JPH07289565A - Dental instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent adhesion and fusion of part of viable tissues, blood, etc., on a light exit surface of a photoconductor, to prevent an external injury, etc., and further to protect the photoconductor against deterioration by an autoclave, etc., by subjecting the photoconductor which is built in an instrument to be used for medical treatment and irradiates a working section, etc., to coating with Teflon (R), etc. CONSTITUTION:This dental handpiece 1 contains the photoconductor 5 and radiates the light transmitted in the photoconductor 5 toward the working section. The photoconductor 5 is subjected to coating at least at the light exit end face 5a1, 5a2 or the parts exposed from the handpiece are coated with the Teflon (R).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dental instrument, and more particularly to illuminating a work site in an instrument used for dental treatment, for example, an air turbine, a micro engine, an ultrasonic scaler or the like. Of a light guide incorporated in the instrument, or a light guide used for guiding light in a light irradiator for irradiating light for cutting, evaporating, activating, coagulating resin, etc. of living tissue. Regarding improvement.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In dental treatment, various instruments such as a microengine, an air turbine, a syringe, an ultrasonic scaler used for treatment of the oral cavity have a built-in light guide for illuminating a working site. FIG. 1 is a view showing a micro engine as an example of a dental instrument in which a light guide is incorporated, in which 1 is a handpiece portion incorporating a light guide to which the present invention is applied, As is well known, the handpiece part is configured to be detachably connected to a power part (not shown), and the rotation of a motor built in the power part causes a spindle 2 built in the handpiece 1 to rotate. Is transmitted to the head section 3 through
The chuck mechanism provided in the head unit 3 is rotated. For example, a cutting tool (bar) 4 for cutting a tooth is detachably attached to the chuck mechanism, and the cutting tool 4 is rotated to cut the tooth.

Reference numeral 5 denotes an optical conductor (optical fiber bundle). As is well known, the optical conductor 5 has one end (not shown) which is terminated to face a light source arranged in the power unit, and the other end 5a. ,
As shown in the figure, the vicinity of the head portion is terminated and the vicinity of the working area of the cutting tool 4 is illuminated.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of the optical conductor (optical fiber bundle) shown in FIG. 1, in which 5 is an optical fiber bundle, 5a is a light emitting end, and 5b is a light introducing end. As described above, one end 5b of the optical fiber bundle faces, for example, the light source 7 provided in the power unit, and the light from the light source is introduced into the optical fiber bundle 5 during use, and the introduced light is 2 It splits into the crotch and propagates in the optical fiber 5, and the other end 5
It is radiated from a ₁ and 5a ₂ .

As described above, the optical fiber bundle 5 is divided into two, and as shown in FIG. 3, the work area is illuminated from two locations 5a ₁ and 5a ₂ . Reference numeral 6 denotes a protective tube that protects the optical fiber bundle from being separated. As the protective tube, for example, a nylon net tube having flexibility is used.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of a light irradiator to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, 11 is a handpiece,
Reference numeral 12 is a light guide (optical fiber), and 13 is a light guide supporting member through which the light guide is inserted for support and protection. In the case where the light source 14 is built in the hand heath 11 or not. Light from another provided light source is transmitted through the light guide cable 15, and the light source 1
4 or the light transmitted through the light guide 15 is introduced into the light guide 12 and the light guide 12
When the light is a laser beam, it is used for incision of biological tissue, evaporation, visible light, ultraviolet light, heat rays, etc., for activation of biological tissue, coagulation of resin, and the like.

[0007]

Generally, in terms of function and manufacture, the above-mentioned light guide has both end portions (sections) whose cut surfaces are polished to leave the light guide (glass) exposed. Is. Therefore, the cut surface of the light guide may come into direct contact with the tissue of the living body during treatment or treatment in dentistry (medical department). At this time, a part of the tissue, blood, or the like may adhere to the cut surface, or may adhere to the cut surface, which causes the cut surface to become dirty and reduce the illuminance (optical power).
This leads to factors such as poor workability and long working time. In this case, the operator interrupts the treatment / treatment and cleans and cleans the cut surface each time in order to ensure a good working condition. Further, when removing the adhered portion, the cutting surface may be scratched or damaged by a blade or the like. In particular, the light-exiting end surface or the portion exposed from the instrument is easily soiled and is therefore easily damaged.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides (1) a light irradiating means which incorporates a light guide and radiates light propagating in the light guide toward a work site. In the dental instrument having, the light guide is characterized in that at least the light emitting end face is coated, and further, (2) the light guide comprises:
At least the portion exposed from the instrument is coated.

[0009]

[Function] Built-in instruments used for dental treatment, the optical conductor that illuminates the work site is coated with Teflon, etc., to prevent a part of living tissue or blood from adhering or adhering to the light emitting surface. Prevents, and even protects from trauma, and protects from deterioration by autoclave.

[0010]

EXAMPLES As described above, in the dental treatment, in order to perform the dental treatment or to illuminate the treatment site,
Although a light guide is used, the light guide (glass, silicon) is exposed at both end surfaces (light incident end and light exit end) of the light guide, and if the exposed surfaces become dirty, the light transmission loss is large. As a result, workability is reduced and work time is lengthened. Therefore, the end face of the light guide is sometimes cleaned, but it takes time to clean the end face, and further, when removing the adhered portion adhered to the end face, the end face may be damaged. . Further, since the dental instrument is used by putting it in the oral cavity of a patient, it is required to be handled hygienically, and generally, it is used after being sterilized by an autoclave. High pressure steam from the autoclave degrades the light guide and shortens its life.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it is easy to separate the interface between the coating surface such as Teflon and the living tissue, mucous membrane, blood or the like on the surface of the above-mentioned photoconductor. It is a coded material. The coating may be applied to the entire surface of the light guide if possible, but at least the light emitting surface should be applied, and if necessary,
Coating is performed on the incident surface, the portion exposed from the instrument, or the portion where the net 6 is not applied in FIG.

[0012]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the surface (both end surfaces or the entire surface) of the light guide is coated, a part of the tissue or blood adheres to or adheres to the light guide surface. Can be prevented. It is possible to prevent scratches on the light guide surface or the entire surface. It protects the light guide against autoclave sterilization. There are merits such as.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a micro engine as an example of a dental instrument to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a light guide used in the micro engine shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a light emitting end portion of the micro engine shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a light irradiator as an example of an optical dental instrument to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Handpiece, 2 ... Spindle, 3 ... Head part, 4
... Cutting tools, 5 ... Optical conductor, 6 ... Net, 7 ... Light source, 11 ...
Handpiece, 12 ... Optical conductor, 12a ... Light emitting end face, 1
3 ... Light guide support member, 14 ... Light source, 15 ... Light guide cable.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A dental instrument comprising a light guide and irradiating light propagating in the light guide toward a work site, wherein the light guide is coated at least on a light emitting end face. A dental instrument that is characterized by: 2. Dental instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that the light guide is coated at least on the part exposed from the instrument.