MIXING CAPSULE FOR DENTAL MATERIAL, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING DENTAL MATERIAL

Abstract

The invention relates to a capsule (3) for producing a composition, particularly for dental care, comprising an enclosure (6) provided with at least two compartments (8), the number of compartments corresponding to the number of components to be mixed, and at least one wall (10) for isolating the components, said wall (10) being provided to isolate the components form each other in storage mode, and to allow fluidic communication between the compartments (8) in mixing mode, said capsule also comprising a driving rod (2), one end of which is designed in compliance with the ISO 1797 standard, for removable attachment to a hand-held part (1).

Claims

1. Capsule for preparing dental surgical material obtained by mixing components prior to use, comprising: an enclosure provided with a plurality of compartments arranged concentrically and intended for as many said components to be mixed, at least one isolating wall for isolating the components from one another during storage and for enabling fluid communication between the compartments during mixing, a drive rod whose one extremity allows a removable attachment to a hand piece for example according o the ISO 1797 standard.

2. Capsule according to claim 1, wherein the isolating wall between the compartments covers the surface occupied by all of the concentric compartments.

3. Capsule according to claim 2, wherein the isolating wall comprises a lower face bearing against the rim between the compartments

4. Capsule according to claim 1, wherein the isolating wall comprises a plurality of mixing arms arranged so as to dip into the mixture to be mixed when the capsule is in mixing mode.

5. Capsule according to claim 4, wherein the isolating wall is connected to the drive rod so as to be rotatable by said drive rod to mix the mixture to be mixed.

6. Capsule according to claim 5, wherein the isolating wall is further arranged to be liftable by said drive rod to mix the mixture to be mixed.

7. Capsule according to claim 1, comprising an Archimedean screw fluid communication with one of the compartments and arranged to transport the component present in this compartment during a rotation of the drive rod.

8. Capsule according to claim 1, wherein the compartments are arranged side by side, with the isolating wall between the components comprising a removable, tearable or deformable membrane.

9. Capsule according to claim 1, wherein the drive rod is made of injected polymer.

10. Capsule according to claim 1, wherein the lid and the enclosure are of injected SBS.

11. Capsule according to claim 1, comprising a bayonet closing arranged to position the cover in two positions that can be chosen, namely: a closed position; a position where the lid is removed.

12. Capsule according to claim 1, comprising components for the preparation of dental cement.

13. Method for preparing dental or surgical material obtained by mixing components prior to use, comprising: attaching a capsule according to claim 1 to a hand piece; driving the drive rod of said capsule by means of said hand piece; opening the lid of said hand piece to access said mixed material.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0042] All the details for the execution of the invention are given in the description which follows, supplemented by FIGS. 1A to 6B presented solely by way of non-limiting examples, and in which:

[0043] FIG. 1A is an elevational view of the hand piece connected to the preparation capsule for dental care;

[0044] FIG. 1B is a perspective illustration of the hand piece connected to the preparation capsule for dental care;

[0045] FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective representation of the constituent elements of the capsule;

[0046] FIG. 2B is an elevational illustration of the constituent elements of the capsule before assembly;

[0047] FIG. 2C represents in perspective the capsule after assembly, which is connected to the hand piece shank before use;

[0048] FIG. 3A illustrates in perspective a lid;

[0049] FIG. 3B is an elevational representation of the same lid;

[0050] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the lid with a plurality of mixing arms seen from below;

[0051] FIG. 4B is an illustration of the lid with a plurality of arms mixers from below;

[0052] FIG. 4C is an elevational view of the lid with a plurality of mixing arms;

[0053] FIG. 5A shows an elevational view of the enclosure in which the mixture is made;

[0054] FIG. 5B illustrates the same mixing chamber according to a perspective representation;

[0055] FIG. 6A is another perspective view of the lid with a plurality of mixing arms;

[0056] FIG. 6B is a perspective illustration of the lid of the capsule connected to the standardized shank of the hand piece;

[0057] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a detail of the lid, the enclosure and the mixing arms;

[0058] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a detail of the enclosure and of the arms mixers;

[0059] FIG. 9 is a side view of a capsule closed by a ribbon adhesive.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0060] The capsule for dental care 3 illustrated in the figures is intended to accommodate various components in order to mix them at the time of use in order to obtain a dental material, for example a paste, specifically adapted to the oral/dental health of each of the patients.

[0061] FIGS. 1A and 1B show the capsule 3 for storing and preparing dental treatment components when it is connected to a hand piece (in this case a contra-angle) 1 via a standard shank 2.

[0062] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate by means of exploded views the various components of the capsule 3. The capsule 3 is thus constituted by an enclosure 6 within which the mixture can be made. The enclosure 6 is subdivided into two compartments 8 isolated from one another. One is intended to contain a first component, for example a powder component, and the other is destined for storing a second component, for example a liquid component. Such an arrangement of compartments makes it possible to dose the components very precisely according to the quantities desired to obtain a preparation adapted to a particular problem. These components are isolated from one another in storage mode, before the capsule 3 is used by the dentist. The components will then be brought into contact with one another in mixing mode, when the capsule 3 is driven by the rotation of the shank 2 thanks to the hand piece 1.

[0063] FIG. 2C makes it possible to visualize the capsule 3 in perspective when it is ready to be used. In this illustration, the standardized hand piece shank 2 is inserted into the capsule so that it can be operated with the hand piece.

[0064] FIGS. 3A and 3B show the outer part 4 of the lid of the capsule 4. It enables the components to be kept in the capsule during mixing, but also the sterilization of the stored components to be preserved. The edge of the lid has two flats for holding it with a tool, for example a combination wrench, to open the lid in order to access the mixture. In this figure openings can also be seen, in this example three radial openings, which make it possible to lift the internal part 5 of the lid and to ensure a pressure on this internal part.

[0065] FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 6A show the internal part of the lid 5 seen from below, when it is integrated with the external part 4. It can be seen in these views that this part forms helical blades and comprises two mixing arms 5 which penetrate into one of the compartments and make it possible to mix the different components when these arms are rotated with respect to the enclosure 6 of the capsule thanks to the hand piece. The lower face of the lid serves also as an isolating wall between the compartments 8, making it possible to avoid a transfer of a component during transport or storage of the capsule.

[0066] FIGS. 7 and 8 show how the inner part 5 of the lid closes in a leak-tight manner on the enclosure 6, avoiding the risk of passage of liquid or powder from one compartment to another or between a compartment and the outside of the capsule.

[0067] FIG. 7 shows the manner in which the sealing is obtained between the lower face of the internal part 5 of the lid and the outer edge of the enclosure 6. In this embodiment, an annular rim 50 under the internal part 5 of the cover 4, 5 engages against an annular bearing surface 60 on the external rim of the enclosure 6, so as to prevent exchanges of liquid or powder between the outside of the capsule and the outer compartment. At least one of the bearing surfaces 50 or 60 is made of plastic material or of another elastically deformable material so as to ensure leak-tightness. An annular seal may be provided to improve this tightness.

[0068] FIG. 8 shows the manner in which the cover 4 ensures the sealing between the two compartments of the enclosure 6. In this embodiment, the rim 61 between the two compartments comes to bear flexibly against a portion 51 of the lower face of the inner portion of the lid 5 so as to prevent water or powder infiltration of one compartment to the other of the enclosure. The flange 61 and/or the lower face 51 can be ribbed to ensure a tight fit. The flange 61 and/or the bottom face 51 may be made of an elastically deformable material so as to ensure leak-tightness. An annular seal may be provided to improve this seal.

[0069] A scraper could also be provided to be driven by the hand piece to scrape off the lid during mixing.

[0070] FIGS. 5A and 5B show the enclosure 6 of the capsule, within which the various compartments 8 are arranged. In storage mode, the compartments 8 are isolated from each other thanks to the internal part of the lid 4 as described hereinafter.

[0071] In order to implement the various phases useful for the preparation and application of the prepared mixture, the lid 4.5 of the capsule is advantageously made in two parts. The inner part 5 carries the mixing arms. The external part 4 makes it possible to close the assembly and to adjust the relative position of the various elements as a function of the current phase. Thus, in the example illustrated, a bayonet closing makes it possible to select three positions, as follows: [0072] a closed position, in which the various compartments are isolated from one another; [0073] a mixing position, where the components combine and mix; [0074] a position where the lid is removed to allow the practitioner to access the prepared dental material after mixing.

[0075] The passage from one position to the other is effected by turning the outer portion of the cover 4 with respect to the enclosure 6, for example by hand.

[0076] In another embodiment, the outer part of the lid 4 does not have to be pivoted to lift the helical blades and to allow the passage of liquid or powder from one compartment to the other. In this case, the inner part 5 of the lid (the helical blades) lifts by turning against the inclined edge of the enclosure 6 when it is rotated so as to dissociate the inner face of the lid 4,5 from the enclosure 6 and enable the mixing. In this case, the movement from the closed position to the mixing position takes place automatically when the driving rod is driven by the hand piece, which produces a displacement and possibly a deformation of the isolation wall.

[0077] In another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, the lid is connected to the enclosure by means of an adhesive tape 40 in the closed position. It can pass into the mixing position and then into the retracted position by removing the adhesive and rotating it relative to the enclosure.

[0078] The adhesive tape 40, or other adhesive, may also cover the openings provided in the lid to prevent dust from entering.

[0079] This architecture allows the practitioner to prepare specific compositions without getting dirty. For this purpose, the dentist positions the bayonet lock in mixing mode in order to move the portion of the cover serving as an isolating wall between the compartments. He then fixes the capsule 3 to the hand piece 1, and actuates the latter to obtain the mixed preparation. If necessary, the enclosure 6 can be held during the drive of the mixing arms by hand or by means of a tool such as a fork wrench which makes it possible to hold the cover by flats provided for this purpose on the enclosure 6.

[0080] Upon the completion of the mixing, the dentist removes the lid and removes the preparation for immediate application.

[0081] FIGS. 2B and 4C allow visualising an Archimedean screw 9 provided under the inner part of the cover 4. The Archimedean screw 9 makes it possible to gradually raise the component, for example a liquid, contained in the central compartment in order to facilitate transfer to the peripheral compartment. The liquid then flows easily and gradually into the external compartment containing, for example, cement, in order to obtain a ready-to-apply mixture.

[0082] According to a variant (not shown), several capsules 3 can be paired, for example superimposed or juxtaposed, to allow several mixtures to be prepared simultaneously, or to prepare complex mixtures from several capsules.

[0083] The paste preparation can be obtained after fixing the capsule 3 to the hand piece 1, then actuating the hand piece 1 while holding the outside of the enclosure 6 to prevent any rotation of the latter. In this way, the hand piece only pivots the mixing arms 5. According to such an embodiment, the paste obtained is very homogeneous.

[0084] The capsules according to the invention allow the dentist to save time in the preparation of the treatment and to guarantee a strict hygiene in the preparation since it limits the risks of contamination. Furthermore, such an architecture does not require the use of tools other than the hand piece 1 and the shank 2 connected to the hand piece.

[0085] In another version, the lid integrates the shank 2 which is inserted into the hand piece. A replaceable and/or reusable shank can be used.

[0086] The shank 2 can be integrated into the capsule, or be reusable. It can, for example, be made of metal, or advantageously of reinforced polymer, for example of polymer reinforced with glass or carbon fibre.

[0087] The components can be stored and protected in the capsule prior to mixing. It is also possible to open the capsule before mixing, to add components therein or to modify their proportions, then to close the capsule in order to obtain a customized mix.

[0088] The system described above can advantageously be used in the field of odontology, since it has the advantage of rapidly preparing a dental preparation in a very hygienic manner. Another advantage lies in the fact that very precise pre-dosing is performed. This allows significant timesaving during the care preparation phase.

[0089] The invention described above can be interpreted more broadly, that is to say that the capsules 3 can be used for purposes other than that of dentistry, such as, for example, in the field of surgery, cosmetic surgery, orthodontics, etc.