Ultrasonic dental tool having a light source

Abstract

An ultrasonic dental insert having at least one light source. A first transducer generates ultrasonic vibrations. A connecting body has a proximal end and a distal end having a tip attached thereto. The proximal end is attached to the first transducer so as to receive the ultrasonic vibrations therefrom and to transmit the ultrasonic vibrations toward the tip attached to the distal end. A second transducer is disposed substantially proximate to the connecting body for generating a voltage signal in response to movement of a portion of the connecting body according to the ultrasonic vibrations. A magnetic material including a source of a magnetic field is present in close proximity to the insert. At least one light source substantially proximate to the tip is connected to and receives the voltage signal from the second transducer to generate light. The ultrasonic dental insert may be inserted into a handpiece for providing electromagnetic energy to the first transducer to generate the ultrasonic vibrations.

1 . An ultrasonic dental insert comprising: 
 a first transducer for generating ultrasonic vibrations;    a connecting body having a proximal end and a distal end having a tip attached thereto, the proximal end attached to the first transducer so as to receive the ultrasonic vibrations therefrom and to transmit the ultrasonic vibrations toward the tip attached to the distal end;    a second transducer disposed substantially proximate to the connecting body for generating a voltage signal in response to movement of a portion of the connecting body according to the ultrasonic vibrations;    at least one magnetic material in close proximity to the connecting body; and    at least one light source substantially proximate to the tip, said at least one light source being connected to and receiving the voltage signal from the second transducer to generate light.    
   
   
       2 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 1 , wherein the second transducer comprises a coil surrounding said portion of the connecting body.  
   
   
       3 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one light source is an LED connected between a first end of the coil and a second end of the coil.  
   
   
       4 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 3 , further comprising a zener diode connected between the first end of the coil and the second end of the coil, such that the zener diode clamps voltage across the LED to a predetermined value.  
   
   
       5 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one light source comprises a first LED and a second LED connected in an anti-parallel relationship with one another between a first end of the coil and a second end of the coil, such that the first LED and the second LED are alternately turned on in response to the voltage signal generated by the coil, said voltage signal being an ac voltage signal.  
   
   
       6 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 2 , further comprising a hand grip enveloping at least said portion of the connecting body.  
   
   
       7 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 6 , wherein the coil is at least partially disposed within the hand grip.  
   
   
       8 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 7 , further comprising a bobbin at least partially disposed within the hand grip in a surrounding relationship with said portion of the connecting body, wherein the coil and said at least one light source are mounted on the bobbin.  
   
   
       9 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 6 , wherein the hand grip is injection molded over at least said portion of the connecting body.  
   
   
       10 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 6 , wherein the hand grip comprises at least a softer portion and a harder portion.  
   
   
       11 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 1 , wherein the first transducer comprises a magnetostrictive type or a piezoelectric type transducer.  
   
   
       12 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic material is permanently or removably attached to the dental insert.  
   
   
       13 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic material comprises a permanent magnet, a rare earth magnetic or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic material comprises a material having high magnetic permeability.  
   
   
       15 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic material is contained within a holder proximate the connecting body.  
   
   
       16 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 15  wherein said magnetic material is adhesively attached to portions of the holder.  
   
   
       17 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 6 , wherein the magnetic material is present inside the hand grip.  
   
   
       18 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 8 , further comprising a retaining ring snapped onto the connecting body, wherein the bobbin is fixedly attached to the retaining ring.  
   
   
       19 . The ultrasonic insert of  claim 1  wherein said tip comprises a dental scaler, a file, or a dental drill.  
   
   
       20 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 1  wherein said tip comprises a tapered portion that is curved.  
   
   
       21 . The dental insert of  claim 19  wherein said the curve in the tapered portion is curved towards the light source or curved away from the light source.  
   
   
       22 . The dental insert of  claim 1  further comprising a handpiece for holding the ultrasonic dental insert and for providing electromagnetic energy to the first transducer to generate the ultrasonic vibrations.  
   
   
       23 . The dental insert of  claim 22 , wherein the handpiece has a body and a rotatable head rotatably coupled to the body, wherein the ultrasonic dental insert engages the rotatable head.  
   
   
       24 . The dental insert of  claim 22 , wherein the handpiece further comprises a retainer ring fixedly coupled to one of the body and the rotator head and rotatably coupled to the other of the body and the rotator head, such that the rotator head is rotatably coupled to the body.  
   
   
       25 . An ultrasonic dental insert comprising: 
 a first transducer for generating ultrasonic vibrations;    a connecting body having a proximal end and a distal end having a tip attached thereto, the proximal end attached to the first transducer so as to receive the ultrasonic vibrations therefrom and to transmit the ultrasonic vibrations toward the tip attached to the distal end, at least a portion of said connecting body comprises a permanent magnetic material;    a second transducer disposed substantially proximate to the connecting body for generating a voltage signal in response to movement of a portion of the connecting body according to the ultrasonic vibrations; and    at least one light source substantially proximate to the tip, said at least one light source being connected to and receiving the voltage signal from the second transducer to generate light.    
   
   
       26 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 25 , wherein the magnetic material comprises a permanent magnet, a rare earth magnetic or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       27 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 25 , wherein the magnetic material comprises a material having high magnetic permeability.  
   
   
       28 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 25 , wherein the first transducer comprises a magnetostrictive type or a piezoelectric type transducer.  
   
   
       29 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 25  wherein the second transducer comprises a coil surrounding said portion of the connecting body.  
   
   
       30 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 29 , wherein said at least one light source is an LED connected between a first end of the coil and a second end of the coil.  
   
   
       31 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 29 , further comprising a zener diode connected between the first end of the coil and the second end of the coil, such that the zener diode clamps voltage across the LED to a predetermined value.  
   
   
       32 . The ultrasonic dental insert of  claim 29  wherein said at least one light source comprises a first LED and a second LED connected in an anti-parallel relationship with one another between a first end of the coil and a second end of the coil such that the first LED and the second LED are alternately turned on in response to the voltage signal generated by the coil, said voltage signal being an ac voltage signal.  
   
   
       33 . The ultrasonic insert of  claim 25  wherein said magnetic material comprises part of a substantially ring-shaped holder that is Integral or removably attached to the insert in the proximity of the tip.  
   
   
       34 . An ultrasonic tool comprising: 
 a motor for generating mechanical energy;    a work tip; and    a coupling member disposed between said motor and said work tip, said coupling member being adapted to receive mechanical energy from said motor;    an electrical generator mechanically coupled to said coupling member, said electrical generator being adapted to receive a portion of said mechanical energy from said coupling member;    an electrical conductor having a first end electrically coupled to said electrical generator;    at least one magnetic material in close proximity to the coupling member; and    at least one light source having an electrical input electrically coupled to a second end of said electrical conductor.    
   
   
       35 . The ultrasonic tool of  claim 34  wherein said motor for generating mechanical energy comprises a magnetostrictive ultrasonic transducer, or a piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer.  
   
   
       36 . The ultrasonic tool of  claim 34  wherein the magnetic material is permanently or removably attached to the tool.  
   
   
       37 . The ultrasonic dental tool of  claim 34 , wherein the magnetic material comprises a permanent magnet, a rare earth magnet or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       38 . The ultrasonic dental tool of  claim 34 , wherein the magnetic material comprises a material having high magnetic permeability.  
   
   
       39 . The ultrasonic dental tool of  claim 34  further comprising a handgrip enveloping at least a portion of the coupling member.  
   
   
       40 . The ultrasonic dental tool of  claim 39 , wherein the magnetic material is present inside the handgrip.  
   
   
       41 . The ultrasonic dental tool of  claim 34 , wherein the magnetic material is contained inside a holder proximate the coupling member.