Abstract
A circumferential matrix system having a matrix band and a body, such that the body comprises a handle, a housing and a base, and a spindle within the body is attached to the handle. The matrix band on one end is permanently affixed to the spindle and the matrix band on another end is permanently affixed to an inside wall of the housing. The circumferential matrix system can be tightened around a tooth without the need or use of a retaining ring.
Claims
1. A circumferential matrix system, comprising: a body including: a handle having a handle rotational axis; a housing having an inside wall; and a base disposed distal across the housing from the handle; a spindle disposed within the body, operationally and integrally attached to the handle, and having a spindle rotational axis; and a matrix band having a first end and a second end, the first end being permanently affixed to the spindle and the second end being permanently affixed to the inside wall of the housing such that the second end of the matrix band is not movable, wherein the handle is connected to the housing via the spindle and the handle rotational axis is the same as the spindle rotational axis within the housing.
2. The circumferential matrix system of claim 1, wherein the body has a tear drop shape such that a narrow end of the tear drop shape is capable of providing an anatomical shaped interface with a tooth of a patient when the circumferential matrix system is in use.
3. The circumferential matrix system of claim 1, wherein the matrix band is contoured.
4. The circumferential matrix system of claim 1, wherein the matrix band is coated.
5. The circumferential matrix system of claim 1, wherein the matrix band is uncoated.
6. The circumferential matrix system of claim 1, further comprising a locking device that provides tactile feedback for a user while tightening and loosening the matrix band.
7. The circumferential matrix system of claim 1, wherein the handle is thumbwheel shaped to enable fingertip gripping for adjustment of the matrix band and placement of the matrix band around a tooth of a patient.
8. The circumferential matrix system of claim 1, wherein the housing includes tabs that affix into an aperture of the base such that the body of the circumferential matrix system is formed.
9. The circumferential matrix system of claim 1, wherein the spindle is rotated around the spindle rotational axis by rotational movement of the handle about the handle rotational axis.
10. The circumferential matrix system of claim 1, wherein the spindle is disposed within the housing.
11. The circumferential matrix system of claim 10, wherein the spindle is radially surrounded by the housing other than a gap through which the matrix band extends.
12. A circumferential matrix system, comprising: a body including: a handle having a handle rotational axis; and a housing having an inside wall; a spindle disposed within the body, operationally and integrally attached to the handle, and having a spindle rotational axis; and a matrix band having a first end and a second end, the first end being permanently affixed to the spindle and the second end being permanently affixed to the inside wall of the housing such that the second end of the matrix band is not movable, wherein the handle is connected to the housing via the spindle and the handle rotational axis is the same as the spindle rotational axis within the housing, and wherein the spindle is disposed within the housing.
13. The circumferential matrix system of claim 12, wherein the body has a tear drop shape such that a narrow end of the tear drop shape is capable of providing an anatomical shaped interface with a tooth of a patient when the circumferential matrix system is in use.
14. The circumferential matrix system of claim 12, wherein the housing is closed around the matrix band using heat stakes.
15. The circumferential matrix system of claim 12, wherein the spindle is radially surrounded by the housing other than a gap through which the matrix band extends.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 demonstrates the circumferential matrix system disclosed herein.
(2) FIG. 2 demonstrates a partially exploded view of the circumferential matrix system disclosed herein.
(3) FIG. 3 demonstrates the internal placement of the matrix band within the circumferential matrix system disclosed herein.
(4) FIG. 4 demonstrates the matrix band prior to being formed into the circumferential matrix system disclosed herein.
(5) FIG. 5 demonstrates the circumferential matrix system disclosed herein from the bottom view where the movement of housing is shown.
(6) FIG. 6 demonstrates the circumferential matrix system disclosed herein from the top view where the movement of housing is shown.
(7) FIG. 7 demonstrates another embodiment of the circumferential matrix system disclosed herein.
(8) FIG. 8 demonstrates yet another embodiment of the circumferential matrix system disclosed herein demonstrating the directional rotation of the handle.
(9) FIG. 9A demonstrates a band contour having a single radius curvature.
(10) FIG. 9B demonstrates a band curvature having a single spline curvature with a straight line.
(11) FIG. 9C demonstrates another band curvature having a different single spline curvature than that of FIG. 9B with a straight line.
(12) FIG. 10A demonstrates the internal placement of the matrix band within one embodiment of the circumferential matrix system disclosed herein.
(13) FIG. 10B demonstrates the internal construction of the housing of one embodiment of the circumferential matrix system disclosed herein.
(14) FIG. 11 demonstrates the matrix band prior to being formed into one embodiment of the circumferential matrix system disclosed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(15) FIG. 1 shows the circumferential matrix system described herein prior to use. The matrix band 10 can be made of the same material as any known conventional matrix band. This matrix band 10 may be uncoated or coated with any suitable material, such as Teflon® or an antibacterial material like that described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,747,831 which is incorporated by reference herein. In embodiments, the matrix band 10 may be contoured as for example shown in FIG. 1 to somewhat correspond to the general anatomical shape of a tooth.
(16) The body 14 of the circumferential matrix system 1 disclosed herein includes a handle 12, housing 16, and base 18. The handle 12 of the body may be is turned in order to wind the matrix band 10 tighter when placed around a tooth. This motion is better shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The housing 16 and base 18 of the body have a general tear drop shape in order to be better placed against the tooth of a patient. Once the matrix band 10 is tightened around the tooth, a retaining ring is generally not need to hold the matrix band in place. However, a retaining ring (not shown) may be necessary in order to provide spacing between the tooth being worked on and an adjacent tooth.
(17) FIG. 7 demonstrates another embodiment of the circumferential matrix system disclosed herein. In the matrix system 200 of FIG. 7 the housing 116 does not include a base. Specifically, the housing 116 of the matrix system 200 is formed more as a clam shell like structure as demonstrated in FIG. 10B where heat stakes 100 are used to enclose the matrix band 10 within the house 116 of the circumferential matrix system 200. The heat stakes 100 of the embodiment are made from a male portion 100a and a female portion 100b (as shown in FIG. 10B). As demonstrated by FIGS. 7 and 8, the heat stakes 100 can be placed in a suitable formation on the housing 116 so long as the housing 116 is properly closed and does not interfere with the placement of the matrix band 10 therein. The matrix system 200 of FIG. 7 includes a locking device/tab 13 that provides tactile feedback for the user while tightening and loosening. The matrix system 200 of FIG. 7 further includes anatomically shaped interface 117, which is the portion of the body where the body, band and tooth meet. This anatomically shaped surface 117 assist in keeping the matrix system 200 on a patient's tooth when in use.
(18) FIG. 2 demonstrates a partially exploded view of the body 14 of the circumferential matrix system 1. The housing includes tabs 20 that affix into an aperture 24 of the base 18 such that the body of the circumferential matrix system 1 is formed. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the handle 12 includes grips 34 to assist a user in tightening the matrix band 10 around a tooth. When the handle 12 is wound, the spindle 22 within the housing actuates the tightening of the matrix band 10. As seen in FIG. 3, the matrix band 10 is attached to the spindle 22 at location 32. When the spindle 22 is wound by the user, the matrix band 10 is also wound around the spindle 22 inside the body 14, thereby tightening the matrix band around the tooth. The other end of the matrix band 10 is molded 30 into the housing as shown in FIG. 3. Because this end of the matrix band 10 is not movable, the matrix band 10 can be wound about the spindle 22.
(19) FIG. 4 demonstrates how the matrix band 10 is attached to the spindle 22 and molded into the housing 16. The spindle 22 of FIG. 4 is then placed inside the housing 16 as shown in FIG. 3 so that circumferential matrix system 1 can be generally formed. Similar to FIG. 4, FIG. 11 demonstrates how the matrix band 10 is attached to the spindle 22 and molded into the housing 116. The spindle 22 of FIG. 11 is then placed inside the housing 116 as shown in FIG. 10B so that the circumferential matrix system 200 can be general formed.
(20) As shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C, the matrix band 10 may be formed in a variety geometries so long as the geometry conforms to a tooth of the patient. For example, FIG. 9A demonstrates a matrix band 10 that has a single radius curvature 118 along the longitudinal direction 119a of the matrix band 10. In contrast, FIG. 9B demonstrates a matrix band 10 having a single spline curvature 120a at one point and a straight line 120b along the longitudinal direction 119b of the matrix band 10. Similar to FIG. 9B, FIG. 9C demonstrates another matrix band embodiment having a single spline curvature 130a at one point and a straight line 130b along the longitudinal direction 119c of the matrix band 10.
(21) As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in embodiments, the matrix band 10 is tightened by the handle being turned in a specific direction. The matrix band 10 can be tightened, loosened and re-tightened as required, without a tensioning device. As is particularly apparent from FIGS. 5 and 6, the tear drop shape of the body 14 is important once the matrix band 10 is tightened. Because of the one-directional tightening and the tear drop shape, the circumferential matrix system 1 is able to better fit in between two adjacent teeth because the tear drop shape is somewhat anatomical.
