DEVICE FOR INJECTING A FILLING MATERIAL IN THE FLUID PHASE INTO A CANAL SPACE

Abstract

Device for injecting a filling material in the fluid phase into a canal space, the said device comprising an adaptor, an automatic mixer connected to the said adaptor, an intra-oral injection tip fitted at the upper end of the said automatic mixer, and is characterized in that the said injection tip is a tube the distal end of which has an outside diameter smaller than or equal to 1.5 mm over a length greater than or equal to 8 mm, in that the said injection tip is made of a shape memory material so that it can be bent to a desired orientation, in that the said injection tip is moulded at the upper end of the said automatic mixer, and in that the said injection tip comprises, on its exterior surface: either circular ribs defining a groove, the upper end of the automatic mixer being moulded into this groove so that the said injection tip is locked in position in the said upper end while at the same time retaining a degree of freedom to rotate about its axis of symmetry, or one or more mutually parallel circular ribs, the upper end of the automatic mixer being moulded onto this circular rib in such a way that the said injection tip is blocked in position in the said upper end while at the same time retaining a degree of freedom to rotate about its axis of symmetry.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. A multi-purpose device capable of injecting any one of a viscous: filler, sealing or impression material, at the will of the user, in the fluid phase into a root canal space, said device comprising: an adapter nozzle; an auto-mixer connected to said adapter nozzle; an intra-oral injection nozzle positioned at the distal end of said auto-mixer, wherein said injection is a tube having an internal diameter of approximately 0.8 mm, a constant external diameter less than or equal to 1.5 mm over a length greater than or equal to 8 mm, said injection nozzle having an orifice at the distal end thereof; said injection nozzle being made of a material which is flexible and can be bent to a desired orientation prior to use; the upper end of said auto-mixer being molded onto said injection nozzle, and by the fact that said injection nozzle comprises on its exterior surface: spaced circular ribs defining an annular space between them, the upper end of the auto-mixer being attached by molding in the annular space so that said injection nozzle is lodged in position in said upper end while retaining a degree of freedom in rotation around its axis of symmetry, or one or multiple circular ribs parallel to each other, the upper end of the auto-mixer being molded on at least one circular rib so that said injection nozzle is lodged in position in said upper end while retaining a degree of freedom in rotation around its axis of symmetry; and whereby the device is usable to eject any of said filler, sealing or impression materials into a root canal space.

11. A device according to claim 10 wherein said injection nozzle is a tube having a constant external diameter less than or equal to 1.5 mm, over a length greater than or equal to 15 mm.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the injection nozzle is a cylindrical tube whose distal end has an external diameter of 0.75 mm to 0.95 mm.

13. A device according to claim 10, wherein the injection nozzle is made of metal.

14. A device according to claim 10, wherein the injection nozzle is made of thermo-formable plastic.

15. A multi-purpose device capable of injecting any one of a viscous: filler, sealing or impression material, at the will of the user, in the fluid phase into a root canal space, said device comprising: an adapter nozzle; an auto-mixer connected to said adapter nozzle; an intra-oral injection nozzle positioned at the distal end of said auto-mixer, wherein said injection nozzle is a conical tube approximately 15 mm. long having an external diameter at the distal end is approximately 0.8 mm and the external diameter at the proximal end is approximately 1.5 mm, and an internal diameter of approximately 0.8 mm, said injection nozzle having an orifice at the distal end thereof; said injection nozzle being made of a material which is flexible and can be bent to a desired orientation prior to use; the upper end of said auto-mixer being molded onto said injection nozzle, and by the fact that said injection nozzle comprises on its exterior surface: spaced circular ribs defining an annular space between them, the upper end of the auto-mixer being attached by molding in the annular space so that said injection nozzle is lodged in position in said upper end while retaining a degree of freedom in rotation around its axis of symmetry, or one or multiple circular ribs parallel to each other, the upper end of the auto-mixer being molded on at least one circular rib so that said injection nozzle is lodged in position in said upper end while retaining a degree of freedom in rotation around its axis of symmetry, and whereby the device is usable to eject any of said filler, sealing or impression material into a root canal space.

16. A device according to claim 15 wherein said injection nozzle is a tube having a distal external diameter of 0.8 mm and a proximal external diameter of 1.5 mm. mm, over a length greater than or equal to 15 mm.

17. A device according to claim 16 wherein the injection nozzle has a constant internal diameter is approximately 0.8 mm.

18. A device according to claim 17, wherein the injection nozzle is made of metal.

19. A device according to claim 17, wherein the injection nozzle is made of thermo-formable plastic.

20. A system for injecting a viscous filler material, in the fluid phase into a root canal space, comprising: a cartridge containing in watertight compartments a base and a catalyst to be mixed to obtain said filler material in the fluid phase, and an ejector to eject said base and said catalyst to an outlet, an auto-mixer positioned at the outlet of the cartridge and configured to mix the base and catalyst, an intra-oral injection nozzle positioned at the distal end of the auto-mixer, wherein said injection nozzle has a constant external diameter less than or equal to 1.5 mm over a length greater than or equal to 8 mm, an internal diameter of approximately 0.8 mm, said injection nozzle having an orifice at the distal end thereof and wherein said injection nozzle is made of a flexible material and is bendable according to a desired orientation, the distal end of said auto-mixer is molded onto said injection nozzle, and wherein said injection nozzle comprises on its exterior surface: circular ribs defining a groove defining an annular space between them, the distal end of the auto-mixer being molded in the annular space so that said injection nozzle is lodged in position in the distal end while retaining a degree of freedom in rotation around its axis of symmetry, or one or multiple circular ribs parallel to each other, the upper end of the auto-mixer being molded on at least one circular rib so that said injection nozzle is lodged in position in said upper end while retaining a degree of freedom in rotation around its axis of symmetry.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein the injection nozzle is a cylindrical tube whose distal end has an external diameter of less than or equal to 1.5 mm. over a length greater than 15 mm.

22. A device according to 21, wherein the injection nozzle is a cylindrical tube whose distal end has an external diameter of 0.8 mm.

23. A system according to claim 20, wherein the injection nozzle is made of metal.

24. A system according to claim 20, wherein the injection nozzle is made of thermo-formable plastic.

25. A system for injecting a viscous filler, in the fluid phase into a root canal space, comprising: a cartridge containing in watertight compartments a base and a catalyst to be mixed to obtain said filler material in the fluid phase, and an ejector to eject said base and said catalyst to an outlet, an auto-mixer positioned at the outlet of the cartridge and configured to mix the base and catalyst, an intra-oral injection nozzle positioned at the distal end of the auto-mixer, wherein said injection nozzle is a conical tube approximately 15 mm. long having an external diameter at the distal end is approximately 0.8 mm. and the external diameter at the proximal end is approximately 1.5 mm., an internal diameter of approximately 0.8 mm, said injection nozzle having an orifice at the distal end thereof, and wherein said injection nozzle is made of a flexible material and is bendable according to a desired orientation, the distal end of said auto-mixer is molded onto said injection nozzle, and wherein said injection nozzle comprises on its exterior surface: circular ribs defining a groove defining an annular space between them, the distal end of the auto-mixer being molded in the annular space so that said injection nozzle is lodged in position in the distal end while retaining a degree of freedom in rotation around its axis of symmetry, or one or multiple circular ribs parallel to each other, the upper end of the auto-mixer being molded on at least one circular rib so that said injection nozzle is lodged in position in said upper end while retaining a degree of freedom in rotation around its axis of symmetry.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein the injection nozzle is a conical tube whose distal end has an external diameter of 0.8 mm. over a length of 15 mm.

27. A system according to claim 25, wherein the injection nozzle is made of metal.

28. A system according to claim 25, wherein the injection nozzle is made of thermo-formable plastic.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0037] Other advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the description of a preferred implementation mode which is going to follow, with reference to the accompanying drawings, made by way of indicative and non limiting examples in which:

[0038] The cited FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a molar showing the root canal anatomy and the installation of different prosthetic components,

[0039] The cited FIGS. 2 and 3 schematically show an injection device known from the prior art,

[0040] FIG. 4 schematically shows an injection device according to the invention,

[0041] FIGS. 5a and 5b are schematic vertical sectional views of the injection device according to the invention,

[0042] FIG. 6 schematically shows an injection device according to the invention mounted on a cartridge incorporated into a syringe.

[0043] FIG. 6b schematically shows an injection device according to the invention mounted on a cartridge to be mounted on a pistol.

IMPLEMENTATION MODES OF THE INVENTION

[0044] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6b, the injection device of the invention comprises: [0045] an adapter nozzle 10 configured to attach to the outlet of a cartridge directly containing the filler material in the fluid phase or a base and a catalyst to be mixed to obtain the aforementioned material, [0046] an auto-mixer 11 connected to the aforementioned adapter nozzle, [0047] an intra-oral injection nozzle 12 positioned at the upper end of the aforementioned auto-mixer.

[0045] In practice, the adapter nozzle 10 is a cylindrical nozzle made of rigid plastic, having a diameter between 10 mm and 25 mm, screwed, clipped or directly moldable on the outlet of the cartridge 13. Referring to FIGS. 6a and 6b, the cartridge 13 generally comprises two compartments 13a, 13b containing respectively a base and a catalyst, which when mixed will enable attainment of the fill material in the fluid phase. The cartridge 13 is provided with a means 13c, typically the plunger of a syringe (FIG. 6a) or a pistol, enabling ejection, on demand of the practitioner, of the base and catalyst to an outlet on which is positioned the adapter nozzle 10. These cartridges 13 are those conventionally used by the practitioner. In practice, they are cartridges 13 incorporated into a syringe (better known under the name SMART KIT) (FIG. 6a) or those, more bulky designed to be mounted on a gun (FIG. 6b). When the device of the invention is designed to be mounted on the cartridges incorporated into syringes, the adapter nozzle 10 will have a diameter of approximately 10 mm and when it will be mounted on the cartridges for pistols, the aforementioned adapter module will have a diameter of approximately 15 mm. It is to be noted that one could foresee using a cartridge containing filler material directly into the fluid phase already prepared. In this case, only a single compartment is necessary.

[0046] The adapter nozzle 10 optimally integrates two tubes 10a, 10b which, when the aforementioned nozzle is positioned on the cartridge 13, penetrate into each of the compartments 13a, 13b. The two tubes 10a, 10b, are joined together at the base of the auto-mixer 11.

[0047] The auto-mixer 11 is attached at the upper end of the adapter nozzle 10. It appears in the form of a plastic tube having a length between approximately 20 mm and 50 mm and a diameter between approximately 4 mm and 6 mm, in the interior of which is laid out a double helix 11a configured to mix homogeneously the base and the catalyst. For example, when the device object the invention will be mounted on the cartridges incorporated into syringes, the auto-mixer 11 will have a length of approximately 20 mm and a diameter of approximately 4 mm (FIG. 6a), and when it will be mounted on the cartridges for pistols (FIG. 6b), the aforementioned auto-mixer will have a length of approximately 50 mm and a diameter of approximately 6 mm. The adapter nozzle 10 and the auto-mixer 11 are known to the person of skilled in the art and are for example marketed by the company MIXPACK under the name <<MIXING NOZZLES>>.

[0048] In the case where the cartridge 13 contains the filler material directly prepared, the auto-mixer 11 is no longer necessary and/or may only serve to work the aforementioned material before its injection to initiate the chemical reaction. Similarly, if the auto-mixer 11 is molded directly at the outlet of the cartridge 13, the adapter nozzle 10 is no longer useful.

[0049] The intra-oral injection nozzle 12 is positioned at the upper end of the auto-mixer 11 where the base and the catalyst arrive intimately mixed. Referring to FIGS. 4, 5a and 5b, the injection nozzle 12 is in the form of a tube whose distal end has an external diameter less than or equal to 1.5 mm, over a length greater than or equal to 8 mm. In practice, the injection nozzle 12 is a cylindrical tube having a constant external diameter less than or equal to 1.5 mm, optimally between 0.75 mm and 0.95 mm, preferentially of 0.8 mm, and a length greater or equal to 15 mm, preferably equal to 18 mm. However, a length of 30 mm or even more can be provided for, the goal being to have an injection nozzle 12 sufficiently long so that its distal end can reach the bottom of the canal space, regardless of the position of the tooth to be treated. In an implementation variation, one can envisage using a substantially conical tube approximately 15 mm long, and whose external diameter at the distal end is approximately 0.8 mm and the external diameter at the proximal end is approximately 1.5 mm. The internal diameter of the injection nozzle 12 is approximately 0.8 mm.

[0050] According to the invention, the injection nozzle 12 is made of a shape memory material so as to be bendable according to a desired orientation. Preferably, a nozzle 12 made of metal is used, but other equivalent materials such as thermo formable plastics can be considered. The advantage of an injection nozzle 12 made of metal, is that it can easily and quickly be shaped by hand (or using pliers) by the practitioner in order to give it a desired geometry, adapted to the position of the tooth to be treated and to the configuration of the canal space to be filled. In the case of thermo-formable plastics, the practitioner will have to first heat the injection nozzle 12 in order to give it the desired shape.

[0051] The dotted lines in FIG. 4 show schematically various possible configurations of the injection nozzle 12. For example, for the treatment of an incisor or a canine, the practitioner will prefer to use a substantially straight injection nozzle 12 while the treatment of a molar will require bending the aforementioned nozzle to a point more or less close the distal end.

[0052] Referring to FIGS. 5a and 5b, the proximal end of the injection nozzle 12 is molded directly to the upper end of the auto-mixer 11.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 5a, the injection nozzle 12 comprises, on its exterior surface, circular ribs 1200 defining a groove. The upper end of the auto-mixer 11 is then molded into this groove thus formed. In this configuration, the injection nozzle 12 is lodged in the upper end of the auto-mixer 11 while retaining a degree of freedom in rotation around its axis of symmetry A.

[0054] In an implementation variation shown in FIG. 5b, the injection nozzle will comprise, on its outer surface, a circular rib 1201, the upper end of the auto-mixer 11 being then molded on this circular rib. In this configuration, the injection nozzle 12 is here still lodged in the upper end of the auto-mixer 11 while retaining a degree of freedom in rotation around its axis of symmetry A. A similar result would be obtained by arranging, on the outer surface of the injection nozzle 12, multiple circular ribs parallel to each other.

[0055] The injection device object of the invention can be an accessory independent of the cartridges or instead be directly incorporated into them during their manufacture. In the case where the injection device is a simple accessory, auto-mixer 11 must be provided with the adapter nozzle 10. The injection device is then optimally part of a dental kit ready for use, commonly referred to as Kit, further comprising a cartridge of the type described previously.