CA1278445C - Direct delivery system for dental materials - Google Patents

Direct delivery system for dental materials

Info

Publication number
CA1278445C
CA1278445C CA000529300A CA529300A CA1278445C CA 1278445 C CA1278445 C CA 1278445C CA 000529300 A CA000529300 A CA 000529300A CA 529300 A CA529300 A CA 529300A CA 1278445 C CA1278445 C CA 1278445C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
housing
plunger
nozzle
access port
lever
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
CA000529300A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Robert Dennis Holewinski
William James Blatherwick
Leslie Hamilton
Thomas E. Wells, Sr.
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Dentsply Canada Ltd
Original Assignee
Johnson and Johnson Dental Products Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Johnson and Johnson Dental Products Co filed Critical Johnson and Johnson Dental Products Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1278445C publication Critical patent/CA1278445C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61CDENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
    • A61C5/00Filling or capping teeth
    • A61C5/60Devices specially adapted for pressing or mixing capping or filling materials, e.g. amalgam presses
    • A61C5/62Applicators, e.g. syringes or guns
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61CDENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
    • A61C2202/00Packaging for dental appliances
    • A61C2202/01Packaging for light-curable material

Abstract

Abstract An applicator foe accurately dispensing small amounts of fluids to tooth surfaces, including a handle. a nozzle which includes a reservoir for fluid and a piston member, and a lever, spring, plunger member, whereby activation of the lever forces the plunger against the piston which, in turn, forces fluid out of the reservoir through the nozzle.

Description

~78~a~s DIRECT DELIVERY SYSTE~ FOR DENTAL_MATERIALS

This invention relates to an applicator ~or accurately dispensing small amounts of a fluid t~ the surfaces of teeth.

Backqround of the In~ention For some years now, there has been an increasing interest in treating teeth with fluid polymerizable monomers which are activated to form polymers either on the ~urface of teeth or in cavities. Initially, it ~as the practice to apply such polymerizable monomers with a brush or spatula to the tooth surface. Such treatment was awkward in that i~ was difficult to control precisely the amoun~ and exact position of application. There has more recently been considerable work done in applicators with nozzle tips for applying prede~ermined amounts of polymerizable fluid to the tee~h. For instance, refere~ce is made to Dragan, U.S. Paten~ No. 3,581,399, who discloses a system tha~ is particularly designed for the application of filled resin systems useful as restorative composites, and to Perfect, U.S. Patent No. 4,043,042, who discloses an applicator that is designed speci~ically for applying pit and fissuee sealant to the surfaces of teeth to prevent the formation of caries.

This invention is directed to an applicator for accuLately dispensing small a~ounts of fluids, such as pit and fissure sealants, acid etching fluids, fluoride treatment fluids, or filled systems such as dental composites. The applicator of this invention is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, is simple to operate, and applies with precision a predeeermined amount of fluid directly to the desired site on the tooth.

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s Summary of the Invention The applicator provided by this invention com-prises, in combination:

a) an elonga-ted handle member having a first longitudinal axis and a front end;

b) nozzle receiving means located at the front end of said handle member, said nozzle receiving means including a first housing having a second longitudinal axis that is oriented at a slight angle downwardly from said first longitudinal axis, said first housing ha~ing a front end, a rear end, a longitudinally ex-tending cut-out portion that extends to the front end of said first housing, and a plunger access port located at the rear end of said first housing, wherein said plunger access port communicates to a second housing that extends upwardly from said handle member;

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c) plunger means mounted such that it can reciprocate through said access port in a direction approximately coincident with said second longitu-dinal axis from a retracted position to an activated position such that when the plunger is in the activated position it engages said pistGn member contained in said tubular body portion;

d) said plunger means being a-ttached by a flexible connector to a finger operable lever means pivotally mounted in said second housing such that when said lever means is depressed the plunger means is pushed from the retracted to the activated position;
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e) spring means in said second housing operatively connected to said lever means to normally maintain the plunger means in the retracted position, whereby when the lever means is depressed to move the plunger means to the activated position, the plunger means engages the piston means and moves it in a direction approximately coincident with said second longitudinal axis which thereby forces fluid contained in said nozzle means out of the nozzle means through the front discharge portion.

According to a further broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided an applicator for accurately dispensing a small amount of a fluid to tooth surfaces. The applicator comprises an elongated handle member having a longitudinal axis and a front end. Nozzle receiving means is located at the front end of the handle member. The nozzle receiving means includes a first housing. The first
2~ S

- 3a -housing has a front end, rear end, and a longitudi-nally extending cut-out portion that extends to the front end of the first housing. The first housing includes a plunger access port located at the rear end of the first housing and having a peripheral surface. A second housing extends generally transversely from the handle member. The housing includes two spaced-apart side walls. The second housing includes a channel surface connecting the two side walls and merging smoothly with at least a por-tion of the plunger access port. The con~ronting surfaces of the two side walls and the channel surface defines an opening in the housing. Actuator means is pivotally connec-ted to the second housing and pivots in the opening. The actuator means includes an integral lever portion, an integral flexible connector portion connected to the lever portion, and an integral plunger means connected to the flexible portion. The flexible portion biases the plunger means against the channel surface to facilitate easy insertion of the plunger means through the plunger access port in the first housing.

~The Prior Art .~ _ Dragan, in U.S. Patent Mo. 3,5al,399, discloses a composite resin filling syringe which includes a syringe and a nozzle tip that can be prefilled with a predetermined amount of resin to be delivered through the tip of the nozzle.

Perfect, in U.S. Patent No. 4,043,042, discloses an applicator that is specifically designed for the application of tooth sealant resin systems, which applicator employs an ~ lZ~

internal chamber that is activated by a plunger that impinges agains~ a reservoir that is described by a resilient diaphragm. Pressure on the diaphragm forces liquid contained in ~he reservoir out through a nozzle tip.

Morris, in U.S. Paten~ No. 38g,863, discloses a dental tool for delivering dental amalgam. The tool includes a handle having a cup to receive amalgam, a~ operating lever, and a plunger for forcing the amalsam from the cup into the cavity in the tooth.

Other prior art that shows various dental applicatoe tools include the following patents:
Kelly, U.S. Patent No, 742,446, Cocherell; U.S. Design Patent No, 204,267; Ivory, U.S, Patent No. 2,67~,102, Katz;
U.S. Design Patsn~ No. 196,505; Vadas et al., U.S, Paten~ Nos.
4,340,367 and 4,377,380; Dougherty, U,S. Patent No. 4,391,590;
Dougherty et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,330,280; Welsh, U.S. Patent No. 4,384,853; and Rudler, U.S. Patent No. 4,295,828.

A disadvantage of the devices described in most of the ; enumerated patents i8 tha~ the activating mechanis~s are relatively complicated and, hence, expensive. Typically, there is a syringe member which i8 activated through the entire handle member. The present invention has the advantage of being quite simple to manufacture and, therefore, is inexpensive while it is at the same time quite effective in performing the task for which it was designed.

Brief Description of the D~raw~nqs Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the principles of the invention;

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Fig. Z is an exploded perspective view of the feont end of the device shown in Fig. 1 with the nozzle shown oriented for insertion;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the handle with the nozzle shown in phantom;

Fig. 4 is a right side elevational view of the device show~
in Fig. 1 with the handle partially broken away:

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taXen along line 5-5 of Fig. 3, showing specifically the ~ozzle, the nozzle receiving chamber, the housing which encloses the plunger when it is in the retracted position and the spring and lever, wi~h the plunger shown in the retracted position:

Fi~. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 5 with the : plunger shown in the activated position;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the no~zle assembly, partially in sec~ion, showing the filler material, and showing the piston and end cap exploder:

Fig. a i6 a perspective view of the lever, sprinq and plunyer, wi~h the spring shown also in phantom to illustrate how the piece is molded Fig. 9 is a partial perspective view of the lever, speing and plunger shown on the opposite side from that shown in Fig. 8; and Fi~. 10 is a perspective view, similar to Fig. 8, of an alternate embodiment of the lever, spring, plunger mechanism.

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Detailed Description of the Invention Referring ~irst to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown an applicator 10 that embodies the principle~ of the invention.
The applicator includes an elongated handle 12, a nozzle 14, and a lever, ~pring, plunger mechanism 16.

The nozzle 14 includes a tip end 18, a tubular reservoir 20 foe containing fluid to be applied, and a piston 24 (see Figs.
S and 6). It is al80 desirable to include a cap 22 to place over the end o~ the tip 18 to prevent fluid from leaking out.
The nozzle 14 can be disposable, and can be pre-loaded with a predetermined quantity of fluid. The nozzle 14 can be made of an opague material 60 ~hat it will be lig~t tight, and i~ can ; ~herefore be used to contain photoeolymerizable ~luids.

At the fron~ end of the handle 12, there is a housing 26 ~hat is adapted to receive the nozzle 14. The housing 26 i8 inclined at a slight angle downwardly from the longitudinal axis Ll of the handle such that the longitudinal axis L2 f the said housing 26 inclined slightly downwardly fro~ the longitudinal axis of the handle Ll ~see Fig. 2). The housing 26 for receiving the nozzle includes a cut-out portion 28 into which ~he tubular reservoir portion 20 of the nozzle can be inserted, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Preferably, there is a slot 30 constructed to receive a flange 32 on the nozzle ~o hold the noæzle securely in place (see Fig. 2).

The lever, spring, plunger mechanism 16 include6 a lever 34, a spring 36, and a plunger 38. The plunger 38 is connected to the finger-activatable lever 34 by a flexible connector 37.
In operation, if the lever 34 is depressed (as by a finger) rom the normally open position, shown in Fig. 5, to the fully activated position, which is shown in Fig. 6, the plunger 38 JDC-l 9 pushes the piston 24 in the reservoir 20 forward so that fluid ~0 contained in the reservoir 20 is expelled forward and ou~
through the tip 18 of khe nozzle 14. When pressure on the lever 34 is released, the spring 36 forces ~he lever 34 back ~o S the retracted position shown in Fig. S. The spring 36 is enabled to do so by the following means:

The lever, spring, plunger mechanism 16 i~ mounted on ~he applicator 10 in an upstanding housing 42 that is located at the front end of the applieator 10. The upstanding housing 42 includes side walls 44, 46 that have, at their tops, depressions 4~, 50 to receive the pivot projections 52, 54 of ; the lever, spring, plunger mecha~ism 16. Thus, when the lever 34 is depressed, the entire mechanism 16 pivots around the lS pivot projections 52~ 54 and thereby forces the plunger 38 through an access por~ 56 (see Fig. 2) between the upstandiGg housing 42 and the nozzle receiver housing 26 to ~hereby engage the piston 24 that is located in the reservoir 20 of the nozzle 1~. When pressure on the lever 24 is released, the spring 36, which had been compressed against a wall 58 in the upstanding housing 42, then forces the entire mechanism 16 back into the retracted position.

In an alternative embodi~ent o~ the lever, spring, plunger Z5 mechani~m (shown in Fig. 10), the flexible connector 37a can be a smoot~ rod rather than a serrated member, as was shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 8.

The device of the inven~ion is convenient because a dentist can operate the lever 34 with ~he ~inger of the hand that is holding the applicator. Fluids can be dispensed accurately, in small doses, in all directions (i.e. , upwardly as well as downwardly.) The device of the invention can be made of plastic ~;

~ '' ..

materials. Por instance, the handle 12 can be made Of ABS
rubber, the nozzle 14 can be made of high density polyethylene, the lever, spring, plunger mechanism 16 can be made of polyacetal resin, the piston 24, can be made of rubber, and the cap 22 can be made of polyvinyl chloride. An advantage in making the nozzle 14 of high density polyethylene i~ that the tip 18 can be bent and it will maintain the bent shape. This i8 useful in applying fluid ~o hard-to-reach areas.

~ 2 : 25

Claims (6)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:-
1. An applicator for accurately dispensing a small amount of a fluid to tooth surfaces, which comprises, in combination:
(a) an elongated handle member having a longitu-dinal axis and a front end;
(b) nozzle receiving means located at the front end of said handle member, said nozzle receiving means including a first housing, said first housing having a front end, a rear end, a longitudinally extending cut-out portion that extends to the front end of said first housing, and a plunger access port located at the rear end of said first housing and having a peripheral surface, wherein said plunger access port communicates to a second housing that extends upwardly from said handle member, (c) plunger means mounted such that it can reciprocate through said access port from a retracted position to an activated position;
said second housing having a plunger channel having a surface which merges smoothly with at least a portion of said plunger access port peripheral surface to permit said plunger to move smoothly through said access port;
(d) said plunger means being integrally attached by an integral flexible connector to an integral finger operable lever means pivotally mounted in said second housing such that when said lever means is depressed the plunger means is pushed from the retracted to the activated position and smoothly through said plunger access port; and (e) spring means in said second housing integrally connected to said lever means to normally maintain the plunger means in the retracted position.
2. The applicator of claim 1 further including nozzle means arranged and constructed to contain a predetermined amount of fluid, said nozzle means including a front discharge tip and a rear portion comprising a tubular body portion defining a reservoir for said fluid, said tubular body portion including an open end at the rear thereof and a piston member therein.
3. The applicator of claim 2 wherein said nozzle means is inserted in said cut-out portion so that said discharge tip extends beyond the front of said first housing, at least the portion of said tubular portion that includes the said open end being contained within said first housing.
4. An applicator for accurately dispensing a small amount of a fluid to tooth surfaces comprising:
an elongated handle member having a longitu-dinal axis and a front end;
nozzle receiving means located at the front end of said handle member, said nozzle receiving means including a first housing, said first housing having a front end, a rear end and a longitudinally extending cut-out portion that extends to the front end of said first housing;
said first housing including a plunger access port located at the rear end of said first housing and having a peripheral surface;
a second housing extending generally transversely from said handle member, said housing including two spaced apart side walls;

said second housing including a channel surface connecting said two side walls and merging smoothly with at least a portion of said plunger access port;
the confronting surfaces of said two side walls and said channel surface defining an opening in said housing;
actuator means pivotably connected to said second housing and pivoting in said opening;
said actuator means including an integral lever portion, an integral flexible connector portion connected to said lever portion and an integral plunger means connected to said flexible portion, said flexible portion biasing said plunger means against said channel surface to facilitate easy insertion of said plunger means through said plunger access port in said first housing.
5. The actuator of claim 4 further including return spring means integrally connected to said actuator, disposed in said slot and biasing said actuator so that said plunger means is biased away from said plunger access port in said housing.
6. The actuator of claim 4 further including nozzle means arranged and constructed to contain a predetermined amount of fluid, said nozzle means including a front discharge tip and a rear portion comprising a tubular body portion defining a reservoir for said fluid, said tubular body portion including an open end at the rear thereof and a piston member disposed in said open rear end of said nozzle means;

said nozzle means adapted for removable insertion into said first housing so that said discharge tip extends beyond said first housing, at least a portion of said tubular portion that includes said open rear end being contained within said first housing and aligned with said plunger access port.
CA000529300A 1986-02-10 1987-02-09 Direct delivery system for dental materials Expired - Lifetime CA1278445C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/827,686 US4708650A (en) 1986-02-10 1986-02-10 Direct delivery system for dental materials
US827,686 1986-02-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1278445C true CA1278445C (en) 1991-01-02

Family

ID=25249867

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000529300A Expired - Lifetime CA1278445C (en) 1986-02-10 1987-02-09 Direct delivery system for dental materials

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US4708650A (en)
EP (1) EP0237182B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS62231656A (en)
AU (1) AU589739B2 (en)
BR (1) BR8700580A (en)
CA (1) CA1278445C (en)
DE (1) DE3766134D1 (en)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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US5129825A (en) * 1987-12-21 1992-07-14 Discko John Jr Dental syringe and capsule for use therewith
US5165890A (en) * 1991-01-07 1992-11-24 Centrix, Inc. Dosing dental cartridge
US5267859A (en) * 1991-01-07 1993-12-07 Centrix, Inc. Bulk dental cartridge
US5122057A (en) * 1991-01-07 1992-06-16 Centrix, Inc. Dosing dental cartridge
US5387103A (en) * 1993-02-16 1995-02-07 Ultradent Products, Inc. Syringe apparatus for delivering tooth composites and other solid yet pliable materials
DE9419200U1 (en) 1994-11-30 1996-04-11 Muehlbauer Ernst Kg Dental mass application device
US5755362A (en) * 1995-02-27 1998-05-26 Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co. Hand-held applicator with force limiting clutch
WO1997002787A1 (en) * 1995-07-11 1997-01-30 Dentsply International Inc. Fluoride releasing dental pit and fissure sealant dispensing system and method
US5735437A (en) * 1996-01-22 1998-04-07 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Lockable, hand-held dispenser and mixing tray for dispensing small quantities of material
DE29606540U1 (en) 1996-04-10 1997-08-07 Muehlbauer Ernst Dental mass application device
DE19700213A1 (en) * 1997-01-04 1998-07-09 Saremco Ag Dispensing gun for use with dental cartridges
US20040144801A1 (en) * 2000-09-21 2004-07-29 Pierson Paul Richard Mixing tip for dental materials
AU2001296764A1 (en) 2000-10-13 2002-04-22 Dentsply International Inc. Multi-component mixing storage and dispensing device
IL143255A (en) 2001-05-20 2015-09-24 Simbionix Ltd Endoscopic ultrasonography simulation
JP2004529717A (en) * 2001-05-22 2004-09-30 デンツプライ インターナショナル インコーポレーテッド Package for dental materials
CA2417694A1 (en) * 2001-06-04 2002-12-12 Dentsply International Inc. Pipette for dental material
US6638065B2 (en) 2001-12-17 2003-10-28 Ultradent Products, Inc. Quad cutter tool for removing syringe divider
EP1501441A1 (en) 2002-05-08 2005-02-02 Dentsply International, Inc. Capped syringe tip
CA2486605C (en) * 2002-05-23 2011-11-08 Dentsply International, Inc. Anti-caries dental varnish
US20040038174A1 (en) * 2002-08-25 2004-02-26 Dentsply Research & Development Corp. Applicator for liquid dental materials
US7850456B2 (en) 2003-07-15 2010-12-14 Simbionix Ltd. Surgical simulation device, system and method
DE10337789A1 (en) * 2003-08-14 2005-09-15 3M Espe Ag Single dose syringe for a multi-component material
WO2005030080A1 (en) * 2003-09-23 2005-04-07 Dentsply International Inc. Packaged dental composition
US20050109799A1 (en) * 2003-10-28 2005-05-26 Steven Catani Dispensing device for liquid sweetener
ATE503701T1 (en) * 2004-12-03 2011-04-15 Dentsply Int Inc PACKAGING AND DELIVERY SYSTEM
US20070284400A1 (en) * 2006-06-09 2007-12-13 Paul Richard Pierson Package for a dental material
US8500451B2 (en) 2007-01-16 2013-08-06 Simbionix Ltd. Preoperative surgical simulation
US8543338B2 (en) 2007-01-16 2013-09-24 Simbionix Ltd. System and method for performing computerized simulations for image-guided procedures using a patient specific model
WO2023170545A1 (en) 2022-03-07 2023-09-14 Produits Dentaires S.A. Medical or dental device for dispensing a pasty or liquid component

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US2705368A (en) * 1954-04-29 1955-04-05 Paul J Tascher Dental instruments
US3221409A (en) * 1961-12-12 1965-12-07 Charles J Thiel Amalgam dispenser
US3581399A (en) * 1969-08-08 1971-06-01 Centrix Inc Composite resin filling syringe and technique
US4043042A (en) * 1975-10-07 1977-08-23 Johnson & Johnson Applicator for tooth sealant
US4391590A (en) * 1981-04-09 1983-07-05 Dentsply Research & Development Corp. Cartridge for viscous material
US4472141A (en) * 1981-10-26 1984-09-18 Dragan William B All purpose dental syringe

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US4708650A (en) 1987-11-24
DE3766134D1 (en) 1990-12-20
AU589739B2 (en) 1989-10-19
JPS62231656A (en) 1987-10-12
EP0237182B1 (en) 1990-11-14
AU6862387A (en) 1987-08-13
EP0237182A1 (en) 1987-09-16
BR8700580A (en) 1987-12-08

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