U.S. patent application number 13/826249 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-08 for dental paste dispensing device and method of use.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kerr Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Kerr Corporation. Invention is credited to Xiangxu Chen, Beat Kilcher, James Lobsenz.
Application Number | 20130203011 13/826249 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45594346 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130203011 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Xiangxu ; et
al. |
August 8, 2013 |
DENTAL PASTE DISPENSING DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE
Abstract
A dental paste dispensing device having a modified dispensing
end for atraumatic contact with soft tissue is disclosed. The
dispensing device includes a needle having a dispensing end with a
terminal edge for dispensing the dental paste to a location in a
patient mouth containing soft tissue, wherein the dispensing end
includes an atraumatic modification. The modification comprises one
of a non-metal coating on an outer surface of the dispensing end, a
plastic tip member over the dispensing end, or a decreasing
diameter at the terminal edge from a first point on the outer
surface to a distal-most point of the outer surface.
Inventors: |
Chen; Xiangxu; (Diamond Bar,
CA) ; Lobsenz; James; (Redondo Beach, CA) ;
Kilcher; Beat; (Bosco Luganese, CH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kerr Corporation; |
Orange |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Kerr Corporation
Orange
CA
|
Family ID: |
45594346 |
Appl. No.: |
13/826249 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13214933 |
Aug 22, 2011 |
|
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|
13826249 |
|
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61375605 |
Aug 20, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
433/90 ;
433/89 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61C 19/063 20130101;
A61C 5/62 20170201 |
Class at
Publication: |
433/90 ;
433/89 |
International
Class: |
A61C 19/06 20060101
A61C019/06 |
Claims
1. A dental paste dispensing device, comprising: a metal needle
having an attachment end adapted to be attached to a capsule
containing the dental paste and a dispensing end with a terminal
edge for dispensing the dental paste to a location in a patient
mouth containing soft tissue, wherein the dispensing end includes a
modification for atraumatic contact with the soft tissue, where the
modification comprises one of a non-metal coating on an outer
surface of the dispensing end, a plastic tip member over the
dispensing end, or a decreasing diameter at the terminal edge from
a first point on the outer surface to a distal-most point of the
outer surface.
2. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the modification is
the non-metal coating of a rubbery material.
3. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the modification is
the plastic tip member comprising a first inner channel engaged
over the dispensing end and a second inner channel of larger size
than an inner diameter of the dispensing end, where the second
inner channel has a flattened oval shape in a static position and a
rounded shape in a dynamic position.
4. The dispensing device of claim 3, wherein the plastic tip member
further includes a pair of opposed sidewall bumps adjacent and
protruding outwardly from the second inner channel for displacing
gingiva during delivery of the dental paste.
5. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the modification is
the decreasing diameter at the terminal edge, where the decrease is
non-linear to form a rounded terminal edge.
6. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the modification is
the decreasing diameter at the terminal edge, where the decrease is
linear to form an inwardly slanted terminal edge.
7. The dispensing device of claim 1 further comprising: a capsule
for containing the dental paste, wherein the attachment end of the
metal needle is attached to the capsule for receiving the dental
paste into the metal needle.
8. The dispensing device of claim 7 wherein the attachment end of
the needle is permanently attached to the capsule.
9. The dispensing device of claim 7 wherein the attachment end of
the needle is removably attached to the capsule.
10. The dispensing device of claim 7, further comprising: an
applicator body including a piston and a trigger mechanism for
advancing the piston; and a carrier attached at a first end to the
applicator body and having a channel therein in which the capsule
is positioned for engagement proximate the first end with the
piston and having the metal needle extending from a second end
distal of the first end for dispensing the dental paste from the
capsule through the needle to the dispensing end.
11. A dental paste dispensing device for dispensing a dental
composition into a gingival sulcus, the device comprising: a needle
having a dispensing end with a terminal edge for dispensing the
dental paste to a location in a patient mouth containing gingival
tissue, wherein the dispensing end has a decreasing diameter at the
terminal edge from a first point on the outer surface to a
distal-most point of the outer surface for laterally displacing the
gingival tissue atramatically to permit the dental paste to be
dispensed into the givigival sulcus.
12. The dispensing device of claim 11, wherein the decreasing
diameter at the terminal edge is non-linear to form a rounded
terminal edge.
13. The dispensing device of claim 11, wherein the decreasing
diameter at the terminal edge is linear to form an inwardly slanted
terminal edge.
14. The dispensing device of claim 11, further comprising: an
applicator body including a piston and a trigger mechanism for
advancing the piston; and a carrier attached at a first end to the
applicator body and having a channel therein for receiving a
capsule containing the dental composition, the channel positioned
for engagement proximate the first end with the piston and having
the needle extending from a second end of the applicator body
distal of the first end for dispensing the dental paste from the
capsule through the needle to the dispensing end.
15. The dispensing device of claim 11 further comprising: a capsule
for containing the dental paste coupled to the needle, and a piston
for engagement with the capsule for advancing the dental paste into
the metal needle toward the dispensing end.
16. The dispensing device of claim 15 wherein the needle is fixedly
attached to the capsule.
17. The dispensing device of claim 16 wherein the needle and the
capsule are made of different materials.
18. The dispensing device of claim 16 wherein the needle and the
capsule are made of the same material.
19. The dispensing device of claim 15 wherein the dispensing end is
angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the capsule.
20. The dispensing device of claim 15 wherein the capsule is made
of a plastic material and the needle is made of metal and is
removably coupled to the capsule.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/214,933 filed Aug. 22, 2011 and entitled
DENTAL PASTE DISPENSING DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE, the disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if
completely set forth herein below.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a dispensing device for use in
delivering a paste in a dental procedure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The restoration of a patient's tooth or teeth often includes
the replacement of natural tooth structure by a manufactured dental
restoration or dental prosthesis. Typically, a tooth that is to be
restored is first prepared by a dentist to remove undesired tooth
substance and to provide the tooth with a shape appropriate to
receive the dental restoration. The dental restoration is typically
mated precisely with the remaining tooth shape prepared by the
dentist on the basis of an impression of the prepared tooth.
Therefore the dental impression should be very precise, and should
represent all tooth structure required to determine the shape of
the mating surface of the later dental restoration. In particular,
the dental impression should represent the transition or the
"margin" between the shape prepared in a tooth and the natural
tooth shape. For dental restorations that extend below a patient's
gingiva (or gums), the dentist also should make the part of the
margin accessible for the dental impression that would normally be
covered by the gingiva. The procedure of displacing the gingiva
from the tooth to make the margin accessible is also known as
"gingival retraction" in the field of dentistry.
[0004] A common gingival retraction procedure includes the
insertion of a retraction cord in the gingival sulcus, which
displaces the gingiva from the tooth. However, the insertion of a
retraction cord is relatively time consuming and is generally
perceived as being relatively inconvenient for the dentist and
uncomfortable for the patient. An alternative for the retraction
cord is a gingival retraction paste, which is typically a high
viscosity paste that is squeezed or injected into the gingival
sulcus, thereby displacing the soft gingival tissue from the tooth.
The gingival retraction paste in one example is provided in a
syringe or applicator that is connectable with a metal dispensing
cannula or needle. The cannula or needle dispenses the paste around
a tooth towards the entry of the gingival sulcus to thereby squeeze
it into the gingival sulcus.
[0005] However, soft tissue in the mouth is very sensitive and
trauma to the tissue can occur when a metal device makes contact.
This issue may also occur in other dental procedures besides
gingival retraction, where dental paste is being applied in a
region containing soft tissue that may be contacted by the
dispensing end of the device. There is thus a need for an improved
dispensing device for providing dental paste to a region with soft
tissue.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a dental paste dispensing
device having a modified dispensing end for atraumatic contact with
soft tissue. To that end, in one embodiment, the dispensing device
comprises a needle having a dispensing end with a terminal edge for
dispensing the dental paste to a location in a patient mouth
containing gingival tissue. The dispensing end has a decreasing
diameter at the terminal edge from a first point on the outer
surface to a distal-most point of the outer surface for laterally
displacing the gingival tissue atramatically to permit the dental
paste to be dispensed into the givigival sulcus.
[0007] In another embodiment, the dispensing device comprises a
metal needle having an attachment end adapted to be attached to a
capsule containing the dental paste and a dispensing end with a
terminal edge for dispensing the dental paste to a location in a
patient mouth containing soft tissue, wherein the dispensing end
includes a modification for atraumatic contact with the soft
tissue. The modification comprises one of a non-metal coating on an
outer surface of the dispensing end, a plastic tip member over the
dispensing end, or a decreasing diameter at the terminal edge from
a first point on the outer surface to a distal-most point of the
outer surface. In one embodiment, the metal needle has a dispensing
end coated with a rubbery material. In another embodiment, the
metal needle has a rounded or slanted terminal edge at the
dispensing end. In yet another embodiment, the metal needle
includes a plastic tip attached thereto having an inner channel
with a flattened oval shape in a static position and a rounded
shape in a dynamic position with sidewall bumps adjacent the inner
channel for displacing soft tissue.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and, together with a general description of the
invention given above, and the detailed description given below,
serve to explain the invention.
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing applicator
having a detachable carrier and body.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a detachable carrier.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a side view of the carrier of FIG. 2.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a top view of the carrier of FIG. 2.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of
FIG. 3.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the carrier of FIG. 2.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a front view of the carrier of FIG. 2.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a rear view of the carrier of FIG. 2.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a side view of a capsule and needle according to
one embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of
FIG. 9.
[0019] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a needle according to
another embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a needle according to
another embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 13 is a top view of a needle with plastic tip according
to another embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 14 is a side view of the needle with plastic tip of
FIG. 13.
[0023] FIG. 15 is an end view of the needle with plastic tip, in
the static position, taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 14.
[0024] FIG. 16 is an end view of the needle with plastic tip, in
the dynamic position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the shape,
material, and/or dimensions of the needle tip of a dispensing
device may help to avoid damage to soft tissue during use of the
device of the invention in a patient's mouth. One use is a gingival
retraction procedure in which the device dispenses dental paste
into the gingival sulcus between a tooth and the gums (gingiva).
The invention also may allow the dental paste to be inserted
relatively deep into the gingival sulcus, without causing trauma to
the soft tissue. Deep penetration of the dental paste in the
gingival sulcus may help to effectively retract the gingiva from a
tooth, and consequently may help to provide an acceptable
impression particularly of a preparation margin of a tooth. Other
dental procedures may likewise involve application of a dental
paste to oral locations with soft tissue, whereby a modification to
the needle tip in accordance with the invention prevents trauma to
the soft tissue.
[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing applicator 10
for use in dispensing a flowable material (i.e., dental paste) in a
dental procedure. The applicator 10 includes a body 12 with gears,
which body may be anatomically designed for easy gripping by the
hand and convenient squeezing of trigger 14 to actuate a piston 16
for dispensing dental paste, with a force advantage, for example,
of at least 9 to 1. The applicator 10 further includes a detachable
carrier 20 for receiving a capsule 22 containing the dental paste,
such as a gingival retraction material. In one embodiment, the
carrier 20 is detached from the body 12 by screwing. The piston 16
extends through body 12 and is received in a chamber 24 of carrier
20 to engage a capsule 22 residing therein for advancing the dental
paste. The capsule 22 includes a cannula or needle 30 terminating
distally in an end that serves as a dispensing end 32 for
applicator 10 from which the dental paste may be dispensed.
[0027] FIGS. 2-8 describe a carrier 20 for attachment to body 12
and which includes chamber 24 for receiving a capsule 22. The
carrier 20 may include a slot or groove 26 for receiving a mating
member 28 of capsule 22, and which prevents the capsule 22 from
falling off. In one embodiment, the carrier 20 may be used for two
different lengths of filled capsules 22. In one embodiment, the
carrier is detachable from the body of the applicator.
[0028] In one embodiment, the capsule 22 is filled with paste for
dental use. The device 10 may use a capsule 22 having an integrated
needle 30 made of the same plastic material as the capsule 22, as
depicted in FIG. 1, and which may or may not be removable. The
needle 30 made of plastic provides an atraumatic contact with soft
tissue, as opposed to a metal needle. The plastic needle 30 can
thus be used in a gingival retraction procedure for displacing the
gingiva laterally without trauma to the gingiva, and thereby
allowing for delivery of the retraction paste deep into the
gingival sulcus. Alternatively, the needle 30 may be removable and
of a different material than the capsule 22, such as a metal
needle. The needle 30 may extend at an angle from the capsule 22,
either straight or curved, or may be co-aligned and/or parallel
with an axis of the capsule 22. The configuration may be selected
for suitability in reaching certain locations in a patient's
mouth.
[0029] FIG. 9 depicts an atraumatic design for a needle 30 adapted
to be attached to a capsule 22 according to an embodiment of the
invention for delivering paste material for dental use. FIG. 10 is
a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9. In one
embodiment, the capsule 22 has a metal needle 30 that is
permanently attached. In one embodiment, the capsule 22 has a metal
needle 30 that is temporarily (removably) attached by means of
screw-on, click-on or click-and-twist-on immediately before use.
The dispensing end 32 of the metal needle 30 includes a non-metal
coating 34, for example of a rubbery material. The rubbery material
can prevent tissue trauma when it is in contact with soft tissue in
a dental procedure. In one embodiment, the capsule 22 has a number
of wings 36 for ease of twist. In one embodiment, the capsule 22 is
used with a dispensing applicator, such as applicator 10 of FIG.
1.
[0030] The non-metal coating 34 may be spray-coated, dip-coated, or
over-molded onto the dispensing end 32, and advantageously covers
the terminal edge of the metal needle 30, so that upon contact with
the soft tissue, no metal touches the soft tissue. Any other
suitable means of applying a non-metal coating 34 to a metal needle
30 may be employed other than the means recited above, whether now
known or hereafter developed. The non-metal coating 34 may be a
rubbery material, such as natural or synthetic rubber,
polyethylene, polyethylene propylene, or any other elastomer
suitable for use in an oral environment.
[0031] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative
atraumatic configuration for the dispensing end 32 of a metal
needle 30. The needle wall 38 may taper inwardly in diameter
approaching the dispensing end 32 and terminates in a rounded edge
32a. Thus, an inner diameter ID.sub.1 adjacent a proximal
attachment end (not shown) of the needle 30 that attaches to the
capsule 22 may be greater than an inner diameter ID.sub.2 at the
opposing distal dispensing end 32 Likewise, an outer diameter
OD.sub.1 adjacent the attachment end of the needle 30 may be
greater than an outer diameter OD.sub.2 at the dispensing end 32.
At the terminal edge 32a of the needle 30, i.e., the distal-most
portion of the needle 30, the outer surface tapers inwardly in
curved fashion, i.e., the outer diameter OD.sub.2 decreases
non-linearly to a smaller diameter at the terminal edge 32a. In one
embodiment, the outer diameter OD.sub.2 decreases gradually until
reaching the inner diameter ID.sub.2 such that only the outer
surface of the needle 30 is radiused at the terminal edge 32a. In
another embodiment, the inner surface also tapers outwardly in
curved fashion, i.e., the inner diameter ID.sub.2 increases
non-linearly as the outer diameter OD.sub.2 decreases non-linearly
until an intermediate diameter is reached, such that the terminal
edge 32a is radiused both on the inner and outer surfaces of the
needle 30. The smaller diameters ID.sub.2/OD.sub.2 and rounded
terminal edge 32a provide a non-traumatic dispensing end 32a when
in contact with soft tissue in the mouth, and can thus permit the
needle 30 to contact the gingiva and displace it laterally to
inject the dental paste into the gingival sulcus. Because the
terminal edge 32a is rounded, i.e., it has a radius with no sharp
corners, it gently slides against the soft tissue, and in
particular can slide between a tooth and the gum, without harshly
engaging the soft tissue, thereby allowing for the dental paste to
be dispensed deeply into the gingival sulcus. It may be
appreciated, that the rounded edge 32a alone provides an atraumatic
dispensing end 32 for needle 30, such that a constant diameter
needle wall 38 is also contemplated, with the diameter of the
needle varying only at the terminal edge 32a.
[0032] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of yet another alternative
atraumatic configuration for the dispensing end 32 of a metal
needle 30. As with the needle 30 of FIG. 11, the needle wall 38 may
taper inwardly in diameter approaching the dispensing end 32, such
that the inner diameter ID.sub.1 and an outer diameter OD.sub.1 may
be greater than the inner diameter ID.sub.2 and outer diameter
OD.sub.2, respectively. The needle 30, however, terminates in a
straight angled, inwardly slanted edge 32b formed by the OD.sub.2
linearly decreasing until becoming essentially equal to the
ID.sub.2 at the dispensing end 32. In other words, the terminal
edge 32b of the needle 30 slants inwardly from the outer diameter
OD.sub.2 to the inner diameter ID.sub.2, thereby forming an
inwardly slanted terminal edge 32b for the needle 30. The inwardly
slanted terminal edge 32b of the dispensing end 32 provides a
non-traumatic dispensing end 32 when in contact with soft tissue in
the mouth, and can thus permit the needle 30 to contact the gingiva
and displace it laterally to inject the dental paste into the
gingival sulcus. Because the terminal edge 32b is slanted, upon
contacting the soft tissue with the edge 32b, the soft tissue
gently slides along the slanted edge 32b rather than being harshly
engaged by it, allowing the dispensing end 32 to slip gently
between the tooth and gums for dispensing the dental paste deeply
into the gingival sulcus. Again, a needle wall 38 of constant
diameter from the attachment end to the slanted terminal edge 32b
of the dispensing end 32 is contemplated, with the slanted terminal
edge 32b providing an atraumatic dispensing end 32.
[0033] Both FIGS. 11 and 12 generally disclose a modification to a
metal needle 30 in which the outer surface decreases in diameter at
the dispensing end 32, from a first point to a second distal-most
point. The decrease in diameter can be non-linear to provide the
radiused terminal edge 32a, or linear to provide the slanted
terminal edge 32b, either modification providing an atraumatic
dispensing end 32 for contacting soft tissue in a dental procedure.
In addition, or alternatively, the dispensing end 32, including the
terminal edge 32a, 32b, can be coated with a non-metal coating 34,
as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, in particular a rubbery material, to
provide an atraumatic modification to the dispensing end 32 of a
metal needle 30.
[0034] FIGS. 13-16 detail yet another alternative atraumatic
configuration for the dispensing end 32 of a metal needle 30. A
plastic tip 40 is placed over the dispensing end 32 of needle 30.
The plastic tip 40 includes a first inner channel 42 sized to fit
securely over the dispensing end 32 of needle 30 and is attached
thereto. A second inner channel 44 then forms the dispensing end 46
of the plastic tip 40, and is advantageously slightly larger than
the inner diameter ID.sub.2 of the needle 30 to avoid rupturing the
plastic tip when a dental paste is extruded through the dispensing
ends 32 and 46. Sidewall bumps 48, 50 are provided on either side
of the second inner channel 44. In the static (i.e.,
non-dispensing) position, shown in end view in FIG. 15, the second
inner channel 44 forms a flattened oval shape. In the dynamic
(i.e., dispensing) position, shown in end view in FIG. 16, the
second inner channel 44 adapts to a round shape with the sidewall
bumps 48, 50 protruding therefrom. The sidewall bumps 48, 50 assist
with pushing the gingiva away from the tooth laterally in a
non-traumatic fashion, so that the dental paste is guided into the
gingival sulcus.
[0035] FIGS. 9-16 are described with reference to a metal needle
30; however, the invention is not so limited. The modifications to
the dispensing end 32 of a needle 30 may also be employed with a
plastic needle to further ensure atraumatic delivery of a dental
paste. However, these modifications may not be considered
necessary, as a plastic material may by itself be sufficiently
atraumatic when contacting soft tissue, such as the gingiva during
gingival retraction.
[0036] While the present invention has been illustrated by the
description of one or more embodiments thereof, and while the
embodiments have been described in considerable detail, they are
not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the
appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and
modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The
invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the
specific details, representative apparatus and method and
illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures
may be made from such details without departing from the scope of
the general inventive concept.
* * * * *