Dental and Medical Instruments Comprising Titanium

• US 20120118445A1
• Filed: 12/23/2011
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gold Standard Instruments, LLC
• Original Assignee: Gold Standard Instruments, LLC
• Inventors: LUEBKE, Neill Hamilton
• Granted Patent: US 8,562,341 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 148/675
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 5/42 Files for root canals; Handgrips or guiding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B21F 45/008 of medical instruments, e.g. stents, corneal rings medical science A61
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 14/00 Alloys based on titanium
• CPC Class Codes: C22F 1/004 Heat treatment in fluid bed
• CPC Class Codes: C22F 1/183 of titanium or alloys based thereon
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/00 Chemical coating by decomposition of gaseous compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, i.e. chemical vapour deposition [CVD] processes reactive sputtering or vacuum evaporation C23C14/00
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 18/1637 metallic substrate
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 8/24 Nitriding
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 8/30 Carbo-nitriding
• CPC Class Codes: C25F 3/16 Polishing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49567 Dental appliance making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49568 Orthodontic device making

Abstract

Endodontic instruments for use in performing root canal therapy on a tooth are disclosed. In one form, the instruments include an elongate shank having a cutting edge extending from a distal end of the shank along an axial length of the shank. The shank comprises a titanium alloy, and the shank is prepared by heat-treating the shank at a temperature above 25° C. in an atmosphere consisting essentially of a gas unreactive with the shank. In another form, the endodontic instruments have an elongate shank having a cutting edge extending from a distal end of the shank along an axial length of the shank. The shank consists essentially of a titanium alloy selected from alpha-titanium alloys, beta-titanium alloys, and alpha-beta-titanium alloys. The instruments solve the problems encountered when cleaning and enlarging a curved root canal.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing or modifying a dental or medical instrument or device, the method comprising:

(a) providing a dental or medical instrument or device comprising a titanium alloy, and

(b) heat-treating the entire instrument or device at a temperature from 400°

C. up to but not equal to the melting point of the titanium alloy in an atmosphere consisting essentially of a gas unreactive with the instrument or device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the gas is selected from the group consisting of helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

step (a) comprises providing a dental or medical instrument or device comprising a titanium alloy.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the temperature is from 475°

C. to 525°

C.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the instrument or device is heat-treated for 1 to 2 hours.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the titanium alloy is selected from alpha-titanium alloys, beta-titanium alloys, alpha-beta-titanium alloys, and nickel-titanium alloys.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the titanium alloy comprises 54-57 weight percent nickel and 43-46 weight percent titanium.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the titanium alloy comprises 54-57 weight percent nickel and 43-46 weight percent titanium,

the gas is selected from the group consisting of helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon,

the temperature is from 475°

C. to 525°

C., and

the instrument or device is heat-treated for 1 to 2 hours.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the instrument or device consists essentially of a titanium alloy comprising 54-57 weight percent nickel and 43-46 weight percent titanium,

the gas is argon,

the temperature is 500°

C., and

the instrument or device is heat-treated for 1 to 2 hours.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the instrument or device is heat-treated in step (b) at a single temperature.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the entire instrument or device is heat-treated in step (b) at a single temperature.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein:

the single temperature is from 400°

C. to 525°

C.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein:

the single temperature is from 475°

C. to 525°

C.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the instrument or device is an endodontic instrument or device.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the instrument or device is a medical instrument or device.