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US 11,026,765 B2Granted
Stabilized, water-jet slurry apparatus and method
AssigneeH2O Tech, Inc.
InventorsTimothy D. Nelson, Daren N. Heaton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for removing dental material is disclosed. The method may include suspending, by a hydrated polymeric material, a quantity of abrasive media. The hydrated polymeric material and suspended abrasive media may then be pressurized. Accordingly, an abrasive stream may be formed by expelling, under pressure, the hydrated polymeric material and suspended abrasive media from a nozzle. The abrasive stream may be precisely applied to a tooth to abrade the enamel or dentin thereof as a drilling instrumentality.
Claims14
A method for cutting a dental material, comprising:
- forming a hydrated polymerized acrylic acid by mixing water and a polymerized acrylic acid;
- neutralizing the hydrated polymerized acrylic acid with a base to ionize and uncoil the polymer chains of the polymerized acrylic acid to obtain a neutralized polymerized acrylic acid solution for use in the mouth of a patient;
- mixing an abrasive media with the neutralized polymerized acrylic acid to make a slurry comprising 5 to 30 wt % abrasive media and 0.05 to 0.5 wt % of the polymerized acrylic acid, wherein the abrasive media is mechanically suspended by polymer chains of the neutralized polymerized acrylic acid for at least one month;
- delivering the slurry to a nozzle, wherein the abrasive media remains suspended by the polymer chains of the neutralized polymerized acrylic acid;
- and
- expelling the slurry through the nozzle onto the dental material in the mouth of a patient with sufficient force so that the polymer chains of the neutralized polymerized acrylic acid are sheared, thereby reducing buildup of the neutralized polymerized acrylic acid on the dental material.
3 more elements
A method for cutting a tooth, comprising:
- forming a hydrated polymerized acrylic acid by mixing water and a polymerized acrylic acid;
- neutralizing the hydrated polymerized acrylic acid with a base to ionize and uncoil the polymer chains of the polymerized acrylic acid to obtain a neutralized polymerized acrylic acid solution for use in the mouth of a patient;
- mixing an abrasive media with the neutralized polymerized acrylic acid to make a slurry comprising 5 to 30 wt % abrasive media and 0.05 to 0.5 wt % of the polymerized acrylic acid, wherein the abrasive media is mechanically suspended by polymer chains of the neutralized polymerized acrylic acid;
- storing the slurry so that the abrasive media remains suspended by the polymer chains of the neutralized polymerized acrylic acid for at least one month;
- delivering the slurry to a nozzle, wherein the abrasive media remains suspended by the polymer chains of the neutralized polymerized acrylic acid;
- and
- expelling the slurry through the nozzle onto the tooth in the mouth of a patient with sufficient force so that the polymer chains of the neutralized polymerized acrylic acid are sheared, thereby reducing buildup of the neutralized polymerized acrylic acid on the tooth.
4 more elements
A method for cutting a tooth, comprising:
- forming a hydrated polymerized acrylic acid by mixing water and a polymerized acrylic acid;
- neutralizing the hydrated polymerized acrylic acid with a base to ionize and uncoil polymer chains of the polymerized acrylic acid and form a neutralized polymerized acrylic acid;
- mixing an abrasive media with the neutralized polymerized acrylic acid to make a slurry comprising 5 to 30 wt % abrasive media and 0.05 to 0.5 wt % of the polymerized acrylic acid, wherein the abrasive media is substantially evenly distributed throughout the slurry and mechanically suspended by polymer chains of the neutralized polymerized acrylic acid so the neutralized polymerized acrylic acid mechanically blocks particles of the abrasive media from migrating within liquid of the slurry;
- storing the slurry in a reservoir so that the abrasive media remains fully suspended by the polymer chains of the neutralized polymerized acrylic acid for at least six months;
- pressurizing the slurry to a pressure ranging from 500 psi to 2500 psi using a pressurizing device;
- delivering the pressurized slurry through a conduit to an applicator containing a nozzle, wherein the abrasive media remains suspended by the polymer chains of the neutralized polymerized acrylic acid;
- and
- expelling the pressurized slurry through the nozzle onto the tooth in the mouth of a patient with sufficient force so that the polymer chains of the neutralized polymerized acrylic acid are sheared, thereby reducing buildup of the neutralized polymerized acrylic acid on the tooth.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.