METHOD FOR INDICATING SHELF-LIFE AFTER MIXING PRE-DOSED, PRE-PACKAGED TWO-PART DENTAL COMPOSITIONS

• US 20070106210A1
• Filed: 10/02/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ultradent Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ultradent Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Fischer, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 7,569,185 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/82
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 5/62 Applicators, e.g. syringes or guns
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3125 specific display means, e.g. to indicate dose setting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/284 comprising means for injection of two or more media, e.g. by mixing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/0052 Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/00593 Hand tools of the syringe type
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/12 Audible, olfactory or visual signalling means B65D51/248, B65D55/028, B65D79/02 and B65D81/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/0273 Labels for bottles, flasks
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/028 Labels containing microcapsules, e.g. ink microcapsules for indicia transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0291 Labels or tickets undergoing a change under particular conditions, e.g. heat, radiation, passage of time
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0297 including a machine-readable marking, e.g. a bar code digitally marked record carriers in general G06K19/00

Abstract

A pre-dosed, pre-packaged mixing system and associated method for mixing, storing, and dispensing a two-part dental composition that becomes less stable upon mixing. The mixing system includes a pre-dosed, pre-packaged quantity of a first component contained within a first chamber, and a pre-dosed, pre-packaged quantity of a second component contained within a second chamber. The chambers are separated by separation means so as to separate the two-components prior to mixing. Once mixed, the practitioner is able to record a mixing and/or expiration date on at least a portion of the mixing system so as to indicate a shelf-life of the less stable mixed dental composition.

Claims

1. A method for indicating shelf-life of a pre-dosed, pre-packaged two-part dental composition that becomes less stable upon mixing, comprising:

providing a pre-dosed, pre-packaged mixing system including;

a first chamber containing a pre-dosed, pre-packaged quantity of a first component;

a second chamber containing a pre-dosed, pre-packaged quantity of a second component, the second component being initially separated from the first component;

mixing the first and second components together so as to form a less stable mixed dental composition; and

recording a mixing and/or expiration date on at least a portion of the mixing system so as to indicate a shelf-life of the less stable mixed dental composition.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the pre-dosed, pre-packaged mixing system comprises a syringe-to-syringe mixing system.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the pre-dosed, pre-packaged mixing system comprises a syringe-in-syringe mixing system.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of recording a mixing and/or expiration date comprises writing the mixing and/or expiration date with a writing instrument on an exterior surface of the mixing system.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the pre-dosed, pre-packaged mixing system further comprises separation means for separating the first component within the first chamber from the second component within the second chamber.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the separation means comprises at least one of a rupturable membrane or a valve.

7. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the step of mixing the first and second components together so as to form an unstable two-part dental composition comprises forcing one of the first or second components through the separation means so as to cause the first and second components to mix together.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the shelf-life of the unstable two-part dental composition is less than about 90 days after mixing.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the shelf-life of the unstable two-part dental composition is less than about 30 days after mixing.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the shelf-life of the unstable two-part dental composition is less than about 2 weeks after mixing.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising applying a transparent or translucent adhesive protective covering over the mixing and/or expiration date so as to protect the date from damage or alteration.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first component comprises a liquid and the second component comprises a powder.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein both the first component and the second component comprise liquids.

14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the less stable mixed dental composition comprises a dental primer, a bleaching composition, or a disinfecting solution.

15. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a shelf-life of the less stable mixed dental composition is greater than a time lapsed since mixing the first and second components together, further comprising dispensing at least a portion of the dental composition from the mixing system for use.

16. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of recording the mixing and/or expiration date is performed immediately subsequent to or immediately prior to mixing together the first and second components so as to form a less stable mixed dental composition.

17. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the mixing and/or expiration date is recorded onto an adhesive label, further comprising adhering the label to a surface of the mixing system.

18. A method for indicating shelf-life of a pre-dosed, pre-packaged two-part dental composition that becomes less stable upon mixing, comprising:

providing a pre-dosed, pre-packaged syringe-to-syringe mixing system including;

a first syringe barrel defining a first chamber, the first chamber containing a pre-dosed, pre-packaged quantity of a first component;

a second syringe barrel defining a second chamber, the second chamber containing a pre-dosed, pre-packaged quantity of a second component;

separation means disposed between the first and second chambers for initially separating the second component from the first component;

mixing the first and second components together so as to form a less stable mixed dental composition; and

recording a mixing and/or expiration date on at least a portion of the mixing system so as to indicate a shelf-life of the less stable mixed dental composition.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, the syringe-to-syringe mixing system further comprising a first plunger slidably disposed within the first syringe barrel and a second plunger slidably disposed within the second syringe barrel, the step of mixing the first and second components together being accomplished by pressing at least one of the plungers so as to force one of the first or second components through the separation means so as to cause the first and second components to mix together.

20. A method for indicating shelf-life of a pre-dosed, pre-packaged two-part dental composition that becomes less stable upon mixing, comprising:

providing a pre-dosed, pre-packaged syringe-in-syringe mixing system including;

a first plunger;

a second hollow plunger defining a first chamber, the first chamber containing a pre-dosed, pre-packaged quantity of a first component, the first plunger being slidably disposed within the second hollow plunger;

a syringe barrel defining a second chamber, the second chamber containing a pre-dosed, pre-packaged quantity of a second component, the second hollow plunger being slidably disposed within the syringe barrel;

separation means disposed between the first and second chambers for initially separating the second component from the first component;

pressing the first plunger into the second hollow plunger so as to force the first component through the separation means so as to cause mixing of the first and second components such that a less stable mixed dental composition is formed; and

recording a mixing and/or expiration date on at least a portion of the mixing system so as to indicate a shelf-life of the less stable mixed dental composition.