Fluid conditioning system

Abstract

A fluid conditioning system is adapted to condition the fluid used in medical and dental cutting, irrigating, evacuating, cleaning, and drilling operations. The fluid may be conditioned by adding flavors, antiseptics and/or tooth whitening agents such as peroxide, medications, and pigments. In addition to the direct benefits obtained from introduction of these agents, the laser cutting properties may be varied from the selective introduction of the various agents.

1 . An apparatus using conditioned fluid to treat a tissue target, comprising: 
 a fluid output pointed in a general direction of an interaction region, the fluid output being constructed to place conditioned fluid particles into the interaction region, the interaction region being defined at a location above the target and the conditioned fluid being compatible with the target; and    an electromagnetic energy source pointed in a direction of the interaction region, the electromagnetic energy source being constructed to deliver into the interaction region a peak concentration of electromagnetic energy that is greater than a concentration of electromagnetic energy delivered onto the target, the electromagnetic energy having a wavelength which is substantially absorbed by the conditioned fluid in the interaction region, wherein the absorption of the electromagnetic energy by the conditioned fluid energizes the fluid causes the fluid to expand and wherein disruptive forces are imparted onto the target.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the fluid output is constructed to continuously place conditioned fluid into the interaction region for so long as instructed by a user input while a fluid conditioning cartridge is coupled to the apparatus; and    the fluid output is constructed to continuously place non-conditioned fluid into the interaction region for so long as instructed by a user input while the fluid conditioning cartridge is coupled to the apparatus.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the fluid output is constructed to continuously place conditioned fluid into the interaction region for so long as instructed by a user input while a fluid conditioning cartridge is coupled to the apparatus; and    the fluid output is constructed to continuously place reduced-concentration conditioned fluid into the interaction region for so long as instructed by a user input while the fluid conditioning cartridge is coupled to the apparatus.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid output is constructed to continuously place conditioned fluid into the interaction region for so long as a fluid conditioning cartridge is coupled to the apparatus.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the fluid conditioning cartridge injects a conditioning agent into a fluid, whereby a conditioned fluid is formed.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the conditioning agent is a disinfectant; and    the conditioned fluid comprises a composition (e.g., concentration) of the disinfectant that is suitable for use on the target in combination with the electromagnetic energy for generation of the disruptive forces.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the target comprises hard or soft tissue.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the fluid conditioning cartridge is a first fluid conditioning cartridge that injects conditioning agent into the fluid to form conditioned fluid having a first composition (e.g., concentration);    the fluid output is constructed to continuously output conditioned fluid having a second composition (e.g., concentration) when a second fluid conditioning cartridge is coupled to the apparatus.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the second fluid conditioning cartridge injects conditioning agent into the fluid to form conditioned fluid having the second composition (e.g., concentration) of conditioning agent.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the conditioning agent is a disinfectant, the first composition is a first concentration of disinfectant, and the second composition is a second concentration of disinfectant that is different than the first concentration of disinfectant.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the second composition (e.g., concentration) has a discemable physical property that is greater than the same discemable physical property of the first composition (e.g., concentration).  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the discernable physical property is concentration of conditioning agent.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the conditioning agent is a disinfectant; and    the conditioned fluid comprise a composition (e.g., concentration) of the disinfectant that is suitable for use on the target in combination with the electromagnetic energy for generation of the disruptive forces.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the second fluid conditioning cartridge is constructed to be coupled to the apparatus in place of the first fluid conditioning cartridge.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the fluid conditioning cartridge is a first fluid conditioning cartridge;    the fluid output is constructed to continuously output conditioned fluid having a first composition (e.g., concentration) of disinfectant that is suitable for use on the target, when the first fluid conditioning cartridge is coupled to the apparatus; and    the fluid output is constructed to continuously output conditioned fluid having a second composition (e.g., concentration) of disinfectant that is suitable for disinfecting a supply line, when a second fluid conditioning cartridge is coupled to the apparatus.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the second fluid conditioning cartridge is constructed to be coupled to the apparatus in place of the first fluid conditioning cartridge.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the second composition (e.g., concentration) has a discemable physical property that is greater than the same discemable physical property of the first composition (e.g., concentration).  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the discemable physical property is concentration of conditioning agent.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , and further comprising a fluid conditioning cartridge, the fluid conditioning cartridge being configured to inject a conditioning agent, whereby a conditioned fluid is formed.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the conditioned fluid comprise a disinfectant; and    a composition (e.g., concentration) of the disinfectant within the conditioned fluid particles is suitable for use on the target in combination with the electromagnetic energy for generation of the disruptive forces.    
     
     
         21 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the apparatus is constructed to place conditioned fluid on the target; and    electromagnetic energy delivered by the electromagnetic energy source is at least partially absorbed by conditioned fluid on the target.    
     
     
         22 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the electromagnetic energy delivered by the electromagnetic energy source is at least partially absorbed by fluid located within the target.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , wherein electromagnetic energy delivered by the electromagnetic energy source is at least partially absorbed by fluid within the target.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the fluid output is constructed to place the conditioned fluid into the interaction region as atomized fluid particles; and    electromagnetic energy is substantially absorbed by the atomized fluid particles in the interaction region to impart the disruptive forces onto the target.    
     
     
         25 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 22 , wherein at least some of the fluid within the target that absorbs the electromagnetic energy is not supplied from the apparatus.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 25 , wherein: 
 the target comprises hard or soft tissue; and    the fluid within the target comprises water.    
     
     
         27 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 22 , wherein at least some of the fluid within the target that absorbs the electromagnetic energy is conditioned fluid supplied from the apparatus.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 25 , wherein: 
 the target comprises hard or soft tissue; and    the fluid within the target comprises water.    
     
     
         29 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic energy source comprises one of an Er:YAG, an Er:YSGG, an Er, Cr:YSGG and a CTE:YAG laser.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the target surface comprises one of tooth, bone, cartilage and skin.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic energy source comprises one of a wavelength within a range from about 2.69 to about 2.80 μm and a wavelength of about 2.94 μm.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , comprising a filter, which comprises fluid that is output from the fluid output, wherein the filter absorbs a portion of the energy generated by the electromagnetic energy source.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 32 , wherein the conditioned fluid comprises atomized particles of water.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the disruption of the target is caused in part by energy generated by the electromagnetic energy source other than the energy absorbed by the fluid.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic energy source comprises an erbium, yttrium, scandium gallium garnet (Er:YSGG) solid state laser or an erbium, yttrium, aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) solid state laser.