Apparatus, methods, and compositions for endodontic treatments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9675426-B2
Application number	US-201113279199-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 21, 2011
Priority date	Oct 21, 2010
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

Examples of apparatus, methods, and compositions for endodontic treatments are described. The apparatus can include a fluid platform configured to substantially retain fluid in a tooth chamber during treatment. The fluid platform can help maintain fluid circulation in the tooth chamber as fluid flows into and out of the tooth chamber. The apparatus can also include a pressure wave generator configured to generate acoustic waves that can be used for cleaning root canals and tooth surfaces in the tooth chamber. Examples of pressure wave generators include a liquid jet, an electromagnetic energy delivery device, and an ultrasonic device. The fluid can include antiseptic or antibacterial solutions to assist in tooth cleaning. The fluid may be degassed to have a reduced dissolved gas content (compared to non-degassed fluids used in endodontic treatments), which may improve the effectiveness of the pressure wave generation or the cleaning.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for treating a tooth, the apparatus comprising:
a fluid retainer configured to be applied to the tooth to substantially retain fluid in a tooth chamber in the tooth, the fluid retainer comprising an internal chamber;
an inlet opening to supply fluid to the internal chamber;
a suction port on the fluid retainer to remove fluid from the tooth chamber, the suction port comprising an opening in the internal chamber;
an outlet passage extending from the opening to convey the removed fluid from the opening; and
a vent disposed along the outlet passage and in fluid communication with the suction port with the opening of the suction port being disposed between the internal chamber and the vent, the vent configured to be open to ambient air during a treatment procedure,
the vent being configured to permit the ambient air to be entrained into flow of fluid removed from the tooth chamber via the suction port without the ambient air entering the tooth chamber, and
the vent further being configured to inhibit flow of the ambient air into the chamber in the tooth.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an inlet line for delivery of fluid to the inlet opening and into the tooth chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the inlet port communicates with a source of degassed fluid.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a housing in fluid connection with the suction port.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vent comprises an elongated shape with a ratio of length to width greater than about 1.5 to 1.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vent is configured such that pressure of the fluid at an apex of the tooth is less than about 100 mmHg.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of vent openings.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure wave generator having a distal portion, the distal portion being configured to be inserted through the fluid retainer into the tooth chamber.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the pressure wave generator comprises one or more devices selected from the group consisting of: a fluid jet, a laser, a mechanical stirrer, and an ultrasonic device.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the pressure wave generator is configured to generate pressure waves, and wherein the fluid retainer is configured to retain sufficient fluid within the tooth chamber to permit pressure waves to propagate within the fluid.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the pressure wave generator is configured to produce sufficient energy to create at least some fluid cavitation within the tooth chamber.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the fluid retainer comprises a cap.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the cap is configured to be positioned around the tooth chamber such that the cap substantially closes an access opening into the tooth chamber.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the cap is configured to be positioned on a tooth seal region of the tooth.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the cap includes a planar surface that mates to a tooth seal having a planar surface.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the pressure wave generator is configured to create at least some fluid cavitation in the tooth chamber.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the fluid retainer is configured to couple with a distal portion of a housing.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the fluid retainer comprises a flow restrictor configured to be positioned around the tooth chamber and within the cap.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the cap substantially seals the tooth chamber so as to allow for controlled ingress and egress of fluid.

20. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the distal portion of the pressure wave generator is configured to be inserted into the opening such that the removed fluid passes through the opening around the pressure wave generator.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fluid retainer comprises a flow restrictor.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the flow restrictor comprises a sponge.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fluid retainer is configured to substantially inhibit leakage of fluid, organic material, or both from the tooth chamber except through the suction port.

24. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vent is disposed near the suction port.

25. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the suction port is in continuous, open communication with the vent.

26. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vent is angled towards a direction of fluid flow in the outlet passage.

27. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vent comprises a lumen having a first end on an outer surface of the apparatus and a second end that joins the outlet passage.

28. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vent comprises a vent axis along which air flows and the outlet passage comprises an outlet axis along which the removed fluid flows, wherein an angle between the vent axis and the outlet axis is an acute angle.

29. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outlet passage is configured to be in fluid communication with a suction pump that draws fluid away from the fluid retainer.

30. An apparatus for treating a tooth, the apparatus comprising:
a fluid retainer configured to be positioned against a surface of the tooth to substantially retain fluid in a chamber formed between the fluid retainer and the surface of the tooth;
an inlet opening to supply fluid to the chamber;
a suction port on the fluid retainer to remove fluid from the chamber, the suction port comprising an opening in the chamber;
an outlet passage extending from the opening to convey the removed fluid from the opening; and
an ambient air vent disposed along the outlet passage and in fluid communication with the suction port with the opening of the suction port being disposed between the chamber and the vent, the vent configured to be open to ambient air during a treatment procedure,
the vent being configured to permit the ambient air to be entrained into a flow of fluid removed from the chamber via the suction port without the ambient air entering the chamber, and
the vent further being configured to inhibit flow of the ambient air into the chamber.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 , further comprising an inlet line for delivery of fluid to the inlet opening and into the chamber.

32. The apparatus of claim 30 , further comprising a pressure wave generator having a distal portion, the distal portion being configured to be inserted through the fluid retainer into the chamber.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein the pressure wave generator comprises one or more devices selected from the group consisting of: a fluid jet, a laser, a mechanical stirrer, and an ultrasonic device.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein the pressure wave generator is configured to generate pressure waves, and wherein the fluid retainer is configured to retain sufficient fluid within the chamber to permit pressure waves to propagate within the fluid.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 , wherein the pressure wave generator is configured to produce sufficient energy to create at least some fluid cavitation within the chamber.

Assignees

• Bergheim Bjarne
• Khakpour Mehrzad
• Pham Michele
• Gharib Morteza
• Tebbs Richard S
• Sonendo Inc

Inventors

• Bergheim Bjarne
• Khakpour Mehrzad
• Pham Michele
• Gharib Morteza
• Tebbs Richard S

Classifications

• A61C5/50

  Implements for filling root canals; Methods or instruments for medication of tooth nerve channels · CPC title

• A61C5/40 Primary

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

• A61C5/44 Primary

  Means for controlling working depth, e.g. supports or boxes with depth-gauging means, stop positioners or files with adjustably-mounted handles · CPC title

• A61C17/20 Primary

  using ultrasonic waves · CPC title

• A61C5/04

  Human Necessities · mapped topic