Adapters with light sources for dental air/water syringes

Abstract

Adapter units enabling a disposable tip to connect to an existing dental syringe configured to receive a different type of tip such as an autoclavable tip. In addition, adapter units constructed in accordance with this invention provide built-in light sources and/or video camera units, thereby providing the syringe bodies to which the adapters attach capabilities that they could not have without the adapters. A self-contained module, removably coupled to the retainer body, includes a light-emitting diode (LED), a battery powering the LED, and a switch to turn the LED ON and OFF, the LED generating light generally proximally toward the distal end of the disposable tip. In the preferred embodiments, the retainer body includes a cavity into which the self-contained module is removably received. The conversion kit may further include a lens to direct light from the LED toward the distal end of the disposable tip.

1 . A conversion kit providing an air/water dental syringe with illumination or image-gathering capabilities, comprising:
 a retainer body having an outer surface and a proximal end that attaches to a dental syringe providing air and water;   the retainer body further including a distal opening into which the proximal end of an elongated disposable tip is inserted, the disposable tip having a central, water-carrying tube surrounded by air-carrying channels terminating in a distal end;   one or more components within the retainer body having cut-outs, grooves or channels to direct the air and water from the syringe body to the air-carrying channels and water-carrying tube of the disposable tip; and   a self-contained module removably coupled to the retainer body, the module including a light-emitting diode (LED), a battery powering the LED, and a switch to turn the LED ON and OFF, the LED generating light generally proximally toward the distal end of the disposable tip.   
     
     
         2 . The conversion kit of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer body includes a cavity into which the self-contained module is removably received. 
     
     
         3 . The conversion kit of  claim 1 , wherein the switch is in electrical communication with a touch panel on the outer surface of the retainer body used to turn the switch ON and OFF. 
     
     
         4 . The conversion kit of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the switch is in electrical communication with a motion detector disposed within the self-contained module; and   the detection of motion turns the LED ON, and the absence of motion for a predetermined period of time turns the LED OFF.   
     
     
         5 . The conversion kit of  claim 1 , further including a lens to direct light from the LED toward the distal end of the disposable tip following insertion into the retainer body. 
     
     
         6 . The conversion kit of  claim 1 , further including a miniature video camera disposed in the self-contained module, the camera being powered by the battery and controlled by the switch. 
     
     
         7 . The conversion kit of  claim 1 , further including:
 a miniature video camera and solid-state recording device disposed in the self-contained module, the camera and recording device being powered by the battery and controlled by the switch; and   an electronic interface enabling the video information to be retrieved from the module for further recording or display purposes.   
     
     
         8 . The conversion kit of  claim 1 , further including:
 a miniature video camera and wireless transmitter disposed in the self-contained module, the camera and recording device being powered by the battery and controlled by the switch; and   a receiver for receiving video information from the camera through the wireless transmitter for further recording or display purposes.   
     
     
         9 . The conversion kit of  claim 1 , further including:
 a miniature video camera disposed in the self-contained module, the camera being powered by the battery and controlled by the switch; and   wherein video camera has a field of view corresponding to the light generated by the LED.   
     
     
         10 . The conversion kit of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer body or the components therein provide a proximal receptacle to receive a stem on the syringe body. 
     
     
         11 . The conversion kit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one component within the retainer body includes a proximal stem insertable into the syringe body. 
     
     
         12 . The conversion kit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one component within the retainer body includes one or more proximal air- or water-carrying tubes insertable into the syringe body. 
     
     
         13 . The conversion kit of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer body includes internal threads for making a threaded connection to the syringe body. 
     
     
         14 . The conversion kit of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer body is autoclavable in the absence of the disposable tip. 
     
     
         15 . A conversion kit adapted for use with an air/water dental syringe including its own light source, comprising:
 a retainer body having an outer surface and a proximal end that attaches to a dental syringe providing air and water;   the retainer body further including a distal opening into which the proximal end of an elongated disposable tip is inserted, the disposable tip having a central, water-carrying tube surrounded by air-carrying channels terminating in a distal end;   one or more components within the retainer body having cut-outs, grooves or channels to direct the air and water from the syringe body to the air-carrying channels and water-carrying tube of the disposable tip; and   at least one optical component for carrying light emitted by the syringe body to the outer surface of the retainer body.   
     
     
         16 . The conversion kit of  claim 15 , wherein the optical component includes a light-carrying fiber or conduit. 
     
     
         17 . The conversion kit of  claim 15 , wherein the optical component includes a prism. 
     
     
         18 . The conversion kit of  claim 15 , wherein the optical component includes a mirror. 
     
     
         19 . The conversion kit of  claim 15 , further including a swiveling or rotatable light-redirection component disposed at the surface of the retainer body. 
     
     
         20 . The conversion kit of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer body or the components therein provide a proximal receptacle to receive a stem on the syringe body. 
     
     
         21 . The conversion kit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one component within the retainer body includes a proximal stem insertable into the syringe body. 
     
     
         22 . The conversion kit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one component within the retainer body includes one or more proximal air- or water-carrying tubes insertable into the syringe body. 
     
     
         23 . The conversion kit of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer body includes internal threads for making a threaded connection to the syringe body. 
     
     
         24 . The conversion kit of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer body is autoclavable in the absence of the disposable tip.