Ultrasonic microtube dental instruments and methods of using same

• US 6,976,844 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2003
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: San Diego Swiss Machining Inc.
• Original Assignee: San Diego Swiss Machining Inc.
• Inventors: Ruddle, Clifford, Hickok, Teresa
• Primary Examiner(s): WEHNER, CARY ELLEN
• Application Number:
  US10/413,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20040126735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 433/118, 433/119, 433/120, 433/121, 433/165, 433/224
• US Class Current: 433/224
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/07 with vibratory drive, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/20 using ultrasonics
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 5/46 Nerve extractors, e.g. needles; Means for removing broken parts of endodontic instruments

Abstract

Systems and methods related to ultrasonic microtube dental instruments designed to cut around a broken instrument by allowing the broken instrument to be placed within a lumen of the microtube instrument while simultaneously boring with the broken instrument and being guided by the broken instrument.

Claims

1. A method of removing a broken instrument from a root canal of a tooth, the method comprising:

getting an instrument, the instrument having a distal end including a cutting surface and a lumen extending from said cutting surface;

placing said lumen over a proximal end of said broken instrument so as to place said cutting surface in contact with said tooth;

ultrasonically driving said instrument to cut into said tooth with said cutting surface so as to loosen said broken instrument relative to said tooth; and

removing said broken instrument.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said instrument further includes:

a connector configured to attach said instrument to an ultrasonic generator;

an elongated shank attached to said connector; and

a working portion having a length and a proximal and distal end, said working portion being attached to said elongated shank by said proximal end;

wherein, said working portion includes said cutting surface and said lumen.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said proximal end of said working portion is attached to an intermediate section which is in turn attached to said elongated shank.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said working portion is generally cylindrical in shape.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said lumen is generally cylindrical in shape.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein said shank is generally cylindrical in shape.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein said shank is straight.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein said shank is bent.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said shank is bent into a contra-angle.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein said cutting surface is on said distal end adjacent said lumen.