The present application claims priority from pending Austrian Patent Application No. 2093/2004, filed Dec. 14, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field
The present invention relates to an insertion element for a medical handpiece head for dispensing a treatment spray.
2. Description of Prior Art
Such an insertion element made of metal is known from European Patent 109 507 A1, for example. It is held in the interior of the handpiece head with its tool end protruding out of the head. A first ring groove runs around the lateral surfaces of the insertion element; a media line carrying the spray liquid opens into this first groove. There is also a second ring groove into which a media line carrying the spray air opens. Boreholes run from these two ring grooves through the insertion element up to the workpiece end of the surface of the insertion element, from which the spray liquid and spray air are dispensed onto the tool and the treatment site.
The insertion element is connected by press fit to the outer raceway of the ball bearing. Also known are other insertion elements which are attached to the handpiece head by gluing or screw connections. The ball bearing is accommodated in a shoulder of the insertion element and is prestressed by spring washers (not described in European Patent 109 507 A1). Multiple O-rings seal the ring grooves and media lines with respect to the interior of the handpiece head.
One goal is to improve upon an insertion element for a medical handpiece head. The goal in particular is to reduce the additional components required (O-rings, spring washers) and to simplify installation of the insertion element in the handpiece head.
This goal is achieved by an insertion element having the features as described and claimed.
Since the insertion element is manufactured of an elastically compressible material, preferably plastic or rubber, especially preferably silicone, it may also assume additional functions, so that it serves one or more of the following purposes in particular:
Thus, in an advantageous manner, no sealing elements or spring elements are needed. Installation in the handpiece head is also facilitated by the fact that, in contrast with the previous insertion elements, it is no longer necessary to have adhesive bonds or screw connections in the handpiece head.
The insertion element preferably has a cylindrical or cylindrical-conical outside shape and therefore conforms to the internal geometry of the outside sleeve of the handpiece head and is adapted to its shape and dimensions, respectively. Owing to the elastic material properties and the radial elasticity in particular, the insertion element undergoes a radial broadening (enlargement of diameter) when the roller bearing is inserted into the insertion element, thereby pressing it with its inside lateral surface against the inside of the outside sleeve of the handpiece head and clamping it in the handpiece head. Therefore, a strong sealing effect is additionally achieved, so there is no risk of spray air or spray fluid escaping.
In a particularly preferred exemplary embodiment, the spray plate for dispensing the spray is also made of an elastically compressible material, preferably plastic or rubber, especially preferably silicone. This further reduces the assembly complexity for the handpiece head in particular. In addition, calcium deposits are automatically loosened from the spray plate when it is undergoes deformation due to applied pressure.
The handpiece head 1 shown in
An insertion element 10 is arranged in the interior 9 of the handpiece head 1 adjacent to the spray plate 6. The insertion element 10 consists of an elastically compressible material, preferably plastic or rubber, especially preferably silicone. The outer shape of the insertion element 10 is adapted to the inside geometry of the outer sleeve 2 of the handpiece head 1. It has a cylindrically shaped section 10A according to the cylindrically shaped section 2A of the inside wall 13 of the outer sleeve 2 and a section 10B which tapers conically according to a conically tapering section 2B of the inside wall 13 of the outer sleeve 2.
On its lateral surface 12, the insertion element 10 has a ring bulge 11, the diameter of which is such that when the insertion element 10 is inserted into the handpiece head 1, the ring bulge 11 is in sealing contact with the inside wall 13 of the outer sleeve 2, thereby preventing the penetration of spray liquid and spray air into the area of the interior 9 located above the insertion element 10. A ring groove 14 runs completely around the insertion element 10. A first media line, preferably a spray air line (not shown) is connected to this ring groove 14, running in a known way through the entire handpiece, and is connected to a compressed air source.
The end of the insertion element 10 facing the opening 5 is formed by a ring bulge 16 which sits directly adjacent to the spray plate 6. The ring bulge 16 creates a ring gap 17 between the spray plate 6 and the shoulder 18 of the insertion element 10. A second media line, preferably a spray liquid line (not shown) which also runs in a known way through the entire handpiece and is connected to a spray liquid source, preferably a connection to a water line, opens into this gap 17. Ring gap 17 and ring groove 14 are interconnected by one or more connecting channels 19 (see
The interior 20 of the insertion element 10 includes three sections 20A, 20B and 20C separated from one another by two shoulders 21 and 22. Section 20A serves to accommodate a bearing 23, preferably a roller bearing/ball bearing (see
As shown in
The sections 20A, 20B and 20C of the interior 20 also form a bushing to receive the tool shaft and at least some parts of the tool receptacle (chuck 25, spindle 26). The bushing is continued in a bore 20D which passes through the spray plate.
The insertion element 30 shown in
In other exemplary embodiments, one or more supporting and reinforcing elements, preferably supporting rings, half shells or bushings made of metal or hard plastic are arranged in the insertion element 10, 30, increasing the stability of the insertion element 10, 30. These elements may be inserted into recesses (grooves, indentations) in the insertion element 10, 30 after the manufacture of the insertion element 10, 30 (preferably by an injection molding process) or they may be accommodated in the insertion element 10, 30, preferably completely, when inserted into the injection mold before their manufacture.
The prestress for the bearing 23 is increased by inserting a spring element, such as a spring washer 32 as shown in
The present invention is not limited to the area of use defined here or to the specific embodiments described here but instead includes all possible embodiments which do not alter the basic function principle of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2093/2004 | Dec 2004 | AT | national |