Radio-opaque paint for medical stents

Abstract

A process for preparing a water-soluble, radio-opaque paint for marking acrylic resin dental stents includes the steps of preparing a solution comprising 50 ml of ethanol, 6.4 grams of glycerol; 4.0 ml of benzaldehyde; 1.0 ml of glacial acetic acid, and 0.15 grams of hydroxy propyl cellulose. A radio-opaque powder, such as 50 grams of barium sulfate powder having a mean particle diameter of about 10 .mu.m, is then added to the solution. The solution is then mixed to obtain the paint, wherein the paint has a uniform dispersion of the radio-opaque powder. This paint may be used on dental stents to locate and guide placement of dental implants. The method may include the steps of preparing a water-soluble, radio-opaque paint for marking dental stents comprising the steps of preparing a solution described above; adding a radio-opaque powder, such as 50 grams of barium sulfate powder; and mixing the solution to obtain the paint, wherein the paint has a uniform dispersion of the radio-opaque powder. The uniform dispersion may be obtained by using ultrasound. Further, the method comprises applying the paint to a dental stent; placing the stent in contact with a patient's teeth; taking a radiographic image of the stent and the patient's teeth. The stent then is removed from the patient's teeth, and the paint is removed from the stent.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.