U.S. patent application number 11/258502 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-26 for time indicating containers for dental compositions.
Invention is credited to Dan E. Fischer, Dan E. Loveridge, Jeff Wagner.
Application Number | 20070092451 11/258502 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37968328 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070092451 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Loveridge; Dan E. ; et
al. |
April 26, 2007 |
Time indicating containers for dental compositions
Abstract
A system for storing a dental composition having a given
shelf-life. The storage system includes a container (e.g., a
syringe) and activatable time sensitive marking means disposed on
or within the container. Upon activation of the time sensitive
marking means, the system begins to indicate time lapsed since
activation. The time sensitive marking means allows a dental
practitioner to determine whether a dental composition within the
container has expired, or how much time remains before the
composition expires and should either be used up or discarded.
Inventors: |
Loveridge; Dan E.; (Sandy,
UT) ; Fischer; Dan E.; (Sandy, UT) ; Wagner;
Jeff; (Sandy, UT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Rick D. Nydegger;WORKMAN NYDEGGER
1000 Eagle Gate Tower
60 East South Temple
Salt Lake City
UT
84111
US
|
Family ID: |
37968328 |
Appl. No.: |
11/258502 |
Filed: |
October 25, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
424/10.1 ;
426/49 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2203/12 20130101;
G09F 3/0291 20130101; A61M 2205/50 20130101; B05C 17/00593
20130101; A61M 5/3129 20130101; A61M 5/31511 20130101; G09F
2003/0273 20130101; A61M 2205/583 20130101; G09F 2003/028 20130101;
B05C 17/0052 20130101; A61C 5/62 20170201; A61M 5/284 20130101;
A61M 2005/3125 20130101; G09F 3/0297 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
424/010.1 ;
426/049 |
International
Class: |
A61K 49/00 20060101
A61K049/00 |
Claims
1. A time indicating storage system for a dental composition
comprising: a container for holding a dental composition; and
activatable time sensitive marking means disposed on or within the
container, wherein upon activation, the time sensitive marking
means identifies time lapsed since activation of the time sensitive
marking means.
2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein upon activation, the
time sensitive marking means also identifies time remaining until
expiration of a dental composition within the container.
3. A system as recited in claim 1, the container comprising a
syringe including a syringe barrel and a plunger slidably disposed
within the syringe barrel.
4. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the activatable time
sensitive marking means is disposed on the syringe barrel of the
syringe.
5. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the activatable time
sensitive marking means is disposed on the plunger of the
syringe.
6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the time sensitive
marking means comprises a label disposed on or within the
container, the label including a length of microporous material and
a tinted liquid that migrates along the microporous material by
capillary action so as to have a migration length that increases as
a function of time, the migration length of the tinted liquid
indicating time lapsed since activation of the time sensitive
marking means.
7. A system as recited in claim 6, the label further comprising a
blister that initially contains the tinted liquid.
8. A system as recited in claim 6, the length of microporous
material being configured as a substantially straight strip.
9. A system as recited in claim 6, the length of microporous
material being configured as a curved strip.
10. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the time sensitive
marking means comprises a label disposed on or within the
container, the label including a blister containing two initially
separate components that upon mixing form a mixed composition that
begins to change from a first color to a second color as a function
of time, the second color indicating that the shelf-life of a
composition within the container has expired.
11. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the time sensitive
marking means comprises a label disposed on or within the
container, the label being formed of a material that upon
activation begins to change from a first color to a second color as
a function of time, the second color indicating that the shelf-life
of a composition within the container has expired.
12. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the time sensitive
marking means comprises a label disposed on or within the
container, the label including a microchip configured to measure
lapsed time, the microchip being readable by an associated
microchip reader so as to indicate to a user how much time remains
to the shelf-life of a composition within the container.
13. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a dental
composition within the container.
14. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the dental composition
comprises a mixed two-part dental primer, a mixed two-part
bleaching composition, or a disinfecting solution.
15. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the time sensitive
marking means is also temperature sensitive so as to account for
variability in shelf-life due to temperature changes in a storage
environment.
16. A time indicating storage system for a dental composition
comprising: a syringe for holding a dental composition, the syringe
including a barrel and a plunger stem slidably disposed within the
barrel; and an activatable label disposed at least partially within
the plunger stem comprising: a length of microporous material
sealed within the plunger stem; and a blister disposed on a head of
the plunger stem, the blister containing a tinted liquid that
migrates along the microporous material by capillary action upon
activation so as to have a migration length that increases as a
function of time, the migration length of the tinted liquid
indicating time lapsed since activation.
17. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein the migration length
of the tinted liquid along the microporous material is also
dependent on temperature so as to account for variability in
shelf-life due to temperature changes in a storage environment.
18. A method for determining the remaining shelf-life of a dental
composition comprising: providing a container including activatable
time sensitive marking means disposed on or within the container,
wherein upon activation, the time sensitive marking means
identifies time lapsed since activation of the time sensitive
marking means; providing a dental composition within the container
having a given shelf-life; activating the time sensitive marking
means disposed on or within the container; identifying whether the
given shelf-life of the dental composition is greater than or less
than the time lapsed since activation of the time sensitive marking
means.
19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the given shelf-life
of the dental composition is less than the time lapsed since
activation of the time sensitive marking means, further comprising
discarding the container and the dental composition.
20. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the given shelf-life
of the dental composition is greater than the time lapsed since
activation of the time sensitive marking means, further comprising
dispensing at least a portion of the dental composition from the
container for use.
21. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the provided dental
composition within the container comprises a mixed composition that
was previously prepared by mixing together at least two initially
separate components to form a mixed dental composition.
22. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the step of activating
the time sensitive marking means is performed immediately
subsequent to mixing together the at least two initially separate
components to form the mixed dental composition.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. The Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention is directed to devices for holding and
dispensing dental compositions. More particularly, the invention is
directed to containers for holding and dispensing dental
compositions having a given shelf-life after which the composition
should either be used up or discarded. For example, many multi-part
dental compositions require mixing of two separate components, the
mixed composition having a particular shelf-life, after which time
the mixed composition should be used up or discarded.
[0003] 2. The Relevant Technology
[0004] Many modem formulations are packaged in two initially
separate parts, often known as A and B components. Upon mixing, the
A and B components form a mixed composition having a particular
viable shelf-life, after which the composition should be used up or
discarded. In the dental field, for example, several such
formulations include two-part dental primers, peroxide and other
two-part bleaching compositions, and disinfecting solutions.
[0005] It can be difficult for a dental practitioner to determine
whether the shelf-life of a formulation has expired, or how much of
the formulation's shelf-life remains. This difficulty can be
further complicated in some instances where the shelf-life of a
given formulation may depend on the environment in which the
formulation is stored. For example, many formulations may have an
extended shelf-life if stored in a refrigerated environment as
compared to the shelf-life when stored at room temperature.
[0006] It would be an advantage to provide a container system for
use with such a formulation that would allow the user to quickly
and easily determine how much time remains of the shelf-life of a
given formulation. It would be a further advantage if such a system
could account for variability in shelf-life due to changes in the
formulation storage environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is directed to a storage system for a
dental composition having a given shelf-life. The storage system
includes a container (e.g., a syringe), and activatable time
sensitive marking means disposed on or within the container,
wherein upon activation, the time sensitive marking means
identifies time lapsed since activation of the time sensitive
marking means. The dental practitioner may activate the time
sensitive marking means at an appropriate time to monitor the
shelf-life of the dental composition (e.g., immediately after
preparing the composition by mixing together initially separate
components). The time sensitive marking means allows a dental
practitioner to determine whether a dental composition within the
container has expired, or how much time remains before the
composition expires and should either be used up or discarded.
[0008] In one example, the activatable time sensitive marking means
comprises an activatable label disposed on or within the container.
One such label includes a length of a microporous material and a
tinted liquid that migrates along the microporous material by
capillary action so as to have a migration length that increases as
a function of time. The label is activated by causing the tinted
liquid to contact the microporous material. In one example, the
tinted liquid may initially be contained within a blister or
similar packaging adjacent to the microporous material. Upon
pressing (i.e., activating) the blister packaging, the tinted
liquid contacts the microporous material and begins to wick up
along the microporous material due to capillary action. The
progress of the tinted liquid is a function of time, such that the
migration length of the tinted liquid indicates how much time has
lapsed since activation (and thus also the time remaining until the
shelf-life of the composition expires).
[0009] In another example, the activatable time sensitive marking
means may comprise a label including two adjacent blister packets,
each blister packet containing a composition such that the
compositions are initially separate from each other. The user
presses one or both of the blisters so as to cause a thin membrane
between the blister packets to break, which allows the two
compositions to mix together, activating the label. The mixed
composition begins as characterized by having a first color, and
progressively changes to a second color as a function of time. Once
the mixed composition has changed to the second color, this
indicates to the user that the given shelf-life of a dental
composition within the container has expired and should be
discarded.
[0010] Another activatable time sensitive marking means may
comprise a tape formed of a material that begins to change color
from a first color to a second color as a function of time. Once
the tape has changed to the second color, this indicates to the
user that the given shelf- life of a dental composition within the
container has expired.
[0011] Another activatable time sensitive marking means may
comprise a label including a microchip configured to measure lapsed
time. The microchip is readable by an associated microchip reader
so as to indicate to a user how much time remains of a given
shelf-life of a composition within the container.
[0012] The activatable time sensitive marking means may be
temperature sensitive in addition to being time sensitive.
Temperature sensitivity of the marking means allows the system to
account for variability in shelf-life due to temperature changes in
the storage environment of the dental composition stored within the
container.
[0013] A dental composition within the container may have a given
shelf-life ranging from less than about a week to 2 years or more.
Because of relative instability, many mixed two-part dental
compositions have a relatively short shelf-life (e.g., 30 days or
less). For example some two-part peroxide bleaching compositions
may have a shelf-life of about 10-14 days after mixing, some
disinfecting solutions may have a shelf-life of about a week or
less, and some two-part dental primers may have a shelf life of
about 30 days. Relatively stable single part dental compositions
may have a longer shelf-life (e.g., from 6 months up to 2 years or
more). Such compositions often include an expiration date stamped
or printed on the container, which can be difficult to identify.
The time sensitive marking means of the present invention provides
a more easily identifiable label, eliminating the need for the user
to search for a difficult to find date stamp.
[0014] These and other benefits, advantages and features of the
present invention will become more full apparent from the following
description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice
of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] In order that the manner in which the above recited and
other benefits, advantages and features of the invention are
obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly
described above will be rendered by reference to specific
embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.
Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments
of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limiting of
its scope, the invention will be described and explained with
additional specificity and detail through the use of the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0016] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an exemplary time
indicating system for containing a dental composition including a
syringe and an activatable time sensitive label disposed on the
syringe plunger stem;
[0017] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of another exemplary time
indicating container system including a syringe and an activatable
time sensitive label disposed on the syringe barrel;
[0018] FIG. 1C is a perspective view of another exemplary time
indicating container system including a syringe and an activatable
time sensitive label disposed on the syringe barrel flange;
[0019] FIG. 1D is a perspective view of another exemplary time
indicating container system including a syringe and an activatable
time sensitive label disposed on the head of the plunger stem;
[0020] FIG. 1E is a perspective view of another exemplary time
indicating container system including a syringe and an activatable
time sensitive label disposed at least partially within the plunger
stem of the syringe;
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a time indicating container system
including a syringe and an activatable time sensitive label having
two blister packets for forming a color changing composition;
[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates a time indicating container system
including a syringe and a color changing tape disposed on the
syringe barrel; and
[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates a time indicating container system
including a syringe and an activatable label including a machine
readable time monitoring microchip.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
I. Introduction
[0024] A detailed description of the invention will now be provided
with specific reference to figures illustrating various exemplary
embodiments. It will be appreciated that like structures will be
provided with like reference designations.
[0025] The present invention is directed to a storage system for
dental compositions having a given shelf-life. The storage system
includes a container (e.g., a syringe) and an activatable time
sensitive marking means disposed on or within the container. Upon
activation, the time sensitive marking means begins to indicate
time lapsed since activation of the time sensitive marking means.
The dental practitioner may activate the time sensitive marking
means at an appropriate time to allow the dental practitioner to
monitor the shelf- life of the dental composition (e.g.,
immediately subsequent to preparing the composition by mixing
together initially separate components, exposing the dental
composition to air, or exposing the dental composition to light).
The time sensitive marking means allows a dental practitioner to
determine whether a dental composition within the container has
expired, or how much time remains before the composition expires
and should be used up or discarded. The container and activatable
time sensitive marking means may be relatively inexpensive,
allowing the user to discard the entire system once the dental
composition has expired.
II. Exemplary Dental Composition Container Systems
[0026] FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary system 100 for both
containing and dispensing a dental composition 102. System 100
includes a syringe 104 and an activatable time sensitive label 106.
Syringe 104 includes a barrel 114 and a plunger 116. Barrel 114
includes a flange 118 and plunger 116 includes a head 120. Label
106 includes a length of a microporous material 108 and a tinted
liquid 110 that is initially contained within a blister 112. In the
illustrated system, label 106 includes a hole through which the
plunger 116 of syringe 104 passes. Label 106 may be adhered to
flange 118 of syringe 104 or may slide with plunger 116.
[0027] Label 106 is activated by causing the tinted liquid to
contact the microporous material. In one example, the tinted liquid
may initially be contained within a blister or similar packaging
adjacent to the microporous material. Upon pressing (i.e.,
activating) the blister packaging, the tinted liquid contacts the
microporous material and begins to wick up along the microporous
material due to capillary action. The progress of the tinted liquid
is a function of time, such that the migration length of the tinted
liquid (i.e., how far along the microporous material the tinted
liquid has migrated) indicates how much time has lapsed since
activation (and thus also the time remaining until the shelf-life
of the composition expires). As illustrated, microporous material
108 may include markings spaced along its length to mark how much
time has lapsed since activation (e.g., a number of days,.weeks, or
months) when the tinted liquid reaches the corresponding mark. One
such activatable label including a microporous material and a
tinted liquid initially contained within a blister that may be
suitable is available from Timestrip Ltd., located in Hitchin,
Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.
[0028] FIG. 1B illustrates an alternative system 100' including a
syringe 104 containing a dental composition 102 and a label 106
adhered to the barrel 114 of syringe 104. Label 106 includes a
length of a microporous material 108 and a tinted liquid 110 that
is initially contained within a blister 112. Upon pressing (i.e.,
activating) blister 112, the tinted liquid 110 is brought into
contact with the microporous material 108 and begins to wick up
along the microporous material 108 due to capillary action. The
progress of the tinted liquid 110 indicates how much time has
lapsed since activation.
[0029] FIG. 1C illustrates an alternative system 200 including a
syringe 204 containing a dental composition 202 and a label 206
adhered to flange 218 of syringe barrel 214. Label 206 includes a
length of a microporous material 208 and a tinted liquid 210 that
is initially contained within a blister 212. Upon pressing (i.e.,
activating) blister 212, the tinted liquid 210 is brought into
contact with the microporous material 208 and begins to wick up
along the microporous material 208 due to capillary action. The
progress of the tinted liquid 210 indicates how much time has
lapsed since activation.
[0030] FIG. 1D illustrates an alternative system 300 including a
syringe 304 containing a dental composition 302. Syringe 304
includes a barrel 314 and a plunger 316. A label 306 is disposed on
head 320 of plunger 316. Label 306 includes a curved length of
microporous material 308 and a tinted liquid 310 that is initially
contained within blister 312. A substantially straight length of
microporous material may alternatively be used. In addition, a
curved length of microporous material 308 may also be used with any
of the other illustrated embodiments. Such a curved length of
microporous material 308 may be particularly suited for the
embodiment of FIG. 1C.
[0031] Again referring to FIG. 1D, locating blister 312 on head 320
makes it conveniently placed for activation as plunger 316 is also
used to dispense composition 302. Blister 312 can be pressed,
forcing tinted liquid 310 into contact with an end of the curve of
microporous material 308. Liquid 310 begins to wick up, progressing
along microporous material 308 due to capillary action. The
progress of the tinted liquid 310 indicates how much time has
lapsed since activation under given conditions (e.g., room
temperature).
[0032] FIG. 1E illustrates an alternative system 300' including a
syringe 304' containing a dental composition 302. Syringe 304'
includes a barrel 314 and a plunger stem 316'. A label 306' is
disposed at least partially within plunger 316'. Label 306'
includes a length of microporous material 308' that is sealed
within plunger stem 316'. Microporous material 308' is arranged so
as to be along or parallel to the central longitudinal axis of
plunger stem 316'. A tinted liquid 310' is initially contained
within blister 312' disposed on head 320'. Blister 312' can be
pressed, forcing tinted liquid 310' into contact with an end of
microporous material 308'. Liquid 310' begins to wick up,
progressing along microporous material 308' due to capillary
action. The progress of the tinted liquid 310' indicates how much
time has lapsed since activation under given conditions (e.g., room
temperature). Sealing microporous material 308' within plunger stem
316' provides a controlled humidity environment for microporous
material 308', which can provide increased accuracy when used in
both dry and humid environments where humidity may not be constant.
This is because the rate of progress along the microporous material
due to capillary action can be affected by changes in humidity.
[0033] Labels 106, 206, 306, and 306' are examples of activatable
time sensitive marking means. Because the labels rely on capillary
action of a liquid migrating through a microporous material, the
rate of migration of the tinted liquid may be dependent on
temperature in addition to time. In other words, the tinted liquid
may migrate a given distance (e.g., about the distance marked "7
days") over a seven day period when stored at room temperature, but
may alternatively migrate a shorter distance (e.g., about the
distance marked "3 days") if stored in a refrigerated environment
(e.g., as a result of increased viscosity of the tinted liquid
and/or decreased wetting ability of the microporous material).
Surprisingly, it has been found that the temperature dependent
variability of the capillary action roughly matches the temperature
dependent variability of the shelf-life of many dental
compositions. For example, the dental composition may be stored in
a refrigerated environment, and then later stored at room
temperature, and the progress of the tinted liquid along the
microporous material may vary according to the environment
conditions. This characteristic is advantageous as it allows the
label to accurately indicate the remaining shelf-life of a dental
composition that varies due to differences in storage
environments.
[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative system 400 including a
syringe 404 containing a dental composition 402. Syringe 404
includes a barrel 414 and a plunger 416. A label 406 is disposed on
barrel 414. Label 406 includes a first blister 422 and a second
blister 424 near first blister 422. First blister 422 contains a
first composition and second blister 424 contains a different
second composition. Blisters 422 and 424 are initially separated by
a thin membrane. In order to activate time sensitive label 406, the
user presses one or both of blisters 422 and 424 so as to break the
thin membrane and cause the compositions to mix together. The mixed
composition begins as a first color and progressively changes to a
second different color over time. As long as the mixed composition
is not of the second color, the user knows that the dental
composition within with container has not yet expired. Once the
second color has been reached, the dental composition 402 or system
400 should be discarded. In some embodiments, the mixed composition
may include one or more intermediate colors between the initial
color and the second color that signifies expiration of the dental
composition. One such label including blisters containing initially
separate components for forming a color changing mixed composition
that may be suitable is available from Vitsab Inc., located in
Belmont, N.C.
[0035] Because label 406 relies on a color changing chemical
reaction, the rate of reaction may also be dependent on
temperature. Surprisingly, it has been found that the temperature
dependent variability of the color changing chemical reaction
roughly matches the temperature dependent variability of the
shelf-life of many dental compositions. This characteristic is
advantageous as it allows the label to accurately indicate the
remaining shelf-life of a dental composition that varies due to
differences in storage environments.
[0036] FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative system 500 including a
syringe 504 containing a dental composition 502. Syringe 504
includes a barrel 514 and a plunger 516. A label 506 is disposed on
barrel 514. Label 506 is formed of a material that begins to change
color from a first color to a second color as a function of time.
After activation, as long as label 506 is not of the second color,
the user knows that the dental composition 502 within container 504
has not yet expired. Once the second color has been reached, the
dental composition 502 or system 500 should be discarded. In some
embodiments, the label 506 may change colors so as to include one
or more intermediate colors between the initial color and the
second color that signifies expiration of the dental composition.
One such label formed of a color changing material that may be
suitable is available from Wipak UK Ltd., located in Welshpool,
Powys, United Kingdom.
[0037] Label 506 may be activated by exposure of the material to
moisture within the air. As such, label 506 may initially include a
peelable moisture barrier foil 506a that covers label 506. In order
to activate label 506, the user simply removes foil 506a.
[0038] Because label 506 relies on a color changing chemical
reaction, the rate of reaction may also be dependent on
temperature. Surprisingly, it has been found that the temperature
dependent variability of the color changing chemical reaction
roughly matches the temperature dependent variability of the
shelf-life of many dental compositions. This characteristic is
advantageous as it allows the label to accurately indicate the
remaining shelf-life of a dental composition that varies due to
differences in storage environments.
[0039] FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative system 600 including a
syringe 604 containing a dental composition 602. Syringe 604
includes a barrel 614 and a plunger 616. A label 606 is disposed on
barrel 614. Label 606 includes a microchip 626 configured to
measure lapsed time. Microchip 626 is readable by an associated
microchip reader so as to indicate to a user how much time remains
in the shelf-life of composition 602 within container 604. One such
label including a microchip configured to measure lapsed time and
an associated microchip reading device that may be suitable is
available from Clinisense Corporation located in Los Gatos,
Calif.
[0040] Microchip 626 may also be configured to account for
differences in temperature, so as to integrate monitoring of both
time and temperature. Such a configuration allows the label
accurately indicate the remaining shelf-life of a dental
composition that is stored in a variety of environments.
[0041] The dental composition within the syringe or other container
may have a given shelf-life ranging from less than about a week to
2 years or more. Because of relative instability many mixed
two-part dental compositions have a relatively short shelf-life
(e.g., 30 days or less). For example some two-part peroxide
bleaching compositions may have a shelf-life of about 10-14 days
after mixing, some disinfecting solutions may have a shelf-life of
about a week or less, and some two-part dental primers may have a
shelf life of about 30 days. Container systems including
activatable time sensitive marking means according to the present
invention are particularly suitable for use with such mixed dental
compositions.
[0042] In addition, relatively stable single part dental
compositions may have a shelf-life that is much longer (e.g., from
6 months up to 2 years or more). Such compositions often include an
expiration date stamped or printed on the container, which can be
difficult to identify. The time sensitive marking means of the
present invention provides a more easily used system including a
more easily identifiable label, eliminating the need for the user
to search for a difficult to find date stamp. The container systems
of the present invention may also be used with such
compositions.
III. Exemplary Method of Use
[0043] In one exemplary method of use, a dental composition having
a given shelf-life is provided. For example, the dental composition
may comprise a mixed composition formed by mixing together
initially separate components in a syringe-to-syringe mixing device
or other suitable mixing apparatus. A container including
activatable time sensitive marking means disposed on or within the
container is also provided. The container may comprise a syringe of
the syringe-to-syringe mixing apparatus such that the dental
composition may be contained within the syringe or other container.
Alternatively, the dental composition may be introduced into the
container (e.g., a syringe) including an activatable time sensitive
marking means disposed on or within the container.
[0044] The time sensitive marking means may be activated when
needed so as to begin to indicate the remaining shelf-life of the
composition. Typically the time of activation will coincide with an
event which affects the shelf-life of the composition (e.g., mixing
initially separate components to form the dental composition or
opening a container to expose the dental composition to air or
light). The time sensitive marking means indicates how much time
has lapsed since activation, indicating to the user whether the
dental composition is usable or not.
[0045] The dental practitioner identifies whether the given
shelf-life of the composition is greater than or less than the time
lapsed since activation. If the lapsed time is less than the given
shelf-life, then the dental practitioner may dispense and use the
dental composition. If the given shelf-life is less than the time
lapsed since activation, then the dental practitioner may discard
the composition or system. The container and activatable time
sensitive marking means may be relatively inexpensive, allowing the
user to discard the entire system once the dental composition has
expired.
[0046] It will be appreciated that the present claimed invention
may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its
spirit or essential characteristics. For example, although several
specific embodiments of activatable time sensitive marking means
have been described, it is to be understood that any structure that
can be disposed on or integrated into the container with the
ability to indicate time lapsed since activation may be used. The
described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as
illustrative, not restrictive. The scope of the invention is,
therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the
foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and
range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their
scope.
* * * * *