Patent Publication Number: US-2010126888-A1

Title: Alginate impression method for dental treatment

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an alginate impression method. More particularly, this invention relates to an alginate impression method, which enables to conserve time, labor, material, and maintenance. 
     Preparing a mold is usually messy job in the community. A rubber bowl and a mixing spatula are needed to mix the alginate, the molding material in a dental clinic, with water as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     One cannot avoid wasting material and cleaning the bowl and spatula after molding in the traditional method to mix alginate with water using the bowl and the spatula. Usually, it takes a lot of water clean the bowl and the spatula after the work. 
     With the traditional method to mix the alginate with water in the bowl using spatula, it takes more time and effort. 
     Accordingly, a need for an alginate impression method has been present for a long time in the community considering its extensive usage. This invention is directed to solve these problems and satisfy the long-felt need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     An objective of the invention is to provide an alginate impression method for dental treatment. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an alginate impression method, which enables clean mixing process. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide an alginate impression method, which enables conserving molding material. 
     An aspect of the invention provides an alginate impression method for dental treatment. 
     The method comprises steps of: separating a first portion and a second portion in a squeezable pouch with a separator; providing alginate of a first predetermined amount in the first portion of the squeezable pouch; providing water of a second predetermined amount in the second portion of the squeezable pouch; breaking the separator by squeezing the squeezable pouch; kneading the squeezable pouch so as to mix the alginate and the water inside; and squeezing out the mixed alginate and water from the opening of the pouch onto a mold so as to make an impression. 
     The method may further comprise, prior to the step of providing alginate, a step of measuring the first predetermined amount of alginate. 
     The method may further comprise, prior to the step of providing water, a step of measuring the second predetermined amount of water. 
     The squeezable pouch may further comprise a container portion, an opening, and a lid. The lid may be configured to fit air-tightly with the opening of the squeezable pouch. 
     The opening of the squeezable pouch may comprise a plurality of male threads inside the opening, and the lid of the pouch may comprise a plurality of female threads fitting with the male threads in the opening of the squeezable pouch. 
     Alternatively, the opening of the squeezable pouch may comprise a plurality of female threads around the opening, and the lid of the pouch may comprise a plurality of male threads fitting with the female threads in the opening of the squeezable pouch. 
     The method may further comprise, prior to the step of squeezing out, a step of opening the lid out of the squeezable pouch. 
     The step of kneading may comprise a step of shaking the squeezable pouch. 
     The method may further comprise a step of discarding the squeezable pouch after the step of squeezing out. 
     Another aspect of the invention provides an alginate pouch package for dental impression. 
     The package comprise: a squeezable pouch; a first predetermined amount of alginate powder; and a second predetermined amount of water. 
     The squeezable pouch comprises a container portion, a first portion provided in the container portion, a second portion provided in the container portion, a separator provided between the first and second portions for separating the first portion from the second portion, and a lid. 
     The first predetermined amount of alginate powder is disposed in the first portion of the squeezable pouch. 
     The second predetermined amount of water is disposed in the second portion of the squeezable pouch. 
     The lid seals the squeezable pouch air-tightly. 
     The separator may be configured to rupture under a predetermined straining force. 
     The straining force may be provided by kneading a portion of the squeezable pouch. 
     The opening of the squeezable pouch may comprise a plurality of male threads around the opening. 
     The lid may comprise a plurality of female threads fitting with the plurality of male threads of the opening of the squeezable pouch. 
     The first predetermined amount of alginate and the second predetermined amount of water may be configured to obtain an alginate-water mixture having a desired viscosity. 
     A portion of the squeezable pouch may be transparent so as to peek into what happens inside. 
     The advantages of the present invention are: (1) the alginate impression method makes alginate impression easier and cleaner; and (2) the material for the alginate impression can save a lot using the alginate impression method. 
     Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing mixing alginate with water in a bowl with a spatula according to a prior art; 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing an alginate impression method according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a squeezable pouch having alginate and water for an alginate impression method according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a squeezable pouch according to another embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a squeezable pouch through a transparent window showing breaking a separator according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing an alginate impression method S 1000  according to an embodiment of the invention;  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a squeezable pouch  100  having alginate and water for the alginate impression method S 1000  according to an embodiment of the invention;  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a squeezable pouch  100  according to another embodiment of the invention; and  FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a squeezable pouch  100  through a transparent window showing breaking a separator according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     An aspect of the invention provides the alginate impression method S 1000  for dental treatment as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The method S 1000  comprises steps of: separating a first portion  12  and a second portion  14  in a squeezable pouch  100  with a separator  40  (S 100 ); providing alginate of a first predetermined amount in the first portion  12  of the squeezable pouch  100  (S 200 ); providing water of a second predetermined amount in the second portion  14  of the squeezable pouch  100 ′ (S 300 ); breaking the separator  40  by squeezing the squeezable pouch  100  (S 400 ); kneading the squeezable pouch  100  so as to mix the alginate and the water inside (S 500 ); and squeezing out the mixed alginate and water from the opening  20  of the pouch  100  onto a mold so as to make an impression (S 600 ). 
     The method S 1000  may further comprise, prior to the step S 200  of providing alginate, a step of measuring the first predetermined amount of alginate. 
     The method may further comprise, prior to the step S 300  of providing water, a step of measuring the second predetermined amount of water. 
     The squeezable pouch  100  may further comprise a container portion  10 , an opening  20 , and a lid  30 . The lid  30  may be configured to fit air-tightly with the opening  20  of the squeezable pouch  100 . 
     The opening  20  of the squeezable pouch  100  may comprise a plurality of male threads  22  inside the opening  20 , and the lid  30  of the pouch  100  may comprise a plurality of female threads  32  fitting with the male threads  22  in the opening  20  of the squeezable pouch  100 . 
     Alternatively, the opening  20  of the squeezable pouch  100  may comprise a plurality of female threads around the opening  20 , and the lid  30  of the pouch  100  may comprise a plurality of male threads fitting with the female threads in the opening  20  of the squeezable pouch  100 . 
     The method S 1000  may further comprise, prior to the step S 600  of squeezing out, a step of opening the lid out of the squeezable pouch. 
     The step S 500  of kneading may comprise a step of shaking the squeezable pouch. 
     The method S 000  may further comprise a step of discarding the squeezable pouch  100  after the step S 600  of squeezing out. 
     Another aspect of the invention provides an alginate pouch package  200  for dental impression as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The package  200  comprise: a squeezable pouch  100 ; a first predetermined amount of alginate powder  120 ; and a second predetermined amount of water  140 . 
     The squeezable pouch  100  comprises a container portion  10 , a first portion  12  provided in the container portion  10 , a second portion  14  provided in the container portion  10 , a separator  40  provided between the first and second portions  12 ,  14  for separating the first portion  12  from the second portion  14 , and a lid  30 . 
     The first predetermined amount of alginate powder  120  is disposed in the first portion  12  of the squeezable pouch  100 . 
     The second predetermined amount of water  140  is disposed in the second portion  14  of the squeezable pouch  100 . 
     The lid  30  seals the squeezable pouch  100  air-tightly. 
     The separator  40  may be configured to rupture under a predetermined straining force denoted by two arrows in  FIG. 5 . 
     The straining force may be provided by kneading a portion of the squeezable pouch  100  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The opening  20  of the squeezable pouch  100  may comprise a plurality of male threads  22  around the opening  20 . 
     The lid  30  may comprise a plurality of female threads  32  fitting with the plurality of male threads  22  of the opening  20  of the squeezable pouch  100 . 
     The first predetermined amount of alginate  120  and the second predetermined amount of water  140  may be configured to obtain an alginate-water mixture having a desired viscosity. 
     A portion  50  of the squeezable pouch  100  may be transparent so as to peek into what happens inside as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The transparent portion  50  is a sort of window to peek into the pouch to check whether mixing is done or not. 
     In certain embodiments of the invention, the squeezable pouch  100  may be substantially parallelepiped and rather flat along a direction, in which the separator  40  may be broken more easily. 
     In certain embodiments of the invention, the alginate  120  and the water  140  may change their position in  FIG. 3 . That is, the alginate  120  may be disposed in the second portion  14  of the pouch  100 , and the water  140  in the first portion  12  of the pouch  100 . 
     Still in certain embodiments of the invention, a portion of the separator  40  may be weaker than the remaining portions, such that squeezing breaks the weak portion rather than the other stronger portion. 
     While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.