Ultrasonic swivel insert

Abstract

An ultrasonic insert carries a rotary bearing adjacent to the transducer. The bearing slidably engages an ultrasonic handpiece. When seated in the handpiece, the insert is substantially decoupled, on a rotary axis, from the handpiece. A rotary force need only be applied to the insert to rotate it in the handpiece. Alternately, an adaptor can be inserted into the handpiece. The adaptor slidably receives a conventional ultrasonic insert. The conventional insert can be easily rotated with a force applied only thereto, relative to the handpiece.

1 - 69 . (canceled)  
     
     
         70 . An ultrasonic insert which is engageable with a hollow handpiece, the insert comprising: 
 a treatment applying tip;    an ultrasonic transducer coupled to the tip; and    a rotary bearing non-removably carried between the transducer and the tip wherein the bearing is rotatable relative to the tip.    
     
     
         71 . An insert as in  claim 70  wherein the bearing comprises a cylindrical sleeve rotatably carried adjacent to the end of the transducer.  
     
     
         72 . An insert as in  claim 70  which includes a generally cylindrical, manually grippable section between the tip and the bearing wherein the bearing is rotatable relative to the grippable section.  
     
     
         73 . An insert as in  claim 70  wherein the bearing comprises a cylindrical sleeve rotatably carried adjacent to an end of the transducer, and wherein the sleeve rotatably abuts an end of a grippable element.  
     
     
         74 . An insert as in  claim 73  wherein the sleeve includes an exterior feature slidably engageable with the handpiece.  
     
     
         75 . An insert as in  claim 73  wherein the sleeve carries an annular flange of greater diameter than the sleeve wherein the flange rotates adjacent to the grippable element.  
     
     
         76 . A rotatable ultrasonic dental insert comprising; 
 a treatment applying tip, a transducer non-rotatably coupled to the tip and a handpiece engaging element, rotatably coupled to the tip, wherein the tip is rotatable relative to the engaging element by a force applied adjacent to the tip.