U.S. patent application number 12/823835 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-14 for dental delivery device.
This patent application is currently assigned to HU-FRIEDY MFG.CO., INC.. Invention is credited to James Feine.
Application Number | 20100261135 12/823835 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42358754 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100261135 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Feine; James |
October 14, 2010 |
DENTAL DELIVERY DEVICE
Abstract
A single use cartridge 10 is disclosed for dispensing a
medicament or other substance for dental, medical, or veterinarian
applications. A motive fluid can contact the medicament to mix and
dispense from reservoir 12, or the motive fluid can act on a
plunger 21 to dispense the medicament. A handpiece 15 can sealably
connect the cartridge 10 to a source of the motive fluid. The
cartridge 10 can be easily replaced to facilitate the use of
multiple cartridges with a single handpiece 15. An ultrasonic
cleaning element 30 with a channel for fluid flow can be used in a
handpiece 25 with a single use medicament cartridge 28 to dispense
medicament during ultrasonic dental procedures. A cartridge 72 can
contain a mixing element 70 to mix the motive fluid and abrasive
particles for tooth surface polishing.
Inventors: |
Feine; James; (Bellaire,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARSHALL, GERSTEIN & BORUN LLP
233 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE, 6300 WILLIS TOWER
CHICAGO
IL
60606-6357
US
|
Assignee: |
HU-FRIEDY MFG.CO., INC.
CHICAGO
IL
|
Family ID: |
42358754 |
Appl. No.: |
12/823835 |
Filed: |
June 25, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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|
11162069 |
Aug 26, 2005 |
7766656 |
|
|
12823835 |
|
|
|
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60604967 |
Aug 27, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
433/86 ;
433/215 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61C 17/20 20130101;
A61C 5/62 20170201; A61C 3/025 20130101; A61C 19/063 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
433/86 ;
433/215 |
International
Class: |
A61C 19/06 20060101
A61C019/06; A61C 1/07 20060101 A61C001/07 |
Claims
1-12. (canceled)
13. A delivery device for medicament, comprising: a cartridge
housing a reservoir containing a unit dose of medicament; a
handpiece with a cavity removably receiving the cartridge, the
handpiece including a retaining lip at a distal end thereof
facilitating retention of the cartridge within the cavity; an
ultrasonic element disposed in the handpiece; an ultrasonic tip in
fluid communication with a distal end of the cartridge projecting
through an opening at the distal end of the handpiece; a source of
a first motive fluid in fluid communication with a first passage in
the handpiece; a first port in the cartridge for connecting the
first passage to the reservoir for supplying the first motive fluid
to displace medicament from the reservoir though a channel in the
ultrasonic tip; a source of a second motive fluid in communication
with a second passage in the handpiece; a second port in the
handpiece for connection to the second passage; a flow channel
through the cartridge for the second motive fluid from the second
port to the tip separate from the reservoir; and a mixing element
for introducing a mixture of the first motive fluid and medicament
from the reservoir into the channel.
14. The delivery device of claim 13 wherein the first motive fluid
comprises a gas and the second motive fluid comprises a liquid.
15. The dental delivery device of claim 14 wherein the liquid
comprises water and the gas comprises air.
16. The dental delivery device of claim 15 wherein the mixing
element comprises outer and inner concentric tubes with a flow path
for supplying air and medicament from the reservoir to the inner
tube.
17. The delivery device of claim 15 wherein the mixing element
comprises a nozzle.
18-26. (canceled)
27. The method of dispensing a medicament with the delivery device
of claim 13 comprising the steps of: inserting the cartridge
containing the unit dosage of medicament into the handpiece;
supplying the second motive fluid through the flow channel to the
mixing element; supplying the first motive fluid to the reservoir
to displace medicament and form a first mixture of the first motive
fluid and the medicament; mixing the second motive fluid with the
first mixture to form a second mixture of the medicament and the
first and second motive fluids; and discharging the second mixture
from the tip.
28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of:
modulating the supply of the first and second motive fluids to
control a rate of the displacement of the medicament.
29-33. (canceled)
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/162,069, filed Aug. 26, 2005, which application claims the
benefit of my earlier application U.S. Ser. No. 60/604,967 filed
Aug. 27, 2004.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to dental delivery devices, more
particularly, to a single use medicament delivery device with a
replaceable cartridge. The invention addresses such current issues
as infection control, medicament dispensing, dental scaling,
polishing, and surface abrading while maintaining ease of use,
size, and portability.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Dental equipment and techniques have evolved over the past
decades of use. New concerns such as infection control and
sterility of equipment and materials have become increasingly
important, both to the patient and to the dental professional.
Dental professionals require equipment for dispensing many
substances including air, water, medicament, surface abrading
materials, impression material, sealants, coatings, anesthetics,
fluoride containing gel or solution, etc.
[0004] Most dental equipment is required to be sterilized which
consumes time and labor. Many different patients may receive
treatment from one dental professional in the same day, and there
is not usually time to sterilize the equipment between procedures,
so the practitioner must have several of the same type of tool
ready for use. Different dental equipment may be used during the
same procedure. Often, one set of equipment may be used for one
type of procedure, whereas a similar set may used for another.
Furthermore, in some offices, there may be several practitioners,
each having his or her own preference for types of equipment for
particular procedures. Additionally, a medicament can be applied
during the procedures which can necessitate a separate medicament
dispenser for each differing medicament. Each device requires time,
labor, and capital to own, operate, and sterilize.
[0005] Dental dispensing devices can require a gas, liquid, or
electrical means for operation, which can lead to a complicated
supply system. In addition to the expense, having a multitude of
supply systems can lead to an unsafe environment due to the close
proximity to the patient and dental professional. Some medicaments
require mixing with a gas, a liquid, or both, which can require
different connections to the office air and water supply creating
even more complications.
[0006] Some current tooth polishing systems in use that provide
baking soda polishing functions are charged with powder in a
reservoir in the base unit in an amount for multiple uses or
procedures. This powder can absorb moisture from the surroundings
and clog the orifices and tubing. Operators of these units can have
difficulties in cleaning the powder reservoirs and keeping them
dry, and removing, cleaning, and disinfecting their assemblies.
Moreover, the base reservoir does not facilitate easy change of the
polishing compound for different patients who require a different
type or would like a different flavor.
[0007] Ultrasonic dental equipment is commonly used in hygienics,
periodontal and other dental procedures. This requires additional
equipment to be purchased and sterilized for each patient if a
medicament is used with the ultrasonic scaler treatment, in
addition to the time wasted by the dental professional setting up
and switching equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is directed to a single-use cartridge
for delivering a unit dose of medicament in dental procedures, for
example. The medicament can be dispensed from the cartridge using a
sterilizable or disposable handpiece and a motive fluid such as air
or water. The single-use cartridge can be used to deliver
medicament per se, to provide a tooth surface polishing spray of
water, air and abradant, or to deliver medicament in an ultrasonic
dental procedure.
[0009] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a delivery
device for medicament. The delivery device includes a cartridge
having a reservoir containing a unit dose of medicament. A tip is
operably connected at a distal end of the cartridge. A port is
provided in the cartridge for removably connecting the cartridge to
a source of a motive fluid to displace medicament from the
reservoir through a channel in the tip.
[0010] In another embodiment, a delivery device for medicament
includes a cartridge housing a reservoir containing a unit dose of
medicament, and a handpiece with a cavity removably receiving the
cartridge. A tip is operably connected at a distal end of the
cartridge to project through an opening at a distal end of the
handpiece. A source of a first motive fluid is in communication
with a first passage in the handpiece, and a first port in the
cartridge can connect the first passage to the reservoir for
supplying the first motive fluid to displace medicament from the
reservoir through a channel in the tip. The tip can be removably
connected to the cartridge. The handpiece can be autoclavable. The
medicament can be a fluoride gel, for example. The reservoir can
further contain a plunger which is drivable by the first motive
fluid against the medicament to dispense medicament. In another
embodiment, cartridge can have a first port in fluid communication
with the medicament in the reservoir. The medicament can be
concentrated and the medicament displaced through the channel can
be mixed with the first motive fluid.
[0011] In another embodiment a source of a second fluid is in
communication with a second passage in the handpiece and a second
port in the handpiece for connection to the second passage.
[0012] In another embodiment, the cartridge can include a second
port for supplying the second fluid to the reservoir from the
second handpiece port. One of the first and second cartridge ports
can be selectively blocked and the other of the first and second
cartridge ports can be open. The first and second ports can have
different sizes to align the cartridge in the handpiece.
[0013] In another embodiment, the single use cartridge can include
a flow channel through the cartridge for the second fluid to flow
from the second port to the tip separate from the reservoir, and a
mixing element can introduce a mixture of the first fluid and
medicament from the reservoir into the channel. This first motive
fluid can comprise a gas such as air and the second motive fluid
can comprise a liquid such as water.
[0014] In another embodiment, the mixing element can comprise outer
and inner concentric tubes with a flow path for supplying air and
medicament from the reservoir to the inner tube or comprise a
nozzle.
[0015] In another embodiment, the present invention can include an
ultrasonic element disposed between the distal end of the cartridge
and the tip with a flow path in the ultrasonic element in fluid
communication with the reservoir and the channel in the tip. The
ultrasonic element can be powered by a circuit through the
cartridge which connects the handpiece to an electrical connection
in the ultrasonic element. The cartridge can be essentially free of
medicament to provide a flow channel for the first motive fluid to
the channel in the tip.
[0016] In another embodiment, the invention can include a control
unit for modulating the supply of the first motive fluid and can
include a conduit for supplying the first motive fluid from the
control unit to the first passage in the handpiece. The control
unit can further modulate the supply of the first and second fluids
and can include a cable. The cable can include first and second
conduits for supplying the first and second fluids from the control
unit to the first and second passages in the handpiece,
respectively. A second embodiment can include a circuit in the
cable for supplying power to the handpiece.
[0017] In another embodiment, a medicament can be dispensed by
connecting the cartridge containing the unit dose of medicament to
a source of a motive fluid and supplying the motive fluid to
displace the medicament from the reservoir through the channel in
the tip onto a dental surface.
[0018] In another embodiment, a method of dispensing medicament can
further comprise inserting the cartridge having the unit dose of
medicament into the handpiece and supplying the first motive fluid
to the reservoir to dispense the medicament from the reservoir
through the channel in the tip.
[0019] In another embodiment, the unit dosage can be concentrated
and the can further comprise mixing the medicament with the first
fluid wherein the dispensed medicament is diluted.
[0020] In another embodiment, a method of dispensing medicament can
further comprise a reservoir containing a plunger between the
medicament and the first port, where the first fluid can push the
plunger to displace the medicament from the reservoir.
[0021] In another embodiment, a method of dispensing medicament can
comprise the steps of inserting the cartridge containing the unit
dosage of medicament into the handpiece, supplying the second fluid
through the flow channel to the mixing element, supplying the first
fluid to the reservoir to displace medicament and form a first
mixture of the first fluid and the medicament, mixing the second
fluid with the first mixture to form a second mixture of the
medicament and the first and second fluids, and discharging the
second mixture from the tip.
[0022] In another embodiment, a method of dispensing medicament can
comprise the steps of modulating the supply of the first and second
fluids to control a rate of the displacement of the medicament.
[0023] In another embodiment, a method for ultrasonically scaling
teeth can comprise assembling the cartridge to the ultrasonic
element and inserting the assembly into the handpiece, powering the
ultrasonic element to scale a dental surface, and supplying the
first fluid to the reservoir to dispense the medicament through the
flow path in the ultrasonic element for discharge adjacent the
tip.
[0024] In another embodiment, a system for dispensing medicament
with single-use cartridges can comprise having an inventory
comprising a plurality of like cartridges, each having a reservoir
containing a unit dose of medicament, and having a handpiece with a
cavity for removably receiving one of the cartridges with a tip
operably connected at a distal end of the cartridge projecting
through an opening at a distal end of the handpiece. The handpiece
can have a source of a first fluid in communication with a first
passage in the handpiece, and a first port in the cartridge for
connecting the first passage to the reservoir for supplying the
first fluid to displace medicament from the reservoir through a
channel in the tip.
[0025] In another embodiment, the inventory of cartridges can
comprises a plurality of subsets of the cartridges wherein each
subset comprises cartridges containing a different medicament from
the other subsets. In another embodiment, a method of dispensing
medicament can comprise the steps of selecting one of the
cartridges from the inventory, inserting the cartridge having the
unit dose of medicament into the handpiece, supplying the first
fluid to the reservoir to dispense the medicament from the
reservoir through the channel in the tip, removing the cartridge
from the handpiece, and repeating the selection, insertion, and
removal steps with a new cartridge from the inventory. This method
can further comprise the step of sterilizing the handpiece prior to
the repetition.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is an exploded sectional view of a two port single
use cartridge with a plunger shown in an initial and an advanced
position (dashed lines) according to one embodiment of the
invention.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a handpiece that can be used
with the cartridge of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the
invention.
[0028] FIG. 3 is an end view of the handpiece of FIG. 2. as seen
along the lines 3-3.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembled cartridge and
handpiece of FIGS. 1-3.
[0030] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a single-use
cartridge used in an assembly with an ultrasonic element in a
handpiece, according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0031] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a control and fluid/power
supply system for the handpiece and cartridge assembly, according
to one embodiment of the invention.
[0032] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a two port cartridge with a
mixing element and a screw-on tip according to one embodiment of
the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033] FIGS. 1-4, according to one embodiment, show a single use
medicament delivery cartridge 10. The cartridge houses a reservoir
12 which contains medicament, preferably a unit dose for use in
dental procedures. The volume of the unit dose can be adjusted
depending on the size of the single use cartridge, the type of
medicament and dosing requirements, the type of dental procedure,
and the like. A proximal end 14 of the cartridge 10 can interlock
the handpiece 15, as best seen in FIG. 2. A first cartridge port 16
and a second cartridge port 18 are provided at the proximal end to
introduce fluids to the reservoir 12, such as, for example, air and
water. In alternative embodiments, there can be a single cartridge
port or more than two cartridge ports, depending on the number of
different fluids or sources of fluids to be supplied.
[0034] In the embodiment illustrated, the cartridge port 16 can be
blocked to prevent or inhibit fluid from flowing into the reservoir
12 by an obstruction such as a plug 20, and the port 18 can be open
to allow fluid passage. Alternatively, the port 16 can be open and
port 18 blocked, if a different motive fluid is desired for the
particular medicament, or both ports 16 and 18 can be open to allow
the use of dual motive fluids. The plug 20 can be a plug that is
inserted or a plug that is molded into the single use cartridge.
The plug 20 can be removable or permanent, e.g. formed as an
integral part of the cartridge 10, or inserted when the cartridge
10 is filled with medicament through one of the ports 16,18 and/or
the distal end at the tip attachment nozzle.
[0035] If used, a plunger 21 can be disposed in the single use
cartridge 10 adjacent the proximal end between the port 18 and the
medicament in reservoir 12 to prevent contact between fluid
introduced through the port 18 and the medicament. The plunger 21
can sealably contact an inner wall 22 via 0-ring seal 23 carried on
a groove or channel at an outside diameter of the plunger 21.
Alternatively, the plunger 21 can be a unitary or composite
construction with a suitable perimeter seal that can be integral
with the plunger. The plunger 21 can be made from a suitably rigid
material(s) compatible for use with one side in contact with the
motive fluid and the other side in contact with the particular
medicament to be dispensed.
[0036] A tip 24 can be threadably or otherwise removably connected
to the distal end of the single use cartridge 10 for directing the
medicament discharge. A flow control orifice 26 can, if desired, be
disposed in the cartridge 10 adjacent the tip 24 for limiting the
flow of medicament. Orifice 26 can be sized for different tips,
different fluid pressures, different types of medicament, different
dosage delivery rates, and so on.
[0037] Medicament is dispensed by a dental professional or other
operating personnel introducing the selected motive fluid such as
water or air to one or both of ports 16,18. In the embodiment shown
in FIG. 1 port 18 is open and port 16 is blocked, so the cartridge
20 is connected to the desired motive fluid via port 18. The motive
fluid flows from the port 18 into the reservoir 12 to push the
plunger 21, if present, and displace the medicament into a channel
28 for discharge from the distal end of the tip 24. FIG. 1 shows
movement of the plunger 21 from an initial position adjacent the
ports 15,16, toward the orifice 26 at D (show in dashed lines) as
the medicament is displaced. If the plunger 21 is not used, the
motive fluid can also mix with the medicament.
[0038] The first and second fluids can be any type of fluid, i.e.
liquid or gas. Dental offices typically have office air and water
supplies, for example, which can be used as the motive fluid in
this invention, but any desired gas, liquid or similar fluid or
mixture of fluids can be used. For convenience and clarity, the
invention is illustrated herein with air and water as motive fluids
by way of example and not limitation.
[0039] FIGS. 1-4 show male handpiece ports 16',18' that extend into
the female ports 16,18 in the proximal end 14 of the cartridge 10,
but the ports 16,18 can be male and ports 16',18' female, or one of
the ports 16,18 could be female and the other male and the
corresponding ports 16',18' would be male and female. Moreover, the
ports are not limited to male and female ports, and can be any
connective means known to those skilled in the art. The alignment
of cartridge ports 16,18 and handpiece ports 16',18' can facilitate
an interlocking registration between the cartridge 10 and handpiece
15 to ensure the cartridge 10 is positioned and aligned
appropriately in the handpiece 15 so that the desired motive fluids
are supplied to the appropriate ports 16,18. The registration can
alternatively or additionally be effected by using ports of
different sizes, e.g. relatively larger ports 16,16' for water and
relatively smaller ports 18,18' for air, or by asymmetric
positioning of the ports, e.g. axially aligned ports 16,16' for
water and offset ports 18,18' for air. Similarly, a registration
pin(s) and corresponding slot(s) can be used between the handpiece
and the cartridge for alignment purposes.
[0040] The cartridge ports 16,18 can also be selectively blocked or
open so as to allow the desired motive fluid into the reservoir
and/or to push the plunger, as may be required for different
medicaments or procedures. By configuring the cartridge ports 16,18
for the particular medicament, e.g. in conjunction with a
standardized controller (see below) and handpiece, the cartridge
can automatically provide for the use of the appropriate motive
fluid without requiring the operator to manually select the fluid.
By blocking one of the ports 16, 18, the motive fluid can be
selected to match the requirements of the medicament. For example
where a medicament is to be mixed with water, the air port can be
blocked; or where air is the desired motive fluid for the
appropriate dispensing rate, the water port can be blocked.
[0041] A source of a first fluid is connected to a first port 16'
in the handpiece 15, and a source of a second fluid to a second
port 18'. These ports can connect to the fluid supply through
channels formed in a proximal end of the handpiece 15, e.g. by
extending supply tubing or other conduit from an attachment cable
through the proximal end of the handpiece to terminate at the
respective ports 16',18'. In one embodiment the termini of the
supply tubing can conveniently be formed into the ports
16',18'.
[0042] Connecting the single use cartridge 10 and the handpiece 15
can connect or be effected by engaging the male handpiece port 16'
to female cartridge port 16, and the male handpiece port 18' to
cartridge port 18, at the proximal end 14 of the cartridge 10. The
cartridge ports 16,18 can form a fluid-tight seal to the handpiece
ports 16',18' by an o-ring seal, friction seal, or other
conventional sealing means.
[0043] The distal view of the handpiece 15 in FIG. 3 shows an
opening 29 at the distal end that allows the tip 24 to project from
the distal end of the handpiece 15. The opening 29 can include a
peripheral lip 33 to facilitate retention of the cartridge 10 in
the handpiece
[0044] Page 10 of 31 15, and can have a profile matching that of
the distal end of the cartridge 15 to hold it tightly in place and
inhibit lateral movement during administration of the medicament by
the dental practitioner. Alternatively, the handpiece 15 can have a
hinged body (not shown) that surrounds the single use cartridge
with an aperture for exposing the tip.
[0045] Handpiece 15 in FIG. 2 is shown as having a cavity for
receiving the cartridge 10 (see FIG. 4), but the cartridge 10 can
be used independently of the handpiece 15. For use without a
handpiece, the user can hold the single use cartridge 10 itself,
and the source(s) of motive fluid can be removably attached
directly to one or both of the ports 16,18 on the cartridge using
connective means known in the art, such as, for example, a slip
fit, threaded connection, or the like.
[0046] The distal end of the handpiece 15 can have a peripheral lip
33 adjacent the opening 29 for engaging the distal end of the
cartridge 10, e.g. at an edge of the outer profile. The lip 33 can
help retain the cartridge 10 connected to the handpiece 15 (see
FIG. 4) through an overlap or friction fit with the distal end of
the cartridge 10, or another connective means known in the art to
prevent the cartridge 10 from separating from and/or moving with
respect to the handpiece 15 in use. The ports 16,18 and 16',18' can
provide a similar retention function at the proximal end of the
cartridge 10. One or both the proximal and distal ends of the
cartridge 10 or preferably the handpiece 15 can provide spring
biasing in a conventional manner to facilitate insertion and
removal of the cartridge 10 to and from the handpiece 15.
[0047] In use, the dental professional or other operating personnel
can receive a supply of a plurality of cartridges 10 each filled
with a unit dose of medicament sufficient for a single use. An
inventory of cartridges with different medicaments or different
dosages for different procedures can also be maintained on hand.
Each cartridge 10 can be individually packaged with or without tip
24 and sterilized, e.g. by radiation, gas (ethylene oxide)
permeation, or the like. The handpiece 15 can be sterilized by
autoclaving, or provided as a disposable, pre-sterilized single use
device. One of the cartridges 15 containing the appropriate
medicament for the intended procedure can be selected from the
inventor, assembled into the handpiece 15, and connected to a
suitable source of air and/or water. The dental practitioner can
then introduce air and/or water into the reservoir 12 of cartridge
10. The fluid acts directly on the medicament and optionally mixes
with the medicament, or against the plunger 21, displacing
medicament or a fluid and medicament mixture through channel 28 in
the tip 24 to the dental surface or tissue of the patient. After
the procedure is completed or the medicament exhausted, the spent
cartridge 10 can be removed from the handpiece 15 for disposal or
return to the supplier for refilling, the handpiece 15 autoclaved
or otherwise sterilized, or replaced with another handpiece 15, and
a new cartridge 10 installed for the next application procedure or
patient. The handpiece 15 can be constructed of a material suitable
for use in an autoclave or other sterilization equipment if it is
not disposable.
[0048] The tip 24 can be removable, so one can use a disposable tip
24, autoclave or otherwise sterilize the tip 24 for re-use, use
different types or sizes of tips 24 for different procedures or
application requirements, or change the tip 24 during the
procedure, or the like. The tip 24 can also be built integrally
into the cartridge 10 and/or supplied with the cartridge 10, either
separate or pre-assembled to the cartridge 10. The single use
cartridge 10 can be manufactured of any material or materials that
are suitable for use in containing medicament.
[0049] The medicament can be placed in the reservoir during
manufacture of the cartridge or later. The medicament can
conveniently be injected into the ports 16,18 or the tip connection
nozzle. Alternatively, where the plunger 21 is used, the plunger 21
can be positioned distally adjacent to the tip 24, the tip 24
immersed in the medicament, and the plunger 21 retracted to draw in
the medicament through the tip 24 by temporarily connecting one or
both of ports 16, 18 to a vacuum source.
[0050] The cartridge 10 can be transparent or translucent so that
the volume of remaining medicament can be determined visually. The
reservoir can contain a single medicament, or a mixture of
medicaments, such as, for example, dental preparations, polishing
compounds, bleaching or whitening agents, cleansers, anesthetics,
analgesics, antiseptics, dyes, adhesives, solvents, astringents,
sealants, fluoridation agents, impression materials, combinations
thereof, or the like. Medical, veterinarian and other medicaments
can also be dispensed in the cartridge 10, it being understood that
dental use is merely exemplary for illustrative purposes and can
have the advantage that dental practitioner offices are typically
provided with instrument air and water supplies that can be readily
used as the motive fluid. The medicament can be in any suitable
form, such as, for example, liquid, solution, emulsion, dispersion,
gel, paste, slurry, foam, powder, or the like.
[0051] The cartridge 10 can be for a single use. The single use
cartridge 10 can be replaced quickly during a dental procedure or
after the procedure. If the tip 24 is removable, different styles
and sizes of tips can be interchangeably used with the cartridge
10. The ease of cartridge replacement can allow for multiple
cartridge changes during a procedure for a single treatment
modality as well as mixed treatment modalities such as using more
than one medicament sequentially, for example dispensing fluoride
gel from one cartridge followed by tooth surface sealing using
another cartridge, or the like. For use of different cartridges
with the same patient, it ma not be necessary to sterilize the
handpiece, and thus the same handpiece could be used for the
different procedures.
[0052] The cartridge can be supplied in a sealed, sterile package.
The sealed package can inhibit moisture from entering the
reservoir, and can optionally include a desiccant. The single use
cartridge 10 can have a disposable cap to seal the openings (at
ports 16,18, at the tip 24 or corresponding attachment point)
before use, or the openings can be sealed with foil or other
protective covering or membrane that can be punctured before use or
by insertion of the cartridge 10 into the handpiece 15, e.g. with
the male ports 16',18' piercing a covering over the female ports
16,18. A removable cap on the entry and exit ports of the single
use cartridge 10 can retain the medicament in the reservoir 12
before use. The packaging of the cartridge 10 can have a
complementary geometry to seal the entry and exit ports of the
cartridge to seal the medicament in the reservoir 12 before
use.
[0053] By providing the plunger 21 or other impermeable membrane
between the medicament and the ports 16,18, medicament can be
dispensed without the addition and/or mixing of motive fluid.
Instead, the plunger 21 is moved longitudinally as shown in FIG. 1
or expanded by the entry of the fluid to displace medicament from
the reservoir 12. Some medicaments can be of a two part or three
part mixture, etc. The single use cartridge 10 can dispense
multipart medicaments with or without mixing with motive fluid, for
example, by partitioning the reservoir 12 into compartments for
each medicament part and independently supplying motive fluid to
each compartment to displace the medicaments into the tip 24,
either simultaneously with optional mixing in the tip 24 and/or
sequentially.
[0054] Alternatively, a plurality of stackable cartridges, each
containing different medicaments can be used, where the stack has
an overall length corresponding to the length of the cavity in the
handpiece. The proximal cartridge can have a proximal end that
selectively registers with the handpiece and a distal end that
selectively registers with the proximal end of the distal cartridge
to pass medicament and/or fluid into the distal cartridge; and the
distal cartridge can have a distal end with a tip. In this manner a
medicament in a first stackable cartridge can react with another
medicament in another cartridge to form an active medicament to be
dispensed. As one non-limiting example, the proximal cartridge can
be plunger operated to discharge a relatively stable medicament
directly into the reservoir of the distal cartridge where it reacts
with the relatively stable medicament in the reservoir of the
distal cartridge and thereby forms an unstable reaction product
that is dispensed from the tip of the distal cartridge. The
cartridge stack elements can be stored pre-measured until ready for
use, and the registration indicia at the ends of the cartridge
stack elements can prevent improper assembly in the handpiece.
[0055] In FIG. 5, according to one embodiment, an assembly of a
single use medicament cartridge 35 and an ultrasonic vibratory
element 30 can be used in a handpiece 25. The ultrasonic element 30
can be piezoelectric, magnetostrictive, ferroelectric, or any other
type of ultrasonic element known in the art. The ultrasonic element
can also be a piezoelectric ceramic element or any other
piezoelectric element known in the art.
[0056] The single use cartridge 35 in this embodiment is sized
lengthwise to fit into the handpiece 25 when assembled with the
ultrasonic element 30. In this manner, the same handpiece 25 can be
used, if desired, in both ultrasonic and non-ultrasonic
applications. The cartridge used in the non-ultrasonic application
can have a length that equals the total length of the cartridge 28
and element 30, or a spacer or dummy cartridge (with appropriate
flow through passages for the supplied fluid(s)) can be used to
make up the required length.
[0057] In FIG. 5, the handpiece port 39 can supply a first motive
fluid, the port 27 a second motive or mixing fluid, and handpiece
connector 31 can provide an electrical or other power source
connection(s) to the cartridge 35. More or fewer ports and/or power
connections can be used if desired.
[0058] The single use medicament cartridge 28 can have ports 47,49
for receiving fluid from handpiece ports 27,29, respectively, to
allow the user to supply water, air, a combination of water and air
(simultaneously or sequentially), or similar motive and/or mixing
fluid(s).
[0059] The medicament cartridge contains a circuit 38 through the
cartridge 35 for supplying power from the handpiece power connector
31 to an electrical connection 37 with the ultrasonic element 30,
which can include a male/female plug-in type connector, for
example, with corresponding pins and sockets. The circuit 38 can
include a fluid impervious sheath surrounding the wiring, which can
also be coated, or in another embodiment a conduit can be
positioned or molded into the cartridge to allow the circuit to
pass through the cartridge while separating the circuit from the
medicament and/or motive fluid(s).
[0060] The ultrasonic element 30 can have a flow path 32 for fluid
flow from the reservoir 41 of the single use cartridge 35 to the
screw-in tip 36. Although the end of the flow path 32 is shown with
a threaded port 34, the tip can be screw-in, snap-in, snap-on,
integrally formed on the ultrasonic element, or any other
conventional tip connecting means known in the art. The flow path
32 connects to the reservoir 41 of cartridge 35 at a port 42 on the
distal end of the cartridge 35. Port 42 can be male as shown, or
female.
[0061] In use, the dental professional connects the ultrasonic
element 30 to the cartridge 35 which are then inserted as an
assembly into the handpiece 25. The dental professional then powers
the ultrasonic element 30 to scale a dental surface using
techniques and methodology well known in the art, but with the
fluid supply and medicament dispensing features of the present
invention. A medicament or mixture of medicaments can be dispensed
before, during, or after the scaling. For example, an antimicrobial
rinse can be applied by supplying air and/or water into the
reservoir through a respective port. The fluid can be controllably
flowed into the single use cartridge 35 by an on-off and/or
adjustable rate controller. Similarly, the dental professional can
install a "dummy" cartridge 35 with no medicament in the reservoir
41 that allows fluid to flow through the cartridge 35 to the
ultrasonic element 30, for procedures that do not require
medicament but require air, water or other fluid(s) for operation,
e.g. water for irrigation and cooling.
[0062] The ultrasonic element 30 can be made of a material that is
suitable for use in an autoclave or other means of sterilization.
The ultrasonic element 30 and cartridge 35 assembly can be removed
as an assembly and a medicament cartridge only can be connected to
the handpiece 25. The cartridges can have a port or multiple ports
blocked off if they are not needed. The cartridge 35 can also
include a plunger disposed adjacent the proximal end between the
ports 47,49 and the medicament in reservoir 41 to prevent contact
between fluid introduced through the ports 47,49 and the
medicament, similar to that shown in FIGS. 1-4. The plunger can
have an aperture that allows the circuit 38 to sealably pass
through the plunger as the plunger moves to displace
medicament.
[0063] In FIG. 6, according to one embodiment, a control unit 48
can connect to a handpiece 46, a cable 58, and have a foot control
switch 50 for controlling the supply of motive fluid and/or power.
The cable 58 can include one or more fluid supply conduits for air
and/or water, for example, and an electrical line or lines for
supplying power, if required. Alternatively, there can be more than
one cable 58 to the handpiece 46 carrying separate fluid conduits
or power lines or any combination thereof, optionally including a
sheath or other conventional cable covering, or the cable 58 can
comprise an unsheathed conduit or tubing.
[0064] The control unit 48 can be supplied with motive fluids 52,
54, and power 56. The control unit 48 can regulate the flow of air
or water using conventional valves (not shown) operated by the foot
switch 50 or via settings on the control unit 48, which can be
automatic or manual. Power can be regulated by a potentiometer, for
example, in either the footswitch 50 or the control unit 48 such as
with an adjustable dial. Fluid and power can include an on-off
controller, a modulating or regulating controller, or both. For
example, the fluid flow rate or power setting can be set manually
or automatically at the control unit 48 and turned on or off via
the footswitch 50. The footswitch 50 can also included
potentiometer(s) that control the rate of fluid supply, e.g. by
means of a valve(s), regulation of the fluid supply pressure, or
the like. Further, a programmable logic controller and/or step
motor can be used to automatically sequence the fluid(s) and/or
power supply for a particular procedure.
[0065] Although FIG. 6 shows a separate control unit 48 by way of
illustration for the sake of clarity and convenience, the control
unit 48 or any part thereof could be integrated with the handpiece.
Furthermore, a separate control unit could be provided for each
function of the handpiece.
[0066] In FIG. 7, according to one embodiment, there is shown a
cartridge system that can be used for polishing teeth with sodium
bicarbonate particles in a spray mixture of air and water. The
cartridge 72 can have a mixing element 70 including inner and outer
concentric tubes 64,68. After connecting the cartridge 72 to a
handpiece 15 (see FIG. 2), water is supplied into port 76 and air
is supplied into port 78. Water flows from port 76 into tube 68 and
directly to the distal end of the cartridge 72 through the annulus
in mixing element 70 around the central tube 64. Air enters through
port 78 into the reservoir 66, entraining sodium bicarbonate powder
or other abrasive particles, thence flowing into mixing element 70
via inner tube 64 in the tube 68, where it is introduced into the
annular water stream and the mixture discharged at the distal end
of the cartridge 72.
[0067] In use, a dental professional or other operating personnel
can insert a single use medicament cartridge 72 into handpiece 15
(FIG. 2). Water and air can be simultaneously supplied to ports 76
and 78, respectively. The air can flow into the reservoir 66, form
a mixture of air and sodium bicarbonate for pneumatic transport
into the mixing element 70 via air tube 64. The water flows through
the tube 68 to the mixing element 70 where a mixture of air, water
and abrasive particles can be formed in the tip. The water, air,
and sodium bicarbonate mixture can be discharged in a forceful high
velocity spray directed using the tip onto a tooth or other dental
surface to remove calculus, tartar or other foreign matter, for
tooth surface polishing. The powder can be maintained in the
reservoir of the cartridge 72 prior to use as a dry, non-clumping,
pneumatically conveyable powder. The single-use cartridge in this
embodiment thus avoids the prior art problems associated with water
absorption by large dispensing reservoirs of powder and the
concomitant clumping of the powder and clogging of supply
lines.
[0068] The tubes 64, 68 of mixing element 70 can be varied in size
to control the mixing rate of the medicament and/or the volume of
the discharged mixture. Similarly, the flow rates of the air and
water can be varied to adjust the volume or the relative
composition of the polishing spray. Alternatively, the mixing
element 70 is not limited to concentric tubes, and can be, for
example, a mixing nozzle, an eductor, or another suitable mixing
element known in the art. Furthermore, tube 68 can be located
within or adjacent the cartridge wall and need not be centrally
disposed through the cartridge provided that the tube 68 provides a
flow channel to supply water to the mixing element 70.
[0069] While the invention has been described with respect to a
limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will
appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is
intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and
variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *