Stable dental mirror

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020367739-A1
Application number	US-201916418032-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 21, 2019
Priority date	May 21, 2019
Publication date	Nov 26, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A stable dental mirror assembly that is used by dentists during the treatment of patients is described. The mirror is fixed on a rubber dam frame that is placed in the patient's mouth during treatment. The dental mirror includes a handle on which the mirror slides. The handle includes an elbow curve. In further aspects, a method for using a dental mirror assembly and a dental mirror assembly kit are described. The dental mirror may be moved through 360 degrees and does not need to be held, thus freeing the dentist's hands. Additionally, the dental mirror assembly provides a stable visual field and allows easy movement and adjustment of the mirror.

First claim

1 . A dental mirror assembly, comprising:
a handle having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, the handle having a curve between the proximal and the distal ends; a dental mirror; a rubber dam frame (RDF); a first holder attached to the handle and the rubber dam frame between the proximal end and the curve; a second holder attached to the handle and the dental mirror between the curve and the distal end, wherein the first holder includes a first sleeve configured to surround the handle, wherein the first sleeve includes a first socket radially located at the center of the first sleeve; wherein the first holder further includes a clip configured to at least partially surround the rubber dam frame, wherein the clip includes a first ball radially located at the center of the clip; and wherein the first socket and the first ball are configured to fit together such that the handle may rotate through 180 degrees and swivel with respect to the RDF.

2 . (canceled)

3 . The dental mirror assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the first sleeve is configured such that the handle can move laterally between the proximal end and the curve; and wherein the first sleeve is further configured such that the handle may be rotated through 360 degrees about the axis of the handle within the first sleeve.

4 . The dental mirror assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the dental mirror further comprises a mirror frame and a mirrored surface, wherein the mirrored surface is held within the mirror frame; wherein the mirror frame includes a socket opposite to and radially extending away from the mirrored surface.

5 . The dental mirror assembly of claim 4 , wherein the second holder includes a ball end, wherein the ball end forms a rotatable and swivelable attachment with the socket when the ball is inserted within the socket.

6 . The dental mirror assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the second holder includes a second sleeve configured to surround the handle, wherein the second sleeve includes a second ball radially located at the center of the second sleeve; wherein the mirror comprises a frame having a second socket; wherein the second ball and the second socket are configured to fit together such that the mirror may swivel with respect to the handle.

7 . The dental mirror assembly of claim 6 ,
wherein the second sleeve is configured such that the mirror can slide between the curve and the distal end; and wherein the second sleeve is further configured such that the mirror may be rotated through 360 degrees with respect to the axis of the handle.

8 . The dental mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the angle of the curve is in the range of 50-90 degrees.

9 . The dental mirror assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the handle has a length defined by the distance between the proximal and distal ends, and wherein the curve is located along the length at a distance between ¼ to ⅔ of the length.

10 . The dental mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the handle has rounded proximal and distal ends.

11 . The dental mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the handle includes a gripping surface, wherein the gripping surface is selected from the group consisting of a surface roughness, a coating, an end cap, a patterned surface, a shaped end, and a gripping sleeve;
wherein the surface roughness is at least one of a stippling, a grating, an indentation and a raised area; wherein the coating is a non-slip coating; wherein the end cap is at least one of a hard end cap and a soft end cap, wherein a hard end cap is shaped to have a gripping area and a soft end cap is configured to depress when gripped; wherein the patterned surface includes a finger shaped indentation; wherein the shaped end includes one of a square end, a round end, a flat end, a crossbar, a round end with at least one flat surface and a finger shaped indentation; and wherein the gripping sleeve is one of a rough plastic sleeve, a soft plastic sleeve, a foam sleeve, a leather sleeve and a metal sleeve.

12 . The dental mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the handle is made of plastic, and the first and second holders are made of nylon.

13 . The dental mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the handle is constructed of flexible material such that the angle of the curve is adjustable.

14 . A method for using the dental mirror assembly of claim 1 , comprising:
clipping, by the clip, the first holder to the rubber dam frame and connecting the first holder to the proximal end of the handle; attaching the dental mirror to the distal end of the handle by the second holder; adjusting the position of the dental mirror by moving the handle within the first holder and moving the mirror within the second holder.

15 . The method for using a dental mirror assembly of claim 14 , further comprising
connecting the first holder to the handle by inserting the proximal end of the handle into the first sleeve of the first holder, the first sleeve including the first; inserting the first ball into the first socket; adjusting the position of the dental mirror by at least one of sliding the handle within the first sleeve, rotating the handle within the first sleeve, swiveling the ball within the socket, and rotating the socket with respect to the rubber dam frame.

16 . (canceled)

17 . The method for using a dental mirror assembly of claim 14 , further comprising adjusting the bend of the handle by bending the handle, wherein an angle of the bend is in the range of 50-90 degrees.

18 . The method for using a dental mirror assembly of claim 14 , further comprising
adjusting the bend of the handle along its length by bending the handle at a distance between ¼ to ⅔ of the length.

19 . A method for assembling a dental mirror kit, comprising:
providing a rubber dam frame; providing a two part holder including a first part having a first sleeve and a first socket radially located outwardly from the center of the first sleeve and a second part having a gripping clip and a first ball radially located outwardly from the center of the gripping clip; inserting a first end of a handle into the first sleeve; inserting the first ball into the first socket; providing a mirror having a mirrored surface; inserting the mirror into a frame, wherein the frame has a back side opposite the mirrored surface, the back side of the frame including a second socket radially extending away from the mirrored surface; inserting the distal end of the handle into a second sleeve, the second sleeve including a ball extending radially outwardly from the center of the second sleeve; and inserting the second ball into the second socket.

20 . The method for assembling a dental mirror kit of claim 19 , further comprising:
sliding a gripping sleeve over the proximal end of the handle, wherein the gripping sleeve is one of a rough plastic sleeve, a soft plastic sleeve, a foam sleeve, a leather sleeve and a metal sleeve.

Assignees

• Univ King Abdulaziz

Inventors

• Bahammam Laila Ahmed

Classifications

• A61B1/247 Primary

  with means for viewing areas outside the direct line of sight, e.g. dentists' mirrors · CPC title

• A61C5/82 Primary

  Dams; Holders or clamps therefor · CPC title