US4215476A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Health services combination irrigator and aspirator
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-03-25
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Granted: 1980-08-05
•
Expires: 1997-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A health services combination irrigation and aspiration device adapted to serve more than one irrigation function and to require the use of only one hand by the operator. The instrument includes a handpiece, a supply station and a control for the regulation and selection among fluid and vacuum means. While the instrument is well adapted to dental work, particularly root canal methodology, it also supplies a need for a general purpose medical instrument which can provide suction and lavage of a tissue or organ surface with one or more of selected medicinal solutions, including distilled water or saline solution. Notably, the handpiece tip system is small enough to allow easy access to remote tissue surfaces while the angled design allows access to difficult to reach interior surfaces.
Inventors
- 👤 Alexander S. Armstrong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C17/00; A61C17/02; A61C17/0208; A61C5/00; A61C5/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
286 words
A system for irrigating and aspirating a tooth cavity comprising an elongate handpiece having first and second ends; a first tip on said first end of said handpiece; a second tip on said first end of said handpiece coaxial with adjacent to, encompassing, and spaced radially from said first tip; a first finger operable control on said handpiece adjacent said first end of said handpiece for causing fluid to issue from said first tip; a second finger operable control on said handpiece adjacent said first end of said handpiece and contiguous to said first finger operated control for causing a vacuum to be drawn at 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 of said handpiece opposite said first end and in communication with said first tip; a second conduit for drawing a vacuum 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 second control for connecting said vacuum source to said second conduit; a plurality of irrigating fluid sources remote from said handpiece; means for imposing a head on said irrigating fluid sources; means remote from said handpiece for selectively coupling each of individual ones of said plurality of said irrigating fluid sources to said first conduit; and first valve means in said first conduit between said first tip and said means for selective coupling and remote from said handpiece, responsive to said first control for controlling the flow of fluids between said selective coupling means and said handpiece.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
286 words
A system for irrigating and aspirating a tooth cavity comprising an elongate handpiece having first and second ends; a first tip on said first end of said handpiece; a second tip on said first end of said handpiece coaxial with adjacent to, encompassing, and spaced radially from said first tip; a first finger operable control on said handpiece adjacent said first end of said handpiece for causing fluid to issue from said first tip; a second finger operable control on said handpiece adjacent said first end of said handpiece and contiguous to said first finger operated control for causing a vacuum to be drawn at 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 of said handpiece opposite said first end and in communication with said first tip; a second conduit for drawing a vacuum 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 second control for connecting said vacuum source to said second conduit; a plurality of irrigating fluid sources remote from said handpiece; means for imposing a head on said irrigating fluid sources; means remote from said handpiece for selectively coupling each of individual ones of said plurality of said irrigating fluid sources to said first conduit; and first valve means in said first conduit between said first tip and said means for selective coupling and remote from said handpiece, responsive to said first control for controlling the flow of fluids between said selective coupling means and said handpiece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first finger operable control comprises an electric switch and said first valve is a solenoid controlled valve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second valve comprises a solenoid operated valve and said second finger operated control comprises an electric switch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said selective coupling means comprises a single selector valve having a plurality of inlet ports and a single outlet port and being disposed between said fluid sources and said first conduit.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
306 words
A system for irrigating and aspirating a tooth cavity comprising an elongate handpiece having first and second ends; a first tip on said first end of said handpiece; a second tip on said first end of said handpiece coaxial with, adjacent to, encompassing, and spaced radially from said first tip; a first finger operable control on said handpiece adjacent said first end of said handpiece for causing fluid to issue from said first tip; a second finger operable control on said handpiece adjacent said first end of said handpiece and contiguous to said first finger operated control for causing a vacuum to be drawn at 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 of said handpiece opposite said first end and in communication with said first tip; a second conduit for drawing a vacuum 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 second control for connecting said vacuum source to said second conduit; a plurality of irrigating fluid sources remote from said handpiece; means for imposing a head on said irrigating fluid sources; a selector on said handpiece for issuing a plurality of distinct signals; means remote from said handpiece responsive to respective distinct signals from said selector for selectively coupling each of individual ones of said plurality of said irrigating fluid sources to said first conduit; and first valve means in said first conduit between said first tip and said means for selectively coupling and remote from said handpiece, responsive to said first control for controlling the flow of fluid between said selective coupling means and said handpiece.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
306 words
A system for irrigating and aspirating a tooth cavity comprising an elongate handpiece having first and second ends; a first tip on said first end of said handpiece; a second tip on said first end of said handpiece coaxial with, adjacent to, encompassing, and spaced radially from said first tip; a first finger operable control on said handpiece adjacent said first end of said handpiece for causing fluid to issue from said first tip; a second finger operable control on said handpiece adjacent said first end of said handpiece and contiguous to said first finger operated control for causing a vacuum to be drawn at 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 of said handpiece opposite said first end and in communication with said first tip; a second conduit for drawing a vacuum 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 second control for connecting said vacuum source to said second conduit; a plurality of irrigating fluid sources remote from said handpiece; means for imposing a head on said irrigating fluid sources; a selector on said handpiece for issuing a plurality of distinct signals; means remote from said handpiece responsive to respective distinct signals from said selector for selectively coupling each of individual ones of said plurality of said irrigating fluid sources to said first conduit; and first valve means in said first conduit between said first tip and said means for selectively coupling and remote from said handpiece, responsive to said first control for controlling the flow of fluid between said selective coupling means and said handpiece.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said selector is an electric selector switch and said remote means is a single valve having a plurality of inputs a single output and a coupling path selectively connectible between individual inputs and said output and means to couple said respective valve inputs with respective ones of said plurality of irrigating fluid sources.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said selector is an electric selector switch and said remote means is an array of solenoid controlled valves each of which is disposed between a single fluid source and said first conduit and each of said valve solenoids being responsive to said electric selector switch.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-08-05 | 1984-02-04 | 1984-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-08-05 | 1988-02-04 | 1988-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-08-05 | 1992-02-04 | 1992-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |