U.S. patent number 3,913,577 [Application Number 05/507,147] was granted by the patent office on 1975-10-21 for aspirator tip.
Invention is credited to Raymond E. LaBrecque, Samuel A. Nehra, Oscar C. Saad.
United States Patent |
3,913,577 |
Nehra , et al. |
October 21, 1975 |
Aspirator tip
Abstract
Aspirator tip structure comprising a hollow core closed at one
end with radially extending primary openings therethrough and
axially extending relief passages intersecting the primary
openings, and a sleeve telescoped over the core having slots
therein adapted to radially coincide with the relief passages, with
the core and sleeve in predetermined relative positions whereby on
relative angular and/or axial movement of the sleeve and core, the
primary and/or relief passages in the core are opened or closed by
the sleeve. Pin and slot means may be included between the core and
sleeve for guiding the relative movement between the core and
sleeve. In addition, either the core or sleeve may be secured to a
fixed support with the other member providing the relative movement
therebetween to selectively open and close the primary and/or
relief passages. The entire aspirator tip may be constructed of
synthetic resins or metal.
Inventors: |
Nehra; Samuel A. (Gross Pointe
Woods, MI), Saad; Oscar C. (Mount Clemens, MI),
LaBrecque; Raymond E. (Warren, MI) |
Family
ID: |
24017447 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/507,147 |
Filed: |
September 18, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/268; 251/345;
251/344 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
1/84 (20210501); A47L 9/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47L
9/02 (20060101); A61M 1/00 (20060101); A61M
001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/276,277,278,239,248
;251/343,344,345 ;32/33 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gaudet; Richard A.
Assistant Examiner: Layton; Henry S.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Whittemore, Hulbert &
Belknap
Claims
What we claim as our invention is:
1. An aspirator tip comprising a tubular core member having
radially extending primary openings therethrough, longitudinally
extending relief passages therein intersecting at least some of
said primary openings, and means for selectively closing the relief
passages and said intersecting primary openings or said other
primary openings to provide dual mode aspirator operation.
2. Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for
selectively closing the relief passages comprises a cylindrical
sleeve member telescoped over the core member having longitudinally
extending slots therethrough positioned to coincide with the
longitudinally extending relief passages in the tubular member with
the sleeve and core members in predetermined relative angular
positions and positioned so that the relief passages are blocked by
the sleeve in other predetermined relative angular positions
between the core and sleeve.
3. Structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein the slots extend
parallel to the axis of the core and sleeve.
4. Structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein at least one of the
relief passages and slots extend at an angle with respect to the
axis of the core and sleeve.
5. Structure as set forth in claim 2 and further including pin and
slot means operable between the core and sleeve for limiting at
least one of relative axial and angular movement of the sleeve
relative to the core.
6. Structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein the core is rigidly
secured to a support and the sleeve is movable on the core relative
to the support.
7. Structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein the sleeve is secured
to a support and the core is movable within the sleeve relative to
the support.
8. Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the aspirator is
constructed of molded synthetic resin parts.
9. Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the aspirator is
constructed of metal.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to aspirators of the type used in dental and
surgical applications and the like and refers more specifically to
an aspirator tip which may be selectively used with primary radial
openings extending therethrough and with longitudinally extending
relief passages intersecting the primary radial passages to provide
a selection between greater suction in the aspirator tip and
possible patient discomfort or membrane damage, or less suction
without patient discomfort.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past, aspirator tips have been provided which have only had
radially extending primary passages. In use, such aspirators have
often caused patient discomfort due to the suction in the primary
passages pulling on membranes at the outer end of the passage. The
suction may, in fact, damage the membranes. Such aspirator tips are
shown in the patents cited in applicant's prior patent.
Applicant's prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,590,820 teaches the providing of
relief passages intersecting the primary passages which prevent
patient discomfort and membrane damage. There appears, however, to
be a need for an aspirator tip which can be selectively operated in
either of these modes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, there is provided an aspirator
tip which includes a tubular core portion having a closed end with
radially extending primary openings therein and longitudinally
extending relief passages intersecting at least some of the
radially extending primary openings. A cylindrical sleeve is
telescoped over the core which also has longitudinally extending
openings therein. The sleeve, in different axial and angular
positions with respect to the core, will selectively close the
relief passages and/or the primary openings to permit the aspirator
to operate in a mode wherein at least some of the primary openings
are operable without relief passages or in a mode wherein at least
some of the operating primary passages are connected to relief
passages.
The axial and angular positioning of the core relative to the
sleeve is limited by pin and slot means extending between the core
and sleeve in some modifications of the aspirator.
In one modification of the aspirator, the relief passages and slots
in the core and sleeve are parallel to the axis of the core and
sleeve, while in another embodiment the relief passages and slots
in the core and sleeve extend at an angle to the axis of the core
and sleeve.
Also, in one modification of the aspirator, the core is stationary
and the sleeve moves relative to the core and the support for the
core, while in another modification, the core moves relative to the
sleeve which is secured to a support.
The entire aspirator may be built of synthetic resins or metal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section view of the aspirator tip of the
invention.
FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the cylindrical sleeve of the
aspirator tip of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a cross section of the sleeve of FIG. 2, taken
substantially on the line 3--3 in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the tubular core of the aspirator
tip of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a section view of the tubular member illustrated in FIG.
4, taken substantially on the line 5--5 in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is an elevation view of a modified aspirator sleeve
member.
FIG. 7 is a cross section of the sleeve member of FIG. 6, taken
substantially on the line 7--7 in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is an elevation view of a modified aspirator core for use
with the sleeve of FIGS. 6 and 7.
FIG. 9 is a cross section of the core illustrated in FIG. 8, taken
substantially on the line 9--9 in FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal section view of a sleeve of another
modified aspirator tip.
FIG. 11 is a longitudinal section view of a core for use in
conjunction with the sleeve of FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is a longitudinal section view of the core and sleeve of
still another modified aspirator tip.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The aspirator tip 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a tubular core
member 12 which may be integrally constructed with a support
therefor or separate from a support 14 as shown in FIG. 1 to which
it is attached and which support is only partly shown. A
cylindrical sleeve member 16 is telescoped over core 12 as
shown.
Primary openings 18 and 20 are provided in the tubular member 12
extending radially therethrough. Further, relief passages 22 are
provided extending longitudinally of the core 12. The relief
passages 22 intersect the primary openings 20 in the core 12.
The sleeve 16 is provided with a flange 24 and longitudinally
extending slots 26, which slots are of smaller angular extent than
the relief passages 22. Further, the primary openings 20 are of
greater cross section than the cross section of the relief passages
22. The slots 26 extend through the flanged end of sleeve 16, as
shown, to serve as vacuum breaking passages.
The movement of the sleeve relative to the core is guided by the
pin 28 and slot 30 shaped as shown best in FIG. 2. The pin and slot
28 and 30 also serve to maintain the sleeve 16 and core 12 in
assembly with each other.
In operation of the aspirator tip illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, when it
is desired to operate the aspirator tip 10 with the primary
openings 20 and relief passages 22 effective, the sleeve 16 is
first moved toward the closed end of the tubular member 12 to close
primary openings 18. The sleeve 16 is then rotated to cause
alignment of the slots 26 with the relief passages 22. The flow of
fluid is then through the slots 26, the relief passages 22, and
subsequently through the primary passages 20. The extension of the
slots 26 serve as vacuum breaking passages at this time.
If it is desired to then elect to operate the aspirator tip 10 with
only the primary openings 18 open, the sleeve 16 is rotated on the
core 12 to align the pin 28 with the vertical portion of the slot
30 and to misalign the slots 26 in the sleeve 16 and the relief
passages 22 in core 12 and the sleeve 16 is moved vertically
upwardly on the core 12, whereby the primary openings 18 are open
and the relief passages 22 are closed.
As shown in FIGS. 1-5, both the relief passages 22 and the slots 26
extend parallel to the axis of the tubular core member 12 and the
cylindrical sleeve member 16.
In the modified aspirator tip 32 shown in FIGS. 6-9, the relief
passages 34 and slots 36 extend at the same angle to the axis of
the sleeve 38 and the core 40. Thus, the slot 42 in which the pin
44 is guided need only extend vertically, since vertical movement
of the sleeve 38 telescoped over the core 40 will cause either
alignment of the relief passages 34 and slots 36 with the sleeve
down or closure of the relief passages 34 with the sleeve up and
will correspondingly open the primary openings 46 only with the
sleeve up or connect the open relief passages 34 with the primary
openings 46 with the sleeve down. The adjustment of the selected
mode of operation of the aspirator tip 32 is thus facilitated.
The modified aspirator tip 48 illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11
includes a sleeve 50 which is constructed of metal integrally with
the support 52 therefor, as shown in FIG. 10, and includes metal
core 54 having the relief slots 56 formed therein and the primary
openings 58 extending therethrough. The core 54 is movable within
the sleeve 50 by means of the linear member 60 and the connecting
links 64 which are positioned in the support structure 52 with the
sleeve 50 assembled over the core 54. This modification of the
aspirator tip differs from the modifications of FIGS. 1-9 in that
it is constructed entirely of metal and in that the sleeve is
secured to the support with the core being movable with respect to
the support and sleeve, in contrast to the structure of FIGS. 1-9
wherein the core was secured to the support and the sleeve was
movable relative to the support and core.
The modified aspirator structure 66 illustrated in FIG. 12 again
includes the core 68 having relief passages 70 therein extending at
an angle to the axis thereof positioned for movement within the
sleeve 72 on movement of the rigid linear member 74 to which it is
connected through links 76. The sleeve 72 has the slots 74 therein
extending at the same angle to the axis of the sleeve as the relief
passages 70 extend to the axis of the core. Again, the sleeve is
integral with a support structure 80 to align or misalign the slots
74 and relief passages 70 and to close or open the outer end of the
primary openings 82 in the core 68, which again has the closed end
84.
As shown, the aspirator tip 66 is constructed of a metal sleeve on
a metal supporting portion with a synthetic resin core portion.
The operation of all the embodiments of the invention is
substantially the same as described above in that two-mode
operation is possible.
While one embodiment of the present invention has been considered
in detail together with modifications thereof, it will be
understood that other embodiments and modifications of the
invention are contemplated. It is the intention to include all the
modifications and embodiments of the invention as are defined by
the appended claims within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *