Claims for Patent: 5,360,338

Summary for Patent: 5,360,338

Title:	Portable sterilizable water supply for dental appliances
Abstract:	A compact sterilizable unit has a control box containing internal water and air supply networks and a sterilizable water supply bottle, dental handpiece and dental syringe removably connected to the control box by specially adapted connector fittings. The unit has a retrofit connection to a conventional four hole connector which supplies operating air in response to the conventional dental operatory foot control. Only sterile water is supplied to the patient from the sterile water bottle through the handpiece and syringe. The connection of the handpiece to the control box is through a high temperature resistant sterilizable tubing harness having an expanded sheath construction that does not inhibit bending. Short high temperature resistant tube sections which are strengthened by an expanded shrink fit covering sheath are disclosed. Special high temperature resistant tubing and seals are provided so that the entire unit may be sterilized.
Inventor(s):	Waggoner; Mark B. (Plano, TX)
Assignee:	Waggoner Family Corporation (Plano, TX)
Application Number:	07/943,284
Patent Claims:	1. A portable heat sterilizable dental apparatus useable at a conventional dental operatory station for delivering sterile operating fluid and operating air to dental appliances, comprising: a separately heat sterilizable sterile water bottle and tubing harness connected thereto having air and water flow passages; a compact portable heat sterilizable control box having: an internal water supply network and an internal air supply network, said separately heat sterilizable sterile water bottle and tubing harness being detachably connected to the internal water supply network and internal air supply network through air and water flow passages in said tubing harness, a water supply fitting connected to said internal water supply network, said water supply fitting mounted on said control box being detachably connected to said tubing harness, means for detachable connection of the internal air supply network with an air supply connector of a conventional dental operatory station to deliver intermittent pressurized air to the internal air supply network by intermittent operation of a standard foot control, and means for connection to the standard connector of at least one detachable dental appliance, said means for connection being connected to said internal water supply network and said internal air supply network to supply sterile water from said sterile water bottle through said internal water supply network and operating air from said internal air supply network; said apparatus being specially adapted to withstand heat sterilizing and subsequent application of conventional operating pressure and being suitable for passage of water in conformance with regulations for dental water, said apparatus including said compact control box, said internal air and water supply networks, said water supply fitting, said sterilizable water bottle and tubing harness, said means for connection and said means for detachable connection, all being repeatedly heat sterilizable at a temperature of at least 250.degree. F. and useable for delivering sterile water to a patient during dental operations. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the internal air supply network includes a branch tube leading to the water supply fitting for supplying operating air and a selective means for venting pressurized operating air from the sterile water bottle so that operating air pressure can be removed from said bottle as desired. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the internal water supply network includes a sterile water supply tube leading to the means for connection to the standard connector of at least one detachable dental appliance having a one-way flow valve to permit water supply to said appliance while blocking reverse flow into the internal water supply network. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a dental handpiece is detachably connected through said means for connection to the standard connector of at least one detachable dental appliance, directly to the air supply network and indirectly to the water supply network through a pilot valve operated by the internal air supply network. 5. The apparatus of claim 4 further including a sterilizable dental syringe, said means for connection to the standard connector of at least one detachable dental appliance includes a mounted on said control box connection for said dental syringe fluidly connected to said internal water supply network. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tubing harness of said sterilizable water bottle is made of a flexible high temperature resistant rubber tubing that will withstand repeated heat sterilization without noticeable deterioration. 7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the internal air supply network and internal water supply network of the control box are made of flexible high temperature resistant rubber tubing that will withstand repeated heat sterilization without noticeable deterioration. 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said fittings for water supply and said means for connection to the standard connector of a detachable dental appliance have flexible high temperature resistant rubber seals that will withstand heat sterilization without noticeable deterioration. 9. The apparatus of claim 6 including a sterilizable dental handpiece having a sterilizable tubing harness detachably connected through said means for Connection to the Standard connector of at least one detachable dental appliance being directly connected to said air supply network and to said water supply network for simultaneous supply of operating air and sterile water. 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the sterilizable tubing harness for the sterilizable dental handpiece is made of a flexible high temperature resistant rubber tubing that will withstand repeated heat sterilization without noticeable deterioration. 11. The apparatus of claim 10 including a fitting for an air/water syringe having heat resistant seals, a sterilizable air/water syringe and a sterilizable syringe tubing harness detachably connectable to the syringe fitting, said air/water syringe fitting being interconnected with the internal air supply network and the internal water supply network, said sterilizable syringe tubing harness being made of a flexible high temperature resistant rubber tubing that will withstand repeated heat sterilization without noticeable deterioration. 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said sterilizable dental handpiece and said sterilizable air/water syringe have seals that will withstand repeated heat sterilization without noticeable deterioration. 13. A portable sterilizable apparatus movable from dental station to dental station for delivering sterile operating fluids to dental appliances, comprising: a sterilizable portable control box having a fitting for connection of pressurized dental operating air, an internal air supply network, an internal fluid supply network, a fluid supply fitting and at least one fitting for a detachable dental appliance; said fitting for pressurized dental operating air being connected to said internal air supply network in said control box wherein said internal air supply network fluidly interconnects at least the fluid supply fitting and the at least one fitting for a detachable dental appliance in order to supply dental operating air; a separately sterilizable fluid supply bottle having a tubing harness having an end portion detachably engageable with the fluid supply fitting of said control box and having air and liquid flow passages connecting said fluid supply bottle and said fluid supply fitting; said control box having said internal fluid supply network fluidly interconnecting said fluid supply fitting and said at least one fitting for a detachable dental appliance through a pilot valve comprising an air activated water relay valve; said at least one fitting for a dental detachable appliance being fluidly connected to said internal air and fluid supply networks to receive operating air from said internal air supply network and sterile fluid through said pilot valve from said fluid supply bottle; wherein sterile fluid from said fluid supply bottle can be supplied to a dental handpiece through said at least one fitting for a detachable dental appliance in response to pressurized operating air applied to said air supply network, said flow of sterile fluid being controlled by operation of said pilot valve. 14. The apparatus of claim 13 including an adjustable needle valve wherein the flow of water to said at least one fitting for a dental appliance is adjustable by means of said adjustable needle valve. 15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the internal air supply network includes a branch leading to the fluid supply fitting, and a selective means for venting pressurized operating air from said fluid supply bottle so that operating pressure can be removed from said fluid supply bottle as desired. 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the internal air supply network has a junction that supplies the branch leading to the fluid supply fitting, said junction also having a syringe air branch in fluid communication with said at least one fitting to a dental appliance to provide operating air to it syringe. 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said junction is in fluid communication with a switch which simultaneously exhausts retained air pressure from said fluid supply bottle and said syringe air branch. 18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the internal fluid supply network includes a sterilizable water supply tube having a one-way flow valve which permits water supply to said at least one fitting for a dental appliance while blocking reverse flow into the fluid supply network. 19. A portable sterilizable apparatus for delivering substantially sterile operating fluids to dental appliances, comprising: a sterilizable portable control box having a water supply fitting, a fitting for one detachable dental appliance, a fitting for another detachable dental appliance, an air supply connection for pressurized operating air, an internal air supply network in fluid communication with said air supply connection and an internal fluid supply network interconnected with said internal air supply network and said water supply fitting; said internal air supply network having a main air branch in fluid communication with the fitting for said one detachable dental appliance through a junction having a first secondary branch in fluid communication with the water supply fitting for simultaneously supplying operating air to said fittings; a separately sterilizable water supply bottle having a sterilizable tubing harness for delivery of sterile water through the tubing, the tubing harness having an end portion detachably engageable with the water supply fitting of said control box to establish water and air flow passages between the bottle and the control box; said fitting for one detachable dental appliance being fluidly interconnected to said internal water supply network and being fluidly interconnected with said main air branch for delivering sterile water from said water supply bottle and delivering operating air; said fitting for another detachable dental appliance being fluidly interconnected with said internal air supply network and having a connection with said internal fluid supply network through a one-way flow valve, thereby being adapted to deliver operating air and sterile water to a tubing harness of a dental syringe; wherein sterile water from said water supply bottle and operating air may be delivered to said one and said another fittings for detachable dental appliances in response to pressurized operating air being supplied through the air supply connection when the tubing harness of the separately sterilizable water supply bottle is connected to the water supply fitting and whereby the apparatus can be disconnected from an operating air supply at one dental station and easily carried to another dental station for use. 20. The apparatus of claim 19 further including a separately sterilizable dental handpiece, tubing harness and fitting at the end of the tubing harness adapted for operable connection to said fitting for one detachable dental appliance on the control box. 21. The apparatus of claim 20 further including a separately sterilizable dental air/water syringe appliance, tubing harness and fitting at the end of the tubing harness adapted for operable connection to said fitting for another detachable dental appliance on the control box. 22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the control box includes control means interconnecting the internal air and water supply networks for simultaneously starting and stopping the flow of operating drive air and sterile water to said fitting for one detachable dental appliance and a dental handpiece when connected thereto, in response to turning the main air supply on or off. 23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein that portion of the internal air supply network that supplies operating air to the sterile water supply bottle is connected to the main operating air supply through a one-way flow valve in said junction having a first secondary air branch that allows air to pressurize said bottle but retains the pressurized air after the main operating air is shut off so that pressurized sterile water remains available to said fitting for another detachable dental appliance. 24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the control means is a pilot valve operated by air pressure from the main air branch, which controls the flow of sterile water from the internal water supply network to said fitting for one detachable dental appliance. 25. A portable sterilizable apparatus movable from dental station to dental station for delivering substantially sterile operating fluids to dental appliances, comprising: a portable control box detachably connectable to a conventional standard source of pressurized dental operating air, having a sterile water supply connector for a sterile water supply bottle and a connector for detachably connecting at least one dental appliance; a separately sterilizable water supply bottle detachably connected to said sterile water supply connector extending from the control box, said water bottle being a sterilizable bottle having a sterilizable tubing harness having air and sterile water flow passages and a quick connector for detachably making air and sterile water connections with said sterile water supply connector extending from the control box; the control box having an internal air supply network interconnected with an internal sterile water supply network, including means for simultaneously supplying operating air to the sterilizable water supply bottle and the connector for detachably connecting at least one dental appliance when the standard source of pressurized operating air is connected to the internal air supply network in the control box; at least one sterilizable dental appliance which in use discharges water that contacts a patient's oral cavity, said appliance being detachably connectable to said connector for detachably connecting at least one dental appliance extending from said control box, having a water connection in fluid communication with said water supply bottle through said control box; and control means to selectively supply sterilized water to the dental appliance from the sterilizable water supply bottle through the control box. 26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the control means includes a pilot air operated relay valve having an air inlet connected to the air supply network, a water inlet connected in fluid communication with the connector leading to the sterile water supply bottle and a water outlet in fluid communication with the said connector for detachably connecting at least one dental appliance whereby sterile water is supplied to said at least one sterilizable dental appliance only when air is supplied to the pilot valve through the air supply network and the air supply to the pilot valve is in a common conduit in fluid communication with said sterilizable dental appliance so that air and water are both on or both off. 27. A portable sterilizable apparatus for delivering substantially sterile operating fluids to dental appliances, comprising: a separately sterilizable water supply bottle having a tubing harness for delivery of sterile water through the tubing, the tubing harness having an end portion detachably engageable with a water supply fitting of a control box having water and air flow passages between the bottle and the control box; a sterilizable portable control box having an air supply connection for pressurized operating air in fluid communication with an internal air supply network in the control box, the internal air supply network interconnecting at least the tubing harness of the water supply bottle and at least one dental appliance fitting for dectachably engaging a dental appliance, said control box having an internal fluid supply network interconnecting in fluid communication at least the water supply fitting and said at least one dental appliance fitting, the internal air supply network having a main air branch in fluid communication with said at least one dental appliance fitting and a junction having a first secondary branch in fluid communication with the water supply fitting for simultaneously supplying operating air to said water supply bottle and said at least one dental appliance fitting; wherein the main air branch has a junction with a pilot branch leading to a normally closed air operated pilot valve in the internal water supply network which controls the flow of sterile water from the sterilizable water supply bottle through the pilot valve to the at least one dental appliance fitting; wherein sterile water from the water supply bottle and pressurized operating air may be delivered to the at least one dental appliance fitting in response to pressurized operating air being supplied through said air supply connection and said normally closed air operated pilot valve when said tubing harness and said water supply fitting are interengaged and whereby the apparatus can be disconnected from an operating air supply at one station and easily carried to another station for use. 28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the main branch of the air supply network has a switch upstream of the pilot branch junction for starting or stopping the flow of air to the pilot branch to start or stop the flow of sterile water at the pilot valve. 29. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the control box includes a one way flow valve between the pilot valve and water supply fitting in fluid communication with said another dental appliance fitting through said one-way flow valve adapted to permit water flow to said another dental appliance fitting but prevent backflow into the sterile water supply. 30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein a junction having a first secondary branch is connected to the internal air supply network through a one-way flow valve adapted to permit air flow to the junction and retain the air pressure in the junction and first secondary branch to keep the water supply bottle pressurized with residual pressure after the supply of operating air to the control box has been interrupted. 31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the junction having the first secondary branch has a second secondary branch in fluid communication with said another dental appliance fitting to supply pressurized operating air through said another dental appliance fitting to a dental appliance that may be connected thereto. 32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the junction in the internal air supply network having the first and second secondary branches has a vent line which may be opened to relieve retained air pressure in order to depressurize the sterile water bottle. 33. The apparatus of claim 31 further including a flow adjusting needle valve wherein the flow of sterile water from the air operated pilot valve to said at least one dental appliance fitting passes first through said flow adjusting needle valve. 34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the main aid branch has a separate chip air branch in fluid communication with said at least one dental appliance fitting for supplying chip air to a dental appliance that may be connected thereto. 35. The apparatus of claim 34 further including a separately sterilizable dental handpiece, tubing harness and fitting at the end of the tubing harness adapted for operable connection to said at least one dental appliance fitting on the control box. 36. The apparatus of claim 35 further including a separately sterilizable dental syringe appliance, tubing harness and fitting at the end of the tubing harness adapted for operable connection to said another dental appliance fitting on the control box. 37. A method of providing substantially sterile water to a dental patient through the outlet of a dental appliance, comprising: providing a portable sterilizable control box connectable to a conventional source of dental operating air, at least one sterilizable water using dental appliance, tubing harness and connector for detachably connecting the tubing harness to the control box, and a sterilizable water bottle, tubing harness and connector for detachably connecting the tubing harness to a water connector in the control box; sterilizing the control box; sterilizing said water bottle, tubing harness and connector; sterilizing the dental appliance, tubing harness and connector; connecting the sterilized control box to a conventional source of operating air at a dental operating station; connecting the sterilized water bottle containing sterile water to the control box by means of the tubing harness and connector for the bottle; connecting the sterile water using dental appliance to the control box by means of the tubing harness and connector; and dispensing sterile water to a patient from the sterile water bottle through the control box and sterile water using dental appliance whereby a dental operation can be performed with a substantially sterile dental appliance and sterile water.

Details for Patent 5,360,338

Applicant	Tradename	Biologic Ingredient	Dosage Form	BLA	Approval Date	Patent No.	Expiredate
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	ZOSTAVAX	zoster vaccine live	For Injection	125123	05/25/2006		2039-09-23