US 12,268,565 B2
Liquid jet apparatus and methods for dental treatments
Bjarne Bergheim, Mission Viejo, CA (US); Morteza Gharib, San Marino, CA (US); Mehrzad Khakpour, Laguna Beach, CA (US); Michele Pham, Anaheim, CA (US); and Richard S. Tebbs, Aliso Viejo, CA (US)
Assigned to SONENDO, INC., Laguna Hills, CA (US)
Filed by SONENDO, INC., Laguna Hills, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 28, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/452,731.
Application 17/452,731 is a continuation of application No. 16/576,666, filed on Sep. 19, 2019, granted, now 11,160,645.
Application 16/576,666 is a continuation of application No. 15/347,295, filed on Nov. 9, 2016, granted, now 10,420,630, issued on Sep. 24, 2019.
Application 15/347,295 is a continuation of application No. 12/945,791, filed on Nov. 12, 2010, granted, now 9,492,244, issued on Nov. 15, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/261,293, filed on Nov. 13, 2009.
Prior Publication US 2022/0296346 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61C 17/02 (2006.01); A61C 5/40 (2017.01); A61C 5/62 (2017.01); A61C 17/024 (2006.01); A61C 17/028 (2006.01)
CPC A61C 17/024 (2019.05) [A61C 5/40 (2017.02); A61C 5/62 (2017.02); A61C 17/028 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dental instrument comprising:
a pressure wave generator configured to form a liquid jet that creates acoustic energy, the pressure wave generator comprising a positioning member, the positioning member comprising:
a channel or lumen along which or through which the liquid jet can propagate;
a distal end portion comprising an impingement surface on which the liquid jet impinges and is deflected back into jets or spray; and
one or more openings proximal of the impingement surface that permit deflected liquid to exit the positioning member and interact with a surrounding environment at a treatment region of a tooth.