WO2014067554A1

WO2014067554A1 - Dental tool handle

Info

Publication number: WO2014067554A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/071406
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bruno DAILEY
Original assignee: Apollina
Priority date: 2012-10-29
Filing date: 2012-10-29
Publication date: 2014-05-08
Also published as: FR2997287A1; FR2997287B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a handle to which a dental tool may be connected, comprising a first arm (10) having a distal end (11) and a proximal end (12); a second arm (20) having a distal end (21) and a proximal end; arms (10) and (20) being directly or indirectly connected at a junction point (30), such that arms (10) and (20) may form an angle of 10-90°, an assembly means (40) to connect a dental tool such as a dental mirror (51), located at junction (30) or at the distal end of an arm protruding outward from junction (30), said arm being either a distal portion of first arm (10) or second arm (20) or a shank portion (50).

Description

DENTAL TOOL HANDLE

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved handle facilitating the manipulation of a dental tool by a dentist or a dental surgeon, in the field of dental care. The present invention also relates to a device comprising a dental tool and a handle. In an embodiment, the present invention also includes a device comprising a dental tool, at least one shank portion, and a handle.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is an injury of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems that may be caused by repetitive tasks, forceful exertions, vibrations, mechanical compression (pressing against hard surfaces), and sustained or awkward positions.

The most common RSI for dentists is the carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) which is an entrapment neuropathy, caused by the median nerve compression at the wrist in the carpal tunnel. Patients with CTS experience numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the thumb and fingers, in particular the index, middle fingers, and radial half of the ring fingers, which are innervated by the median nerve. Other symptoms may include pain in the wrists or hands and loss of grip strength. Every year in France, 200 000 carpal tunnel syndromes of professional origin are reported, leading to 130 000 surgeries a year. This is the most widespread damage in France in occupational medicine from musculoskeletal disorders. Moreover, compression of the median nerve is suspected to become chronic, with disabilities in 5-10% of cases. In the US, the annual incidence is over 400 cases per 100 000 inhabitants, wherein one third undergoes surgery. Dental tools such as dental mirrors or dental probes are disclosed in EP1484004, EP1555930, DE2629166, US2627206, US1504343, US5622492, US5052925, US4931015, CN86206737U, CN2087945U, CN2286028U or CN2239234U for example. These dental tools are usually manipulated through a handle which may not be convenient for the user due to the strength required to hold said handle. This is particularly true when the dental tool is used to put the tongue, lips and cheeks aside, resulting in a continuous effort from the dentist during a certain amount of time. Also, when accessing a rear part of the oral cavity, dentists have to exert an important effort on the handle of the tool they use, due to the distance between the part to be accessed and the location of the effort exerted on the handle.

These difficulties lead to tendonitis, especially hand flexor tendonitis, associated with CTS as described above. Therefore, there is a need for dentists to be provided with a convenient tool that they may manipulate without undue efforts.

This invention responds to this need and proposes a dental tool comprising a handle specially designed to provide an additional support increasing the force and torque that may exert a user, typically a dentist, on the tool while reducing the risks of CTS.

SUMMARY

This invention thus relates to handle to which a dental tool may be connected, comprising:

- a first arm having a distal end and a proximal end;

a second arm having a distal end and a proximal end;

said arms being directly or indirectly connected at a junction point such that said arms form an angle of 10-90 ;

an assembly means to connect a functional tool, located at the arms' junction or at the distal end of an arm protruding outward from the junction, said arm being either a distal portion of one of the two arms or a shank portion.

The handle of the invention is such that first arm and second arm are connected one to another, either directly or via a junction piece. In an embodiment, the junction piece authorizes a rotation ranging from 0-180°, for example of the second arm relative to the first arm, and may also be securely fixed at a determined angle, for avoiding any unexpected move during use. The junction piece may be a pivot joint, a ball joint, a ratchet, or a weld. The arms and the junction (30) may be manufactured as a single piece, or not.

In a further embodiment, at least one reinforcement arm is placed transversally between the first and the second arm to avoid breakage of the junction. This invention also relates to a device comprising a handle as described above, a dental tool and optionally a shank portion. The dental tool may be selected in the group consisting of a probe, a sponge, a mirror, a camera, a light, an aspirating means, a dental floss, a blowing means, or a combination of two or more thereof.

Preferably, the dental tool is a dental mirror, which may further be equipped with an anti- fog system like a heating wire or a blowing means, a light, an aspirating means and/or any other system which may help in the visualization of the interior of the oral cavity.

DEFINITIONS

In the present invention, the following terms have the following meanings:

- "Arm" refers to any piece of matter having a longitudinal length and a section, said length being high enough and said section being in a shape suitable to be held by a human hand. The section may vary along the longitudinal axis, but is preferably substantially identical. An arm may further be machined to create functional areas such as a hole or a threaded part or a grip.

- "Pivot joint" refers to a joint allowing, in a 3-dimensional space XYZ, only one rotation X (whereas the two other rotations Y and Z are fixed), and the three possible translations (X, Y, Z).

- "Ball joint" refers to a joint allowing, in a 3-dimensional space XYZ, three rotations whereas the three possible translations (X, Y, Z) are fixed. "Junction" refers to the location where the two arms form an angle, either connected or not.

- "Assembly means" refers to any connecting means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic view showing a handle of a tool according to the invention, comprising two straight arms linked via an embedment.

Figure 2 is a schematic view showing a handle of a tool according to the invention, comprising one straight arm and one curved arm linked via an embedment.

Figure 3 is a schematic view showing a handle of a tool according to the invention, comprising two curved arms linked via an embedment.

Figure 4 is a kinematic view showing a handle of a tool according to the invention, comprising two straight arms linked via a pivot joint.

Figure 5 is a kinematic view showing a handle of a tool according to the invention, comprising two straight arms linked via a ball joint.

Figure 6 is a schematic view showing a tool according to the invention, comprising a functional end connected to a handle having two straight arms.

Figure 7 is a schematic 3D view showing a tool according to the invention, comprising a functional end connected to a handle having two straight arms, and an assembly means located at the distal end of an arm protruding outward from the junction.

Figure 8 is a schematic 3D view showing a tool according to the invention, comprising a functional end connected to a handle having two straight arms, and an assembly means located at the arms' junction. Figure 9 is a schematic 3D rear view showing a tool according to the invention, comprising a functional end connected to a handle having two straight arms, and an assembly means located at the arms' junction.

LIST OF REFERENCES

10 First arm

10a Intrabuccal part of the first arm 10

10b Part of the first arm 10 at junction 30

10c Gripping part of the first arm 10

11 Distal end of the first arm 10

12 Proximal end of the first arm 10

13 External surface of the first arm 10

20 Second arm

20a Intrabuccal part of the second arm 20

20b Part of the second arm 20 at junction 30

20c Gripping part of the second arm 20

21 Distal end of the second arm 20

22 Proximal end of the second arm 20

23 External surface of the second arm 20

30 Junction

40 Assembly means of the handle

50 Shank portion

51 Functional tool, preferably dental tool, more preferably dental mirror

60 Assembly means of the dental tool

A Intrabuccal part of the handle

B Junction portion

C Gripping part of the handle

d Distance between gripping part 10c and gripping part 20c DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This invention thus relates to a handle having:

- a first arm 10 having a distal end 11 and a proximal end 12;

- a second arm 20 having a distal end 21 and a proximal end 22;

- arms 10 and 20 being directly or indirectly connected at a junction 30;

- an assembly means 40 to connect a dental tool 51, located at junction 30 or at the distal end of an arm protruding outward from junction 30, said arm being either a distal portion of first arm 10 or second arm 20 or a shank portion 50.

An embodiment of the handle of the invention is shown in Figure 1. In the embodiment of Figure 1 is shown a handle comprising two straight arms 10 and 20, having an overall shape of a rod or hollow rod. Various shapes for first arm 10 and second arm 20 are possible. Especially, sections of the arms may be squared, circular, diamond- shaped, elliptic, or any other suitable shape.

The angle between arms 10 and 20 may be of 0 to 90°, preferably 10 to 80°, more preferably 20 to 60°, even more preferably about 30°. At rest position, arms 10 and 20 may be paralleled, for easy storing. At use, the distance between the first arm 10 and the second arm 20 is gradually increasing from junction 30 to the proximal ends 12 and 22.

Arms 10 and 20 may be connected at junction 30. In an embodiment, first arm 10 and second arm 20 end up at junction 30 where they are connected one to another, either directly or via a junction piece. In another embodiment, one of first arm 10 and second arm 20 ends up at junction 30 and the other one extrudes outward from junction 30, preferably at opposite end of junction 30. In an embodiment, arms 10 and 20 and junction 30 are molded and/or extruded as a single piece of work. In another embodiment, arm 10 and arm 20 are molded or injection molded separately and then connected one to another, by any suitable means.

In a further embodiment, first arm 10 and second arm 20 end up at junction 30 and a dental tool 51 is fixed, directly or via a shank portion 50, to junction 30. In an embodiment, junction 30 is a distinct piece of work.

In an embodiment, junction 30 is a mechanical linkage. Junction 30 may be an embedment, which may prevent one to all degrees of freedom between the first arm 10 and the second arm 20, as shown in Fig. 1 to 3. In an embodiment, first arm 10 and the second arm 20 are welded one to the other; in this embodiment, junction 30 is situated at the location of the weld.

In an embodiment, at least one reinforcement arm (not represented) is placed transversally between first arm 10 and second arm 20, preferably between gripping parts 10c and 20c. This reinforcement arm strengthens the handle to avoid breakage of the junction 30 during use.

In one embodiment, a traditional dental tool may be used and a further arm may be added to the handle according to the present invention. The handle of the traditional dental tool may be seen as comprising a first arm 10, 20 and a further arm, respectively 20, 10, and a junction 30 according to this invention. As shown in the embodiment of Figure 2, the handle may be virtually divided into 3 parts:

- a first part A, called intrabuccal part, located after junction 30;

- a second part B, representing the junction portion;

- a third part C, called gripping part, encompassing the proximal ends 12, 22 of arms 10, 20. Figure 2 describes a straight first arm 10 and a curved second arm 20, such that the distance between both arms is gradually increasing from the junction 30 to the beginning of the gripping part C, and afterwards is substantially constant. Second arm 20 may have a smooth S-shape curve, thus reducing the distance between the parts 10b and 20b of the first and second arms 10 and 20 and providing a compact tool. For an efficient repartition of the constraint and an efficient increase of the force and torque of the user, it has been found that gripping part 10c and gripping part 20c have to be separated by a distance hereinafter called d, thanks to which the pressure exerted on the hand of the user is distributed on various muscles of the hand, and the compression due to hand muscles stimulation remains low.

In one embodiment shown in Figure 3, the distance d between gripping part 10c and gripping part 20c shall be of 1 to 10 cm, preferably from 2 to 7 cm, more preferably of about 4 to 5 cm.

Figure 3 describes two arms 10 and 20 having smooth S-shape curves, such that the distance between the gripping parts 10c and 20c is substantially constant. In an embodiment, parts 10b, 10c may be symmetrical to parts 20b, 20c.

In an embodiment, arm 10 and arm 20 are movably connected, i.e. the mechanical linkage 30 permits rotation of second arm 20 with regard to first arm 10, and/or mechanical linkage 30 permits a change in the angle between first arm 10 and second arm 20, for a personalized ergonomics. Indeed, it may be useful for the user of the tool of the invention to be able to adjust the distances between first arm 10 and second arm 20, for example for a better adaptation of the tool to its hand physiology. In this embodiment, the position may be fixed with a selected angle for a defined use, such that the positions of the arms one with regard to the other is secure during use; in one embodiment, the mechanical linkage may be operated by any suitable means, and the angle adapted and then fixed. In an embodiment, the mechanical linkage may include a ratchet, such as for example a rachet operable with a key, so that the practitionner may adapt to his hand or to the use, the angle formed by arms 10 and 20.

Thus, in an embodiment shown in Figure 4, the mechanical linkage 30 may allow the rotation of 0-180° of the second arm 20 relative to the first arm 10 around the axis z which is perpendicular to the plan formed by the first arm 10 and the second arm 20. In one embodiment, the mechanical linkage 30 may be a pivot joint. In an embodiment shown in Figure 5, the mechanical linkage 30 is a ball joint.

In one embodiment, the parts 10b, 10c of the first arm 10 have a total length ranging from 5 to 25 cm, preferably ranging from 10 to 20 cm, more preferably ranging from 13 to 17 cm. The total length of the parts 20b, 20c of the second arm is preferably substantially equal to the total length of the parts 10b, 10c. In another embodiment, the parts 10c and 20c have a length ranging from 5 to 20 cm, preferably ranging from 8 to 15 cm.

According to an embodiment, the dental tool 51 may be angulated with regard to shank portion 50 or protruding arm 10, 20. Said angle may be of 90° to 180°, preferably ranging from 100° to 150°, more preferably ranging from 110° to 140°. This embodiment is shown in Figure 7. The angle may not be sharp; the angle may have a curvature radius higher than 0.2 cm, preferably higher than 0.5 cm, more preferably higher than 1 cm.

The assembly means 40, which is intended to connect to a functional end, may comprise for example a threaded portion, a threaded socket, a clip, or any other means susceptible to be connected to a functional end.

The handle of the tool of the invention may be made of surgical steel, titanium, resin, ceramic, zircon, or any suitable material. The material of the handle is preferably not susceptible to be oxidized, or is coated with a protective coating against oxidation. The material is further not toxic for the patient, and is advantageously suitable to be sterilized for example by autoclaving.

The handle surface, for example the whole surface or only the surface of the gripping parts 10c and 20c of the first and second arms 10 and 20, may be knurled, coated or otherwise treated to improve the gripping characteristics thereof.

This invention further relates to a device comprising a handle as described above, optionally a shank portion 50, and a dental tool 51, as shown in Figure 6.

In one embodiment, the dental tool 51 comprises an assembly means 60 which may cooperates with the assembly means 40 or with some assembly means of the shank portion 50, when present, which in turn cooperates with the assembly means 40. This embodiment is shown in Figure 9. The dental tool 51 may thus be taken off and put back or replaced, for example when worn or damaged or for needs of sterilization. Cooperation may be performed by any suitable means, including threads, clips etc. In another embodiment, the dental tool 51 is integrally formed with the first arm 10 of the handle, for example by being molded directly with the handle or by being attached by a suitable adhesive including common glues, epoxy and the like.

The device of the invention may be a disposable device. The dental tool 51 may be selected in the group consisting of a probe, a sponge, a dental mirror, a camera, a light, aspirating means, a dental floss, blowing means, a drill, a curette, or a combination of two or more thereof. The dental tool 51 is preferably a dental mirror, which may be equipped with an anti-fog system like a heating wire or a blowing means, a light, an aspirating means and / or any other system which may help in the visualization of the interior of the oral cavity.

In the embodiment, the dental tool 51 may be rotated from 0 to 180° with regard to the shank portion 50 or to the plane defined by the arms 10, 20. In one embodiment, the functional tool may be within the plane of arms 10, 20, or in the plan perpendicular to the plan of arms 10, 20, or in any plan in-between. In a preferred embodiment, the functional tool is a mirror, said mirror is approximately perpendicular or approximately parallel to the plane formed by the two arms 10 and 20, wherein approximately means that a precision of 5° is allowed, preferably a precision of 3°, more preferably a precision of 1°.

The present invention also relates to the use of a handle or a device as described above, wherein the first arm 10 and the second arm 20 of the handle are held in a similar way than chopsticks:

- said first arm 10, preferably the gripping portion 10c of said first arm 10, is placed in the hollow between thumb and index finger, and

- said second arm 20, preferably the gripping portion 20c of said second arm 20, is held between the tips of the thumb and the tips of the middle and index fingers.

Claims

1. A handle to which a dental tool may be connected, comprising :

a first arm (10) having a distal end (11) and a proximal end (12);

a second arm (20) having a distal end (21) and a proximal end;

arms (10) and (20) being directly or indirectly connected at a junction point

(30), such that arms (10) and (20) form an angle of 10-90;

an assembly means (40) to connect a dental tool (51), located at junction (30) or at the distal end of an arm protruding outward from junction (30), said arm being either a distal portion of first arm (10) or second arm (20) or a shank portion (50).

2. A handle according to claim 1, wherein first arm (10) and second arm (20) are connected one to another, either directly or via a junction piece.

3. A handle according to anyone of claims 1 or 2, wherein said junction piece authorizes a rotation ranging from 0-180°, for example of the second arm (20) relative to the first arm (10).

4. A handle according to anyone of claims 1 to 3, wherein said junction piece (30) is a ball joint, a pivot joint, or a ratchet, or a weld.

5. A handle according to claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one reinforcement arm is placed transversally between first arm (10) and second arm (20) to strengthen the handle.

6. A handle according to anyone of claims 1 to 5, wherein arms (10) and (20) and junction (30) are manufactured as a single piece.

7. A device comprising a handle according to anyone of claims 1 to 6, a dental tool (51) comprising assembly means (60) and optionally a shank portion (50) wherein the dental tool connects directly to the handle or the dental tool connects to the handle via a shank portion (50).

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said dental tool (51) is selected in the group consisting of a probe, a sponge, a mirror, a camera, a light, an aspirating means, a dental floss, a blowing means, or a combination of two or more thereof.

9. A device according to anyone of claims 7 or 8, wherein said dental tool (51) is a mirror, which may be equipped with an anti-fog system like a heating wire or a blowing means, a light, an aspirating means and / or any other system which may help in the visualization of the interior of the oral cavity.

10. A device according to anyone of claims 7 to 9, wherein said dental tool (51) may be angulated from 90° to 180° with regard to shank portion (50) or protruding arm (10) or (20).

11. A device according to anyone of claims 7 to 10, wherein said dental tool (51) may be rotated from 0 to 180° with regard to the shank portion (50) or to the plane defined by the arms (10), (20).

12. A use of a handle according to anyone of claims 1 to 6 or a device according to anyone of claims 7 to 11, wherein said first arm (10) and said second arm (20) of said handle are held in a similar way than chopsticks: said first arm (10), preferably the gripping portion (10c) of said first arm (10), is placed in the hollow between thumb and index finger, and

said second arm (20), preferably the gripping portion (20c) of said second arm

(20), is held between the tips of the thumb and the tips of the middle and index fingers.