GB2340618A

GB2340618A - Dental mirror

Info

Publication number: GB2340618A
Application number: GB9816001A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chun-Kong Cheung
Original assignee: GEE
Current assignee: GEE
Priority date: 1998-07-22
Filing date: 1998-07-22
Publication date: 2000-02-23
Also published as: GB9816001D0

Abstract

A dental mirror 1 has a light source attached to a handle 2 and directed towards the mirror surface 3. The light may also provide some additional anti-fog protection to the surface. A flexible portion 15 may be provided between the handle 2 and the mirror surface 3 to allow some manipulation of the angle between the mirror surface and the handle 2.

Description

2340618 DENTAL APPARATUS MACKQWUND TO TRE-9M2WON This invention relates to

a dental apparatus having a reflective surface and, m particular, aldlough not necessarily solely, a dental apparatus on which the reflective surface comprises a mh-rored surfce.

A number of existing dental impIements are provided, generally for use by specialist dental surgeons in specialized surgeries. Such apparatus includes the dental mirror comprising an elongate handle with a substantially planar mirror positioned at one end of the handle. The plane of this mirror is generally set at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

Although such dental mirrors can be used by dentists to provide views otherwise, unobtainable, they are generally used in conjunction with spec lighting as well as spec! dental chairs to improve the overall positioning of the patient and provide is adequate E. Should an individual or anyone outside of the dental surgery.wish to obtain views of the teeth that require lighting or changes in the position of the mirror, these are exceedingly difficult.

Generally outside of the dental surgery, the specialized lighting is not available.

Furthermore, the ability to manipulate tile patient and positioning of the viewer over the patient is more difficult without the specialized dental chairs available. Even those portions of the teeth or mouth which are directly viewable without a minor surface may still not be well lit. To place a direct light towards that area may interfere with the view trying to be obtained.

O_BMT OE THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a dental apparatus which provides soine Japprovement to the viable angle or U available when endeavouring to view teeth, mouth or dental work or similar or at least provide the public with a usable choice.

SLUIfidARY OF THE-INYMMON Accordingly, in the first aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a dental apparatus comprising:

a handle portion; a reflective n; and a liffit directed at 1 py towards said reflective surface to reflect light, when said reflective surface is placed in a mouth.

Preferably the reflective surface is a mirror to provide both a reflected light to the mouth as well as a reflected Image of at least a portion of the lit area.

Preferably said handle portion is an elongate e portion with the reflemyeportion adjacent to one end, Preferably said light is positioned on said handle portion and directed generally towards said reflective surface.

Preferably said handle portion includes a grippable portion for holding by a user adjacent a distal end from said reflective surface and said gght is positioned Intermediate of said grippable portion and said reflective surface.

Accordingly, in a second aspect, the tvontion may broaffiy bc said to consist in a dental apparatus comprising a handle portion; a mirror surface at or adjacent one end of said handle portion; and aible portion between sald.handle portion and said mirro a ow lexi r to 11 ajustment.of the relative positions of said handle and mirror.

Accordingly, in a third aspect, the inv consists in a dental apparatus comprising. a handle portion; a mirrored reflective surface for placement within the mouth to provide a reflected view within the month; and a light to illuminate at least a portion of the area intended to be viewed in the mirror.

Further aspects of this Invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following description.

BRWIF DWMEMON OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:

is Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment of the apparatus; Fig. 2 shows a side elevational view being partial cross secdon of the apparatus of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 shows a circuit diagram for a lighting circuit which may be used in conon with an embodiment of &c apparatus. 20 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED E_MBODIMENTS

This invention relates to dental apparatus which include a reflective =face. Referring to the figures, a particular embodimerit of such an apparatus is shown.

Referring to Fig. 1, a dental apparatus 1 is shown in which a handle portion 2 is connected to, engaged with or formed integrally with a reflective surface 3. The reflective surface 3 would, in most circumstances, be a substantially planar surface.

Altdiough the reficefive surface could be mad from many materials and provided in a variety of forms, this preferred form provides the reflective surface 3 as a mirrored surface.

As shown in Fig. 1, a Effit 4 may be provided such that the light is at least partially directed towards the reflective surface to provide reflected lighi from the surface.

A particular preferred form of d21s apparatus is provided as a dental mirror similar to those currently used in dental swgedes In which the reflective mrface 3 is a mirrored surf= with the pine of the mirror being at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the elongate handle portion 2. 1he light 4 can be placed attached to the handle portion 2 intermediate of a gripe-ab.ILC po.-ton 5 on the c portion 2 and the reflecdve surface 3 attached adjacent one end 6 of the handle portion 2. Preferably the grippable portion 5 may be adjacent the is other or distal end 7 of the handle portion 2 from the reflective surface 3.

By providing the light 4 intermediate of the grippable portion 5 and the reflective surface 3, the user's hand in the dental apparatus 1 is less likely to interfere with the passage of the light from the light 4 to the reflective surface 3.

Referring to Fig. 2, the apparatus of Fig. 1 can be shown in partial cross section.

In this view, the apparatus 1 can be seen to provide a control means 8 for the control of the light 4. The control means 8 is provided in the form of an electrical contact or similar to select the operable state of the light 4.

In this preferred form. the control means 8 in the form of an electrical contact comprises a moveable part such as end cap 9 which is moveable to enable electrical connection mad disconnection, Power to the light can be provided through batteries 10 and to reduce the size of the apparatus as a whole, relatively sman button cen "s Qf b4Mry may be appropriate. Cathode and anode plates 11 and 12 respectively can be provided in contact with the battery and connected through some sort of electrical conductors 13 and 14 within the handle portion 2 to the light bulb 4.

Intermediate of the handle portion 2 and the reflective surface or mirror 3 is also provided a flemble or defbrmabl-,. portion 15. M flemible portion allows some ation of the angle between the mirror surface 3 and the handle portion 2. Although this may provide different degrees of reflective angles, it may be desirable that this fietble portion 15 be mechanically adjustable or with plastic elastic characteristics such that the rile&e surface 3 will remain in the position to which it is manipulated with respect to the handle 2 and not elastically return to a set position. This allows some mampulation of the mirror.

Alternatively, it may be provided as a simple flexible portion with elasticity so dW the housing 16 around the reflective surface 3 can be pressed against other teeth or items in the mouth cavity to cause some change of angle and allow a different view provided pressure is still applied.

In Fig. 3, a simple c diagram is shown for the lighting circuit. It can be seen that the lighting circuit is provided with a power source such as the batteries 10, a control means In the form of an electrical contact or similar 8 and the bulb 4.

I-nere are some considerations to take in a selection of components. For example, when it comes to the bulb, it is desirable to provide a strong beam without latiRzing a bulb of such power as to make powering the device require large batteries. A suitable compromise has been found to use a light bulb from the SUPER BRIGHT series of bulbs having a rating of 30rnA 2V. There is a range of colours available and the yellow colour may be the most suitable.

For such a bulb, the power source can be provided by a button cell 1.5V, 10OmAh provided as a pair as shown in Fig. 2.

The handle portion 2 may be provided as a plastic casing with a hollow internal structure to accommodate the drunning of the electrical conductors 13 and 14 such as wires and odw components if In this preferred form, the apparatus may be provided with some waterproof seals which is a silicone ring 17 around the light buIb 4 and a rubber gasket 18 at a juncture for fitment and replacement of the batteries 10. Ille waterproofing can use other materials and in a variety of forms of gasket or seals with the intention being to allow the item to be sterilized or washed in liquid without damaging the electrical circuit within the wires.

In use, the reflective surface 3 can be placed into the mouth and the light 4 utilized to provide some reflected light within the moudi. Ilw fi portion 15 can be man4nfiated if required to provide a beam to an area as desired. M may be advantageous in its own right even if the view mkm ndffix ths, mouth is to be direet and tot rely on a mirrored surface.

However, should the reflected surface be provided in the form of a mirror in am3rd,ance with normal dental mirrors, a retlected view can also be taken in the Mirror surface. Ile light can be directed towards the reflected surface to provide additional light to at least a portion of the area being viewed in the reflective surface.

The provision of the light could also provide some anti-fog protection to the mirror.

This is a problem with dental mirrors that the breath of the user can fog the mirror and the additional heat generated fkom the light can provide some further protection against this.

In a further embodiment, the device may be provided generally in the form of a dental mirror with a mirrored reflective surface 3 and a light 4 desiped to illuminate at least a portion of the area likely to be viewed in the mirrored surface. Rather than directing the light of the mirrored surface itself, the light 4 could be provided simply attached to the handle or rim of the mirror or reflective surface 3 and directed generally towards the area likely to be viewed in the mirrored surface. For example, a light 4 attached to or adjacent the circumference of the reflective surface 3 and directed generally transverse to the longiradinal axis of the handle 2 and in the same general direction as the reflective surface 3 would Muminate in the area within a mouth which the reflective surface 3 may be placed if viewed. This may not be the preferred form, It can be seen that the device can be made relatively simply and the utilization of the small button coU baacries allows the, power source to be accommodated with& the h':4-4e.

Although the light provided on the reflected surface may not be as good as that provided by the specialized lighting in dental surgeries, it can be an aid.to personal users or in situations where a surgery is not available, Increased manipulation of the reflected and particularly mirror surface through the flexible portion 15 provides views which may otherwise be difficult to obtain.

Items referred to in this description should be considered to include known equivalents where appropriate. Items mentioned in the singular or plural should accommodate the other also where appropriate to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, The items referred to in the description are not intended to be in any sense limiting but instead that the invention be defined in accordance with the appended claims.

1. A dental apparatus comprising:

a handle portion; a reflective surface; a light dir at least partially towards said reflective surface to reflect light when said reflective surface is placed in a mouth.

2. A dental apparatus as cl in claim 1 wherein the reflective surface is a mirror to provide both a reflected light to the mouth as well as a reflected image of at least a portion of the lit area.

3, A dental apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said handle portion is an elongate handle portion with the reflective portion adjacent to one end.

4. A dental apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said light is positioned on said handle portion and directed generally towards said reflective is surface.

5. A denul appams as claimed in anyone of the ping claims wherein said handle portion inchides a grippable portion for holding by a user adjacent a end from said reflective surface and said light is positioned intermediate of said grippable portion and said reflective surface.

6. A dental apparatus comprising:

a handle portion; a mirror surface at or adjacent one end of said handle portion; and a flexible portion between said handle portion and said mirror to allow adjustment of the relative positions of said handle and mirror.

7. A dental apparatus as claimed in clairn 6 wi=eta said flexible portion is mechanically gustable or with clasticity chawteristies of plastic.

8. A dental apparatus comprising:

a handle portion; a mirrored reflective surface for placement within the mouth to provide a reflected view within the month; and a light to illuminate at least a portion of the area intended to be viewed in the mirror.

9. A dental appmtus scubtially as h=Libefore de-scribed with refference to the accompanying drawings.