Articulating applicators/injectors for administration of liquid anesthetic and other liquids

Abstract

Disclosed are applicators and methods for injecting a liquid, such as anesthetic, into a patient with no or minimal pain. The applicator includes a coupling and a blade rotatably mounted on the coupling. The coupling is arranged to receive a cartridge in which a cannula is mounted such that the cannula extends through a proximal channel of the coupling and into a distal channel of the blade. The coupling is further arranged to secure the applicator to a source of liquid such that the liquid can be selectively introduced into and through the cannula into the tissue of the patient. The blade is thin enough for atraumatic insertion into a gingival sulcus of the patient.

Claims

1. An applicator for injecting a liquid into a tissue of a patient, said applicator comprising: a coupling having a first channel disposed through the coupling from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the first end of the coupling configured to engage with a reservoir; and a blade having at least: a transverse plane, a longitudinal plane, and a frontal plane, the frontal plane orthogonal to the transverse plane and the longitudinal plane; a second channel disposed through the blade between a first end of the blade and a second end of the blade, the second channel configured to receive liquid medicament from the first channel; the blade having, at least, a mounting portion for being mounted onto the second end of the coupling, the mounting portion configured to facilitate rotation of the blade in the transverse plane relative to the coupling; and the blade having a first thickness in the frontal plane less than a second thickness of the blade in the transverse plane and a third thickness of the blade in the longitudinal plane.

2. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the blade is configured to form a substantially fluid-tight interface with one or more anatomic structures at a gingival sulcus of the patient.

3. The applicator of claim 2, wherein the substantially fluid-tight interface facilitates directing the liquid medicament into the gingival sulcus of the patient and prevents the liquid medicament from flowing outward toward the blade.

4. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is a syringe.

5. The applicator of claim 2, wherein the blade includes, at least, a distal end that is configured to form the substantially fluid-tight interface, the distal end formed, at least in part, from silicone.

6. The applicator of claim 1, further comprising a cartridge.

7. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion of the blade is configured to facilitate rotation of the blade in the transverse plane relative to the coupling within a range of 90-180 degrees.

8. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion of the blade is configured to facilitate continuous rotation of the blade in the transverse plane relative to the coupling within a range of 135-180 degrees.

9. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the blade is configured to facilitate injecting of the liquid medicament into the gingival sulcus along a root of a tooth if the patient.

10. The applicator of claim 1, further comprising a cannula extending through the first channel and the second channel, the cannula configured to carry the liquid medicament from the reservoir to the blade.

11. The applicator of claim 10, wherein the cannula further comprises a sharp distal end proximate to the blade, the sharp distal end of the cannula being movable relative to the blade enabling the sharp distal end to penetrate the tissue of the patient to inject the liquid medicament therein.

12. A method for providing a liquid into a tissue of a patient, the method comprising: providing a blade having at least: a transverse plane, a longitudinal plane, and a frontal plane, the frontal plane orthogonal to the transverse plane and the longitudinal plane; a blade channel disposed through the blade between a first end of the blade and a second end of the blade, the blade channel configured to receive liquid medicament, the blade having, at least, a mounting portion for being mounted onto the second end of the coupling, the mounting portion configured to facilitate rotation of the blade in the transverse plane relative to the coupling; and the blade having a first thickness in the frontal plane less than a second thickness of the blade in the transverse plane and a third thickness of the blade in the longitudinal plane; applying a force to the blade to rotate the blade to an angle within a range of 90-179 degrees relative to the transverse plane; inserting the blade into a space between one or more anatomical structures of the patient; and injecting the liquid medicament through the blade channel and into the space between the one or more anatomical structures of the patient.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein injecting the liquid medicament includes delivering an intraligamentary injection into the space between the one or more anatomical structures in a gingival sulcus of the patient.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: providing a substantially fluid-tight seal between the blade and the tissue of the patient, the substantially fluid-tight seal configured to at least: direct the liquid medicament downward along a root of an adjacent tooth; and prevent the liquid medicament from flowing outward by a fluid-tight interface between the blade and surrounding tissues.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the liquid medicament is an anesthetic.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising: providing a syringe, and connecting the syringe to the blade.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the range of rotation is 135-179 degrees.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the liquid medicament comprises a vaccine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one exemplary syringe including an anesthesia applicator or injector constructed in accordance with this invention for periodontal ligament injection (intraligamentary injection);

(2) FIG. 2 is an enlarged end view of the applicator shown in FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation view of the applicator shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the applicator shown in FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged illustration, partially in section, of the exemplary anesthesia applicator/injector of FIG. 1 shown in the process of performing a periodontal ligament injection;

(6) FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of an alternative anesthesia applicator/injector constructed in accordance with another aspect of this invention, e.g., an injector for penetrating oral tissue;

(7) FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of still another alternative anesthesia applicator/injector constructed in accordance with another aspect of this invention, e.g., a device like that of FIG. 5 but including electrodes of a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit to facilitate further pain reduction;

(8) FIG. 8 is an illustration, similar to the illustration of FIG. 4, but showing the applicator/injector of FIG. 5 in the process of performing an injection of through the gingiva;

(9) FIG. 9 is an exploded view of still another alternative anesthesia applicator/injector constructed in accordance with another aspect of this invention; and

(10) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(11) Referring now to the various figures of the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, there is shown in FIG. 1 at 20 an applicator or injector mounted constructed in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of this invention shown mounted on a syringe 22 for use in a periodontal procedure. The applicator can be a separate unit or may form an integral part of the syringe. In either case the applicator is connected to the syringe by means of a coupling. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4 the applicator is an integral device which is arranged to be mounted on the syringe. The applicator includes a passageway (to be described later) therethrough for enabling the liquid anesthetic to flow therethrough. The syringe 22 can be of any suitable construction so that a liquid anesthetic can be located within a chamber (not shown) in it to be forced from the chamber through into the applicator when desired. To that end the exemplary embodiment of the syringe 22 includes a plunger 24 which when depressed forces the liquid anesthetic out of the syringe's chamber through a coupling (not shown) and into the applicator 20.

(12) It should be pointed out that the applicator 20 may be used with devices, other than a syringe. For example, it can be used with any controlled anesthetic delivery system, like the The Wand, identified above or with any other equipment, e.g., an electric pump system, arranged to provide a liquid anesthetic under some force.

(13) As best seen in FIGS. 2-4, the applicator 20 basically comprises a hollow proximally located body section 26 from which an elongated tip 28 projects. The tip 28 is a thin, generally planar member which has a generally rectangular profile in cross-section. The body section includes a proximally located chamber 30 (FIGS. 3 and 4) and a distally located chamber 32. The chamber 30 is arranged to receive a bolus of the anesthetic from the syringe when the syringe is actuated. The chamber 30 tapers downward in the distal direction in two sections, 30A and 30B, with the taper in section 30B being more severe than the taper of section 30A. The chamber 32 is in fluid communication with the chamber 30 and is located distally thereof. The chamber 32 serves to produce a jet of the anesthetic liquid from the chamber 30. To that end, the chamber 32 is of a constant diameter, which is less than the diameter of the chamber 30. The chamber 32 extends into the proximal portion of the tip 28.

(14) The tip 28 is preferably formed of a somewhat flexible material, e.g., polypropylene or polycarbonate or any other suitable plastic or other material. A small diameter passageway 34 extends through the tip 28 from its distal end 36 to the distal end of the chamber 32, so that the passageway 34 is in fluid communication with the chamber 32. As best seen in FIG. 4, the distal end 36 of the tip 28 is rounded to be atraumatic and includes a semi-circular shaped cut 38 (FIG. 4) at its distal-most point. The distal end of the passageway 34 terminates at the cut 38 and is in fluid communication therewith.

(15) As mentioned above the tip 28 has a generally flat profile. More precisely, and in accordance with one exemplary preferred embodiment of the invention, the peripheral edge of the distal end portion of the tip is tapered symmetrically at 40. This peripheral taper feature, coupled with the fact that the tip is somewhat flexible facilitates atraumatic entry of the tip into the gingival sulcus.

(16) In one preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention the total length of the applicator 20 is approximately 4 cm (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 cm), with the length of the applicator from its distal end 36 to the proximal end of its chamber 32 being approximately 3 cm (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 cm). The distal portion of the tip 28 is approximately 4 mm (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 mm) wide and 0.5 to 1.0 mm (e.g., 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9 or 1 mm) thick, with the diameter of the passageway 34 being approximately 0.25 mm (e.g., 0.1, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3 or 0.4 mm). The diameter of the chamber 30 at the proximal end of section 30A is approximately 5.4 mm (e.g., 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 5.4, 6.0 or 7.0 mm), while the internal diameter of the proximal end of the section 30B is approximately 3.5 mm (e.g., 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 or 5.0 mm). The diameter of chamber 32 is approximately 2.5 mm (e.g., 1.0, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 or 4.0 mm), while its length is approximately 1.7 cm (e.g., 0.5, 1.0, 1.7, 2.0, 2.5 or 3.0 cm).

(17) It should be pointed out that the foregoing dimensions are merely exemplary and other shapes and sizes of the applicator 20 are contemplated so long as they enable the distal end of the applicator to be atraumatically introduced into the gingival sulcus along the periodontal ligament to engage the anatomic structures at the gingival sulcus to inject the liquid anesthetic therein.

(18) Operation of the applicator/injection can best be appreciated by reference to FIG. 5. In particular, as shown therein the tip 28 of the applicator 20 is arranged to be atraumatically introduced into the gingival sulcus between the tooth 10 and the gingiva (gum) 12 along the periodontal ligament 14 to engage the anatomic structures thereat. The periphery of the distal portion of the tip being tapered and somewhat flexible forms or produces a fluid tight seal with the immediately adjacent anatomic structures. Thus, when the plunger 24 of the syringe 22 is pressed inward, a jet of the anesthetic liquid produced in the chamber 32 is forced through the communicating passageway 34 out through its open distal end at the cut 38 so that the anesthetic set is directed downward along the root 16 of the adjacent tooth 10 and is prevented from flowing upward and outward by the fluid-tight interfacial seal formed by the free end of the tip.

(19) As should be appreciated by those skilled in the art the use of the thin, flexible tip of the applicator 20 enables one to readily deliver an anesthetic solution through the periodontal membrane, thus doing away with the use of needles. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to place the applicator over a conventional needle and deliver the anesthetic solution through the needle and applicator while preventing the needle from contacting the patient.

(20) Turning now to FIGS. 6-8 there is disclosed another exemplary embodiment of an injector 120 constructed in accordance with this invention. This embodiment and variants encompassed by this invention is primarily arranged for infiltration to numb teeth, which heretofore has been accomplished by use of a sharp cannula to pierce the oral tissue adjacent the roots of the teeth to cause the teeth to numb. To that end, the applicator 120, like the applicator 20 is arranged to be used with a syringe (e.g., it may be a separate unit arranged to be mounted on a syringe or may be an integral part of the syringe) or may be used with any controlled anesthetic delivery system, like the The Wand, identified above or with any other device arranged to provide a liquid anesthetic under some force. Unlike the applicator 20 of FIGS. 1-4, the applicator 120 is arranged to penetrate the gingiva to deliver the liquid anesthetic therethrough. However, like the applicator 20, the applicator injector 120 achieves that end in an atraumatic manner.

(21) As best seen in FIG. 7, the applicator 120 basically comprises a coupling 122, an elongated tubular body 124 and an elongated cannula 126. The elongated tubular body is formed of a somewhat flexible material, e.g., silicone, and has a distal end portion in the form of a hollow skirt 128 having a free edge 130. The cannula 126 is an elongated tubular member formed of any suitable material, e.g., silicone which is more rigid, than the silicone of the body 124. The cannula 126 has a sharpened, open distal free end 132. The cannula 126 extends through the tubular body 124 so that its open free end 132 is in fluid communication with the hollow skirt 128, e.g., the free end 132 may be located within the hollow skirt 128 (show) or may be retracted slightly from it but still in fluid communication with it. The hollow body 124 is mounted on the coupling 122 via a threaded engaging portion 134. The coupling 122 includes a passageway 136 which is in fluid communication with the interior passageway of the cannula and also with the outlet passageway of the chamber in the syringe in which the liquid anesthetic is located.

(22) The periphery of the free edge 130 of the skirt 128 of the applicator/injector 120 is arranged to be brought into engagement with the surface of the gingiva where the injection is to be made, like shown in FIG. 8, whereupon the free edge 130 of the skirt 128 forms a substantially fluid tight seal with the outer surface of gingiva 12 thereat. Accordingly, when the syringe 22 is operated, e.g., its plunger 26 depressed, the liquid anesthetic is forced out of the syringe's chamber through the coupling's passageway 136, into the cannula 126 and out the open end 132 of the cannula, whereupon the anesthetic will be within the skirt and thus in engagement with the portion of the gingiva bounded by the periphery of the free edge of the skirt. This initial dose of the anesthetic serves to locally anesthetize the gingiva, so that once that has occurred the cannula can be used to penetrate the gingiva to a desired depth therebelow to deliver a second dose of the anesthesia, without causing the patient to experience any pain or discomfort. To that end, the cannula 126 is arranged to be moved with respect to the free edge 130 of the skirt 128 so that it can extend distally therebeyond to inject the anesthetic through the gingiva into the underlying structure after the gingiva has been locally anesthetized. For example, the cannula may be threadedly coupled to the body 124 so that its sharp free end can be extended beyond the beyond the free edge 130 of the skirt and into the underlying structure by merely twisting a portion of the applicator 120. Alternatively, the cannula may be coupled to the body so that its sharp free end can be extended beyond the free edge of the skirt by a sliding action, instead of a twisting action. In fact, it is even contemplated that the skirt portion 128 of the body 124 may be constructed so that it is collapsible, bendable or otherwise deformable, so that the sharpened free end of the cannula can be extended therebeyond by pushing on the applicator 120 after the free edge of the skirt has engaged the gingiva and the gingiva has been locally anesthetized to cause the skirt to collapse, bend or otherwise deform.

(23) In any case, the cannula is arranged to move relative to the skirt from a refracted position, like shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, to an extended position (not shown) wherein the sharpened free end of the cannula extends beyond the free edge 130 of the skirt through the gingiva and into the underlying anatomic structure to a desired depth, e.g., into the bone 18, after the gingiva has been locally anesthetized by the anesthetic in the hollow skirt. At that point the plunger of the syringe can be depressed again to inject a dose of the anesthetic into that underlying anatomic structure.

(24) In the interest of making the injection procedure as atraumatic as possible, the distal edge 130, if not the whole body 124 or skirt 128, is formed of a resilient and conformable material. Preferably, the distal free end is also somewhat rounded in shape to form an atraumatic end surface.

(25) In FIG. 7, there is shown an alternative embodiment of an applicator/injector 220, which is constructed similarly to the applicator 120. Thus, in the interest of brevity the structural details of the applicator 220 which are the same as those of the applicator 120 will be given the same reference numbers and the details of their construction and operation will not be reiterated. The applicator 220 includes a pair of electrodes 222 which are located within the tubular body 124 and which are connected to a remote TENS unit (not shown) via a pair of electrical conductors (not shown). Thus the TENS unit can be operated to numb the tissue prior to the cannula's penetration of the tissue, thus further lessening the chance that the patient will experience pain during the injection procedure.

(26) It should be pointed out at this juncture that the embodiments of the applicator/injectors of FIGS. 6 and 7 are not limited to infiltration usage as just described. Hence they can be used for PDL procedures as well. For such usage the applicator has to be appropriately sized and shaped to enter the gingival sulcus. Once the distal end of the applicator/injector 120 or 220 has entered that region the syringe can be operated to inject the liquid anesthetic into the skirt 128, where it will engage and locally anesthetize the adjacent tissue/anatomic structure. Once that small area has been exposed to the anesthetic for a sufficient time to be numbed, the cannula 126 can then be moved relative to the free edge 130 of the skirt to cause it to penetrate the underlying tissue/anatomic structure, whereupon a second dose of the anesthetic may be injected to numb the tooth.

(27) Moreover the applicator 120 is not limited to dental use. Thus, it can be used to inject a liquid anesthetic (or any other liquid substance, for that matter) into any tissue of a patient atraumatically.

(28) Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, there is disclosed another exemplary embodiment of an injector 320 constructed in accordance with this invention. This embodiment is primarily but not exclusively arranged for infiltration to numb teeth. Accordingly, applicator 320 is preferably arranged to be used with a syringe or may be used with any controlled anesthetic delivery system, like the The Wand, identified above or with any other device arranged to provide a liquid anesthetic under some force. The applicator 320 is arranged to penetrate the gingiva to deliver the liquid anesthetic therethrough in an atraumatic manner.

(29) Applicator 320 is also useful for administering medicaments other than anesthetic. Examples of such medicaments include, but are not limited to, antimicrobial agents, steroids, antifungal agent, sterilants, conditioners, fluorides, dentin desensitizers, antivirals, anesthetics, oxygenases, enzymes, peroxides, therapeutic bacterial strains, vaccines and combinations thereof.

(30) Applicator 320 comprises coupling 322, cartridge 334, cannula 332 and blade 324. Blade 324 is rotatably mounted on coupling 322 via pins 330. Blade 324 preferably adjusts to any or all angles within the range of 1-180 degrees relative to a plane defined by coupling 322. For example, the minimum angle of adjustment for the blade can be 0, 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 45, 65, 90, 91, 92, 95, 100, 115 or 135 degrees and the maximum angle of adjustment of the blade can be 180, 179, 178, 175, 170, 155 or 135 degrees. By way of example, FIG. 10 shows blade 324 positioned at an angle of approximately 135 degrees relative to coupling 322. The blade can be continuously adjustable throughout its range of motion or can have one or more fixed positions throughout the range. The adjustability of the blade facilitates the administration of liquid anesthetic into target tissues that are difficult to access with a linear injection device that is not articulated. In particular, the rotatability of the blade enables the administration of liquids around corners.

(31) Coupling 322 includes proximal channel 326 extending therethrough and in fluid communication with distal channel 328, which extends through blade 324.

(32) Coupling 322 receives cartridge 334 within proximal channel 326 and retains it by friction. The cartridge is preferably cup-shaped and configured to snuggly fit within the coupling. Suitable cartridges include but are not limited to conventional needle-and-hub type cartridges known in the art. When cartridge 334 is positioned within coupling 322, cannula 332 extends through proximal channel 326 and distal channel 328 to supply anesthetic (and/or other liquids) to the patient. Cannula 332 can terminate within channel 328 (as shown in FIG. 10), or it can extend beyond the end of channel 328.

(33) Coupling 322, blade 324 and cartridge 334 are preferably formed of at least one material that is chemically inert to at least the most commonly used anesthetics. Suitable materials include but are not limited to metals (e.g., steel, titanium alloys, etc.), and polymers, such as polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, polyether sulfone and polyacrylate. Coupling 322, blade 324 and cartridge 334 can be made of the same or different materials. In certain embodiments, cartridge 334 is less rigid than coupling 322 so as to facilitate the insertion of the former into the latter.

(34) Coupling 322 preferably tapers down in size from its octagonal proximal end to its cuboid distal end. The proximal end has a preferred diameter of 5-15 mm, more preferably 8-12 mm, most preferably about 10 mm. The distal end preferably has a width of 5-9 mm, and more preferably about 7 mm, and a preferred height of 2-5 mm, more preferably about 3 mm. The length from proximal end to distal end of the coupling is preferably 15-25 mm, more preferably about 20 mm.

(35) Blade 324 has a preferred length of 8-14 mm, more preferably about 11 mm, a preferred width of about 3-6 mm, more preferably about 4 mm, and a preferred thickness of about 0.5-1.5 mm, more preferably about 1 mm.

(36) Pins 330 are preferably cylindrical with a preferred diameter of 0.5-1.5 mm. Preferably they extend perpendicularly from the blade such that the blade is T-shaped. Pins preferably extend 1-3 mm from each side of the blade, more preferably about 2 mm.

(37) The blade is preferably thin enough for atraumatic insertion into a gingival sulcus of the dental patient. Thus, in preferred embodiments, the blade has a thickness of 0.5-1.5 mm, preferably about 1 mm.

(38) It should be pointed out that the dimensions of the applicator/injectors as described above are merely exemplary and not limiting.

(39) It should also be pointed out that the particular materials used to form the applicator/injectors as described above are merely exemplary of various materials which may be used.

(40) Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge, adopt the same for use under various conditions of service.