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US 6,638,064 B1Granted
Flexible endodontic syringe
OwnerRobert Scott Nanceinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flexible endodontic syringe for use in performing root canal therapy on a tooth and that is particularly useful for irrigating a root canal possessing a non-linear central axis is presented. The instrument comprises an elongate shank or needle having an enclosed axial channel or lumen. The shank or needle possesses a flexibility sufficient to substantially traverse the entire length of a root canal. A method for irrigating a root canal is also disclosed.
Claims31
An endodontic instrument adapted for use in performing root canal therapy on a tooth and that is particularly useful for irrigating a root canal possessing a non-linear central axis, the instrument comprising:
- an elongate shank having a first end and an opposite second end wherein said shank is a metallic alloy comprising at least about 30% titanium and at least about 50% nickel;
- an enclosed axial channel extending the length of the shank for providing fluid communication between said first end and said second end for delivering fluids to areas external to said second end of said shank;
- and
- at least one radial orifice positioned adjacent said second end for providing radial dispersion of fluid from said orifice;
- said shank being sufficiently flexible to substantially traverse the entire length of a root canal having a non-linear central axis and position said second end of said shank adjacent the distal end of the curved root canal and the apical foramina.
2 more elements
An endodontic irrigation syringe comprising:
- a reservoir for retaining a fluid;
- a needle in fluid communication with said reservoir, said needle comprising an elongate shank having a first end and an opposite second end and an enclosed axial channel extending the length of the shank for providing fluid communication between said reservoir and said second end and for delivering fluids to areas external to said second end of said shank, said shank being sufficiently flexible to substantially traverse the entire length of a root canal having a non-linear central axis and position said second end of said shank adjacent the distal end of the curved root canal and the apical foramina, and wherein said shank is a metallic alloy comprising at least about 30% titanium and at least about 50% nickel;
- at least one radial orifice positioned adjacent said second end for providing radial dispersion of fluid from said orifice;
- and
- means for dispensing a fluid from said reservoir to said channel of said needle.
2 more elements
A method for irrigating a root canal possessing a non-linear central axis, the method comprising:
- transferring a fluid by way of a needle comprising at least about 30% titanium and at least about 50% nickel and extending from the crown of the tooth along the non-linear central axis of the root canal to a discharge point adjacent the apical foramina and thereafter discharging the fluid from an orifice at the distal end of the needle such that a portion of the fluid is discharged substantially perpendicularly to the openings of the side canals and tubules extending from the main root canal and adjacent the apical foramina.
A method for irrigating the distal end of a root canal possessing a non-linear central axis, the method comprising:
- inserting an elongate, hollow and flexible shank, comprising at least about 30% titanium and at least about 50% nickel and having a first end and an opposite second end, into a root canal along a path that generally follows the non-linear central axis of the root canal and positioning the second end of the shank adjacent the distal end of the root canal and the apical foramina;
- and
- injecting an irrigation fluid into the distal end of the root canal through an orifice adjacent the second end of the shank whereby at least a portion of the irrigation fluid impacts the sideway of the root canal at an angle that is substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the root canal.
A syringe comprising:
- a hollow, axially elongated barrel;
- a needle;
- a removable connector attached to said barrel adjacent a distal end thereof said connector comprising a first end removably attached to said distal end of said barrel and a second end attached to said needle, said first and second ends being separated by an intermediate portion, said intermediate portion being non-linear and forming an angle between said first end and said second end, said connector further comprising a lumen extending the length and thereof and providing fluid communication between said barrel and said needle;
- said needle comprising an elongate shank comprising at least about 30% titanium and at least about 50% nickel and having a first end and an opposite second end and an enclosed axial channel extending the length of the shank for providing fluid communication between said barrel and said second end of said shank and for delivering fluids to areas external to said second end of said shank, said shank being sufficiently flexible to substantially traverse the entire length of a root canal having a non-linear central axis and position said second end of said shank adjacent the distal end of the curved root canal and the apical foramina;
- at least one radial orifice positioned adjacent said second end of said shank for providing radial dispersion of fluid from said orifice;
- and
- means for dispensing a fluid from said barrel to said channel of said needle.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.