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.

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.

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.