Patent Publication Number: US-2010129776-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: providing alginate of a first predetermined amount in a squeezable pouch, wherein the squeezable pouch comprises container portion, an opening, and a lid; providing water of a second predetermined amount in a syringe; injecting the water into the squeezable pouch; closing the squeezable pouch with the lid; 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 syringe may comprise a tube portion having a first opening and a second opening and a plunger configured to be fit into the second opening of the tube portion for piston pumping movement. 
     The first opening may be configured to fit air-tightly with the opening of the squeezable pouch so as to inject water into the squeezable pouch. 
     The opening of the squeezable pouch may comprise a plurality of female threads inside the opening, and the first opening of the syringe may comprise a plurality of male threads, around the first opening, fitting with the female threads in the opening of the squeezable pouch. Also, 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 opening of the squeezable pouch may comprise a plurality of male threads around the opening, and the first opening of the syringe may comprise a plurality of female threads, inside the first opening, fitting with the male threads in the opening of the squeezable pouch. Also, the lid of the pouch may comprise a plurality of female threads fitting with the male threads in the opening of the squeezable pouch. 
     The step of providing alginate may comprise a step of injecting alginate into the squeezable pouch as inflating the squeezable pouch with the injected alginate. 
     The step of providing water may comprise a step of injecting water into the squeezable pouch as inflating the squeezable pouch with the injected water. 
     The method may further comprise, prior to the step of squeezing out, a step of opening the lid out of the squeezable pouch. 
     The method may further comprise, prior to the step of closing, a step of deflating the squeezable pouch by letting out air from inside. 
     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 comprises: a squeezable pouch comprising a container portion, an opening, and a lid; and a predetermined amount of alginate powder disposed in the squeezable pouch. The lid seals the squeezable pouch air-tightly, and wherein the squeezable pouch is substantially deflated. 
     The opening of the squeezable pouch may comprise a plurality of male threads around the opening. The lid may be configured to be easily removed. The syringe may comprise a tube portion having a first opening and a second opening and a plunger configured to be fit into the second opening of the tube portion for piston pumping movement, and wherein the first opening is configured to fit air-tightly with the opening of the squeezable pouch so as to inject water into the squeezable pouch. 
     Still another aspect of the invention provides an alginate impression method for dental treatment using the alginate pouch package in the above. 
     The method comprising steps of: providing water of a second predetermined amount in a syringe; injecting the water into the squeezable pouch; closing the squeezable pouch with the lid; kneading the squeezable pouch so as to mix the alginate and the water inside; squeezing out the mixed alginate and water from the opening of the pouch onto a mold so as to make an impression; and discarding the squeezable pouch. 
     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 perspective view of a squeezable pouch according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a syringe according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing an alginate impression method according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 2-5  show an alginate impression method S 1000  according to embodiments of the present invention. 
     An aspect of the invention provides an alginate impression method for dental treatment. 
     The method S 1000  comprises steps of: providing alginate of a first predetermined amount in a squeezable pouch  100 , wherein the squeezable pouch comprises container portion  110 , an opening  120 , and a lid  130  (S 100 ); providing water of a second predetermined amount in a syringe  200  (S 200 ); injecting the water into the squeezable pouch  100  (S 300 ); closing the squeezable pouch  100  with the lid  130  (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  120  of the squeezable pouch  100  onto a mold (not shown) so as to make an impression (S 600 ). 
     The method S 1000  may further comprise, prior to the step S 100  of providing alginate, a step of measuring the first predetermined amount of alginate. 
     The method S 1000  may further comprise, prior to the step S 200  of providing water, a step of measuring the second predetermined amount of water. 
     The syringe  200  may comprise a tube portion  210  having a first opening  212  and a second opening  214  and a plunger  220  configured to be fit into the second opening  214  of the tube portion  210  for piston pumping movement as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The first opening  212  may be configured to fit air-tightly with the opening  120  of the squeezable pouch  100  so as to inject water into the squeezable pouch  100  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The opening  120  of the squeezable pouch  100  may comprise a plurality of female threads inside the opening  120 , and the first opening  212  of the syringe  200  may comprise a plurality of male threads, around the first opening  212 , fitting with the female threads in the opening  120  of the squeezable pouch  100 . Also, the lid  130  of the pouch  100  may comprise a plurality of male threads fitting with the female threads in the opening  120  of the squeezable pouch  100 . The female and male threads in this embodiment are not shown, but can be easily imagine by reversing the female threads and the male threads in  FIGS. 3 and 4  as below. 
     That is, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , alternatively, the opening  120  of the squeezable pouch  100  may comprise a plurality of male threads  122  around the opening  120 , and the first opening  212  of the syringe  200  may comprise a plurality of female threads  216 , inside the first opening  212 , fitting with the male threads  122  in the opening  120  of the squeezable pouch  100 . Also, the lid  130  of the squeezable pouch  100  may comprise a plurality of female threads  132  fitting with the male threads  122  in the opening  120  of the squeezable pouch  100 . 
     The step S 100  of providing alginate may comprise a step of injecting alginate into the squeezable pouch  100  as inflating the squeezable pouch  100  with the injected alginate. That is, initially, the squeezable pouch  100  may be already deflated. Since the syringe  200  is air-tightly fitted with the squeezable pouch  100 , otherwise the squeezable pouch  100  may be too inflated all the way to be injected with water further. 
     The step S 200  of providing water may comprise a step of injecting water into the squeezable pouch  100  as inflating the squeezable pouch  100  with the injected water. 
     The method S 1000  may further comprise, prior to the step S 600  of squeezing out, a step of opening the lid  130  out of the squeezable pouch  100 . 
     The method S 1000  may further comprise, prior to the step S 400  of closing, a step S 350  of deflating the squeezable pouch  100  by letting out air from inside as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The step S 500  of kneading may comprise a step of shaking the squeezable pouch  100 . Since the alginate and water are sealed inside the pouch  100 , a user can apply a plurality of movement to it. There will no spill out or overflow in the process of mixing of the alginate with water. 
     The method S 1000  may further comprise a step of discarding the squeezable pouch after the step of squeezing out S 700 . After using all the mixed alginate inside, the whole squeezable pouch  100  may be simply discarded. One does not have to worry about cleaning the bowl or the spatula as in the prior arts. 
     Another aspect of the invention provides an alginate pouch package for dental impression. 
     The package comprises: a squeezable pouch  100  comprising a container portion  110 , an opening  120 , and a lid  130 ; and a predetermined amount of alginate powder disposed in the squeezable pouch  100 . The lid  130  seals the squeezable pouch  100  air-tightly, and the squeezable pouch  100  may be substantially deflated for storing or transporting. 
     The opening  120  of the squeezable pouch  100  may comprise a plurality of male threads  122  around the opening  120 . The lid  130  may be configured to be easily removed or reinstalled. The syringe  200  may comprise a tube portion  210  having a first opening  212  and a second opening  214  and a plunger  220  configured to be fit into the second opening  214  of the tube portion  210  for piston pumping movement, and the first opening  212  may be configured to fit air-tightly with the opening  120  of the squeezable pouch  100  so as to inject water into the squeezable pouch  100 . 
     Still another aspect of the invention provides an alginate impression method for dental treatment using the alginate pouch package in the above. 
     As in the embodiment in the above, the method comprising steps of: providing water of a second predetermined amount in a syringe; injecting the water into the squeezable pouch; closing the squeezable pouch with the lid; kneading the squeezable pouch so as to mix the alginate and the water inside; squeezing out the mixed alginate and water from the opening of the pouch onto a mold so as to make an impression; and discarding the squeezable pouch. 
     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.