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Simon Newcomb, astronomer ; Said in 1902, less than two years before the first flight at Kitty Hawk
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8167616 | Dental handpiece system with replaceable treatment tips A dental hand piece with replaceable tips at either end of a tubular handle, each of the replaceable tips including a tip assembly having an instrument working tip end at a distal end of a main tip body and a shank extending from the instrument working tip end to a ... | 05/01/2012 |
| 7322822 | Apparatus and method for removing enamel from a person's tooth According to one embodiment, an apparatus for removing enamel from a person's tooth includes a blade portion and a handle portion. The blade portion includes an abrasive surface adapted to remove enamel from the tooth in response to reciprocating movement of the abr... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7255560 | Laser augmented periodontal scaling instruments An instrument is provided to enables a dental professional to subject a surgical site simultaneously to (1) mechanical cutting, scraping and grinding, and (2) laser trimming and cauterization. As a result, simultaneous removal of diseased tissue and de... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7249948 | Ergonomic dental instruments for small hands The invention provides systems and methods for ergonomic dental instruments for dental professionals with small hands. In one embodiment, a dental instrument includes an elongated metal handle having a length in the range of about 3- 7/16 inches to about 3- 15/16 in... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7244252 | Medical device with visual indicator and related methods of use Embodiments of the invention relate to a medical device with a visual indicator that changes color when exposed to a particular environment and/or chemical. The visual indicator may be printed or otherwise affixed on a portion of a medical device, for example the ha... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7238189 | ACL reconstruction technique using retrodrill Methods and apparatus for arthroscopic tenodesis using sockets in bone created by retrograde cutting. A cannulated pin is drilled through bone and into a joint space in the normal, antegrade direction, guided by a drill guide. A strand provided through the cannulate... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7226289 | Method for overmolding polymers over dental tools A method for overmolding a plurality of polymers having different properties onto a dental instrument. The method involves providing a dental instrument substrate made of metal, overmolding a first polymer onto a portion of the dental instrument substrate, and then ... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7077653 | Dental scaler for use in cleaning teeth of orthodontic patients A dental scaler for cleaning teeth having an orthodontic appliance. The scaler includes a handle with at least one scaling portion having a scaling element. The scaling portion of the device consists of a plurality of sections connected by a plurality of angles and ... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7047591 | Oral care implement An oral care implement has an improved handle for control. The handle may include a gripping region having a grip surface with a plurality of spaced slot openings exposing portions of the base. In one construction, the handle may have an inclined portion and a grip ... | 05/23/2006 |
| 6994548 | Gingival tissue retractor A dental tool for retracting gingival tissue is provided that includes a shaft and a working end member, the working end member having an operative end including a first portion sufficiently narrow to retract tissue from a groove of a tooth and a second portion, adj... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6955539 | Characterization of motion of dual motor oral hygiene device An oral hygiene device is disclosed having at least two motors to simultaneously vibrate and impart motion upon the head portion of the oral hygiene device, most beneficially at the tip. A first motor is positioned in the handle portion of the device to impart a fir... | 10/18/2005 |
| 6322362 | Dental instrument An apparatus for a dental instrument and specifically for a dental curette. The dental instrument comprises a handle having a first end and a second end. The handle has a substantially elongate form, and is molded from a composite of nonmetallic component... | 11/27/2001 |
| 6257887 | Dental hand instrument A dental hand instrument comprises an elongated handle formed of a thermosetting plastic and a metal working tip inserted into an end of the handle. The handle may be a multi-part assembly with replaceable working tip end sections. The handle has a bore p... | 07/10/2001 |
| 6149431 | Dental curet and sharpening machine system A dental curet and sharpening machine system has been developed for convenient, accurate, and rapid sharpening of dental curets. Curets comprising a cutting blade, shank, and handle have been designed so that, regardless of the instrument's rake angle, th... | 11/21/2000 |
| 6099310 | Dental instrument The invention relates to a dental instrument for removing carious dentine in connection with chemical-mechanical treatment of caries by means of a caries-dissolving solution applied to the caries for loosening the carious tissue. The instrument comprises ... | 08/08/2000 |
| 6007333 | Endoscopic method and device for subgingival dental procedures An improved endoscopic system for visualizing subgingival dental procedures. The device comprises a dilator projection incorporated into or onto the body of a dental instrument utilized to remove plaque and calculus from subgingival tooth surfaces. The pr... | 12/28/1999 |
| 5944033 | Dental flossing device and method therefor An electromechanical dental flossing device is disclosed for flossing the area between a portion of the tooth and the gum tissue. The device comprises an elongated member coupled to a motor source to effect oscillation of the elongated member. The elongat... | 08/31/1999 |
| 5927300 | Dental cleansing implement The invention is directed to a dental cleansing implement (101) having a thin, elongate shaft (102) comprising a free end portion (105) suitable in particular for insertion in the interproximal spaces and connected with a mounting portion (6) or the like.... | 07/27/1999 |
| 5913682 | Plaque removing tool A dental instrument for removing plaque from teeth. The instrument comprises an elongated handle having a straight pick fixed to one end and a curved pick fixed to the other end. The curved pick is useful for cleaning the back teeth and behind the front t... | 06/22/1999 |
| 5855216 | Dental flossing device An apparatus for cleaning the surface of teeth in a human mouth having a flexible, resilient central flossing filament and a plurality of flexible side flossing filaments fixedly attached to a central filament intermediate portion. The central filament in... | 01/05/1999 |
| 5787908 | Dental flossing apparatus An electro-mechanical dental flossing device is disclosed for flossing the area between a portion of the tooth and the gum tissue. The device comprises an elongated member coupled to a motor source to effect oscillation of the elongated member. The elonga... | 08/04/1998 |
| 5782635 | Device for working a surface A device is proposed for cleaning the surface of inserted oral implants and/or the abutments placed thereon. The device is distinguished by the provision of a cleaning curette (31, 131) which at least partially covers the surface to be cleaned.... | 07/21/1998 |
| 5709233 | Dental cleansing implement A dental cleansing implement having a thin, elongate shaft. The shaft includes a free end portion suitable in particular for insertion in the interproximal spaces and connected with a mounting portion or the like. The mounting portion is adapted to be cou... | 01/20/1998 |
| 5682665 | Method for manufacturing a dental curette A method of manufacturing a dental curette having a handle, a shank disposed on one end of the handle, and a cutting blade on the shank, includes the steps of: providing a curette mold having at least a shank portion and a cutting blade portion, injection... | 11/04/1997 |
| 5584691 | Dental instrument sharpening system A dental instrument sharpening system includes an instrument arm for holding a chiral bladed dental instrument and for facilitating movement of at least one of the chiral blades of the dental instrument to a rotatable sharpening stone. A positioning mecha... | 12/17/1996 |
| 5573020 | Dental flossing device and method therefor An electro-mechanical dental flossing device is disclosed for flossing the area between a portion of the tooth and the gum tissue. The device comprises an elongated member coupled to a motor source to effect oscillation of the elongated member. The elonga... | 11/12/1996 |
| 5388989 | Occlusal sculpting tool An occlusal sculpting tool (10) includes a grip portion (11) having a generally central axis and supporting an occlusal sculpting portion (12) at one end thereof. The occlusal sculpting portion (12) has an extension bar (30) affixed at one end thereof to ... | 02/14/1995 |
| 5290170 | Ablator for use in dentistry The ablator is made with synthetic resins reinforced so as to resist the mechanical stresses of flexion and abrasion. The resins are reinforced with metallic or non-metallic fibers totally incorporated in them, and are reinforced against wear due to abras... | 03/01/1994 |
| 5244390 | Dental scaling instrument A dental scaler particularly for scaling artificial dental abutments made of a material that is softer than natural dentition, such as titanium and its dilute alloys, without scratching the surface of the abutment. Two embodiments of the scaler are disclo... | 09/14/1993 |
| 5169314 | Curet for periodontal treatment A dental curet adapted to remove calculus from the root surface of a person's teeth. The curet has a handle portion, a terminal shank, and a working end. A subgingival shank portion and the working end are arranged so that a working end lengthwise dimensi... | 12/08/1992 |
| 5169313 | Dental scales and curettes having improved cutting blade and shank configurations An improved dental scaler or curette wherein the cutting blade is spaced from the handle of the instrument by an arcuately formed shank portion which extends outwardly from the lower portion of the handle in a generally continuous arc to a relatively stra... | 12/08/1992 |
| 5145368 | Suction root elevator and suction dental curette The invention relates to a suction root elevator and a suction dental curette each of which comprises a handle and a working part both of which are provided with a canal system which extends through both the handle and working part. The canal system termi... | 09/08/1992 |
| 5127833 | Dental scalers and curettes having improved cutting blade and shank configurations An improved dental scaler or curette wherein the cutting blade is spaced from the handle of the instrument by an arcuately formed shank portion which extends outwardly from the lower portion of the handle in a generally continuous arc to a relatively stra... | 07/07/1992 |
| 5090907 | Dental curette with finger pad A dental curette or scaler having a finger pad including a generally concave finger surface proximate a working head and complementary contoured to the shape of an extended middle finger urged thereupon. The finger pad is selectively rotatable about and r... | 02/25/1992 |
| 5030091 | Dental curet A dental curet and sharpening machine system has been developed for complete mechanical guidance of the instruments during the sharpening procedure. Double-ended dental curets comprising cutting blades, shanks, and a handle have been designed so that rega... | 07/09/1991 |
| 5024600 | Periodontal scaler-like medicinal fluid applicator A periodontal implement in form of a scaler or curette having at least one blade mounted to one end thereof in which the body of the implement includes at least one fluid passageway through which a source of medicinal fluid supply including germicidals, a... | 06/18/1991 |
| 5004419 | Scalers for periodontal use Periodontal and dental scalers and curettes for removing tartar and other debris from the outer surface of teeth and especially root areas and which incorporate blades which are carried by a handle with the blades including a concavely curved cutting edge... | 04/02/1991 |
| 4854867 | Dental tool for facilitating gingival retraction A dental tool for facilitating gingival retraction. A shank coupled to a handle terminates in a working end member having a curved edge shaped to generally conform to the curvature of the root surface of a tooth at the gingival level and also to the contour of... | 08/08/1989 |
| 4820154 | Dental instrument with a tool for treating the teeth A dental instrument employs a tool having an upper portion for use in contacting teeth and a lower portion defining a shank with a lower end, a hollow elongated gripping holder having an opening at one end, a device in the holder communicating with the op... | 04/11/1989 |
| 4820153 | Process and apparatus for cleaning a tooth A process for treating periodontitis existing in the mouth of a patient having teeth with roots extending downwardly in the gums by using a scaler including a scraper with a cutting edge and a handle for the scraper. A dentist uses the scraper to remove t... | 04/11/1989 |