CN1301138A - Illuminated syringe tip and handpiece assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A dental syringe tip handpiece assembly has a plastic syringe tip mounted on an adapter for connection to a handpiece. A light source is disposed within the adapter at a location proximate the end of the syringe tip. Light from the light source travels along the length of the syringe tip and is emitted from the end thereof. When the syringe tip is placed in the patient's mouth, the dentist can illuminate the mouth and perform various dental procedures more easily and accurately.

Description

Illuminated Syringe Tip and Handpiece Assembly

Background of the invention

The present invention relates to an illuminated syringe tip and handpiece assembly, and more particularly to an illuminated syringe tip and handpiece assembly in which a single-use syringe tip is used for delivery from a light source within an adapter to a patient's oral cavity light to provide illumination for the dentist.

US Patent No. 5,049,071 (Davis et al.) discloses a plastic single-use dental syringe tip. This patent also discloses various adapters that can be used to attach the tip of a single-use syringe to the handle of a three-way dental syringe assembly. The disclosure of this US Patent No. 5,049,071 is hereby incorporated by reference. In addition, US Patent No. 5,192,206 (Davis et al.) contains another disclosure relating to an adapter for a three-way dental syringe assembly, the disclosure of which US Patent No. 5,192,206 is also incorporated herein by reference.

The use of single-use plastic syringe tips has become increasingly common due to serious concerns with the increasing incidence of infectious diseases such as hepatitis and non-acquired immune syndromes. Dentists take great care to prevent the transfer of microorganisms (viruses or bacteria) from one patient to another. Plastic syringe tips receive pressurized air and water. When the dentist operates the air button and the water supply button on the handpiece, he can inject water, air or a water-air composite atomized body into the patient's mouth during any dental operation required.

It is also required to provide light in the oral cavity to allow the dentist to perform necessary dental work. Most dental work units have overhead lighting systems with mirrored surfaces that help focus the light into the patient's mouth. However, dentists tend to stand in the path of the light, which greatly reduces the effectiveness of erecting the light source.

Various dental tools with light sources have been proposed to assist the dentist in various dental procedures. For example, a typical dental drill may have a fiber optic bundle to transmit light from the light source to the end of the dental drill so that the dentist can direct the light to the area where the drilling is to be performed. Representative of this technique are those disclosed in US Patent No. 4,507,085 (Mosimann) and US Patent No. 5,088,924 (Woodward).

The dental syringe tip handpiece is also provided with a light source to illuminate the area where air and/or water is to be sprayed. Representative of these devices is the disclosure of US Patent No. 4,619,612 (Weber), which shows a fiber optic bundle encased in a metal syringe tip assembly. A light bulb is used as a light source and is housed in the handpiece. The syringe tip used in the disclosure of the Weber patent is a metal, non-disposable syringe tip that must be autoclaved before use on the next patient.

However, prior to the present invention there has been no single-use syringe tip incorporating a light source for delivering light to the oral cavity. Dentists using disposable syringe tips have to rely on surrounding lighting systems built into the dental unit to view the patient's mouth while using the dental syringe tip handle with air or water.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a useful light source that transmits light into a patient's mouth when the dentist uses a dental syringe tip handpiece with air or water.

It is a feature of the invention that a light source is provided on the syringe tip within the adapter that holds the syringe tip within the dental syringe tip handpiece. Light from the light source is directed into one end of the syringe tip and travels its length. Light is emitted from the syringe tip at the other end of the syringe tip and can be used to illuminate the patient's mouth.

An advantage of the present invention is that the dentist can illuminate the mouth of the patient with the same tool that supplies air, water or a combination of air and water to the mouth of the patient. Any dental procedure that requires the use of a dental syringe tip handpiece with air or water can be performed more easily, safely and efficiently because the dentist can see exactly inside the mouth he is dealing with.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent through the following detailed description.

Summary of the invention

The dental syringe tip handpiece assembly includes a clear plastic syringe tip that fits into an adapter for connection to the handpiece. A light source, preferably a fiber optic ring light, is provided in the adapter adjacent to the end of the syringe tip. Light from the light source is transmitted along the length of the syringe tip to radiate from the tip. When putting the tip of the syringe into the patient's oral cavity, the dentist can illuminate the oral cavity to make various dental operations easier and more accurate.

A special handpiece body consisting of a handpiece inner unit and an outer casing is used to receive the adapter and syringe tip assembly. Air, water, and fiber optic lines are located inside the body of the handpiece. Handpiece body can be easily removed for cleaning.

The light source can also be a light bulb located on the rear of the adapter. The adapter is made of a transparent or at least translucent material so that light from the bulb is transmitted through the adapter into the syringe tip.

In another embodiment of the invention the light source may be one or several fiber optic bundles disposed through a valve head and a manifold assembly. The end of the fiber optic bundle is located adjacent to the end of the syringe tip so that light emitted from the end of the fiber optic bundle is transmitted into the syringe tip, which in turn transmits light along its length, and the light exits from the syringe end The head end radiates and can be used to illuminate the patient's mouth.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a partially exploded isometric view of the illuminated syringe tip assembly and handpiece body of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the assembly where the adapter, syringe tip and locking cap are connected to the handpiece body, with all parts engaged.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the part where the adapter, the syringe tip and the locking cap are connected to the handpiece body in the assembly, wherein all parts are in a separated state.

Figure 4 shows an isometric view of the body of the handpiece of the present invention with the outer cover removed.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of one end of the handpiece body shown in FIG. 4. FIG.

Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional end view of a syringe tip useful in the present invention.

Figure 7 shows a modified embodiment of the invention at the part of the assembly where the bulb is located at the rear of the adapter.

Figure 8 shows a partially exploded isometric view of another alternative embodiment of the illuminated dental syringe tip assembly of the present invention.

Figure 9 shows a partially exploded isometric view of the tip and fiber optic bundle for this alternative embodiment of the invention.

Figure 10 shows a longitudinal sectional view of this alternative embodiment of the invention in an engaged condition.

Figure 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the manifold body for this alternative embodiment and shows the location of the water supply lines.

Figure 12 shows a partially exploded isometric view of the manifold body for this alternative embodiment. The manifold tube sleeve has been partially cut away.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

The illuminated dental syringe tip handpiece assembly of the present invention is generally indicated at 300 in FIG. 1 . The handpiece body 312 has a cover 410 slidably mounted over an inner unit 430 . The inner unit 430 is a generally U-shaped recess having a hollow interior for accommodating water lines, air lines, and fiber optic lines. Each of these supply lines is connected to the handpiece body 312 by an outer tubing 470 that extends to a water source, an air source, and a light source (not shown) for the fiber optic lines.

An adapter 320 for fitting the syringe tip 314 into the handpiece body 312 is provided at one end of the handpiece body 312 . The locking cap assembly 330 securely clamps the syringe tip 314 in place.

As shown in FIGS. 2 , 3 and 5 , the handpiece body 312 has a threaded opening 313 at one end into which the adapter 320 can be threaded using first adapter threads 322 . A central corner opening 316 is provided in the middle of the adapter 320 , and a wrench can be placed therein to fasten the adapter 320 in the threaded opening 313 of the hand piece body 312 .

In the embodiment shown in this application the handpiece body may be of a standard construction known as "Continental Design", however, the present invention may be modified to fit any handpiece body construction. Additional details of adapter 320 are set forth in US Patent No. 5,049,071, which is incorporated herein by reference.

A locking assembly securely clamps the syringe end 314 in the hand piece body 312 to prevent the syringe end 314 from unintentionally loosening so that the air source and water source are always in the state of water supply and air supply through the syringe end 314, and prevent the syringe end from being released. Head 314 comes out of adapter 320 . The locking assembly generally includes: an adapter 320; a socket clamp 340 mounted on the outer end of the adapter 320; a sealing ring 342; and a lock cover 330 screwed on the adapter 320 and surrounding the socket clamp 340. The locking cap 330 has a set of threads 332 for cooperating with the second adapter thread 326 on the adapter 320 to fix the locking cap 330 on the adapter 320 . Additional details of the locking assembly are shown in US Patent No. 5,306,146 and US Patent No. 5,489,205, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. Loosening the locking cap 330 from the adapter 320 removes pressure from the sleeve clamp 340, which allows the used syringe tip to be removed and replaced with a new syringe tip.

Syringe tip 314 is an elongated cylindrical member, preferably made of plastic. Syringe tip 314 is press fit on tapered mandrel 321 of adapter 320 . Additional details of the syringe tip are set forth in US Patent No. 5,049,071. The syringe tip 314 should be made of a material that transmits light from one end of the syringe tip to the other. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the syringe tip 314 is made of polyacrylate, however, other light transmitting plastics such as acrylic plastics may also be used.

The syringe tip 314 should also preferably be transparent or translucent so that the syringe tip can be viewed to see if it has been used. Once the syringe tip has been used with a patient, the tip of the syringe tip leaves a small amount of saliva, blood or other objects from the patient's mouth.

Syringe tip 314 is designed to be discarded after one use. The tip material is made in a single extrusion process, preferably from any rigid clear plastic that transmits light. Rigid plastics are preferably used to meet the requirement of the dental manipulator to continuously hold the cheeks and tongue out of the way.

Syringe tip 314 is press fit over tapered mandrel 321 at the end of mandrel extension 325 . The tapered mandrel 321 is integral with a mandrel extension 325 that extends through the rear end of the adapter and into the handpiece body 312 . The rear end of the spindle extension 325 is threaded to fit within the threaded opening 316 inside the handpiece body 312 . The distal end of the mandrel extension 325 is connected to a water supply line 444 which supplies water to the syringe tip 314 in the conventional manner.

Likewise, air is supplied to adapter 320 via air supply line 442 within handpiece body 312 , which aligns with air passage 328 within adapter 320 .

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a fiber optic ring light 360 type light source is mounted directly inside the adapter 320 near the end of the syringe tip 314 so that the light is emitted along the length of the syringe tip. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a fiber optic ring light manufactured by "Fiberoptics Fechnology Incorporated" at "14 Fiber Road, Pomfret, CT06258" may be used, however, any suitable fiber optic ring light may be used. device. The fiber optic ring light 360 is connected to a fiber optic bundle 363 that extends through a passageway 448 in the hand piece body 312 for connection to a remote light source (not shown).

An annular gasket 365 is arranged inside the adapter 320, and a diaphragm in the shape of a flexible ring 368 is installed in the gasket. The flexible ring 368 surrounds the mandrel extension 325 and the fiber optic bundle 363 and holds them in place inside the adapter 320 .

As shown in FIG. 2 , the fiber optic ring light 360 is located within the adapter 320 near the end of the syringe tip 314 when the locking cap 330 is pushed onto the adapter 320 in its closed state. When the dentist activates the power, the bulb 360 illuminates so that light travels the length of the syringe tip 314 to its distal end where it radiates to illuminate the patient's mouth.

FIG. 4 shows internal details of the internal unit 430 of the handpiece body 312 . A water supply line 444 and an air supply line 442 are provided within the U-shaped recess inside the inner unit 430 to supply air and water from their sources to the adapter. The water valve 454 is installed in the water supply line 444 and is opened by the dentist by pressing the water supply button 453 mounted on the outer casing 410 . Likewise, an air valve 452 is housed in the air supply line 442 and is opened by the dentist through an air supply button 451 mounted on the housing 410 .

The inner unit 430 is also provided with conventional pin-type retainers 462 for mating with openings 464 in a housing 410 . Cover 410 is slid along the length of inner unit 430 when the assembly is in use and pin retainer 462 is inserted into opening 464 to secure cover 410 in place when the assembly is in use. Depressing the pin holder 462 allows the outer sleeve 410 to slide away from the inner body 430 when the assembly needs to be cleaned. After the adapter 320 is unscrewed from the hand piece body 312, the outer cover 410, the adapter 320, the locking cover 330 and the sleeve clamp 340 can be cleaned and autoclaved as a whole if necessary.

The modification of the syringe tip 514 shown in FIG. 6 allows for accurate positioning of the syringe tip within the adapter 320 . The syringe tip 514 has a central water supply passage 522 and a number of air passages 524 located around the water supply passage 522 . One end of the syringe tip 514 is provided with a keyway 530 to align with a complementary adapter insert 540 inside the adapter 320 (see FIG. 2 ). Thus, in order for the syringe tip 514 to fit properly within the adapter 320, it is necessary to align the keyway 530 on the syringe tip 514 with the adapter insert 540. If the alignment is not correct, the adapter 514 will not make a proper press fit on the mandrel 321, and water and air leakage problems will occur.

Various other changes can be made to the present invention. Other suitable light sources may be used in place of the fiber optic ring light 360 . For example, any type of conformable bulb could be incorporated inside the adapter to transmit light down the syringe tip and into the patient's mouth.

As shown in FIG. 7 , the handpiece body 612 has an adapter 620 for fitting the syringe tip 614 into the handpiece body 612 . In this embodiment, the adapter 620 is made of a relatively hard plastic such as polycarbonate or hard acrylic plastic. The adapter 620 should also transmit light from the light source 660 to the syringe tip 614, therefore, the material selected for the adapter 620 should be one that transmits light. The material is preferably transparent plastic, however, translucent materials may also be used.

Adapter 620 fits within one end of handpiece body 612, and locking ring 650 with external locking ring threads 652 cooperates with a set of internal threads 622 to hold adapter 620 in place. The locking ring 650 may have a groove (not shown) on its surface to receive a screwdriver to screw the locking ring 650 into the internal thread 622 .

Adapter 620 has a tapered mandrel 621 onto which syringe tip 614 is mounted. Water supply channel 628 and air channel 629 are provided in adapter 620 to convey water and air, respectively, from handpiece body 612 to syringe tip 614 . The locking assembly clamps the syringe tip 614 within the handpiece body 612 to prevent inadvertent release of the syringe tip 614 to keep water and air supplied through the syringe tip 614 and to prevent the syringe tip 614 from coming off the adapter 620 . The locking assembly generally has an adapter 620 , a sleeve clamp 640 mounted on the outer end of the adapter 620 , a sealing ring 642 and a lock cover 630 screwed on the adapter 620 and surrounding the sleeve clamp 640 . The locking cap 630 has a set of threads engaged with the second adapter thread 626 on the adapter 620 to fix the locking cap 630 on the adapter 620 .

The adapter 620 has a bulb recess 625 for receiving a bulb 660 . Bulb 660 is mounted on a bulb socket 662 located within handpiece body 612 . The bulb holder 662 is connected to a remote power source (not shown) through a connecting wire 670 .

When the bulb 660 is powered on, the lens 668 focuses the light into the adapter 620 and through the adapter 620 into the syringe tip 614 for delivery into the patient's oral cavity.

It is desirable to minimize the heat emitted from the light source, therefore fiber optic lamps or fluorescent lamps are preferred constructions as the heat emitted by these light sources is minimal. It is preferred to use a light source mounted in the vicinity of a reflective mirror to focus the light into the end of the syringe tip. This increases the intensity of the light without increasing the size of the light source and increases the intensity of the useful light for transmission along the length of the syringe tip.

As shown in Figures 8-12, another embodiment of the present invention employs one or more fiber optic bundles to transmit light from a light source through the handle of the syringe tip assembly into the syringe tip and along the length of the syringe tip to illuminate the patient's oral cavity.

The dental syringe assembly of this embodiment is shown generally at 700 . The handle 712 has connecting lines for the fiber optic bundle 760 and air tubing 758 and water supply tubing 756 for the air and water sources. The handle 712 is threaded (or by other suitable means) to a head 720 having a threaded extension 722 . The head 720 also has an air valve 752 and a water valve 754 to turn on air and water respectively in the usual way. As shown in Figure 9, the threaded extension 722 has one or more fiber optic bundle holes 728 for receiving one or more fiber optic bundles 760 and a chamfered water connector 724 for connecting the water supply piping 756 to the chamfered air Fitting 726 for connection to air tubing 758 .

Head 720 may also be threaded with a thumb nut 740 which is in operable communication with locking sleeve 750 to securely hold syringe tip 714 in place within dental syringe assembly 700 . Thumbnut 740 and locking sleeve 750 are shown in US Patent No. 5.306,146 and US Patent No. 5,489,205, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Inside the head 720 is mounted a manifold body 770 . Manifold body 770 is generally cylindrical with a tapered mandrel 780 (see FIG. 10) on which is mounted syringe tip 714 in the manner shown in US Patent No. 5,236,356. After the manifold body 770 is installed, the manifold top 772 is installed and held in place with the manifold sleeve 776 . Manifold body 770 has fiber optic bundle holes 728 for receiving fiber optic bundles 760 . The air source for the dental syringe assembly 700 is connected to an air strut 778 which in turn is housed in an air line 782 which passes through the manifold body 770 in a longitudinal passage. The water supply for the dental syringe assembly 700 is connected to a water supply stake 779 which in turn is housed in an offset longitudinal waterway 790 located within the manifold body 770 . Offset longitudinal waterway 790 intersects vertical waterway 788 in manifold body 770 which intersects axial water supply line 786 in manifold body 770 which ultimately intersects central longitudinal waterway of manifold body 770 784 to send water into mandrel 780 and from there into syringe tip 714.

FIG. 10 shows an assembled dental syringe assembly 700 in longitudinal section. The head 720 is threaded into the handle 712 and the combined manifold body 770 , manifold top 772 and manifold sleeve 776 fit within the recess of the head 720 . Thumb nut 740 holds manifold body 770, manifold top 772 and manifold sleeve 776 in place as it is threaded into head 720, with seal ring 742 provided to seal this threaded connection. Push syringe tip 714 into thumb nut 740 and press one end onto mandrel 780 . The syringe tip 714 is held securely on the mandrel 780 by the locking sleeve 750 and sealing ring 751 while the thumb nut 740 is screwed into the head 720 .

The end of syringe tip 714 is disposed adjacent to the end of fiber optic bundle 760 such that light transmitted by fiber optic bundle 760 is transmitted into the end of syringe tip 714 and along the length of syringe tip 714 when a light source (not shown) is activated. Delivered to the site where it can be injected into the patient's mouth to provide the desired illumination. Either method can be used to activate the light source.

While activating the light source, the dentist may depress air valve 752 to allow air from air line 758 to pass through air line 782 into the air passage within syringe tip 714 . Likewise, opening the water valve 754 allows water from the water supply piping 756 to enter the offset longitudinal waterway 790, which enters the vertical waterway 788, which enters the axial waterway 786, and thus enters the central longitudinal waterway 784 which is in contact with the mandrel 780. Connected to the central channel that supplies water to the central water supply channel of the syringe tip 714.

The invention has been described in terms of several specific embodiments thereof, however, these embodiments should be considered as illustrative rather than restrictive. Various improvements and additions will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the following claims.

Claims (21)

1. A dental syringe tip handpiece assembly for providing light emanating from the distal end of a light transmitting syringe tip, having: a) a hollow adapter for receiving a syringe tip mounted thereon; b) a mandrel extension, fitted inside the adapter, having a tapered mandrel at one end; and c) a light source, mounted inside the adapter and adjacent to the tapered mandrel, Thus, when the light source is illuminated, the light will enter the proximal end of the syringe tip mounted on the tapered mandrel 1, so that the light can be transmitted along the length of the syringe tip and radiated from its distal end, so that the dentist can use it from the Light emanating from the syringe tip illuminates a working area. 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source is a fiber optic ring light mounted around the mandrel extension. 3. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a light transmitting syringe tip mounted on the tapered mandrel. 4. An illuminated syringe tip and dental handpiece assembly having: a) One hand piece; b) an adapter, housed within the body of the handpiece, having a hollow body part with an external thread and a tapered mandrel mounted inside the hollow body part; c) a syringe tip mounted on the adapter; d) a locking assembly to secure the syringe tip within the adapter; and e) a light source mounted inside the hollow body part of the adapter at the end of the adapter adjacent to the syringe tip, Thus, when the light source is illuminated, it will enter the proximal end of the injection tip mounted on the tapered mandrel, so that the light can be transmitted along the length of the syringe tip and emitted from its distal end, so that the dentist can use Light emanating from the syringe tip illuminates a work area. 5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the light source is a fiber optic ring light. 6. According to the described assembly of claim 4, the handpiece body has: a) an internal unit having a generally U-shaped cross-section with a hollow interior; b) a water supply line and an air source, located inside the hollow and connected to the adapter; c) an optical fiber bundle located inside the hollow unit and connected to the light source; d) a cover unit, slidably mounted on the inner unit; and e) the means for removing the cover unit from the internal unit and the means for removing the adapter from the internal unit, This allows components to be cleaned and autoclaved. 7. A syringe tip having: a) an elongated plastic cylinder having a first central passage extending the entire length of the cylinder; b) a plurality of second passages arranged circumferentially around the first central passage; and c) Means for keying the syringe tip on an adapter so that the syringe tip is properly aligned on the adapter. 8. 7. The syringe tip of claim 7, wherein the means for keying the syringe tip on an adapter is a keyed recess in the syringe tip. 9. A dental syringe tip adapter for transmitting light from the distal end of a light transmitting clear syringe tip into the oral cavity of a patient, having: a) a light transmitting body; and b) means for mounting a syringe tip on the light transmitting body, Thus when a light source is placed near the adapter and the light source is illuminated, the light passes through the body of the adapter and into the mounted syringe tip, allowing the light to travel along the length of the syringe tip and out from its distal end . 10. A dental syringe tip handpiece assembly for providing light for emission from the distal end of a light transmitting clear syringe tip having: a) an adapter for mounting a syringe tip in a handpiece, the adapter having a light transmitting body; b) means for fitting a syringe tip onto the adapter; and c) a light source, mounted near the adapter, Thus when a light source is placed near the adapter and the light source is illuminated, the light passes through the body of the adapter and into the mounted syringe tip, allowing the light to travel along the length of the syringe tip and out from its distal end . 11. 11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the means for receiving the syringe tip is a tapered mandrel integral with the adapter. 12. 11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the light source is a bulb received in a bulb recess in the adapter. 13. 11. The assembly of claim 10, further comprising a light transmitting syringe tip mounted on the adapter. 14. An illuminated syringe tip and dental handpiece with: a) One hand piece; b) an adapter, housed in the body of the hand piece, the adapter has a light transmission body; c) the adapter has a tapered mandrel integral thereon; d) a syringe tip mounted on a tapered mandrel; e) a locking assembly for securing the syringe tip within the adapter; and f) a light source positioned adjacent to the adapter body that transmits the light so that when the light source is illuminated, the light passes through the adapter body into the syringe tip mounted thereon so that the light is transmitted along the length of the syringe tip and from Its distal end radiates out. 15. An adapter for fitting a syringe tip into a handpiece body having: a) a rigid body having a slot therein sized to receive one end of a syringe tip, the rigid body being made of a light transmitting material; and b) a tapered mandrel integrally connected to the hard body at one end of the groove, The syringe tip is thus mounted on the tapered mandrel when the syringe tip is inserted into the slot. 16. 15. The adapter of claim 15, wherein a second slot is provided in the body for receiving a light source. 17. 15. The adapter of claim 15, further comprising a syringe tip mounted on the tapered mandrel. 18. A dental syringe tip handpiece assembly for providing light to radiate from a light transmitting clear syringe tip having: a) a generally hollow handle having a light source, a water source and an air source; b) a valve head mounted on the handle, the valve head includes a water valve and an air valve; c) a manifold assembly located within the valve head, the manifold assembly having a mandrel adapted to receive a syringe tip mounted thereon; d) the manifold assembly also includes a water supply line for delivering water from the water source to the mandrel; e) the manifold assembly also includes an air line to deliver air from the air source and to supply air to a syringe tip; and f) the manifold assembly further includes means for transmitting light from the light source to a location near the mandrel, Therefore, when the light source is illuminated, the light will be injected from the light source into the proximal end of the syringe tip mounted on the mandrel, so that the light can be transported along the length of the syringe tip and emitted from its distal end, so that the dentist can use the syringe from the syringe. The light emitted from the end illuminates a working area. 19. 18. The assembly of claim 18, further comprising a light transmitting syringe tip mounted on the tapered mandrel. 20. A dental syringe tip handpiece assembly for providing light to radiate from the distal end of a light transmitting clear syringe tip comprising: a) a generally hollow handle containing at least one fiber optic bundle, a water source tubing and an air source tubing; b) a generally hollow valve head mounted on the handle, the valve head includes a water valve and an air valve; c) a manifold assembly located within the valve head, the manifold assembly including a mandrel for receiving a mounted syringe tip; d) the manifold assembly also includes a water supply line for outputting water from the water source through the mandrel and into the water supply passage in the syringe tip; e) the manifold assembly further includes an air line for feeding air from the air source into an air passage within the syringe tip; f) a thumbnut and locking sleeve mounted on the valve head to secure the syringe tip to the mandrel and adjacent the first end of the manifold body; and g) the manifold assembly further includes at least one fiber optic bundle aperture for receiving a fiber optic bundle from the handle and positioning an end of the fiber optic bundle proximate to the first end of the manifold body, Thus, when the fiber optic bundle is illuminated, light is directed from the fiber optic bundle into the proximal end of a syringe tip mounted on the mandrel so that the light travels along the length of the syringe tip and radiates from its distal end, thereby A dentist can illuminate a work area with light emanating from the syringe tip. twenty one. 21. The assembly of claim 20, further comprising a light transmitting syringe tip mounted on the tapered mandrel.

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