Method of emitting a water jet and nozzle element for performing the method
Inventors
Moser, Beat • Zweifel, Adrian • Widmer, Beat • Widmer, Matthias
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-10919054-B2
Publication Date
2021-02-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method of emitting a water jet includes emitting a water pressure between 50 and 200 bar through a nozzle element that has a cylindrical nozzle body forming a flow passage for the water jet, and at least one nozzle opening emitting a jet stream to the surrounding area whose smallest dimension is not more than 0.15 mm, and wherein a fan jet is created on the surface to be treated at a working distance of about 80 mm between the nozzle opening and the surface to be treated. A handpiece is disclosed that includes a nozzle element that may be accommodated in the handpiece and may, in part, provide for emitting a water jet as disclosed.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a nozzle element and a water-jet emission system for debridement, in which water is emitted at a system water pressure between 50 and 200 bar. The nozzle element includes a cylindrical nozzle body forming a cylindrical flow passage and at least one nozzle opening that emits a jet stream to a surrounding area. The at least one nozzle opening has a smallest dimension not more than 0.15 mm and is formed so that a fan jet is emitted toward a surface to be treated at a working distance of 80 mm, with an impact water pressure of 130 bar being targeted at the specified distance.
The document describes controlling jet formation and impact pressure by specifying geometry-related parameters of the nozzle opening and, in some embodiments, upstream structures. The jet impact pressure profile is described as homogeneous, oblong, or linear and linked to the nozzle-opening geometry and working distance, and the jet is discussed in terms of splitting and the need for impact-pressure-profile control. The nozzle opening can be implemented as a sheet nozzle with a length-to-width ratio and very small width, or as circular or oval nozzle openings with constrained diameters or smallest diameters.
The invention further defines a nozzle construction suitable for integration into a handpiece, including a nozzle body that is a single integral piece comprised of steel and welded to a nozzle plate. The nozzle plate is welded to an external distal front face of the nozzle body, and some embodiments include an upstream shield plate with a shield opening larger than the nozzle opening to influence jet formation and torsion. The document also references manufacturing and assembly approaches for the nozzle plate and nozzle assembly, including laser welding and laser cutting.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim defines a nozzle element for a handpiece with quantitative nozzle-opening limits and targeted impact conditions at a defined working distance. Dependent claims further refine nozzle-opening shape and size, add upstream shield-plate relationships, specify welding and laser-weld seam features, and narrow the intended surface to be treated to human tissue.
Handpiece nozzle element for fan-jet emission under controlled impact conditions
A nozzle element introduced into a handpiece for emitting a water jet with a system water pressure between 50 and 200 bar, comprising a cylindrical nozzle body forming a cylindrical flow passage for the water jet and at least one nozzle opening with a smallest dimension not more than 0.15 mm, wherein the nozzle opening is formed such that a fan jet is emitted toward a surface to be treated at an impact water pressure of 130 bar at a working distance of 80 mm.
Steel integral cylindrical nozzle body welded to a nozzle plate
The nozzle body is a single, integral piece comprised of steel and welded to a nozzle plate, wherein the nozzle plate is welded to an external distal front face of the nozzle body.
Constrained nozzle body and flow-passage dimensions
At least one of the nozzle body has a length of between 1 mm and 30 mm, and the flow passage has a diameter of between 0.15 to 0.6 mm; and/or the nozzle plate has a thickness of between 0.06 mm to 0.2 mm.
Shield plate with larger shield opening upstream of the nozzle opening
At least one nozzle opening together with a nozzle plate in which at least one shield plate is positioned upstream in the flow direction, the shield opening being larger than the nozzle opening.
Laser welding configuration of nozzle plate to the shield plate
The shield plate is welded to the cylindrical nozzle body, and the nozzle plate is laser welded to the external distal front face of the nozzle body, using a continuous weld seam from a front.
Circular or oval nozzle opening dimension constraints
A nozzle opening formed such that it is either circular with a diameter between 0.09 mm and 0.12 mm or oval with a smallest diameter between 0.08 mm and 0.11 mm.
Nozzle opening width constraints for a fan-jet nozzle
At least one nozzle opening having a width between 0.035 mm and 0.060 mm.
Sheet nozzle length-to-width ratio and sheet nozzle width constraints
A sheet nozzle embodiment in which the length-to-width ratio of the fan jet is between 2.5 and the sheet nozzle width is between 0.035 mm and 0.06 mm.
Treatment target limited to human tissue
The surface to be treated is human tissue.
Across the independent claim and refinements, the inventive coverage centers on a steel nozzle element integrated into a handpiece that emits a fan jet from a very small nozzle opening to achieve an impact water pressure of 130 bar at a working distance of 80 mm, with construction defined by welded steel nozzle body and nozzle plate features. Dependent refinements further constrain nozzle-opening geometry, introduce an upstream shield plate with a larger shield opening, and specify laser-weld seam features and, in further narrowing, that the surface to be treated is human tissue.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
Interested in licensing this patent?