Patent Application
20050239018
The present invention relates to the field of dental devices having means to emit radiation or facilitate viewing of the work. Specifically, the present invention is a bite spacer having light emitting devices wholly contained therein.
Adequate illumination of a patient's mouth is necessary for dental procedures and/or oral surgery. The current technique of shining an external overhead light into the patient's mouth has many disadvantages. Illuminating the patient's mouth is often difficult. First, the patient's mouth provides a small opening for light. Second, instruments are usually placed in the patient's mouth further obstructing the dentist's view and the light source. Overhead lighting is extremely inefficient as the dentist and/or assistant spend substantial time attempting to accurately position the overhead light to hit the mouth precisely at the right angle to permit the light to be reflected by a mirrored instrument. Further, the dentist's body and dental instruments or other obstructions often interfere with outside lighting sources casting shadows inside the patient's mouth.
Fiber optic lighting has been integrated into dental instruments as one solution to help alleviate the shadowing problem of overhead lighting. The fiber optic illumination systems are generally configured to connect to an external light source by optical fibers to illuminate a spot area at the end of a handheld instrument as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,332,776. This approach has several drawbacks. The spot area that is illuminated is limited to a small area surrounding the distal end of the dental instrument and does not illuminate the patient's entire mouth. The optical fibers can interfere with the use of the instrument, and due to the need to continually cleaning and sterilize the dental instruments, the optical fibers tend to degrade over time. Fiber optic illumination systems are also quite expensive and increase the complexity of handheld dental instruments. Further, the use of fiber optic illumination systems may require the practitioner to give the patient a detailed explanation of the equipment and obtain patient approval prior to use.
Another dental lighting device that is mounted on the distal end of a handheld medical or dental tool is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,607,384. The handheld dental tool has a lighting device at the distal end of the tool that includes a plurality of LEDs and an LED holder encasing the LEDs. While the use of the LEDs reduces some of the problems of fiber optic illumination systems by not requiring connection to an external light source, like other handheld tool/lighting device combinations such as illuminated tongue depressors as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,643,172 and 4,807,599, the light from this handheld device is directed in only one direction and does not illuminate the patient's entire oral cavity. Further, the practitioner must hold the tool/lighting device combination while working, which can be inefficient and cumbersome.
One particular fiber optic lighting source that addresses the problem of single point handheld light sources is shown in the illuminator and lip expander as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,344. A more recent approach along these lines is the Isolite™ Dryfield illuminator as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,022,214, 6,338,627 and 6,575,746. This device broadcasts light from inside the patient's mouth by delivering a high intensity, bright-white, fiber optic light from a light source external to the patient that is internally. The device includes a tongue and cheek retractor, a light dispersion piece and a bite block. A bite block is a rubber or plastic wedge used by most dentists to prop a patient's mouth open. The patient's teeth rest on the bite block allowing the jaw muscles to relax. Dentists and hygienists utilize a bite block for long procedures, moisture sensitive procedures and patients who experience discomfort while having to keep their mouths open for a prolonged period of time. The light dispersion piece in the Isolite™ Dryfield illuminator is coupled to a light carrier such as a fiber optic bundle that in turn is connected to the light source external to the patient. The light dispersion piece is generally U-shaped with a dispersion lens and extends beyond the bite block piece such that the light dispersion piece is effectively positioned at the rear of the patient's mouth so as to illuminate the entire interior of the mouth. Multiple fluid evacuation channels are connected to a vacuum source such that the device also serves as a fluid aspirator.
While the Isolite™ Dryfield illuminator represents an improvement over the current techniques for illuminating a patient's mouth during dental procedures, it suffers from the same drawbacks of expense, degradation over time and complication as other handheld fiber optic illumination systems. There is a continuing need for a simple, easy to use and effective system for illuminating a patient's mouth during dental procedures.
The present invention is an intraoral apparatus for illuminating a patient's mouth that includes a bite spacer having a pair of teeth engaging structures vertically spaced apart by a spacer structure that includes a side wall. At least one self-contained light emitting device is operably mounted in the sidewall of the bite spacer. The bite spacer is positionable between the teeth on either side of the patient's mouth such that the light emitting devices illuminate the other side of the patient's mouth.
In one embodiment, a rechargeable battery is positioned within the bite spacer to power the light emitting devices. An induction charging circuit recharges the rechargeable battery without connections external to the bite spacer. In another embodiment, the bite spacers are adapted to interface with a recharging and sterilizing base station. In still another embodiment, the light emitting devices in the bite spacer include at least one light emitting device that does not activate photopolymerizable materials.
The present invention improves upon current oral illumination devices by providing a hypoallergenic, simple, cost effective and rechargeable device that cross-illuminates the oral cavity while allowing the practitioner the full use of their hands. The present invention eliminates the need to hold an illumination device as part of a handheld dental tool or the need to continually move and readjust an external light source, thereby allowing the practitioner to practice more efficiently.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a comfortable intraoral bite spacer providing shadowless rechargeable cross-illumination of the entire oral cavity.
It is an object of the invention to provide an intraoral bite spacer having means for cross-illumination with rechargeable batteries for illuminating the oral cavity.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a fully contained recharging base that recharges multiple intraoral bite spacers and upon closure sterilizes the bite spacers.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an intraoral bite spacer having an internal membrane power switch.
It is another object of the invention to provide an intraoral bite spacer having an internal membrane switch to orange light to block blue light and avoid curing dental composites.
Lighting is a critical factor during intraoral procedures, especially when trying to view interproximally (between the teeth) or where it is difficult to direct light. Current illumination techniques are inadequate as they cause shadows, obstruct the practitioner's view or are handheld among other deficiencies. The present invention improves on the currently available illumination techniques by providing a source of intraoral illumination contained as part of a bite spacer. Dentists routinely use bite spacers to prop open a patient's mouth during dental procedures. The patient's teeth rest on the bite spacer, allowing the jaw muscles to relax while maintaining the mouth in an open position.
The intraoral bite spacer 10 as depicted in
In a preferred embodiment, extending from the upper teeth engaging surface 12 is a U-shaped upper lip portion 16 and extending from the lower teeth engaging surface 14 is a U-shaped lower lip portion 18. It will be recognized that numerous variations in the shape and positioning of such lip and gum interface structures can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
The bite spacer has a sidewall 20 between the upper lip portion 16 and the lower lip portion 18. The sidewall 20 is preferably shaped such that the U-shaped portions 16 and 18 are symmetrically angled from a front end 17 to a rear end 19 of the bite spacer 10. In this embodiment, the bite spacer 10 is effectively reversible for positioning on either the right or left side of the patient's mouth simply by turning the bite spacer upside down, in which case the upper portion 16 now interfaces with the lower teeth and the lower portion 18 now interfaces with the upper teeth. In one embodiment, the angle between the engaging surfaces 12 and 14 from front to back ranges from 5 degrees to 25 degrees and is preferably about 15 degrees.
While the preferred embodiment shows a sidewall 20 that is substantially the same width as the width of the engaging surfaces 12, 14, but narrower than the extent of the lip portions 16, 18, it will be understood that numerous variations in the structure and arrangement of the side wall 20 can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the sidewall 20 may be extended out beyond the width of the lip portions 16, 18 on the inside wherein the light emitting devices 22 are mounted. In the embodiment shown in
Light emitting devices 22 are preferably wholly contained within the bite spacer 10 on the inside surface of the sidewall 20. In a preferred embodiment, the light emitting devices 22 are a plurality of ultra-bright light emitting diodes 22. The light emitting diodes 22 are preferably arranged in a row as shown in
The bite spacer 10 is battery powered and is preferably rechargeable. In one embodiment, the bite spacer 10 employs rechargeable batteries 50 and that are electrically connected to a waterproof power switch 52 mounted in the outside of sidewall 20 as shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the batteries 50 and light emitting devices 22 are selected such that bite spacer 10 illuminates for approximately 30 minutes to one hour before recharging is needed. The operational life of the bite spacer 10 in this embodiment is dependent upon the desired light output (measured in lumens), the current draw achievable from the batteries 50 and the thermal loss from the light emitting devices. In a preferred embodiment, as described in connection with
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a fully contained induction coil recharging base 40 that not only recharges multiple bite spacers 10, but also allows the bite spacers 10 to be submersed in a sterilizing solution 42.
The bite spacer 10 is preferably dimensioned to fit in the majority of adult patient mouths. The approximate dimensions of the adult bite spacer is in the range of about 4.5 cm×3 cm×3.5 cm. Bite spacers of various dimensions can be made to fit children, adolescents and patients with larger than average intraoral cavities.
In one embodiment, the bite spacer 10 includes at least one light emitting device 22 that emits an orange illumination with no blue wavelength to avoid curing photopolymerizable or composite dental materials. Preferably, the orange LED is activated by using the switch 52 in conjunction with the control circuit 56 by, for example, depressing the switch 52 twice.
In the embodiment as shown in the electrical schematic of
In this embodiment, the switch 52 is preferably a four pole depressable waterproof switch. Two of the LED drive modules 60 are switchably connected to power two of the white LEDs 22-1 when the switch 52 is depressed once. All four of the LED drive modules 60 are switchably connected to power all four of the white LEDs 22-1 when the switch 52 is depressed twice. Two of the LED drive modules 120 are switchably connected to provide power to the orange LEDs 22-2 when the switch 52 is depressed three times. Depressing the switch 52 a fourth time would turn off the light sources 22.
Preferably, the battery 50 is a rechargeable battery comprised of two AAA rechargeable NiMH batteries 50-1 and 50-2 positioned as shown in
A preferred embodiment of the circuitry is shown in
Typically, the pick-up coil 54 will be a coil of wire having X number of turns depending upon the voltage required at V1. Pick-up coil 54 could be a coil of wire or it could be an etched rigid or flexible circuit board in an inductive pattern. Further, coil 54 could be comprised of strands of wire braided together, copper braid, or a molded interconnect type of device that would be a plated-on type of inductor in various configurations. The bridge rectifier 62 is comprised of independent silicone diodes, but could also be an actual bridge rectifier semi-conductor circuit that is of one-piece type design. The value of the bridge rectifier should be rated two times the maximum current expected therethrough. The size of the current limited resistor 64 is dependent upon the speed with which it is desired to charge the battery 50. Typically, resistor 64 should be of a power type resistor such as normal wire wound construction.
Battery charger circuitry 46 includes the A/C or D/C input 80, as illustrated in
The primary coil 86, when energized, has A/C current running through it which will create magnetic flux lines that will allow another coil in the vicinity of it to pick up some of that voltage and the voltage will be induced into the secondary coil 54 and provide a current therein. For each individual battery, the pick-up coil 54 will be sized according to the voltage required with the charging coil 86 having voltage and frequency sufficient to allow the pick-up coil 54 to be as small as possible and permit it to fit inside the bite spacer 10. The current sense board 82 not only will illuminate the charging LEDs 84 to indicate maximum power, but it will also be able to sense if the coil is overloaded or overheated. Preferably, the current sense board 82 is also able to sense whether or not a bite spacer 10 is placed in the recharging station 40, as opposed to some other metallic object which would induce some current as well. It is preferable that other protective devices be included in the charger circuitry 46 such as thermal shut-downs, polyswitches, or fuses. It is also preferred that there be a start button on the outside of the recharge station 40 to ensure additional safety to initiate the charge. The housing of the recharge station 40 is preferably plastic, and not conductive on its exterior. The recharging station 40 may also be provided with some electrical shielding at the outer portions thereof to prevent the induction of current into surrounding items around the recharging station 40.
When charging coil 86 is energized, it will create magnetic flux lines which will induce a current in the pick-up coil 54. After the current is rectified through the rectifier 62, a voltage is created at V1 that is equivalent to approximately 1.6 volts per cell of the battery pack. This number is essentially the maximum voltage an individual Ni-CAD or Ni-MH cell will reach under charge. The current limiting resistor 64 is such that the voltage drop thereacross sets the current charge that actually goes into the battery cells. This is defined by the equation: Ic=V1−V2/R. In other words, charge current Ic equals the voltage of V1 minus the voltage of V2 divided by the resistance.
Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in the specification, it will be recognized that numerous changes can be made to the preferred embodiment which are still intended to be covered by the scope of the claims for the present invention.
