Method for manufacturing endodontic instruments
AssigneeUltradent Products, Inc.
InventorsPaul Lewis, Barry L. Hobson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of manufacturing endodontic files involves a chemical milling process to yield endodontic files having a desired taper. The process involves the steps of (a) providing a metallic rod having a cutting portion with a polygonal cross section; (b) torsioning the rod so as to form helical cutting surfaces in the cutting portion of the metallic rod; and (c) chemically milling the cutting portion of the rod so as to taper the cutting portion. The rod may be formed of any desirable metallic material, for example stainless steel or a nickel-titanium alloy.
Claims38
A method of manufacturing an endodontic instrument for use in performing an endodontic procedure, comprising:
- (a) providing an intermediate instrument having a cutting portion;
- and
- (b) chemically milling at least said cutting portion of said intermediate instrument so as to yield an endodontic instrument having a desired taper.
An endodontic instrument adapted for use in performing an endodontic procedure, comprising:
- a metallic rod, said rod having a proximal end and a distal end so as to define a tapered cutting portion adjacent said distal end;
- and
- at least one helical cutting surface extending around said cutting portion,
- said endodontic instrument formed by:
- (a) providing a metallic rod having a cutting portion with a polygonal cross section;
- (b) torsioning said rod so as to form helical cutting edges in said cutting portion with a polygonal cross section;
- and
- (c) chemically milling said cutting portion of said rod so as to taper said cutting portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.