Method and apparatus for applying gutta percha to a carrier

A device for applying gutta percha to a carrier comprising:

• a barrel provided with a barrel cavity communicating between a plunger insertion end and an opposite dispensing end;
• means for gripping the barrel being provided on the barrel;
• means for retaining a cannula which is pre-filled with gutta percha in the barrel cavity so that an elongated shaft portion of an endodontic filler carrier is insertable into the cannula when the gutta percha is heated in order to thermally increase the plasticity of the normally viscous gutta percha;
• a plunger movable within the body cavity, an upper end of the plunger being provided with means for gripping the plunger, an opposite lower end of the plunger being provided with means for dispensing the carrier and gutta percha from the device;
• and
• an insulating sleeve on the exterior of said barrel and adjacent said plunger insertion end.

A method of applying gutta percha to a carrier comprised of the following steps:

• (a) inserting a cannula which is pre-filled with gutta percha through a barrel cavity provided in a barrel of a syringe-type device until an upper open end of the cannula is secured to a dispensing end of the syringe-type device and an opposite lower open end of the cannula extends outward from the dispensing end;
• (b) heating the gutta percha in order to thermally increase the plasticity of the normally viscous gutta percha, which step can be accomplished either before or after (a);
• (c) inserting a plunger into a barrel cavity until it touches the gutta percha;
• (d) Inserting the carrier into the lower open end of the cannula;
• and
• (e) pushing the carrier and gutta percha out of the lower open end by means of the plunger.

A device for applying gutta percha to a carrier comprising:

• a barrel provided with a barrel cavity communicating between a plunger insertion end and an opposite dispensing end;
• means for gripping the barrel being provided on the barrel;
• means for retaining a cannula which is pre-filled with gutta percha in said dispensing end of said barrel cavity so that a carrier is insertable into a lower open end provided on the cannula;
• a plunger movable within said body cavity, an upper end of the plunger being provided with means for gripping the plunger, an opposite lower end of the plunger being provided with means for dispensing the carrier and gutta percha from the device;
• and
• an insulating sleeve provided externally on said barrel and adjacent said plunger insertion end.

A method of applying gutta percha to a carrier for use in filling an extirpated root canal of a tooth, the carrier having an elongated shaft portion, comprising the following steps:

• (a) inserting a cannula that is pre-filled with gutta percha into a barrel cavity provided in a barrel of a syringe-type device so that an open outlet end of the cannula is adjacent a dispensing end of the syringe-type device, the cannula being of elongated tubular open ended construction of length as great as said carrier shaft portion;
• (b) heating the gutta percha by applying heat externally of the cannula in order to thermally increase the plasticity of the normally viscous gutta percha, which step can be accomplished either before or after step (a);
• (c) inserting substantially the full length of the carrier shaft portion into the lower open end of the cannula;
• and (d) pushing the carrier and gutta percha out the cannula lower open end by means of a plunger movably provided in the barrel cavity to coat the carrier shaft portion with heated gutta percha.

A method of applying gutta percha to a carrier for use in filling an extirpated root canal of a tooth the carrier having an elongated shaft portion, comprised of the following steps:

• (a) inserting a cannula which is pre-filled with gutta percha through a barrel cavity provided in a barrel of a syringe-type device until an upper open end of the cannula is secured to a dispensing end of the syringe-type device and an opposite lower open end of the cannula extends outward from the dispensing end, the cannula being of elongated tubular open ended construction of length as great as said carrier shaft portion;
• (b) heating the gutta percha by applying heat externally of the cannula in order to thermally increase the plasticity of the normally viscous gutta percha, which step can be accomplished either before or after (a);
• (c) inserting substantially the full length of the elongated shaft portion of the carrier into the lower open end of the cannula;
• (d) inserting a plunger into the barrel cavity until it touches the gutta percha;
• and
• (e) pushing the carrier and gutta percha out of the lower open end by means of the plunger to coat the carrier shaft portion with heated gutta percha.