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US 6,439,886 B1Granted
Inflatable dental device
OwnerMark G. Thoresoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device having pliable walls is provided for placement in the mouth of a patent to serve, in one manner, as a matrix barrier with walls of the device bearing upon opposed tooth surfaces. An inlet permits inflation of the device, as by a dental syringe, of the installed device. A valve closes under air pressure to seal the inlet which may also be closed by a fused inlet segment.
Claims11
An inflatable matrix barrier for placement in a patient's mouth, said matrix barrier comprising,
- pliable walls having joined marginal areas to define at least one chamber for reception of a pressurized medium, said pliable walls including outer walls for contact with interproximal surface of adjacent teeth,
- an inlet for the medium in communication with the chamber, and
- closure means for restricting flow of a medium through said inlet subsequent to inflation of the device.
A dental matrix retainer including,
- an inflatable body having multiple juxtaposed walls joined at their margins for placement in contact with interproximal tooth surfaces with one of the surfaces defining a matrix receiving site, said inflatable body defining a chamber
- inlet means in communication with said chamber for directing a pressurized fluid flow thereto, and
- closure means in said inlet means for closing said inlet means to retain the inflatable body in an inflated state and in biased contact with tooth surfaces for matrix retention.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.