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Ultrasonic dental tool having a light sourceRelated Patent Categories: Dentistry, Apparatus, Having Motor Or Means To Transmit Motion From Motor To Tool (e.g., "engine"), Hand-held Tool Or Handpiece, Having Reciprocating, Vibrating, Or Oscillating Output, UltrasonicUltrasonic dental tool having a light source description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060234185, Ultrasonic dental tool having a light source. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/654,306, filed Feb. 17, 2005, entitled "Ultrasonic Dental Tool having a Light Source", the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention is related to ultrasonic dental tools, and more particularly to an ultrasonic dental tool having a light source. BACKGROUND [0003] Dental practitioners use ultrasonic dental tools (instruments) for dental treatments and procedures, such as scaling, periodontal treatments, root canal therapy, and the like. An ultrasonic dental tool typically includes a handpiece coupled at one end (i.e., a proximal end) to an electrical energy source and a fluid source via a cable. The cable includes a hose to provide a fluid (e.g., water), and conductors to provide electrical energy. [0004] The other end (i.e., a distal end) of the handpiece has an opening intended to receive a replaceable insert with a transducer (e.g., a magnetostrictive transducer) carried on the insert. The transducer extends from a proximal end of the insert into a hollow interior of the handpiece. An ultrasonically vibrated tip extends from a distal end of the insert. [0005] Since a patient's mouth is a small space in which to work, it is often difficult to see well into all regions of the mouth under the best of conditions. When a dental practitioner can not see clearly in the field of work, it is more likely that painful slips can occur. The often sharp implements, vibrating at ultrasonic frequencies, may do considerable harm to soft tissue (such as gum tissue) resulting in bleeding and pain. [0006] The large and focused lamp that hangs over the field of work while the dental practitioner uses ultrasonic dental tools in the patient's mouth often becomes obscured when the dental practitioner leans closely toward the patient to work in confined spaces within the mouth. The suddenly darker field is more difficult in which to work accurately. Small slips and injuries can result. [0007] Therefore, it is desirable to provide an ultrasonic dental tool that can bring light directly into the field of work (i.e., patient's mouth). If such light can be provided using a source of energy already available in existing ultrasonic dental generating units, circuit complexity and energy requirements can be reduced. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic dental insert having at least one light source and at least one magnetic material in close proximity for increasing and/or maintaining the brightness of the output light from the light source when in use. The dental insert includes a first transducer for generating ultrasonic vibrations and a connecting body having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end has 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. The ultrasonic dental insert may also include a hand grip portion and may be inserted into a handpiece for providing electromagnetic energy to the first transducer to generate the ultrasonic vibrations, to form an ultrasonic dental tool having a light source. [0009] In an exemplary embodiment, a second transducer may be disposed on the insert, for example, proximate to the connecting body, and generates a voltage signal in response to movement of a portion of the connecting body according to the ultrasonic vibrations. At least one light source, substantially proximate to the tip, may be connected to and receives the voltage signal from the second transducer to generate light. The dental insert and/or handpiece includes a magnetic material or a magnetic source in close proximity for initiating, re-establishing, increasing and/or maintaining the brightness of the output light from the light source when in use. [0010] A magnetic material or a magnetic source, for example, a magnet, may be used to initiate and/or re-establish proper magnetization of the metal connecting body for the purpose of allowing the connecting body to generate an electromagnetic field during operation of the insert. [0011] In one embodiment, a magnetic material may be placed inside an appropriate holder and may be used to magnetize or re-magnetize an insert and tip to allow the connecting body to generate an electromagnetic field during operation of the insert and tip. [0012] In another embodiment, a magnetic material or magnetic source may be used to fashion at least a portion of the insert and/or the connecting body. [0013] In a further embodiment, the magnetic material or source, such as a magnet, may be placed in the hand grip portion of the insert, to enable the connecting body, once magnetized, to retain its magnetic properties in an optimal manner even after exposure to heat or physical shock. [0014] The present invention also relates to an ultrasonic dental tool that includes an ultrasonic dental insert inserted into a handpiece having a hand grip portion. The ultrasonic dental insert includes a first transducer for generating ultrasonic vibrations and a connecting body having 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. [0015] A second transducer, for example, may be likewise disposed on the insert, proximate to the connecting body and may generate a voltage signal in response to movement of a portion of the connecting body according to the ultrasonic vibrations. At least one light source substantially proximate to the tip may be connected to receive the voltage signal from the second transducer to generate light. [0016] A magnetic material or magnetic field source may be disposed in close proximity to the dental insert for increasing and/or maintaining the brightness of the output light from the light source when in use. A magnetic material or magnetic source, for example, a permanent magnet, may also be used to initiate and then re-establish proper magnetization of the metal connecting body for the purpose of allowing the connecting body to generate an electromagnetic field during operation of the insert. [0017] In one embodiment, a magnetic material or magnetic source, such as a permanent magnet, may be placed inside an appropriate holder and used to magnetize or remagnetize an insert and tip to allow the connecting body to generate an electromagnetic field during operation of the insert and tip. [0018] In another embodiment, a magnetic material or source may be used to fashion at least a portion of the insert and/or the connecting body. [0019] In a further embodiment, the magnetic material or source, such as a magnet, may be placed in the handpiece, to enable the connecting body, once magnetized, to retain its magnetic properties in an optimal manner even after exposure to heat or physical shock. [0020] The present invention further relates to an ultrasonic dental insert including a motor, 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 may be 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 has a first end electrically coupled to said electrical generator. At least one light source has an electrical input electrically coupled to a second end of said electrical conductor. Continue reading about Ultrasonic dental tool having a light source... Full patent description for Ultrasonic dental tool having a light source Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Ultrasonic dental tool having a light source patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Ultrasonic dental tool having a light source or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Dental device Next Patent Application: Bearing for dental handpiece Industry Class: Dentistry ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Ultrasonic dental tool having a light source patent info. 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