Disposable Dental Handpiece

Abstract

A sterile, substantially maintenance free disposable dental handpiece is constructed from two shells and a center core, the center core having a flow deflector on one end. The shells are joined around the core with mating protrusions and/or tapered walls to form the body and head of the handpiece. A base is integrally-formed with the center core. The base has conduits that allow entry of light and pressurized air and/or water into the body. The head at the opposite end of the body from the base rotatably mounts an impeller assembly having an impeller shaft. The impeller shaft includes blades driven by the pressurized air. The blades can have cavities to reduce weight.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A dental instrument driven by compressed air comprising:
 an elongated body comprising:
 a first shell half, a second shell half, and a core, the shell halves joined to form an exterior surface for manual manipulation, the halves forming a cavity, the cavity comprising various passageways as fluid conduits; 
 a base comprising a plurality of conduits, the base communicating with an outside source of light and fluid through the conduits, the conduits communicating with the passageways defined by the elongated body; 
 a head located at the opposite end from the base, the head comprising a turbine shaft rotatably mounted within the head, a turbine impeller, the turbine impeller connected to the turbine shaft, the turbine impeller being driven by an outside source of air through an air nozzle to rotate a dental bit; 
 at least one opening located under the head configured to deliver fluid away from the dental instrument; 
 at least one opening located under the head configured to deliver light away from the dental instrument; and 
 wherein the core comprises a flow deflector located on the end of the core nearest the head, the flow deflector projecting further towards the first shell half than towards the second shell half, an edge of the flow deflector forming a part of the nozzle, and 
 wherein the flow deflector comprises substantially triangular shaped protrusions on upper and lower portions of the flow deflector. 
   
     
     
         34 . A dental instrument driven by compressed air comprising:
 an elongated body comprising:
 an elongated body defining a core and at least one passageway; 
 a base comprising at least one conduit, the base communicating with an outside source of fluid through one of the at least one conduit and communicating with one of the at least one passageways; 
 a head located at the opposite end from the base, the head comprising a turbine shaft rotatably mounted within the head, a turbine impeller, the turbine impeller connected to the turbine shaft, the turbine impeller being driven by an outside source of air through an air nozzle to rotate a dental bit; 
 wherein the core comprises a flow deflector located on an end of the core nearest the head, wherein the flow deflector comprises at least one protrusion extending therefrom. 
   
     
     
         35 . The dental instrument of  claim 34  wherein the protrusion is substantially triangular in shape.