METHOD OF LABELLING TOOLS AND TOOLS THUS LABELLED

Abstract: A method of labelling tools, especially root canal files with a file member and a handle member, for facilitating identification of size and differentiating different sizes from each other, whereby the handles are labelled with two colours when the size differs from the sizes taken up in the ISO or ADA Standard and thereby stipulated colour, so that the handle has the stipulated colour for the closest underlying size as well as the stipulated colour for the closest above lying size, as well as root canal file labelled with the method and a kit comprising root canal files assorted according to size.

Description: Method of labelling tools and tools thus labelled The present invention relates to a method of labelling tools, especially root canal files, in order to facilitate identification of size and distinction of different sizes from each other. Root canal files have been manufactured for a long time in series of different sizes in intervals of 0.05 mm, and since it is impossible to decide the exact size or even decide which of two files having the largest diameter by sight or feeling, some sort of labelling is necessary. Because of the small size, a labelling using figures will be very difficult to read and those attempts that have been made have not been very successful. Today the different root canal file sizes are labelled by using a system with different colours of the handles. For example, a white handle means root canal file number 15 (0.15 mm diameter), yellow handle number 20 (0.20 mm), red handle number 25 (0.25 mm) etc. This is laid down in the ISO Stand- ard, in USA in the corresponding ADA Standard. The need has now called for providing files having intermediate sizes, i.e. 0.125 mm, 0.175 mm etc. Root canal files having these sizes are produced already today, but there is no labelling system. Labelling using figures has been tried once more with bad results. One object of the invention is to provide a method of labelling tools, esp. root canal files, which simply and clearly makes it possible to differentiate the root canal files from each other also when they exist in sizes lying between the sizes defined by colours according to the ISO Standard. This object is fulfilled with the labelling method according to the invention, which is characterized in that the handles are labelled with two colours when the size differs from the sizes, and thereby stipulated colours, taken up in the ISO or ADA (USA) Standard, whereby the handle partly has the stipulated colour corresponding to the colour of the size lying closest underneath, and partly the stipu¬ lated colour corresponding to the colour of the size lying closest above the size of the root canal file. The invention also relates to a root canal file labelled with the labelling system according to the invention, com¬ prising a file member with the actual size and a handle member, the file member being mounted in one end of the handle member, characterized in that the handle member at the end opposite to the file member has a shoulder, and by a hat for mounting on said shoulder, e.g. by snap action, wherein the handle member and the hat have different colours chosen depending on actual size so that the handle part has a colour corresponding to the colour of the size lying closest under¬ neath according to the ISO Standard (or ADA Standard in the US) . Further, the invention relates to a kit comprising files sorted by size, e.g. manufactured in the intermediate sizes 0.125 —0.375 mm, labelled with handle member colours accord¬ ing to ISO Standard (ADA Standard for the US) with purple for 0.10 mm, white for 0.15 mm, yellow for 0.20 mm, red for 0.25 mm blue for 0.30 mm, and green for 0.35 mm, with hats in the colours white, yellow, red, blue, green and black, respect¬ ively for marking the intermediate sizes 0.125, 0.175, 0.225, 0.275, 0.325 and 0.375 mm, respectively. The invention will now be described more in detail with reference to the enclosed drawing, in which the Fig. shows a root canal file designed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The root canal file 1 shown in the Figure has a file member 2 and a handle member 3. The handle member 3 consists ■ of a substantially cylindrical handle body 4, in one end of which the file member is mounted, and a hat 5, which is arranged on a shoulder 6 with snap fitting (not shown) at the opposite end of the handle body 4. Hereby the handle body 4 has one colour COLOUR 1, and the hat 5 another colour COLOUR 2. These colours are chosen according to the Standards dis¬ cussed in the first part of the specification (ISO and ADA, resp.), so that for a size between two sizes determined according to the standard, the handle has a colour corre- sponding to the size lying closest underneath and the hat has a colour corresponding to the size lying closest above.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A method of labelling tools, esp. root canal files with a file member and a handle member, in order to facili¬ tate identification of a size and differentiating different sizes from each other, characterized by labelling the handles with two colours when the size differs from the sizes defined in ISO or ADA (in the US) and the colour determined thereby, whereby the handle has the stipulated colour for the size lying closest underneath as well as the stipulated colour for the size lying closest above. 2. A root canal file labelled with the method according to claim 1, comprising a file member with the actual size and a handle member, whereby the file member is mounted in one end of the handle member, characterized in that the handle member (3) at the end opposite to the file member (2) has a shoulder (6) , and by a hat (4) for mounting on said shoulder, e.g. by a snap fit, whereby the handle member and the hat have different colours (COLOUR 1 and COLOUR 2, resp.) chosen depending on actual size so that the handle member has a colour corresponding to the closest underlying size according to the ISO Standard (or the ADA Standard for the US) and the hat has a colour corresponding to the closest above lying colour according to said Standards. 3. Kit comprising files assorted according to size according to claim 2, e.g. produced in the intermediate sizes 0.125 - 0.375 mm, labelled with handle colours according to the ISO Standard (ADA Standard for the US) with purple for 0.10 mm, white for 0.15 mm, yellow for 0.20 mm, red for 0.25 mm, blue for 0.30 mm and green for 0.35 mm etc. with hats in the colours white, yellow, red, blue, green and black, resp. etc. for marking the intermediate sizes 0.125, 0.175, 0.225, 0.275, 0.325 and 0.375 mm, respectively, etc.

Inventors: TOFFT KLAS, TOFFT, KLAS
Applicants: SJOEDINGS DENTALPRODUKTER AB, TOFFT KLAS, TOFFT, KLAS
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A61C5
IPC codes: A61C5