Apparatus and methods for cleaning teeth and root canals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11103333-B2
Application number	US-201916436371-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 10, 2019
Priority date	Dec 20, 2012
Publication date	Aug 31, 2021
Grant date	Aug 31, 2021

Abstract

Various systems, method, and compositions for treating a tooth are disclosed herein. For example, an apparatus for treating a tooth is disclosed. The apparatus can include a chamber having an access port which places the chamber in fluid communication with a treatment region of the tooth when the chamber is coupled to tooth. A fluid motion generator can be coupled to the chamber. The fluid motion generator can be configured to direct fluid across the access port to generate fluid motion in the chamber. In various embodiments, fluid motion (e.g., vortices, swirl, etc.) can be induced at or near treatment regions of the tooth, such as a root canal or carious region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of treating a tooth, the method comprising:
positioning a chamber adjacent to a treatment region of the tooth, the chamber disposed mostly outside the tooth and having an access port which places the chamber in fluid communication with the treatment region, the access port comprising a central axis;
swirling influent fluid into the chamber along a fluid path around the central axis; and
drawing outgoing fluid from the chamber and the treatment region to a suction port in a path that flows inside the swirling influent fluid path.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein swirling the influent fluid comprises activating a fluid motion generator.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein activating the fluid motion generator comprises activating the fluid motion generator with a console in fluid communication with the chamber.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein drawing outgoing fluid comprises activating a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the suction port by way of an outlet passage.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein swirling influent fluid comprises directing liquid along an axis transverse to the central axis.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein directing the liquid comprises directing the liquid along the transverse axis that is offset from the central axis.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein activating the fluid motion generator comprises activating a liquid jet device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chamber comprises a distal portion that defines the access port, the distal portion tapering distally and inwardly towards the central axis, wherein positioning the chamber comprises inserting the tapered distal portion into an access opening of the tooth.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the chamber comprises pressing the chamber against the tooth.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the chamber comprises attaching the chamber to the tooth.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising supplying substantially degassed liquid to the tooth.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating pressure waves in the treatment region.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein generating pressure waves comprises generating multiple acoustic frequencies.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein generating pressure waves comprises generating broadband acoustic power in the treatment region of the tooth.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treatment region comprises a root canal.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treatment region comprises a carious region on an exterior surface of the tooth.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the swirling comprises filling the treatment region with a filling material.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein a central axis of the chamber passes through the suction port.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the suction port is exposed to the chamber.

20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising exposing outgoing fluid along an outlet line to ambient air by way of a vent.

Assignees

• Sonendo Inc

Inventors

• Khakpour Mehrzad
• Bergheim Bjarne
• Evans Ryan

Classifications

• A61C17/20

  using ultrasonic waves · CPC title

• A61C17/0202 Primary

  Hand-pieces · CPC title

• A61C17/0208

  combined with means providing suction (A61C17/0211 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61C5/40

  Implements for surgical treatment of the roots or nerves of the teeth; Nerve needles; Methods or instruments for medication of the roots · CPC title

• A61C17/024

  with constant liquid flow · CPC title