Patent Publication Number: US-2010124730-A1

Title: Endodontic ozone apparatus

Description:
This invention relates to the use of ozone in the treatment of dental and oral conditions. 
     In order to treat a tooth that has diseased pulp material therein, it is necessary to remove the diseased pulp material from the pulp cavity, or root canal to prevent bacterial proliferation within the pulp canal of the tooth. 
     Subsequent to removal of diseased pulp material, the root canal is typically filled with an inert material before sealing off with an aseptic material to prevent continued or future infection of the tooth root. 
     It is apparent that during root canal therapy the entire root canal including the root tip, be cleaned and filled to eliminate all diseased material. 
     Typically, this includes opening the tooth to the pulp chamber and then manually cleaning the root canal with appropriate instruments. 
     Access to the pulp chamber is accomplished by drilling a hole through the tooth, which is subsequently widened for the use of endodontic instruments to large and clean the root canal to remove all the diseased pulp tissue. 
     Following removal, the root canal must be disinfected and dried prior to filling. A number of endodontic irrigating instruments are utilized and typically purge the root canal with a hydrogen peroxide solution or a sodium hypochloride solution. 
     Care in this procedure must be taken in order that the irrigating syringe is not inserted too deeply into the root canal or the pressure of the irrigating solutions to prevent flow into the apical dental formen and into the periapical area. 
     A further disadvantage of such irrigation is that a saliva remover must be inserted into or hanging from the mouth to extract the used irrigating solutions. This, in turn, may give discomfort to the patient and interfere with the dentist&#39;s work. 
     The present invention provides for disinfecting root canals through the use of ozone in an aqueous solution. Such treatment is preferred following pulp removal. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Endodontic ozone apparatus in accordance with the present invention for the treatment of root canals generally includes a source of oxygen, an aqueous medium, a means for ozonating the aqueous medium, along with a syringe having a needle insertable into the root canal. 
     In addition, means are provided for charging the syringe with ozonated aqueous medium and means are provided for determining ozone content within a charged syringe. Due to the instability of ozonated water, it is important that the ozone content thereof is known before its use in irrigating root canals. 
     More particularly, the means for determining ozone content includes an ozone detecting ink which is disposed in the syringe in one embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that any means for determining ozone content within the syringe is to be considered as part of by the present invention. Such means would include spectrographic or light transmission means. However, particularly important is the use of ozone detecting ink which enables a self-contained system with no addition exterior equipment. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus further includes a vial for receiving the aqueous medium and the means for ozonating the aqueous medium comprises a charging needle, or a line, for transferring ozone from the generator into the vial. 
     In this embodiment, the means for charging the syringe includes a syringe plunger for withdrawing ozonated aqueous medium from the vial via a syringe needle. 
     In this embodiment, the means for determining ozone content includes ozone detecting ink disposed in the vial and visible from outside of the vial. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus provides for an aqueous medium disposed in the syringe and the means for charging the syringe comprises a charging inlet disposed in the syringe connected to the source of ozone. In this embodiment, the means for determining ozone content includes an ozone detecting ink which is disposed in the syringe and visible from outside the syringe. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood by the following description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a representation of the delivery of an ozonated aqueous medium into the root canal of a tooth via a syringe in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of one embodiment of the present invention in which a vial is utilized. Water, or an aqueous medium, contain in the vial is ozonated through the use of an ozone generator at an interconnecting line, also shown is an ozone detecting ink disposed in the vial; and 
         FIG. 3  is a representation of yet another embodiment of the present invention in which an ozone generator is directly connected to a syringe with ozone detecting ink disposed in the syringe to determine ozone content. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown endodontic zone apparatus  10  in accordance with the present invention for the treatment of root canals as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The apparatus generally includes a source of ozone  14 , which may be any suitable source, for example, as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 7,270,460. This patent is to be incorporated herewith in its entirety for a complete description of an ozone generator  14  and system suitable for use in the present invention. A vial  18  containing an aqueous medium  22 , and an interconnecting line  24  provides a means for ozonating an aqueous medium  22 . Although a line  24  is shown interconnecting the ozone generator  14  and the vial  18  any suitable charging mechanism may be utilized. An ozone detecting ink  28 , or sensor, is provided inside the vial  18  for determining the ozone content of the aqueous solution  22  and the vial  18 . Such inks are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,685 and this patent is incorporated herewith in its entirety to show an example of a means for detecting ozone content in the aqueous solution  22 . 
     Other color metric and system such as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,397,966 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,859,607 may be utilized. These patents are also incorporated herewith in their entirety to show alternate means for determining ozone content in the aqueous solution  22 . Preferably, the ozone content should be between 2,000 to 9,500 ppm or more for effective antimicrobial effectiveness. 
     The apparatus further includes a syringe  32  having a needle  34  insertable into a root canal  36  of a tooth  40  with ozonated aqueous solution being delivered to the root canal  36  by a needle tip  44  via a plunger  46  in a conventional manner. 
     The plunger  46  further provides a means for charging a syringe  32  with ozonated aqueous medium  22  upon insertion of the needle into the vial  18  as indicated by the arrow  50 . 
     Alternative embodiment  56  in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 3  with common reference characters indicating identical or substantially similar structure shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     In this embodiment  56 , the ozone generator  14  provides ozone for ozonating aqueous medium in the syringe  64  through an inlet  66 . The syringe also includes an ozone detecting ink  68  similar to the ink, or sensors  28  described in connection with the embodiment  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     After ozonating the aqueous medium  60  to satisfactory ozone connector as indicated by the ink  68 , the syringe  64  utilize to irrigate the root canal  36  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Although there has been hereinabove described a specific endodontic ozone apparatus in accordance with the present invention for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention may be used to advantage, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. That is, the present invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the recited elements. Further, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations or equivalent arrangements which may occur to those skilled in the art, should be considered to be within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.