
height and depth of the surface of the tooth. This imaging process
requires the application of a uniform coat of powder so that the
entire target surface is covered. Too much powder is a problem as
is too thin a coat. Thus, it is important to have a process that
applies a uniform coat of powder to the target area.
[0007] One prior art device for this critical "powdering" step
involved a pair of containers. One container held pressurized
butane gas. The second container held the reflective powder. The
device operated by releasing butane from the first container into
the second container. The butane then carried reflective powder out
of the second container and through a flexible tube towards the
tooth to be coated. Such an applicator was distributed by Vita
Zahnfabrik H. Rauter Graph and Co. KG of Bad Sackingen, Germany.
Alternative suppliers of the butane propellant devices are
Ivoclar.TM. (sold as ProCad powder) and Vita.TM. brand powder.
Typically, these powdering techniques call for using a brush to
apply imaging liquid to all the surfaces visible in the imaging
step. The surfaces are blown dry after the imaging liquid is
applied. Next the powder is sprayed on in a steady stream from a
nozzle held about one or two centimeters from the tooth
surface.
[0008] An alternative device is described in U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,944,521 and 6,099,306 for a Tooth Powdering Applicator issued to
David Lawler. The Lawler device replaces the attached container of
pressurized butane with a connection to a pressurized fluid. The
outlet tube is rigid and curved. The Lawler device was designed to
allow a dentist to use a single hand to hold the device and
simultaneously rotate the outlet tube without use of the second
hand of the dentist. The stated advantage was that the outlet tube
can be rotated to allow the discharge stream from the powdering
device to be aimed at various tooth surfaces without tilting the
powder reservoir. Tilting the powder reservoir in the powdering
device was thought to increase the risk of clumping the powder.
Some embodiments of the Lawler device would include a valve on the
powder container to allow the dentist to control the flow of fluid
and powder with the hand holding the powdering device. Often a
second foot controlled valve would be used in combination with the
valve on the powder container. A device based on the Lawler patent
is sold under the name PowderMeister.TM. by Powder Meister, Inc. of
Bloomington, Ind.
[0009] Problems with Prior Art Solutions
[0010] The PowderMeister.TM. device requires an adjustment process
each time it is used. The process includes closing the valve on the
container using a thumbscrew so that no air can go into the powder
container. Next, the foot control for the pressurized air is fully
depressed. With the foot control remaining depressed, the
thumbscrew is used to slowly open the valve on the container until
the powder begins to flow. It is suggested that the initial
spraying of powder within the mouth be directed to a tooth adjacent
to the tooth to be powdered for imaging. This allows the clumps of
powder to be discharged somewhere other than on the target tooth.
Some clumps are attributed to storing the PowderMeister.TM. on its
side or upside down so that excess powder enters the powdering
tube. Water in the pressurized source of air poses a problem with
the PowderMeister.TM. as the water will cause the powder to
clump.
[0011] A second problem area with the PowderMeister.TM. device is
the thumbscrew controlled air valve on the container. The amount of
powder applied to the tooth is very sensitive to the position of
the thumbscrew. That is, very little movement of the thumbscrew is
needed to effect a change in the powder flow. Some dentists find
that thumbscrews turn too freely. One corrective trick is to apply
Super Glue.TM. to the threads of the thumbscrew air regulator to
keep the thumbscrew from rotating too easily.
[0012] It is an object of this invention to provide a powdering
device that is adapted to work with a valve that can be operated
with one hand to apply a precise amount of airflow into the powder
container.
[0013] It is an object of this invention to provide a powdering
device that is easy to store in an upright position so that powder
clumps do not form from non-upright storage.
[0014] It is an object of this invention to eliminate powder
clumping caused by moisture in the pressurized air supply.
[0015] It is an object of this invention to allow the precision
controlled dry air supply to be used in dental steps other than
powdering to allow the dentist the option of purchasing less
equipment.
[0016] It is an object of this invention to allow for quick changes
between an air delivery function and the function of providing a
dry air supply to the powdering device.
[0017] It is an object of this invention to provide these
advantages while providing a device that is ergonomic such that is
provides both accurate placement of powder while being comfortable
to use.
[0018] These and other advantages of the present invention are
apparent from the drawings and the detailed description that
follows.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE
[0019] The improved powdering device disclosed herein is a
powdering attachment designed to be used in conjunction with an
existing piece of dental equipment known as a dry air syringe. The
combination of the powdering attachment and the air syringe forms a
powdering device. The dry air syringe is an ergonomic device with
integral moisture filter designed for one-handed operation by the
dentist. A precision valve on the top of the device allows the
dentist to control the airflow by pressing with the thumb of the
hand holding the air syringe. The powdering attachment is added to
the outlet tube of the air syringe. No valve is needed on the
powdering attachment. Nothing needs to be set. A foot-operated
valve is not needed to turn the airflow on and off. The outlet tube
on the powdering attachment rotates against resistance to allow
alteration of the placement of the powder through use of the
dentist's other hand. The powdering attachment is designed to allow
quick removal of the outlet tube so that the outlet tube can be
removed for sterilization after each patient.
[0020] The powdering attachment is designed to be easily removed
from air syringe. Once disconnected from the air syringe, the
powdering attachment is easy to store as it does not have an
airline attached to it. When not used for powdering, the air
syringe can be used for other operations such as porcelain bonding
or any other bonding with dry air.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is an exploded cross section of the tooth powdering
device comprising the tooth powdering applicator and the dry air
syringe.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows additional details on the rigid outlet tube 128
and ball plunger assembly 152.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows how the rigid inlet tube 124 may be created
from an air syringe air tip 226.
[0024] FIG. 4 shows details on the components of the air tip
assembly 300.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0025] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the
principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the
embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will
be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood
that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby
intended, such alterations and further modifications in the
illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles
of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would
normally occur to one skilled in the art of which the invention
relates.
[0026] Tooth Powdering Applicator
[0027] Referring now more particularly to the drawings there is
shown a tooth powdering applicator 100 including a powder holding
container 108 for holding the reflective powder to be applied to
the tooth to form a reflective coating thereon. The container has
an air inlet 112 and a powder outlet 116 provided in the manifold
block 174. A rigid inlet tube 124 has one end connected to air
inlet 112 and the opposite end connected to a dry air syringe body
200 supplying filtered air. As used within this specification and
the claims that follow, the term dry air is used in the context of
dental devices. Thus the air does not need to be absolutely dry,
simply dry enough to serve as "dry air".
[0028] Container 108 is hollow for holding a reflective powder. By
way of illustration one such reflective powder is a mix of a
titanium oxide and talc powder (CEREC.RTM. 2 POWDER by VIDENT
available from Patterson Dental Supply, of St. Paul, Minn.). The
manifold block 174 is attached to the threaded removable container
cover 120 by the securing screw 160. Threaded removable container
cover 120 is removed when the tooth powdering applicator 100 is to
be filled with reflective powder.
[0029] Dry Air Syringe
[0030] The dry air syringe body 200 is operated by button 202 to
provide input to the control valve mechanism 204 to deliver precise
amounts of filtered air into powder holding container 108 exiting
bottom end of down tube 164 through bottom end tip 168. The dry air
exiting through the bottom end tip 168 to agitate and transport
tooth powdering powder out of the powder holding container through
outlet channel 118.
[0031] The dry air syringe body 200 such as found in a bonding dry
air syringe from American Dental Accessories, Inc. of Minneapolis,
Minn. provides dry pressurized air. The body with its pistol type
grip is ergonomically designed for comfortable use. The delivery of
dry air helps prevent moisture contamination of the imaging powder.
Optionally the dry air syringe body can be fitted with a quick
disconnect (not shown) to allow the line connecting the dry air
syringe to the air supply line to be quickly connected or
disconnected.
[0032] The dry air syringe body is also an extremely useful tool
when used with the optional air tip assemblies (described below).
The quick disconnect feature with thumbscrew 148 allows for
immediate conversion from a powdering device to a dry air bonding
syringe useful in numerous dental procedures. The dry air syringe
body can be conveniently located and stored in many places in and
around a dental unit due to its standardized size and holding
devices. This is an advantage when compared to other devices which
have no suitable holders or holding fixtures. The present invention
is not limited to use with a particular bonding dry air syringe.
The present invention can be easily adapted by those of skill in
the art to connect to other dry air syringes.
[0033] While the internal operation of the dry air syringe is not
part of the present invention, for those not familiar with the
operation of a dry air syringe, FIG. 1 shows additional detail. Air
is provided to the air syringe body 200 through tubing connected to
air supply outlet 220. The air enters the dry air syringe body 200
and passes through a moisture filter 218 such as cotton within a
filter case 224 within the core of the handpiece handle 216. The
dry air exits the moisture filter 218 and passes through the
control valve mechanism 204 of the valve operated by push button
202. The traditional use of a dry air syringe body 200 would be
with an air tip 226 (shown in FIG. 3). This air tip 226 would be
attached to the threaded air outlet 222 of the dry air syringe body
by tip holding nut 210, plastic tip cone 212, O-ring adapter nut
214, syringe tip adaptor nut 206, and O-ring 208.
[0034] When used in connection with the tooth powdering applicator
100, air tip 226 is replaced with rigid inlet tube 124. Optionally,
rigid inlet tube 124 may be made by modifying an air tip 226. The
comparison between air tip 226 and rigid inlet tube 124 is best
seen in FIG. 3. As described below, the substitution of rigid inlet
tube 124 for air tip 226 allows the dry air syringe body 200 to be
used with a variety of dental accessories. The modified dry air
syringe may be used with other dental accessories not discussed
within this application which need a controlled source for dry
air.
[0035] Air Tip Assembly
[0036] While it would be possible to have one dry air syringe for
providing dry air to the tooth powdering applicator and one for use
in providing dry air to the mouth, it is advantageous to use one
dry air syringe for both uses. Accordingly it is advantageous to be
able to quickly shift from one function of the air syringe to the
other. Disassembling elements 210, 212, 214, from threaded air
outlet 222 in order to switch back and forth from air tip 226 and
rigid inlet tube 124 would take too long as a dentist using a
powdering device often needs to switch from powdering to blowing
with air to powdering again in a span of twenty or thirty seconds.
Thus, it is advantageous to use air tip assembly 300 shown in FIG.
4.
[0037] The dry air syringe may be used without the powdering device
to deliver air precisely to areas that are difficult to reach, by
attaching the air tip assembly 300. The tooth powdering applicator
is quickly removed by turning inlet tube thumbscrew 148 (or an
alternative hand manipulated fastening mechanism) to remove the
rigid inlet tube 124 from the inlet to the tooth powdering
applicator 100. The air tip assembly 300 slips over the end of
rigid inlet tube 124 and stays on with a friction fit. The air tip
assembly 300 can be made by adapting an ACCESS.RTM. Tip 304 sold be
CENTRIX of Shelton, Conn. as part number 290016 18ga, as part of
its line if ACCESS.RTM. delivery syringes. The intended use of the
ACCESS.RTM. Tip 304 is to deliver a silicon type impression
material. The ACCESS.RTM. Tip 304 is combined with tubing shown as
element 308 which can be cut to size from tubing stock from
American Dental Accessories, Inc. The dry air syringe body 200 with
rigid tube 124 and the air tip assembly 300 is very useful in
dental bonding procedures where moisture free dry air is
crucial.
[0038] Outlet Tube Assembly
[0039] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, outlet tube 128 is attached
to the manifold block 174 by the interaction of a plunger ball 156
of the ball plunger assembly 152 fitting into a detent 144 allowing
for easy removal for sterilization purposes. Such a plunger is well
known to those of skill in the art and typically has a threaded
shank with a spring loaded steel ball within a hollow core of the
plunger. A preferred material for the ball plunger assembly 152 is
stainless steel. A preferred material for the outlet tube 128 is a
medical grade stainless steel, such as a 316 stainless steel. The
outlet tube 128 is easily rotated while holding the powder
container 108 upright and rotating the outlet tube 128 with the
other hand. The preferred methods for connecting the rigid outlet
tube 128 allow for endless rotation of the rigid outlet tube 128.
In a preferred embodiment, the rigid outlet tube 128 is adapted to
make it easier to grip. In one highly preferred embodiment, the
rigid outlet tube 128 is placed inside of a silicon rubber sleeve
136 which is held in place by a locking ferrule 140. The snap fit
of the rigid outlet tube 128 is an advantage for quick changing of
the outlet tube and for removal for sterilization.
[0040] The outlet tube assembly is comprised of a rigid outlet tube
128. Rigid outlet tube 128 has a proximal end 146 connected to
powder outlet 116 and a distal end 132 through which the powder is
sprayed on the tooth. In a most preferred embodiment, the distal
end 132 is arranged at an approximately 50-degree angle with
respect to the to provide convenient access to all areas of the
mouth. Note, that the invention is not limited to an approximately
50 degree angle as other angles between approximately 40 degrees
and 90 degrees would work. The range of 45 to 75 degrees is thought
to work better than 40 to 90 degrees with the most preferred angle
at approximately 50 degrees. Note that as the outlet tube assembly
is preferably set for quick connection/disconnection, an
alternative embodiment would use two or more outlet tube assemblies
with one assembly have a more severe angle than the other.
[0041] The tooth powdering applicator 100 can be easily removed (as
described above) so that it can be stored upright. Storage of the
tooth powdering applicator is simple in that there is no flexible
tubing to be wrapped up or stored.
[0042] Loading and Use
[0043] The tooth powdering applicator 100 is loaded by first
removing the removable container cover 120. Next, reflective powder
(not shown) is added to the powder holding container 108. The
height of the reflective powder should be below bottom end tip 168.
Typically the reflective powder is added until it fills
approximately one third of the powder holding container 108.
[0044] After filling the device with powder and attaching to
compressed air line, it is aimed at a tooth that has been coated
with suitable wetting agent causing the powder to stick as it is
sprayed on the tooth. Care is taken to uniformly coat the tooth
with a layer of reflective powder. The powder coats most uniformly
when sprayed at a right angle to the surface you are coating. The
delivery nozzle can be rotated to make it easier to spray the
reflective powder on the various faces of the tooth.
[0045] Cleaning is accomplished by disassembling and blowing out
with compressed air. The unit is disassembled. The air tip assembly
300 is placed on the dry air syringe. The dry air syringe and air
tip is used to blow out each orifice in the disassembled unit.
Generally the unit will not need to be rinsed with water unless the
unit was contaminated by moisture. In that rare case, the unit can
be washed and then completely dried before the next use.
[0046] Examples of preferred materials for the present invention
include 8-36.times.{fraction (11/32)} stainless steel ball plunger;
6-32.times.3/8 stainless steel SHC screw; 6-32.times.14 stainless
steel SHC screw; knurled knobs; medical grade stainless steel
tubing; medical grade silicone tubing; {fraction (1/16)} inch
tubing (brass); 1/8 inch tubing (brass); 1/2 inch aluminum bar
(6061); and a medicine bottle.
[0047] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the methods and
apparatus of the present invention has many applications and that
the present invention is not limited to the specific examples given
to promote understanding of the present invention. Moreover, the
scope of the present invention covers the range of variations,
modifications, and substitutes for the system components described
herein, as would be known to those of skill in the art.
[0048] The legal limitations of the scope of the claimed invention
are set forth in the claims that follow and extend to cover their
legal equivalents. Those unfamiliar with the legal tests for
equivalency should consult a person registered to practice before
the patent authority which granted this patent such as the United
States Patent and Trademark Office or its counterpart.
* * * * *