U.S. patent number 3,704,520 [Application Number 05/122,376] was granted by the patent office on 1972-12-05 for method of removing pulp from the pulp cavity of a natural tooth and apparatus for same.
Invention is credited to Bernard Weissman.
United States Patent |
3,704,520 |
Weissman |
December 5, 1972 |
METHOD OF REMOVING PULP FROM THE PULP CAVITY OF A NATURAL TOOTH AND
APPARATUS FOR SAME
Abstract
A method for extracting pulp from a pulp canal in teeth
comprises forming a channel in a tooth and extending the channel
into communication with a pulp canal in the tooth. An external
suction source is then secured into communicating operative
association with the channel and suction is induced in the pulp
canal to extract pulp from the latter. The method furthermore
comprises securing a liquid supplying external source into
communicating operative association with the channel formed in the
tooth and feeding the liquid into the pulp canal for flushing pulp
out of the latter. The inducing of the suction and the feeding of
the liquid is generally done in alternating relation with one
another. Apparatus for extracting pulp in accordance with the
method for same comprises a hollow member which may be detachably
connected to the pre-formed channel provided in the tooth, separate
conduit members for communicating with the external suction source
and the liquid supplying source respectively, and a coupling member
for connecting each of the conduits to the hollow member such that
both the external suction source and the liquid supplying source
each communicates with the pulp canal for extraction of the pulp in
the latter.
Inventors: |
Weissman; Bernard (Brooklyn,
NY) |
Family
ID: |
22402344 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/122,376 |
Filed: |
March 9, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
433/224 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61C
17/0208 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61C
17/00 (20060101); A61C 17/02 (20060101); A61c
005/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;32/40,57 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Peshock; Robert
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for extracting pulp from a pulp canal in teeth, said
method comprising forming a channel in a tooth, extending said
channel into communication with a pulp canal in the tooth,
removably self-threading a hollow body member in the channel in a
secured position to close the channel so that all external
communication with the pulp canal must be through a chamber of said
hollow body member, securing an external suction source to said
hollow body member in communication with said chamber, and inducing
suction with said suction source to extract pulp from the pulp
canal.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, including securing a liquid
supplying external source into communicating operative association
with said channel, and feeding the liquid into the pulp canal for
flushing pulp out of the latter.
3. A method as claimed in claim 2, including inducing said suction
and feeding said liquid in alternating relation with one
another.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1, including connecting one end of
a resilient generally tubular member to said external suction
source and connecting an opposite end of said tubular member to
said hollow body member for said securing of said suction source to
said body member.
5. A method as claimed in claim 4, including threading an
internally threaded collar on said body member for receiving said
tubular member.
6. A method as claimed in claim 5, including providing said collar
with an extension port for direct detachable association with said
tubular member and communication with said body member.
7. A method as claimed in claim 6, including providing said collar
with a further extension port for detachable association with a
liquid supplying external source.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7, including connecting one end of
a further resilient generally tubular member to said liquid
supplying external source and connecting an opposite end of said
further tubular member to said further extension port for
interconnecting said liquid supplying external source and said
further extension port.
9. A method as claimed in claim 5, including providing said collar
with a threaded opening therein, and threading a hollow externally
threaded member in said threaded opening for interconnecting said
collar and said tubular member.
10. A method as claimed in claim 9, including providing said collar
with a second threaded opening therein, and threading a second
hollow externally threaded member in said second threaded opening
for detachable association with a liquid supplying external
source.
11. A method as claimed in claim 10, including providing said
second threaded member with an internal diameter of substantially
lesser extent than that of said first-mentioned threaded
member.
12. A method as claimed in claim 10, including connecting one end
of a second resilient generally tubular member to said liquid
supply external source and connecting an opposite end of said
second tubular member to said second threaded member for
interconnecting said liquid supplying external source and said
second thread member.
13. A method as claimed in claim 2, including connecting one limb
of a generally Y-shaped hollow member to said external suction
source, connecting a second limb of said Y-shaped member to said
liquid supplying source, and connecting a third limb of said
Y-shaped member to said hollow body member.
14. A method as claimed in claim 2, including providing means for
controlling flow of the liquid into the pulp canal and for
controlling the suction provided by said suction source.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to dental surgery and more
particularly to a method and apparatus for extracting pulp from a
pulp canal in teeth.
Progress in the mechanics of dentistry has provided ways and means
to reconstruct, rebuild and repair that which remains after a tooth
has succumed to a dental disease so that a badly broken-down tooth
may be restored to function successfully. The greatest factor in
the problem deals with the treatment of teeth whose pulps have
become diseased and exposed to infection by various types of
microorganisms common to the human mouth. If infected pulp remains
in an imperfectively filled root canal in a tooth, the latter
becomes a constant source of danger, or the focus of infection.
The most common and widely accepted procedure of extracting
infected pulp from a pulp canal in a tooth is that of the
protracted surgical operation wherein the dental personnel and the
dental tools utilized by the dental personnel must be maintained in
a strict sterilized condition to obviate any risk of reinfecting
the remaining tissue within the tooth during and after extraction
of the pulp from the pulp canal therein. In this respect, the
general practice is to utilize broaches which may be smooth or
barbed, root canal files and spiral reamers, all of which when
handled and temporarily stored during surgery must remain fully
sterilized. Generally, the crown of the tooth is cut away to a
great extent to fully expose the openings of each pulp canal so
that dental personnel may insert the required surgical tools into
the exposed pulp canal. This surgical practice, although most
generally accepted, has a number of serious drawbacks and
disadvantages associated therewith which may result, if not done
properly, in disaster for the patient subjected to the surgical
operation.
In this respect, there is the necessity for excavating the crown
or, in effect, the enamel and dentin to expose the pulp canal. This
excavation of the crown, which is often somewhat excessive, often
results in a weakened tooth which must be eventually repaired by
further dental procedure after the surgical operation.
Furthermore, there is always the possibility that the broach or
tool may break within the pulp canal since in fact initially only a
fine smooth broach is bent and inserted into the pulp canal to
approximate the length and curvature of the canal and thus, there
is always the possibility for tools subsequently inserted into the
canal to fracture or break therein.
Another disadvantage with regard to the utilization of a broach is
the fact that the broach may form or cause the formation of false
pockets or ledges within the pulp canal thus further weakening the
tooth beyond that which is acceptable. It should be understood that
during the course of pulp removal there is constant filing of the
canal wall. Thus, during this filing operation the broach itself
must be prevented from being twisted and should be gently guided
axially along the pulp canal to obviate both the possibility of
broach fracture and the possibility of forming false pockets or
ledges in the pulp canal.
It is significant to note that the surgical operation is a very
delicate operation requiring great skill on the part of the dental
specialist. Obviously, there are many hazards associated therewith
and there must be maintained the strictest environment of
sterilization to obviate any possibility of further contaminating
the tissue remaining in the pulp or adjacent the latter so that the
area surrounding the tooth and the tooth itself can heal properly
without subjecting the patient to further discomfort and further
surgery.
Because of the delicate nature of the surgical operation for
extracting the infected pulp, many attempts have been made at
eliminating the protracted nature of the surgery. In this respect,
one method such as the method of "knocking out pulps" by driving
hickory sticks into the root canal, or the use of a heated needle
to destroy the pulp, or for that matter the process of pulp
devitalization by chemical agents have all been attempted but these
have proven to be unsuccessful and not generally accepted by the
dental profession because of respective hazards associated with
each as those skilled in the art readily appreciate.
It is clear, therefore, that the delicate surgical operation
aforementioned is the only commonly and widely accepted practice
for pulp extraction. Again, the hazards attributed thereto are
numerous and, therefore, the disadvantages associated therewith
leave much to be desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide
both a method and apparatus for extracting pulp from a pulp canal
in teeth.
It is still another object of the present invention to obviate the
necessity for excavating the pulp canal with tools such as broaches
or the like.
It is another object of the present invention to obviate the risk
of tool breakage within the pulp canal.
It is still another object of the present invention to obviate the
risk of forming false ledges and pockets within the pulp canal
which otherwise weaken the dentition or the tooth.
It is another object of the present invention to completely extract
all infected pulp within the pulp canal.
It is still a further object of the present invention to obviate
the delicate nature of the pulp extracting operation and the great
skill required therefor.
To this end, the present invention relates to a method for
extracting pulp from a pulp canal in teeth comprising forming a
channel in a tooth and extending the channel into communication
with a pulp canal in the tooth. An external suction source is then
secured into communicating operative association with the channel
and suction is induced in the pulp canal to extract pulp from the
latter. The method furthermore comprises securing a liquid
supplying external source into communicating operative association
with the channel formed in the tooth and feeding the liquid into
the pulp canal for flushing pulp out of the latter. The inducing of
the suction and the feeding of the liquid is generally done in
alternating relation with one another. Apparatus for extracting
pulp in accordance with the method for same comprises a hollow
member which may be detachably connected to the pre-formed channel
provided in the tooth, separate conduit members for communicating
with the external suction source and the liquid supplying source
respectively, and a coupling member for connecting each of the
conduits to the hollow member such that both the external suction
source and the liquid supplying source each communicates with the
pulp canal for extraction of the pulp in the latter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
With the above and additional objects and advantages in view as
will hereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices,
combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment
in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates an elevational view, on enlarged scale, of a
tooth;
FIG. 2 illustrates the tooth as illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein
there is formed a channel in communication with the pulp canal in
the tooth;
FIG. 3 illustrates a view generally similar to FIG. 2 including the
manner by which the present invention is associated with the
tooth;
FIG. 4 illustrates an elevational view, in cross-section, of one
embodiment according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 illustrates an elevational view, in cross-section, of a
second embodiment according to the present invention; and
FIG. 6 illustrates an elevational view, in cross-section, of a
third embodiment according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2
and 3, a tooth generally denoted by the reference character 10
having portions of enamel 12, dentin 14 and a pulp canal 16 wherein
there is live pulp 18 is illustrated. As is generally done in the
process or operation of pulp extraction, the crown of the tooth 10
is excavated such that a channel 20 is formed as by drilling or the
like and extends throughout the enamel and dentin portions 12 and
14 respectively into communication with the pulp canal 16 as
illustrated in FIG. 2.
The device according to the present invention is illustrated
somewhat generally in FIG. 3 in operative association with the
channel 20 pre-formed in the tooth 10. The device according to the
present invention comprises a pulp extracting assembly 22 which
includes an externally threaded hollow body 24, the latter having a
chamber 25, as illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, extending therein. A
coupling member 26 is utilized for interconnecting a flexible tube
28 to the externally threaded hollow body 24. The hollow body 24 is
utilized by being threadedly inserted into the preformed channel 20
in detachable association with the latter. The flexible tube 28 is
then connected to an external suction source (not shown in the
drawing) which acts to induce suction in the pulp canal 16 and
thereby extract the pulp 18 therein. The strength of the suction
imposed within the pulp canal 16 may be readily controlled as by
conventional means such that the pulp which is constituted of soft,
highly vascular and sensitive tissue may be easily extracted.
It has been determined through experience that pulp extraction
pursuant to the principal of the present invention may be effected
and enhanced by flushing the pulp canal with a germicidal liquid
during or alternately with the aforementioned application or
inducement of suction. In this respect, there is illustrated in
FIGS. 4-6 respectively, three further embodiments of the device or
apparatus pursuant to the present invention. As illustrated in FIG.
4, the hollow body 24 having a chamber 25 is threadedly associated
detachably with a coupling member or collar 30, the latter
including a closed end portion 32. A pair of threaded openings 34
are provided in the closed end portion 32 of the collar 30 for
threadedly receiving detachably a pair of externally threaded
hollow members 36 and 38 respectively which are in turn detachably
associated with the flexible tubes 40 and 42 respectively. The
flexible tube 40 communicates with an external suction source
whereas flexible tube 42 communicates with an external liquid
supplying source. Thus, when the hollow body 24 is threadedly
inserted into the pre-formed channel 20 and communicates with the
pulp canal 16, both the suction and germicidal liquid flushing
operations can be effected simultaneously or alternately with one
another through the intermediary of the externally threaded hollow
members 36 and 38 respectively. It is significant to point out that
the internal diameter of the hollow member 38 is substantially less
than that internal diameter of the hollow member 36. The purpose of
the reduced diameter of the member 38 is to permit the flushing
fluid of germicidal content to be injected into the hollow body 24
and then into the pulp canal 16 at a greater velocity so that the
force projected against the pulp 18 by the germicidal fluid is most
effective for washing and flushing the pulp 18 from the pulp 16. It
should be clear, of course, that the suction provided by external
suction source acts to extract or remove both the pulp 18 and the
flushing germicidal fluid injected into the pulp canal 16.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, there is a further embodiment of the
apparatus pursuant to the present invention which comprises a
coupling member or collar 44 having a closed end portion 46, the
latter being provided with a threaded opening 48 extending
therethrough. An externally threaded hollow member 50 is threadedly
associated with the threaded opening 48 and communicates with the
hollow body 24. A generally Y-shaped hollow member 52 is threadedly
associated detachably with the member 50 and includes a body
portion 54 and a pair of limbs 56 and 58 separated from one another
in communicating relation with the body portion 54. The limb 56
communicates with an external suction source, whereas the limb 58
communicates with an external liquid supplying source. Thus,
suction can be readily induced through the intermediary of the limb
56 and a germicidal fluid can be fed through the intermediary of
the limb 58. Both the suction flow and feed of germicidal fluid
pass commonly through the body portion 54, the hollow member 50,
the collar 44 and the hollow body 24, the latter which communicates
with the pulp canal 16 through the intermediary of the pre-formed
channel 20. It should be understood, of course, that the suction
flow and the feed of germicidal fluid can be effected
simultaneously with one another or in alternating succession.
Referring now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated still a further
embodiment pursuant to the principles of the present invention. In
this respect, there is provided a coupling member 60 or collar
which is integrally provided with a pair of separated extension
ports 62 and 64 respectively. The ports 62 and 64 are illustrated
in opposing relation, but it should be equally clear that they may
be associated with one another or angularly inclined relative to
one another in any selected manner. The collar 60 is detachably
associated threadedly with the externally threaded hollow body 24
in a manner as was discussed above for the embodiments of FIGS. 4
and 5 respectively. Again, the extension port 62 communicates with
a suction source through the intermediary of a flexible tube and
the extension port 64 communicates with a liquid supplying external
source through the intermediary of a further flexible tube. In this
manner, the suction flow and feed of germicidal fluid into the pulp
canal 16 can be easily affected in alternating succession or
simultaneously with one another.
It is significant to point out that the relationship of each of the
members which are threadedly associated with one another in each of
the embodiments of FIGS. 3-6 is such so as to be sealed against air
and liquid leakage in a conventional manner and therefore
description of same is omitted herefrom for the sake of
clarity.
The principal of the present invention is clearly to utilize
suction as the means for extracting pulp from the pulp canal in a
tooth. The suction of course should be sufficient for effecting
pulp extraction and although certain of the embodiments illustrated
in the drawing utilize germicidal fluid to aid in the extraction of
the pulp, the principal of inducing only suction within the pulp
canal is sufficient for extracting the pulp therein. Of course, the
feeding of a germicidal fluid for flushing the pulp out of the pulp
canal enhances the pulp extraction process and, thus, the
embodiments as illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 are more effective. In the
latter embodiments, various conventional switching or valving
devices may be utilized for controlling both the feed of germicidal
fluid and the suction induced in the pulp canal. These may be
operatively associated with one another and with both the suction
external source and the fluid supplying external source in a
conventional manner and thus description of same is omitted for the
sake of clarity.
In summary, therefore, the present invention may be utilized first
by forming a channel in the tooth so that it extends throughout the
enamel and dentin into communication with the pulp canal of the
tooth. The externally threaded hollow body 24, which is generally
of the same configuration in each of the embodiments according to
the present invention, is then threadedly inserted into the
pre-formed channel 20 of the tooth. If the embodiment, as
illustrated in FIG. 3 is employed, the device according to the
present invention is simply connected to a suction external source
so that the suction can be induced within the pulp canal for
extracting the pulp from the latter. If the embodiments, as
illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 respectively are utilized then the device
is also placed into communication with a liquid supplying external
source so that a germicidal fluid can be fed into the pulp canal to
aid in the extraction process whether the fluid be fed alternately
or simultaneously with the suction induced in the pulp canal.
It should be apparent at this stage that the present invention does
not utilize any tools in any form whatsoever for excavating the
pulp canal and, therefore, there is completely obviated any
possibility of forming false ledges and pockets which otherwise
weaken the dentition or tooth. Furthermore, with the utilization of
the method and apparatus according to the present invention, there
is completely obviated any risk of tool breakage within the pulp
canal. Thus, it should be equally clear that the present invention
may be practiced by persons skilled in the dental art, and yet not
necessarily greatly skilled in surgical procedure. Thus, the
delicate nature of surgical operation is completely obviated by the
present invention and, therefore, the latter constitutes a surge
forward in the art.
Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest
themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be
understood that the present disclosure relates to a preferred
embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration
only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention.
* * * * *