Apparatus for cleaning a root canal system
AssigneeEndo Inventions, LLC
InventorsClifford Ruddle, Robert Sharp
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An endodontic tool is provided to facilitate the removal of the smear layer and to enhance deep lateral cleaning of a root canal system. The tool is comprised of a sonic or ultrasonically driven activator which is made from a strong, flexible, non-metallic, and non-cutting material. The activator can be smooth. A snap-on coupler is adapted to attach the tool to a driver via a snap on action and without the use of tools. The driver will vibrate, sonically or ultrasonically, the flexible activator within a root canal of a tooth. The tool can be provided with fluid passages which allow for irrigating reagents to be delivered through the activator and into the root canal space during endodontic procedures.
Claims30
A tool for activating intracanal irrigants during endodontic procedures, the tool comprising a coupler and a flexible activator extending distally from the coupler;
- said coupler being adapted to connect the tool to a sonic or ultrasonic handpiece to induce vibrations in at least a portion of the activator;
- the activator comprising an activating portion sized and shaped to extend through prepared root canals of teeth and to induce cavitation and acoustic streaming when activated in a solution filled root canal of a tooth to enhance deep lateral cleaning of the root canal system of the tooth;
- the activating portion being made from a flexible, non-cutting material.
The tool of claim 28 wherein the activator is made from plastic, nylon, aromatic polyamide, or other suitable non-metallic material.
The tool of claim 29 wherein the taper of the activating portion ranges from between about 0.01 mm/mm and about 0.12 mm/mm.
A tool for activating intracanal irrigants during endodontic procedures, the tool comprising a coupler and a flexible activator extending distally from the coupler;
- said coupler being adapted to connect the tool to a sonic or ultrasonic handpiece to induce vibrations in at least a portion of the activator;
- the activator comprising an activating portion sized and shaped to extend through prepared root canals of teeth and to induce cavitation and acoustic streaming when activated in a solution filled root canal of a tooth to enhance deep lateral cleaning of the root canal system of the tooth;
- the activator being made from a strong, highly flexible, non-metallic and non-cutting material;
- the outer surface of the activating portion being smooth.
A tool for use in endodontic procedures comprising a coupler adapted to connect the tool to a vibratory driver to induce vibrations in at least a portion of the tool, and a flexible activator extending from the end of the coupler and having a smooth outer surface;
- said activator being sized and shaped to extend into a prepared root canal and to induce cavitation and acoustic streaming when activated in a solution filled root canal of a tooth to enhance deep lateral cleaning of the root canal system of the tooth;
- the activator being made from a strong, flexible, non-metallic and non-cutting material;
- the activator including a flow path;
- said flow path comprising a lumen extending through at least a part of its length and an exit opening along a surface of the activator;
- said exit opening being sized such that solution exits the activator portion through the exit opening as a mist .
A method of deep lateral cleaning of root canal systems during an endodontic procedure;
- said method comprising;
- introducing a solution into a shaped canal capable of digesting pulp, bacteria and other irritants found a tooth root canal system;
- inserting an activator into the shaped canal;
- vibrationally driving the activator at a rate sufficient to induce cavitation and/or acoustic streaming of the solution within the canal causing said solution to become turbulent within the canal without further shaping the canal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.