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

Abstract

The invention relates to a capsule for producing a composition, particularly for dental care, comprising an enclosure provided with at least two compartments, the number of compartments corresponding to the number of components to be mixed, and at least one wall for isolating the components, said wall being provided to isolate the components from each other in storage mode, and to allow fluidic communication between the compartments in mixing mode, said capsule also comprising a shank for removable attachment to a hand-held part.

Claims

1. A capsule for preparing dental or surgical material obtained by mixing components prior to use, comprising: a chamber provided with a plurality of compartments, which are arranged concentrically and are provided in a number corresponding to a number of said components to be mixed, at least one isolating wall for isolating the components from each other during storage and for permitting fluidic communication between the compartments during mixing, a shank, one end of which permits a removable attachment to a handpiece.

2. The capsule as claimed in claim 1, wherein the isolating wall between the compartments comprises a cover configured to cover a surface occupied by all of the compartments.

3. The capsule as claimed in claim 2, wherein the isolating wall has a lower face bearing against a shoulder between the compartments.

4. The capsule as claimed in claim 1, wherein the isolating wall further comprises a plurality of mixer arms, which are arranged to plunge into a mixture to be mixed when the capsule is in mixing mode.

5. The capsule as claimed in claim 4, wherein the isolating wall is joined to the shank in such a way as to be able to be turned by said shank in order to mix the mixture that is to be mixed.

6. The capsule as claimed in claim 5, wherein the isolating wall is also arranged in such a way as to be able to be lifted by said drive rod in order to mix the mixture that is to be mixed.

7. The capsule as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compartments are arranged side by side, the isolating wall between the components further comprising a removable, tearable or deformable membrane.

8. The capsule as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shank is made of injected polymer.

9. The capsule as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cover and the chamber are made of injected SBS.

10. The capsule as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a bayonet arranged to position the cover in two positions, chosen from: a closed position; and a position in which the cover is withdrawn.

11. The capsule as claimed in claim 1, comprising components intended for the preparation of dental cement.

12. The capsule as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shank is molded.

13. The capsule as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shank is machined.

14. The capsule as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shank is made by 3D printing.

15. The capsule as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shank is removably attachable to the handpiece by a connection in accordance with the standard ISO 1797.

16. A method for preparing dental or surgical material obtained by mixing components prior to use, said method comprising: fixing a capsule as claimed in claim 1 to a handpiece; driving the shank of said capsule by means of said handpiece; opening the cover of said capsule in order to access said material that has thus been mixed.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising: activating the rotary mixing capsule; and introducing a perforating needle in the capsule after said activating.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising extruding the mixed material from the capsule with a forceps.

19. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the needle has a length that is compatible with use in a patient mouth.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0043] All the embodiment details are set out in the following description with reference to FIGS. 1A to 10 which are given solely as non-limiting examples and in which:

[0044] FIG. 1A is a side view of the handpiece connected to the preparation capsule for dental treatment;

[0045] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the handpiece connected to the preparation capsule for dental treatment;

[0046] FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view of the constituent elements of the capsule;

[0047] FIG. 2B is a side view of the constituent elements of the capsule prior to assembly;

[0048] FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the capsule after assembly, which capsule is connected to the shank of a handpiece prior to use;

[0049] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a cover;

[0050] FIG. 3B is a side view of the same cover;

[0051] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the cover seen from below, with a plurality of mixer arms;

[0052] FIG. 4B is a bottom view of the cover with a plurality of mixer arms;

[0053] FIG. 4C is a side view of the cover with a plurality of mixer arms;

[0054] FIG. 5A shows a side view of the chamber in which the mixing is carried out;

[0055] FIG. 5B shows the same mixing chamber in a perspective view;

[0056] FIG. 6A is another perspective view of the cover with a plurality of mixer arms;

[0057] FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the cover of the capsule connected to the standard shank of the handpiece;

[0058] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a detail of the cover, of the chamber and of the mixer arms;

[0059] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a detail of the chamber and of the mixer arms;

[0060] FIG. 9 is a side view of a capsule closed by an adhesive tape.

[0061] FIG. 10 is a side view of forecepts for rotary mixing of a capsule

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] The capsule 3 for dental treatment illustrated in the figures is intended to accommodate various components in order to mix them at the time of use, with the aim of obtaining a dental material, for example a paste, specifically adapted to the oral and dental health of each of the patients.

[0063] FIGS. 1A and 1B show the capsule 3, for storage and preparation of components for dental treatment, when it is connected to a handpiece (here a contra-angle) 1 by a standard shank 2.

[0064] FIGS. 2A and 2B are exploded views showing the various components of the capsule 3. The capsule 3 is thus formed of a chamber 6 within which the mixing will be able to be carried out. The chamber 6 is subdivided into two compartments 8 separated from each other. One is intended to contain a first component, for example a powdered component, and the other is intended to receive a second component, for example a liquid component. Such an arrangement of compartments allows the components to be dosed very precisely in the desired quantities in order to obtain a preparation adapted to a specific problem. These components are isolated from each other in storage mode, until the capsule 3 is used by the dentist. The components will then be brought into contact with each other in mixing mode, when the capsule 3 is driven by the rotation of the shank 2 by way of the handpiece 1.

[0065] FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the capsule 3 when it is ready to be used. In this view, the standard shank 2 for a handpiece is inserted into the capsule, so as to be able to actuate it with the handpiece.

[0066] FIGS. 3A and 3B show the outer part 4 of the cover of the capsule 4. This allows the components to be kept in the capsule during mixing, but it also preserves the sterile nature of the stored components. The edge of the cover has two flat portions allowing it to be held by a tool, for example an open-ended wrench, in order to open the cover and gain access to the mixture. This figure also shows openings, in this example three radial openings, which make it possible to lift the inner part 5 of the cover and to apply pressure to this inner part.

[0067] FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 6A show the inner part 5 of the cover from below, when it is integrated with the outer part 4. It will be see from these views that this part forms a helix and has two mixer arms 5 which penetrate into one of the compartments and allow the various components to be mixed when these arms are set in rotation with respect to the chamber 6 of the capsule by way of the handpiece. The lower face of the cover additionally serves as an isolating wall between the compartments 8, making it possible to avoid component transfer during the transport or storage of the capsule.

[0068] FIGS. 7 and 8 show how the inner part 5 of the cover closes in a leaktight manner on the chamber 6, avoiding the risk of liquid or powder passing from one compartment to the other or between one compartment and the outside of the capsule.

[0069] FIG. 7 shows how the leaktightness is obtained between the lower face of the inner part 5 of the cover and the outer edge of the chamber 6. In this embodiment, an annular shoulder 50 under the inner part 5 of the cover 4, 5 engages against an annular face 60 on the outer shoulder of the chamber 6 in such a way as to prevent exchange of liquid or of powder between the outside of the capsule and the outer compartment. At least one of the faces 50 or 60 is made of plastic or of another elastically deformable material in such a way as to provide the leaktightness. An annular seal can be provided in order to improve this leaktightness.

[0070] FIG. 8 shows how the cover 4 ensures leaktightness between the two compartments of the chamber 6. In this embodiment, the shoulder 61 between the two compartments will bear elastically against a portion 51 of the lower face of the inner part of the cover 5, in such a way as to prevent infiltration of water or of powder from one compartment of the chamber to the other. The shoulder 61 and/or the lower face 51 can be ribbed in order to ensure leaktight engagement. The shoulder 61 and/or the lower face 51 can be made of an elastically deformable material in order to provide the leaktightness. An annular seal can be provided in order to improve this leaktightness.

[0071] A scraper could also be provided so as to be driven by the handpiece in order to scrape the cover clean during the mixing.

[0072] FIGS. 5A and 5B show the chamber 6 of the capsule, inside which the different compartments 8 are arranged. In storage mode, the compartments 8 are isolated from each other by the inner part of the cover 4, as is described below.

[0073] To implement the various phases in the preparation and in the application of the prepared mixture, the cover 4, 5 of the capsule is advantageously formed in two parts. The inner part 5 carries the mixer arms. With the outer part 4, it is possible to close the assembly and adjust the relative position of the different elements depending on the phase in progress. Thus, in the example shown, a bayonet makes it possible to select three positions, namely: [0074] a closed position, in which the different compartments are isolated from each other; [0075] a mixing position, in which the components combine and mix; [0076] a position in which the cover is withdrawn in order to allow the practitioner access to the prepared dental material subsequent to the mixing.

[0077] The change from one position to another is effected by turning the outer portion of the cover 4 with respect to the chamber 6, for example by hand.

[0078] In another embodiment, the outer part of the cover 4 does not have to be pivoted to lift the helix and to allow liquid or powder to pass from one compartment to the other. In this case, the inner part 5 of the cover (the helix) lifts by turning against the inclined shoulder of the chamber 6 when set in rotation, in such a way as to detach the inner face of the cover 4, 5 from the chamber 6 and permit mixing. In this case, the change from the closed position to the mixing position is effected automatically during the driving of the drive rod by the handpiece, which produces a displacement and possibly a deformation of the isolating wall.

[0079] In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 9, the cover is joined to the chamber by means of an adhesive tape 40 in the closed position. It can be changed to the mixing position and then to the withdrawal position by removing the adhesive and turning it with respect to the chamber.

[0080] The adhesive tape 40, or another adhesive, can also cover the openings formed in the cover, in order to prevent entry of dust.

[0081] This architecture allows the practitioner to prepare specific compositions without getting dirty. For this, the dentist positions the bayonet in the mixing mode in order to displace the portion of the cover serving as isolating wall between the compartments. He then fixes the capsule 3 to the handpiece 1 and actuates the latter in order to obtain the mixed preparation. If necessary, the chamber 6 can be held while the mixer arms are being driven, by hand or by way of a tool such as an open-ended wrench, which allows the cover to be held via flat portions provided for this purpose on the chamber 6.

[0082] Once the mixing has been carried out, the dentist withdraws the cover and removes the preparation in order to apply the latter immediately.

[0083] FIGS. 2B and 4C show an Archimedes screw 9 provided under the inner part of the cover 4. The Archimedes screw 9 permits a gradual rise of the component, for example a liquid, contained in the central compartment in order to facilitate its transfer to the peripheral compartment. The liquid then pours easily and gradually into the outer compartment containing, for example, cement, in order to obtain a mixture that is ready to be applied.

[0084] In a variant not shown, several capsules 3 can be combined, for example superposed or juxtaposed, in order to permit the simultaneous preparation of several mixtures or to concoct complex mixtures from several capsules.

[0085] After the capsule 3 has been fixed to the handpiece 1, the pasty preparation can be obtained by then actuating the handpiece 1 while holding the outside of the chamber 6 in order to avoid any rotation of the latter. In this way, the handpiece causes only the mixer arms 5 to pivot. According to such an embodiment, the paste obtained from this mixing is very homogeneous.

[0086] The capsules according to the invention allow the dentist to save time preparing the treatment and guarantee strict hygiene during the preparation by limiting the risks of contamination. Moreover, such an architecture does not necessitate the use of any tools other than the handpiece 1 and the shank 2 connected to the handpiece.

[0087] In another version, the cover incorporates the shank 2, which is inserted in the handpiece. A replaceable and/or reusable shank can be employed.

[0088] The shank 2 can be integrated in the capsule or can be reusable. For example, it can be made of metal or advantageously of reinforced polymer, for example polymer reinforced with glass fiber or carbon fiber. The shank may also, for example, be molded, machined, or made by 3D printing.

[0089] The components can be stored and protected in the capsule prior to being mixed. It is also possible to open the capsule prior to the mixing, in order to add components to it or to modify their proportions, and then to close the capsule, in order subsequently to obtain an individualized mixture.

[0090] In another embodiment, after activating the rotary mixing capsule 3, the mixed material inside the capsule may be extruded through a needle 11 that perforates the mixing capsule 3. The material may be extruded through use of a forceps 12 shown, for example, in FIG. 10. The extruded material may be extruded directly into a patient's mouth or to an intermediate location depending on the length of the needle. The material may also be extruded through the needle via any other suitable method. The needle may be made of metal or reinforced polymer, for example polymer reinforced with glass fiber or carbon fiber.

[0091] The system described above can advantageously be used in the field of dentistry since it has the advantage of rapidly preparing a preparation for dental treatment in a very hygienic manner. Another advantage also lies in the fact that very precise pre-dosages are carried out. This makes it possible to save considerable time during the phase of treatment preparation.

[0092] The invention described above may be interpreted more widely, that is to say the capsules 3 can be used for purposes other than dentistry, for example in the field of surgery, cosmetic surgery, orthodontics, etc.