Autoclavable dental handpiece with disposable high speed turbine

摘要

A high-speed dental handpiece of the present invention includes a metal non-disposable body and a plastic disposable cartridge received in the body. The body is a one piece body and has a sleeve and an annular head at an end of the sleeve. The sleeve carries an air input line, an air exhaust path, a water line and a fiber optic cable. The air input and water lines are operatively connected to a supply of air and water, respectively. The fiber optic cable is operatively connected to a source of light to carry the light to a patient's mouth to enable a dentist to more clearly see the area being operated upon. The disposable cartridge carries a turbine and is placed in communication with the air input lines to drive the turbine. A bit is received by the turbine and the water is directed toward the bit for cooling. The cartridge is at least partially made of light transmitting material and the fiber optic cable abuts the cartridge to transmit light therethrough. The fiber optic cable may be removably inserted in the handpiece. The use of a disposable cartridge allows for thorough cleaning and sterilizing of the handpiece body without worry of damaging a turbine or its related bearings.