United States Patent
`Armstrong
`
`(15)
`
`[54] HEALTH SERVICES COMBINATION
`IRRIGATOR AND ASPIRATOR
`
`[76]
`
`Inventor: Alexander S. Armstrong, 5679
`MonroeSt., Sylvania, Ohio 43560
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 781,212
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Mar. 25, 1977
`
`Tint, C12 oocecccccccccscseseeeee AGIC 17/04; A61M 1/00
`[SU]
`[52] US. Ch ceeccccccsscsssssssessssssssesssseen 433/80; 128/276;
`128/240; 222/144.5; 128/225; 433/95
`[58] Field of Search... 32/40 R, 57, 33;
`128/276, 277, 278, 225, 227, 229, 230, 214 F,
`231, 232, 234, 235, 240, 241, DIG. 24, 305;
`222/94, 95, 144.5
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A health services combination irrigation and aspiration
`device adapted to serve more than oneirrigation func-
`tion and to require the use of only one hand by the
`operator. The instrumentincludes a handpiece, a supply
`station and a control for the regulation and selection
`6/1898
`605,178
`Ferguson oo...sesseeeenee 128/227
`
`among fluid and vacuum means. While the instrumentis
`8/1923
`1,465,620
`Anderson....
`seve 222/94
`
`well adapted to dental work, particularly root canal
`12/1935
`2,022,742
`Salerni .....
`128/227
`methodology, it also supplies a need for a general pur-
`9/1945
`2,384,458
`« 15/321
`Dubay.....
`
`
`
`2,733,713 Kabniick o...ccccccestseseeseeee 128/230271956
`pose medical instrument which can provide suction and
`
`. 128/DIG. 24
`3,074,451
`1/1963 Whitney .
`lavage ofa tissue or organ surface with one or more of
`
`
`3,090,968 5/1963=BUOTO ou... eeeseeseesetegaee 128/DIG. 24
`
`selected medicinal solutions, including distilled water or
`3,164,153) LOKoessesssseseassessetseecees 128/2241/1965)
`
`
`saline solution.. Notably, the handpiece tip system is
`3,208,145
`9/1965
`TUrMer wees
`ecsesscsnetectseseeseneee 32/33
`small enough to allow easy access to remote tissue sur-
`3,502,072
`3/1970
`Stillman ..
`128/229
`‘faces while the angled design allows access to difficult
`
`3,507,278
`4/1970 Werding.....
`128/225
`to reach interior surfaces.
`Brass et al.
`........sseessssesseeee 32/40 R
`3,624,907
`12/1971
`
`2/1972 Dancy,Jr. ..
`. 128/214 F
`3,640,276
`9/1972) Kelman ou...leesseeseeseeseneeee 128/278
`3,693,613
`
`[11]
`[45]
`
`4,215,476
`Aug. 5, 1980
`
`3,735,751
`5/1973 Katz weceescsccscscscsscssescseeasereess 128/276
`
`3,749,090
`ws 128/276
`7/1973
`Stewart .
`
`3,830,405
`Jaeger.......
`. 222/144.5
`8/1974
`
`3,920,014
`Banko ou... csesssssscscseseeseseeee 128/276
`11/1975
`3,993,218
`11/1976 Reichenberger................... 222/144.5
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`1418581 10/1965 France .0......sesssesssseceecesereeees 222/94
`
`Primary Examiner—Robert W. Michell
`Assistant Examiner—ArthurS. Rose
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Wilson, Fraser, Barker &
`Clemens
`
`7 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures
`
` STEP-By-ST,
`
`SELECTOR e
`VALVE
`
`1
`
`Sinclair Pharmaetal.
`EUNSUNG-1011
`
`Sinclair Pharma et al.
`EUNSUNG-1011
`
`1
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug.5, 1980
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`Sheet 1 of 4
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`4,215,476
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`2
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`U.S. Patent Aug.5,1980 —sheet20r4—=—-4,215,476
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`SSS
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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 5, 1980
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`Sheet 3 of 4
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`4,215,476
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`FIG.6
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`FIG. 7
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`4
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`Aug. 5, 1980
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`Sheet 4 of 4
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`U.S. Patent
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`4,215,476
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`FIG.
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`5
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`

`

`1
`HEALTH SERVICES COMBINATION IRRIGATOR
`AND ASPIRATOR
`
`4,215,476
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`2
`lized to eitherrefill and supply irrigant reservoirs or to
`manipulate aspirating devices.
`With the rapidly increasing costs of health care a
`device is needed that will streamline patient care and
`free health care professionals to see more patients in an
`increasingly efficient manner.
`Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to
`provide an instrument whichwill provide a larger than
`normally available storage supply of selected medicinal
`fluids to minimizerefilling down-time.
`It is another object of the present invention to pro-
`vide an instrument that can dispense, at variable pres-
`- sures, one of a numberof medicinal fluids, water, air and
`suction.
`It is another object of the present invention to pro-
`vide an instrument that can accommodate disposable
`fluid supply meansto facilitate rapid interchange of
`relatively inexpensive prefilled medicinal fluid contain-
`ers.
`It is a further object of the present invention to supply
`multiple services from one small, light-weight hand-
`piece which can be easily used in “one hand”type oper-
`ation while freeing the professional to perform other
`useful functions with the free hand and freeing other
`assistant-type personnel to perform other tasks.
`
`5
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`10
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`25
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`BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION
`The invention relates to apparatus for medical/sur-
`gical/dental procedures which require the use ofmedic-
`. inal fluids and suctionin patient treatment. In particular
`the invention relates to a system capable of storing and
`dispensing fluids under controlable pressures while at
`the sametime supplying a constantability to aspirate an
`area with or without contemporaneousirrigation.
`Numerousneedletype injectors,irrigators, aspirators
`and combinations of these devices have been utilized in
`the past for supplying solutions of medicinal materials .
`and/orsuctionto a tissue surface once the tissue surface
`ofinterest has been mechanically exposed to the health
`care professional.
`Quintin U.S. Pat. No. 1,189,735 of July 4, 1916 for
`Dental Injector and Extractor disclosed a device which
`applied heated air to the tip of a dental handpiece for
`drying purposes and had a valve to converttheair flow
`to suction to aspirate waste fluids, tooth debris and the
`like.
`Hirsch U.S. Pat. No. 3,035,351 for Method of Root
`Canal and Periodontal Therapy, of May 22, 1962, dis-
`closes a tip for flushing root canals of teeth by feeding
`fluids to multiple passages in the device which extend
`radially from the tip. This device is not so constructed
`as to apply suction and would require a second device‘
`for this purpose.
`Malmin U.S. Pat. No. 3,745,655, for Endodonic Irri-
`gating Instrument, of July 17, 1973, shows a handpiece
`with a connection to a vacuum source, and a magazine
`to receive a hypodermic ampule. The handpiece in-
`cludes a valve which selectively coupls the vacuum
`source, a duct or the ampule ductto a single passagetip.
`In this device there is no opportunity to easily select
`among multiple irrigants; there is a limited volume of
`irrigant whichis stored in the handpiece and the opera-
`tion requires the. manual imposition of pressure on the
`plunger for the ampule to dispense irrigant.
`Zorzi U.S. Pat. No. 3,164,153, of Jan. 5, 1965, for
`Dental Apparatus, disclosed an apparatus having a res-
`ervoir for irrigant and one for aspirated waste. The
`device is selectively utilized as either a flushing instru-
`mentor as an aspirating instrument in accordance with
`a valve control on the handle. The device is cumber-
`some and does not allow for rapid selection between
`multiple irrigants..
`Similarly, Kahn U.S. Pat. No. 3,871,099, of Mar. 18,
`1975 for Method for Cleaning Cavities With A Com-
`bined Fluid Delivering and Aspirating Instrument, dis-
`closes a syringe-like device capable of supplying a sin-
`gle fluid and capable of applying suction via a simple
`valve and tubing system. This device does not have the
`ability to supply multiple irrigants easily or to apply
`suction simultaneously with the irrigant.
`:
`In many. procedures and particularly endodonic pro-
`cedures it has been necessary to have several assistants
`attending the patient being treated. Most of the above
`_ devices have sought to relieve the congestion of person-
`nel dround the patient by performing functions which
`formerly required attending assistants. In the case of 65
`these devices the assistants are removed somewhat from
`the treatment area, however,
`in most instances their
`services are required where multiple irrigants are uti-
`
`.
`
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`The above objectives of the invention may be typi-
`cally achieved by a health services instrument for the
`irrigation and aspiration of a tissue surface including a
`plurality of medicinal fluid sources and a vacuum
`source. The instrument comprises a supply station hav-
`ing a multipart body with a fluid and vacuum supply, a
`meansto secure the multipart body in a substantially gas
`tight fashion, and a locking system to hold the parts of
`the bodyin the gas tight arrangement, a meansto pres-
`surize the interior of the station, and to regulate the
`pressurization. The device also has means to support the
`fluid sources within the multipart body. The device also
`has a control box having selective coupling means to
`select amongthefluid sources and to communicate with
`a valving means. The system also has a handpiece com-
`prising an elongate means with a body formed with a
`first and second conduit for fluids and vacuum, a pas-
`sage for signal communication, a nozzle, composed of a
`first and second concentric tip, and a first and a second
`finger operable control to drive the valves which are
`disposed between the fluid supply and the nozzle.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG.1 is an exploded, fragmentary view of a health
`services system according to’ this invention with por-
`tions broken away to show internal elements and a
`showselective coupling means separated from the sup-
`ply station;
`FIG.2 is a perspective view of the health services
`system of FIG. 1 with a selective coupling meansse-
`cured to the supply station;
`FIG.3 is a perspective view of a disposable irrigating —
`fluid reservoir;
`FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragment of a front elevational
`view of the bottom portion ofthe irrigating fluid reser-
`voir of FIG.3, in section, showing a coupling typically
`used in the invention;
`FIG. ‘5 is an enlarged fragment of a section of fluid
`conduit and a coupling to the fluid reservoir;
`
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`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
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`3
`FIG.6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the
`selective coupling means and supply station of the in-
`vention;
`FIG.7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modi-
`fied embodimentof the invention shownin FIG.6.
`FIG.8 is a perspective view of one form of a hand-
`piece according to the present invention;
`FIG.9 is a perspective view of a modified form of a
`handpiece;
`FIG. 10 is a partially schematic view of a modified
`embodimentofa selective coupling means.
`FIG.11 is a perspective view of one form of a conduit
`employed between the handpiece and the supply sta-
`tion; and
`FIG.12 is a perspective view of a modified form of a
`conduit.
`
`4
`having a post sleeve 47 upstanding from the bottom of
`compartment 31 into which is journaled the vertical
`shaft 48 onto whichat its upper end is engageda shaft
`collar 51. Through the shaft collar 51 extend a set of
`support bars 52, which are passed through pockets 53
`formed integral with the flexible sheet walls of the fluid
`reservoirs 46. At the extreme upper end ofthe vertical
`shaft 48 and abovethe shaft collar 51 there is the upper
`post 37 through whichis inserted the lock bayonet 38,
`described previously.
`:
`Asseen in FIG. 1 and shown in moredetail in FIGS.
`3 and 4 the fluid reservoirs 46 are typically flexible
`walled, prefilled polyvinylchloride bags. These bags are
`arranged to have,at their top ends, a suspension pocket
`53 which receives the support bars 52. At the bottom of
`the fluid reservoirs 46 there is a constriction or neck 55
`having an opening forming an exit port 56 into whichis
`inserted an exit tube 60 which is sealed with a cap 59
`after the bag has beenfilled with the solution of choice.
`To sample the solution, the cap 59 is pierced by a hol-
`A health services system for providing a health care
`low exit needle 58 whichis attached to the endofa fluid
`professional with meansto irrigate andaspirate a tissue
`tube 45. Typically, the cap 59 is heat sealed to the exit
`surface which has been exposed mechanically for his
`tube 60 and the exit tube 60 is heat sealed to the neck 55
`examination and treatment is shown in FIGS.1 and2.
`to assure a no-leak seal while the exit needle 58 is usu-
`The system provides means to supply multiple medici-
`ally stainless steel or acrylic in composition, and simi-
`nal solutions, like saline or antiseptic, wash water and a
`larly sealed into place in the end ofthe fluid tube 45.
`vacuum source for suction capability to aspirate the
`Thefluid tubes 45 lead from the fluid sources 46 in
`excess solutions in the treatment area as well as tissue
`the rearward compartment into the forward compart-
`debris-like tooth or tissue fragments. The system pro-
`ment via the apertures 44 in the wall 43. The apertures
`vides a large supply ofdifferent medicinal solutions and
`44 are usually fitted with a nipple type fitting 40 or
`suction from a remote supply station and delivers the
`surrounded with a gasket ring 61 to provide a gas tight
`solutions and suction via a conduit system to a small,
`seal between the wall 43 and the fluid tubes 45.
`light-weight handpiece. The handpiece is constructed
`In the forward compartmentthe fluid tubes 45 are
`so as to allow easy one-handed operation of the hand-
`collected into a supply conduit 62 which passes through
`piece so the other hand can be free to hold a dental
`a conduit aperture 63 in the face plate 33. The supply
`mirror, retract an organ or perform other necessary
`conduit 62 snugly fits through the conduit aperture 63
`functions. Also the tapered design of one end of the
`in the face plate 33. External sources of air, vacuum and
`handpiece allows the tip system of the handpiece to
`water are introduced into the bottom of the forward
`reach inaccessible areas.
`compartment 28 by the airline 64, the vacuum line 65
`Referring to the drawings wherein like reference
`and the waterline 66. These lines enter through appro-
`numerals designate similar parts throughout, there is
`priately spaced apertures 67 with the vacuum and water
`showna health services system 21, as seen in FIG.1,
`lines also being collected into the supply conduit 62.
`having a supply station 22, a handpiece 23 anda selec-
`Theairline 64 is directed to an air pressure regulator
`tive coupling means 24, shownin this embodimentas a
`contro! station 25.
`71 and therefrom through the wall 43 into the rearward
`compartment 31. Whenthe closure 32 is secured to the
`Asseen in FIG.1, the supply station 22 is composed
`base 27the air pressure in compartment31 builds up the
`of a multi-part container 26 having a base 27, which is
`level preset on the pressure regulator 71 and this pres-
`divided into a forward compartment 28 and a rearward
`sure is exerted on the walls of the fluid reservoirs 46
`compartment 31, a closure 32 at its top and a faceplate
`causing them to transmit a pressure head to thefluid in
`33 secured to the forward compartment 28. The face-
`the reservoirs 46.
`plate 33 is secured to the forward compartment 28 by
`Theair pressure within the rearward compartment31
`screws 34. Closure 32is partitioned as is base 27 by wall
`is bled into a secondair line 72 which is collected into
`30 sealably engageable with base subdividing wall 43.
`the supply conduit 62 as seen in FIG.1. The pressure on
`The closure 32 is secured to the base 27, so as to create
`the interior of the rearward compartment 31, conveyed
`a gas tight seal between the two parts, by a system
`through tube 70, is sensed by an air pressure gauge 73 to
`including the locking handle 35, cam and latch mecha-
`allow controlled adjustment of the pressurization.
`nism 36, the upper post 37 and lock bayonet 38. This
`The supply conduit 62 terminates at the selective
`latch system operates to hold the closure 32 tightly to
`coupling means 24, here shown as the single selector
`the base 27 to makeagastight seal. The base 27 contacts
`valve 74 equipped with a plurality ofinlet fitting 75 and
`the closure 32 by a tongue 39 and groove 41 system
`a single outletfitting 76. Each fluid tube 45. connects to
`with a flexible gasket 42 secured into the bottom of the
`one ofthe inlet fittings 75. As the selector knob 77 is
`groove to effectuate a tight seal.
`rotated oneofthe inlet fittings 75 is coupled allowing
`Considering the base 27, in particular the rearward
`the fluid to flow to the outlet fitting 76. The outlet
`compartment31,it is seen that the two compartments
`fitting 76 is connected byan outlet line 78 toafirst valve
`are separated by a wall 43 whichis fitted with apertures
`65
`79, typically a solenoid controlled valve as shown here.
`44 to receive sealed fittings 40 through which fluid
`Theoutlet line 78 exits the first valve 79 and leads into
`tubes 45 communicate. The rearward compartment, in
`this embodiment forms a vessel which contains and
`a second supply conduit 81 which terminates at the
`handpiece 23.
`suspends fluid reservoirs 46 by a suspension system
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`of contaminants when seal 59 is unbroken. When the
`Asseen in FIG. 1 the selector valve 74 andfirst sole-
`noid valve 79 aré mountedinside the control box 82. A
`reservoir is coupled to the system a cup 60 coaxial of the
`second valve 83 is mounted on theinside of the control
`needle 58 embraces and closely fits the pierced seal 59
`box 82 also. This ‘second valve is also a solenoid con-
`to maintain the system integrity against contamination
`trolledvalve and it accepts the vacuum line 65 from
`and enhancethesecurity of the coupling.
`supplyconduit 62 and allows the vacuum supply to
`FIGS.6 and 7 show a perspective view of a modified
`form of the selective coupling means and the supply
`communicate with the vacuum output line 84 from the
`second supply conduit 81 and the handpiece 23.
`station in whatis termed the desk-top model. As seen in
`The second supply conduit 81 terminates at a second
`FIG.7 the control compartment 128 is laterally adja-
`end of the handpiece 23 to supply the handpiece 23 with
`cent the reservoir compartment 131 in this embodiment
`fluids and vacuum. The handpiece 23 has an elongate
`with the two compartmentsstill serving the samerela-
`body 85 withafirst tip 86 within a secondtip 87 at the
`tive purposes and being separated again by the wail 143.
`first end of the handpiece 23, the first end being oppo-
`Instead of a unitary closure 32 this embodiment em-
`site the second end of the handpiece 23. Mounted adja-
`ploys a two part closure 93, with both parts hingedly
`secured to the back of the base 127.
`cent the first end of the handpiece 23 are a first finger
`operable control 88 and a second finger operable con-
`Asseen in FIG. 7 the supply station section contain-
`trol 89. Thefirst finger operable control 88 is arranged
`ing the fluid sources 46 is closed in a gas tight fashion by
`to activate the first valve 79 which allows the pressur-
`partition 143 in base 127 cooperating with lid side 130
`through the compression of gasket 142 by tongue 139.
`ized fluid in one of the fluid sources 46 selected by
`Also, in this embodiment the fluid sources 46 rest on
`selector valve 74 to be forced through thefluid line 78
`up to the second end of the handpiece 23. At the second
`the floor of the pressurized compartment 131 and are
`end of the handpiece the fluid line is coupledtoafirst
`maintained in their proper orientation by the divider
`conduit in the body of the handpiece which communi-
`panels 94.
`cates with the first tip 86 on one end of the handpiece
`In this embodiment as seen in FIG. 7, only slight
`interior modifications from the structure of FIGS. 1 and
`23. The first valve 79 is closed until the first finger
`control 88 is activated at which time the valveis driven
`2 are necessary. The air regulator 71, the air pressure
`to the open position allowing fluid flow to the first tip
`guage 73 and the bell transformer 68 are placed in the
`86
`control compartment 128 and the devices formerly
`found in the control box 82 are also incorporated into
`the compartment 128. A hinged lid 150 closes control
`compartment 128.
`Also in the table top model of FIG. 7 the multipart
`latching system of FIG.1 is replaced by locking handles
`95 attached to the snap lock fasteners 96 which cooper-
`ate with the locking loops 97 to produce the gastight
`seal between the compartment closure 93 and the base
`- 127.
`FIG.8 showsa perspective of one embodimentof the
`handpiece showing the handpiece 23 having the elon-
`gate body having a handgrip section 98, a first tip 86 at
`one end and a second tip 87 encompassing thefirst tip
`86. Mounted adjacent said one end of the handpiece 23
`are two finger operable control switches, a first finger
`operable switch 88 and a second finger operable finger
`switch 89. The handpiece 23 is supplied fluids and vac-
`uum through the second supply conduit 81.
`Asseen in FIG.8, the first tip 86 is typically a small
`bore needle of such a material that it can allow passage
`of many types of fluids without corrosion of the needle.
`The second tip 87 is typically plastic and tapered
`toward its end so it may gain access to tight areas and
`thereby lend great versitility to the device. The second
`tip 87 surroundsthefirst tip 86 and is spaced radially
`apart therefrom at such a distanceas to allow the aspira-
`tion of small tissue and tooth fragments. Both tips are
`adapted for convenient replacement (by means not
`shown).
`It is within the contemplation of this invention to
`employ various control means for the release of fluids
`(both liquid and gaseous) from tip 86 and the with-
`drawal of fluids and debris by means of tip 87. For
`example a switch having an activator whichslides lon-
`gitudinally of the barrel 98 can be arranged to have
`positions openingall controlcircuits, closing a circuit to
`open fluid control valve 79 and issue fluid through tip
`86, closing a circuit to open vacuum control valve 83,
`and closing both the circuits to valves 79 and 83. Thus
`alternatives to switches 88 and 89 for digital control of
`
`The second finger operable control 89 drives the
`second valve 83 whichalso is in a closed state until the
`second control 89 is activated. When the second valve
`83 is opened, the vacuum is drawnat the secondtip 87.
`As understood from the above description either or
`both control 88 or 89 may be activated at the sametime.
`This allows for irrigation alone, aspiration alone, or
`simultaneous irrigation and aspiration of the area of
`interest.
`Asseen in this embodiment, the supply station 22 can
`be mounted out of the way with the control box 82 and
`handpiece 23 being the only components of the system
`being ‘placed near the treatment area, minimizing the
`space used near the operator.
`If the supply station 22 is mountedrelatively far away
`from the treatment area the pressure within the station
`22 may. be adjusted by the air regulator 71 to assure the
`proper flow offluids to the handpiece. Notice that the
`fluid reservoirs 46 are easily removed from and placed
`in the supply station 22 so as to minimize the time
`needed to recharge the system. Also, the fluid reser-
`voirs 46 are considerably larger than previously used
`fluid reservoirs and may easily be mass produced and
`shipped to the user to eliminate the time consuming
`chore of solution mixing in the office or medical prep
`lab.
`FIG. 2 shows the system 21 of FIG. 1 with the con-
`trol box 82 secured to the supply station 22. In this
`embodiment the supply station 22 is supported by a
`pedestal 92 so that, if desired, the entire system 21 may
`be placed next to the patient treatment area. This em-
`bodiment is typically used in a dental care center as
`opposed to a surgical theater usage.
`A typical reservoir as shown in FIG.3 has a double
`walled top. region pierced to form a hand hole 54 with
`the rod pocket 53 spanning that hand hole and thus
`located in the reinforced region of the flexible sheet
`material making.up the bag like reservoir. A seal line 50
`is formed below.the reinforced region so that the reser-
`voir is completely sealed and maintains its contents free
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`the valves for no flow, flow in the fluid issuing or fluid
`withdrawing lines or both lines are available at the
`handpiece. Further, the selection of issued fluids from
`the tip 86 can be controlled by meansat the handpiece.
`While valves for controlling the flow of each of the
`fluids from tip 86 could be provided in the handpiece
`with supply lines from the reservoirs 46 to the hand-
`piece extending within the sheath of conduit 81, a pre-
`ferred arrangement wherefluid selection is afforded at
`the handpieceis to incorporate a selector switch in the
`handpiece and selectively responsive valved paths in a
`select control remote from the handpiece. This permits
`a single fluid supply conduit to be utilized in the conduit
`sheath between the handpiece and the selector control.
`For example, the rotary selector valve 74 can be pro-
`vided with a pulse activated solenoid driven stepping
`mechanism (not shown) such that the activation of a
`selector switch (not shown) on the handpiece advances
`the valve in a step-by-step mannerto valve the desired
`fluid on a one step per pulse basis. In a first position of
`the selector valve 74, as determined by one pulse from
`a neutral or homeposition, the valve can couple the tap
`water input 66 to the output fitting 76. A second posi-
`tion of valve 74, established by two pulses from the
`handpiece switch, can couple a saline solution reservoir
`46 to outputfitting 76. A third position of valve 74 for
`anotherirrigant can be established by three pulses from
`the handpiece switch.
`FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a modified form
`of the handpiece 23 showinga selector switch 99 on the
`handpiece which drives a fluid selector means (not
`shown) whichselects one of the plurality of fluid con-
`duits coupled to reservoirs 46.
`.
`FIG. 10 shows a modified form of the selective cou-
`pling means wherein the selector 99 drives an array of
`solenoid controlled valves 102. In the embodiment each
`oneofa plurality of fluid sources 46 is connected to one
`of the valves in the array by a connector tube 103. The
`outputs of the valves are then connected to the hand-
`piece 98 by individual tubes 100 in the unitary supply
`conduit 104 which connects to the second end of the
`handpiece 98 to supply fluids.
`In this embodiment each of the valves of the array
`102 is in a closed state until selected on the selector
`switch 99 at which time the valve is opened to allow
`fluid flow to the handpiece 23. Asthe selectoris rotated
`to a new selection the activation signal is discontinued
`and the valve relaxes to its off state automatically.
`FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the second supply
`conduit 81 typically used in the invention. The conduit
`has a flexible hollow body 105 which encasesan interior
`fluid tube 106 which carries the fluid selected and inte-
`rior electrical signal line tube 107. The hollow center
`108 typically is used as the large diameter vacuumline.
`Conductors 109 from switches 88. and 89 and/or 99
`extend within tube 107 to controls such as solenoides79,
`83 and 102.
`In an alternative embodiment, as seen in FIG.11, the
`hollow center 111 and conductor tube 112 remain but
`the single interior fluid tube is replaced by a plurality of 60
`smaller diameter fluid tubes 113. These tubes allow for
`the transportation of each separate fluid to the hand-
`piece 23 without them passing through the length ofthe
`supply conduits one after another. This configurationis
`significant when the solutions react with each other and
`may damage the conduit by so doing.
`Variations in the arrangement of elements of the in-
`strumentof this invention can be madeto suit the needs
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`of the utilization for which it is intended. For example,
`where the control unit 82 is remoted from the supply
`station 22, the pressure regulator control knob 90 shown
`on the end of supply station 22 in FIG. 1 can be located
`in control unit 82 with the gas pressure line 64 extending
`to the control unit and the regulator valve 71 therein.
`Pressure regulated gas is conveyedto the supply station
`reservoir chamber 31 through the sheath of conduit 62
`in this instance.
`Other forms of control signals than those illustrated
`can be employed. Pneumatic or hydraulic signalling
`meansand control elements responsive to their signals
`can be utilized, particularly in explosive atmosphere
`conditions of some anesthetics. Electrical signals can be
`multiplexed and digital coded signals can also be used
`for both fluid selection and the flow control.
`In accordance with the provisionsof the patent statue
`the principles and mode of operation of the present
`invention has been illustrated and described in whatis
`nowconsidered the best embodimentsof the invention.
`However, it is understood that the invention may be
`practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and
`described without departing from its spirit or scope.
`Whatis claimedis:
`1. A system forirrigating and aspirating a tooth cav-
`ity comprising an elongate handpiece having first and
`second ends;a first tip on said first end of said hand-
`piece; a second tip on said first end of said handpiece
`coaxial with adjacent to, encompassing, and spaced
`radially from saidfirst tip; a first finger operable control
`on said handpiece adjacent said first end of said hand-
`piece for causing fluid to issue from said first tip; a
`secondfinger operable control on said handpiece adja-
`cent said first end of said handpiece and contiguous to
`said first finger operated control for causing a vacuum
`to be drawnat said second tip, wherebysaid first and
`second finger operated controls are selectively and
`simultaneously operable with a single finger; a first
`conduit for fluid extending from said second endofsaid
`handpiece opposite said first end and in communication
`with said first tip; a second conduit for drawing a vac-
`uum extending from said second end of said handpiece
`and in communication with said second tip; a vacuum
`source remote from said handpiece; second valve means
`remote from said handpiece and responsive to said sec-
`ond control for connecting said vacuum sourceto said
`second conduit; a plurality of irrigating fluid sources
`remote from said handpiece; means for imposing a head
`onsaid irrigating fluid sources; means remote from said
`handpiece for selectively coupling each of individual
`onesofsaid plurality of said irrigating fluid sources to
`said first conduit; and first valve means in said first
`conduit betweensaidfirst tip and said meansfor selec-
`tive coupling and remote from said handpiece, respon-
`sive to said first control for controlling the flow of
`fluids between said selective coupling means and said
`handpiece.
`2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first
`finger operable control comprises an electric switch and
`said first valve is a solenoid controlled valve.
`3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sec-
`ond valve comprises a solenoid operated valve and said
`second finger operated control comprises an electric
`switch.
`4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said selec-
`tive coupling means comprises.a single selector valve
`having a plurality of inlet ports and a single outlet port
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`9
`and being disposed between said fluid sources and said
`first conduit.
`5. A system for irrigating and aspirating a tooth cav-
`ity comprising an elongate handpiece having first and
`second ends; a first tip on said first end of said hand-
`piece; a second tip on said first end of said handpiece
`coaxial with, adjacent to, encompassing, and spaced
`radially from saidfirst tip; a first finger operable control
`on said handpiece adjacent said first end of said hand-
`piece for causing fluid to issue from said first tip; a
`second finger operable control on said handpiece adja-
`cent said first end of said handpiece and contiguous to
`said first finger operated control for causing a vacuum
`to be drawnat said second tip, whereby said first and
`second finger operated controls are selectively and
`simultaneously operable with a single finger; a first
`conduit for fluid extending from said second end ofsaid
`handpiece opposite said first end and in communication
`with said first tip; a second conduit for drawing a vac-
`uum extending from said second end of said handpiece
`and in communication with said second tip; a vacuum
`source remote from said handpiece; second valve means
`remote from said handpiece and responsive to said sec-
`ond control for connecting said vacuum sourceto said
`second conduit; a plurality of irrigating fluid sources
`remote from said handpiece; means for imposing a head
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`10
`on said irrigating fluid sources; a selector on said hand-
`piece for issuing a plurality of distinct signals; means
`remote from said handpiece responsive to respective
`distinct signals from said selector for selectively cou-
`pling each of individual ones of said plurality of said
`irrigating fluid sources to said first conduit; and first
`valve meansin said first conduit between said first tip
`and said means for selectively coupling and remote
`from said handpiece, responsiveto said first control for
`controlling the flow of fluid between said selective
`coupling means and said handpiece.
`6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said selec-
`tor is an electric select