GB2262890A

GB2262890A - Periodontal irrigation equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2262890A
Application number: GB9200036A
Authority: GB
Inventors: S L Smith; C Taylor
Original assignee: BRIDGE HOUSE LAB Ltd
Current assignee: BRIDGE HOUSE LAB Ltd
Priority date: 1992-01-03
Filing date: 1992-01-03
Publication date: 1993-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 2012-01-03
Also published as: GB9300472D0; GB2262890B; GB9200036D0

Abstract

The equipment comprises a variable pressure pulse irrigator, or syringe, which is usable both for the treatment of unhealthy periodontal tissue, and for the preventative irrigation of healthy teeth and surrounding tissue. The irrigator provides a high pulse rate at suitably low pressure for the treatment of periodontal pockets, and has an infinitely variable pressure range between 0 and 70 psi, which is provided by a DC electric motor in combination with a variable volume pump, the pump back pressure being controlled by means of a valve. As the valve is closed, the back pressure increases leading to a reduction in motor speed and pulse rate.

Description

Improvements Relating to Periodontal Irrigation Equipment This invention relates to periodontal irrigation equipment which is the expression used for water jet apparatus for the cleaning and washing of the areas of the mouth surrounding the teeth.

These areas may be in a condition which varies from satisfactory and good in the case of a healthy mouth to relatively poor where there may be periodontal pockets and sub-lingual cavities which are subjected to the periodontal irrigation.

Periodontal irrigation apparatus is used quite extensively by dentists, and has a beneficial effect on the cleaning and washing of the periodontal areas and sub-lingual cavities, but it has been found that the existing apparatus is not suitable for treating mouths in varying conditions.

The existing apparatus for example comprises an electric motor which serves to drive a pump which delivers water through a tip in the form of a jet which can be directed at the periodontal areas to be treated, and the jet issues from the tip in pulses. The velocity of the issuing jet is a function of the output pressure of the pump, and the dentist can vary these parameters by adjustment of the equipment. In the case of the known equipment, the adjustment is achieved by increasing the current to the electric motor thereby to increase its speed which has the effect of increasing the pulse frequency and indeed of also increasing the output pressure of the pump. In fact drawing a graph of pulse frequency to pump out the pressure shows a linear characteristic. When the pulse frequency is low, the pump back pressure is low.

This known equipment works reasonably satisfactory at high frequency and high pump back pressure, when used for the treatment of relatively healthy mouths, but it has a characteristic which is unsuitable for the irrigation of sublingual cavities or periodontal pockets in that it provides a low pulse rate at a relatively high pressure.

The present invention seeks to provide periodontal irrigation equipment which does not suffer from the disadvantage of the existing equipment, and in accordance with a first aspect of the invention the periodontal irrigation equipment provides a motor and pump arrangement wherein the equipment is designed to have a characteristic of high pulse rate at low pump back pressure.

Preferably as the pump back pressure increases, so the pulse rate decreases at least at the lower end of the range of possible pump back pressures.

Preferably, above certain pump back pressure, the equipment is designed to ensure that the pulse rate remains substantially constant.

The effects can be achieved by using an electric motor in driving connection with the pump, and the pump back pressure being controlled by means of a valve, so that as the valve is closed, thereby increasing the back pressure of the pump, so the motor speed will reduce accordingly, causing a reduction in pulse rate.

The motor preferably is provided with a control circuit arrangement embodying a capacity, which shapes the motor characteristic. Additionally, the pump may be of the variable volume type.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a pulse rate V pressure graph showing the characteristic of operation of the existing equipment; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the characteristic of operation of the equipment according to the embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the equipment according to the embodiment of the invention.

Referring firstly to Fig. 3, the components of the equipment are shown in exploded perspective view, but reference will be made only to those particular components which are essential to the operation of the equipment.

In Fig. 3, reference 80 indicates a DC motor which is arranged to drive a small pinion 81, which in use meshes with a large gear wheel 130. Gear wheel 130 has a crank pin which engages with a connecting rod 131 of a pump unit 100, the output of which is supplied to a flexible tube 101 to the end of which is connected a handle 250, and the handle in turn receives a periodontal tip 260 from which a jet of water at a pulse frequency issues, the velocity of which is dictated by the pump 100, which is in turn driven by the motor 80.

60 represents an on/off switch for switching the equipment on and off, and 70 represents a water regulator which is connected to the end of pump 100 so as to permit effective control of same for varying the output from the tip 260.

A transformer 90 receives electrical power from an AC input cable 220, and 81 and 82 represent a rectifier and capacitor so that the AC power can be used for driving the DC motor 80.

20 represents a water tank, and a valve 35 controls a supply of water to the pump 100 from the tank 20.

In use, when the DC motor is rotating, it rotates pinion 81A which in turn rotates gear 130, which in turn effects reciprocation of the pump connecting rod 131 which in turn causes pumping of water through the pump 100, the flexible hose 101, the handle 205 and eventually out of the tip 260.

The pulse rate of the jet from the tip 260 is dictated by the speed of the motor.

In normal periodontal irrigator equipment the pulse rate and back pressure of the pump vary as indicated in Fig. 1, and the existing equipment provide satisfactory performance when used in relatively healthy mouths, but it gives a low pulse rate when the pressure is still relatively high which is not advisable for the irrigation of deep periodontal pockets.

With the equipment of the present invention however a characteristic as shown in Fig. 2 is achieved and it will be seen that at very low pressures, high pulse rates are achieved. As the pressure increases, so the pulse rate decreases until a levelling off value of 1000 pulses/min or something in that order is achieved, and this rate is maintained regardless of further increase in pressure.

Because the equipment according to the invention can run at high pulse rate with very low pressure, an arrangement which is ideal for sub-lingual irrigation with pocket tips and sublingual tips is achieved. Additionally periodontal irrigation can be achieved in a similar fashion to the existing equipment at the normal high pressure irrigation running condition. The equipment according to the invention provides two extremely useful modes of operation.

In the known equipment, the variation in pressure is achieved by varying the current to the electric drive motor, and this controls pulse rate and pressure on the characteristic shown in Fig. 1. In the equipment of the instant invention, a variable valve in the pump 100 which is controlled by the regulator 70 is utilised. As the valve is progressively closed, a varying load is applied to the electric motor, and it is caused to rotate at high frequency during low load operation. As the valve is progressively increased, the speed of the motor reduces, and therefore the pulse rate reduces until a levelling off position is achieved above which the pulse rate will remain substantially constant until the load is increased up to the optimum high pressure in the order of 70 psi. The levelling off value of the pulse rate is in the order of 1000 pulses/min.

This is achieved by using a combination of a low torque DC motor 80 in conjunction with the controlling capacitor 82 and a pump which has a variable volume.

The equipment according to the invention provides a periodontal irrigator having a unique and valuable pressure and pulse rate characteristic variation obtained by the electro/mechanical system. By this equipment sub-lingual irrigation of periodontal pockets at very low pressure with very high pulse rate can be effected as can normal high pressure irrigation.

The equipment has been described as mainly for use by dentists in dental surgeries and clinics, but it should be mentioned that the equipment can be adapted for general retail to the public and it will be an extremely useful piece of equipment for home use for teeth cleaning and irrigation.

Claims

1. Periodontal irrigation equipment comprising a motor and pump arrangement wherein the equipment is designed to have a characteristic high pulse rate at low pump back pressure.

2. Periodontal irrigation equipment as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least at the lower end of the range of possible pump back pressure, as the pump back pressure increases, so the pulse rate decreases.

3. Periodontal irrigation equipment as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein above certain pump back pressure, the equipment is designed to ensure that the pulse rate remains substantially constant.

4. Periodontal irrigation equipment according to claims 1, 2 or 3, using an electric motor in driving connection with the pump, and the pump back pressure being controlled by means of a valve.

5. Periodontal irrigation equipment according to claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the pump is of the variable volume type.

6. Periodontal irrigation equipment according to claims 4 or 5, wherein the motor is provided with a control circuit arrangement embodying a capacity, which shapes the motor characteristic.