# US 2010/0167232 A1 · Endodontic device

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2010/0167232 A1
- Document ID: US20100167232A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 11/933,683
- Filed: 2007-11-01
- Published: 2010-07-01
- Earliest claimed: 2007-11-01
- Inventors: Ajit Karmaker
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100167232A1

## CPC

- A61C 5/50: Implements for filling root canals; Methods or instruments for medication of tooth nerve channels
- A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00)

## Abstract

An endodontic obturator is provided having a carrier that is fabricated of a material capable of being molded into very fine dimensions and also being easily removable from the root canal.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An obturator for use in filling an endodontically prepared root canal comprising:
a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and
filling material disposed on the shaft;
wherein the shaft is made of a material comprising a thermoplastic matrix material, a filler, and a process aid;
wherein the thermoplastic matrix material has a molding temperature equal to or greater than about 300° C. and a melting temperature in the range from about 150° C. to about 200° C.; and.
wherein the shaft is dissolvable with a dental solvent.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The obturator of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the distal end of the shaft is in the range of about 0.15 mm to about 1.60 mm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The obturator of claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic matrix material comprises polyamides, polyester, polyimides, polyarylates, polyurethanes, polysulfones, polyacetals, polycarbonates, polyphenylene sulfides, polyphenylene, polyarylsulfides, polyketones, polyphthalamide or mixtures thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The obturator of claim 1 wherein the filler comprises one or more of apatites, silica glass fillers, calcium silicate based fillers, hydroxyapatites, barium sulfate, bismuth subcarbonate, bismuth oxychloride, ytterbium oxide, ytterbium fluoride, ytterbium iodine, bismuth oxide, bismuth trioxide, bismuth fluoride, barium oxide, tantalum oxide, zinc oxide and zirconium oxide.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The obturator of claim 1 wherein the process aid comprises a fatty acid, fatty alcohol, wax ester, glycerol ester, glycol ester, phosphate ester, hydrocarbon wax, fatty glyceride, unsaturated hydrocarbon, or a mixture thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The obturator of claim 1 wherein the filling material comprises polylactides, polyglycolides, polycaprolactones, polyanhydrides, polyamides, polyurethanes, polyesteramides, polyorthoesters, polydioxanones, polyacetals, polyketals, polycarbonates, polyorthocarbonates, polyphosphazenes, polyhydroxybutyrates, polyhydroxyvalerates, polyalkylene oxalates, polyethylene oxides, polyacrylate/methacrylates, polyalkylene succinates, poly(malic acid) polymers, polymaleic anhydrides, poly(methylvinyl)ethers, poly(amino acids), chitin, chitosan, and copolymers, terpolymers, gutta percha, or mixtures thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The obturator of claim 1 wherein the shaft material comprises the thermoplastic matrix material in the range from about 60 to about 70 weight percent; the filler in the range from about 30 to about 40 weight percent; and the process aid in the range from about 0.5 to about 2.0 weight percent.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The obturator of claim 1 wherein the shaft material further comprises polymeric resins, fillers, plasticizers, antibiotic, cariostatic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, biologically active, therapeutic materials, pigments, dyes and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The obturator of claim 1 comprising a range of sizes wherein the distal end ranges in diameter from about 0.10 mm to about 2.0 mm.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The obturator of claim 9 wherein the shaft is tapered from the distal end to the proximal end at a taper ranging from about 0.01 mm to about 0.10 mm.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The obturator of claim 1 wherein the filling material is applied to the shaft in a consistent, even layer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The obturator of claim 1 wherein the shaft is fully dissolvable with a dental solvent.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The obturator of claim 1 wherein the shaft is partially dissolvable with a dental solvent.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The obturator of claim 1 wherein the dental solvent comprises chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, benzene, acetone, toluene, dichloromethane, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetone, hexafluoroisopropanol, limonene, eucalyptus oil, xylene, chlorinated hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, or a mixture thereof.

### Claim 15

A method of making an endodontic obturator comprising:
mixing a thermoplastic matrix material, a filler, and a process aid together to form a mixture, wherein the thermoplastic matrix material has a molding temperature greater than about 300° C. and a melting temperature in the range from about 150° C. to about 200° C.;
heating the mixture to a temperature in the range of about 285° C. to about 305° C.;
injection molding the heated mixture at a temperature in the range of about 335° C. to about 390° C. to form a shaft, whereby the shaft has a distal end and a proximal end; and
applying a filling material onto the shaft.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15 wherein the thermoplastic matrix material comprises polyamides, polyester, polyimides, polyarylates, polyurethanes, polysulfones, polyacetals, polycarbonates, polyphenylene sulfides, polyphenylene, polyarylsulfides, polyketones, polyphthalamide or mixtures thereof.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15 wherein the filler comprises one or more of apatites, silica glass fillers, calcium silicate based fillers, hydroxyapatites, barium sulfate, bismuth subcarbonate, bismuth oxychloride, ytterbium oxide, ytterbium fluoride, ytterbium iodine, bismuth oxide, bismuth trioxide, bismuth fluoride, barium oxide, tantalum oxide, zinc oxide and zirconium oxide.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15 wherein the process aid comprises a fatty acid, fatty alcohol, wax ester, glycerol ester, glycol ester, phosphate ester, hydrocarbon wax, fatty glyceride, unsaturated hydrocarbon, or a mixture thereof.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15 wherein the filling material comprises polylactides, polyglycolides, polycaprolactones, polyanhydrides, polyamides, polyurethanes, polyesteramides, polyorthoesters, polydioxanones, polyacetals, polyketals, polycarbonates, polyorthocarbonates, polyphosphazenes, polyhydroxybutyrates, polyhydroxyvalerates, polyalkylene oxalates, polyethylene oxides, polyacrylates/methacrylates, polyalkylene succinates, poly(malic acid) polymers, polymaleic anhydrides, poly(methylvinyl)ethers, poly(amino acids), chitin, chitosan, and copolymers, terpolymers, gutta percha, or mixtures thereof.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15 wherein the shaft material comprises the thermoplastic matrix material in the range from about 60 to about 70 weight percent; the filler in the range from about 30 to about 40 weight percent; and the process aid in the range from about 0.5 to about 2.0 weight percent.

### Claim 21 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15 wherein the shaft material further comprises polymeric resins, fillers, plasticizers, antibiotic, cariostatic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, biologically active, therapeutic materials, pigments, dyes and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 22 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15 further comprising molding the shaft having a diameter at the distal end in a range of sizes from about 0.10 mm to about 2.0 mm.

### Claim 23 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15 further comprising molding the shaft having a taper from the distal end to the proximal end wherein the taper ranges from about 0.01 mm to about 0.10 mm.

### Claim 24 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15 further comprising applying the filling material onto the shaft in a consistent, even layer.

### Claim 25 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15 wherein the shaft is dissolvable in a dental solvent.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25 wherein the dental solvent comprises chloroform,
tetrahydrofuran, benzene, acetone, toluene, dichloromethane, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetone, hexafluoroisopropanol, limonene, eucalyptus oil, xylene, chlorinated hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, or a mixture thereof.