Endodontic procedure employing simultaneous liquefaction and acoustic debridement

#This application is not referenced in any microfiche appendix.

#This invention relates to endodontic root canal preparation achieved by simultaneous liquefaction and acoustic debridgement.

#This invention relates to dental instruments and particularly to endodontic instruments, systems and procedures for treating a tooth root canal in which the root canal is cleansed of bacteriological materials by physical and acoustic debridgement and flushing with an irrigation solution, particularly the apparatus and equipment for providing irrigation to remove diseased and necrotic tissue.

#FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a hand piece by which an irrigation fluid may be injected into a tooth root canal. The hand piece has an ultrasonic generator as a part thereof whereby the flushing fluid injected into the tooth root canal is energized with ultrasonic energy.

#FIG. 2 shows the hand piece as illustrated in FIG. 1 with an ultrasonic generator having provision to accommodate the flow of flushing fluid therethrough.

#FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a system for employing the invention. This figure shows a positive displacement pump that forces irrigation fluid under pulsed pressure for injecting into a tooth's root canal. This figure further shows electrical energy applied to the hand piece ultrasonic generator whereby ultrasonic energy is applied to the hand piece and to the flushing liquid.

#It is to be understood that the invention that is now to be described is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and arrangement of the parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in a variety of ways. The phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and not limitation.

#Elements shown by the drawings are identified by the following numbers:

#10 tooth 12 coronal area 14 roots 16 open area 18 root canal 20 root canal 22 apex 24 hand piece 26 tubular body portion 28 flow passageway 30 internal threads 32 enlarged portion 34 coupling nut 36 passageway 38 flexible injection tube 40 enlarged end portion 42 distal end 44 ultrasonic generator 46 passageway 48 power cord 50 reservoir 52 pump 54 conduit 56 supply tube 58 power plug 60 cylinder 62 piston 64 motor 66 shaft 68 crank arm 70 piston rod 72 inlet valve 74 outlet valve 76 pressure pulses 78 passageway 80 tip assembly 82 inlet elbow 84 inlet end 86 outlet elbow 88 outlet end 90 tubular body portion 91 flat 92 neck 93 proximal end 94 insert 96 threaded portion 98 neck 99 distal end 100 receiver 102 injection tube 104 beveled surface 106 supply tube 108 supply tube 110 tube guides 112 needle 114 sleeve