Hardened ultrasonic dental surgical tips and process
AssigneeSan Diego Swiss Machining, Inc.
InventorsTeresa R. Hickok, Claude E. Martin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ultrasonic dental tip that is hardened by a novel process that includes roughing the tip and then applying a metal nitride coating, such as titanium nitride (Ti--N) or zirconium nitride (Zr--N). The roughing is preferably accomplished by sandblasting the tip with a microblaster. Optionally the tip may be heat treated after it has been roughened and prior to being coated in order to further increase its hardness.
Claims23
A surgical tip for use with an ultrasonic device, the tip comprising:
- a substantially elongate instrument having first and second opposite ends, the second end having an outer surface, wherein the first end has coupling means for coupling to an ultrasonic device;
- and
- the outer surface of the second end being a cutting surface defined by multiple indentations formed in the outer surface and having a coating of a metal nitride applied over the cutting surface to maintain its cutting character.
A method for hardening surgical tips having an outside surface and adapted for use with ultrasonic devices, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming a cutting surface by roughing the outside surface of the tip by forming multiple minute depressions in the surface with an externally applied abrasive process;
- and
- applying a coating of a metal nitride over the roughened cutting surface to maintain the cutting surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.