Impactor and paste feeder

Abstract

A paste feeder for moving paste from a paste cartridge to a cavity in a patient's mouth is described. The paste feeder has a paste cartridge for holding a paste and a paste channel defining a cavity for holding the paste cartridge. The paste feeder also has a paste feeder tube, operatively connected between the paste channel and a dispensing tip. A ratcheting device of the paste feeder operatively connects to a plunger. The plunger moves the paste from the paste cartridge through the paste feeder tube to the dispensing tip in controlled incremental amounts.

1 . A pneumatic paste feeder for moving paste, comprising: 
 a paste source for holding paste;    a paste feeder tube operatively connected between the paste source and a dispensing tip; and    a pneumatic supply source for moving the paste from the paste source to the dispensing tip.    
     
     
         2 . The pneumatic paste feeder for moving paste according to  claim 1 , wherein said paste source includes a disposable paste cartridge.  
     
     
         3 . The pneumatic paste feeder for moving paste according to  claim 1 , wherein the paste comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silver, silver alloys, gold, and gold alloy powder in paste form to which is added 2% HBF 4 .  
     
     
         4 . The pneumatic paste feeder for moving paste according to  claim 1 , further including a vacuum system for removing liquids, semi-liquids, and solids from a cavity of a patient's tooth.  
     
     
         5 . The pneumatic paste feeder for moving paste according to  claim 1 , further including a pneumatic control valve for controlling the flow of paste.  
     
     
         6 . A mechanical paste feeder for moving paste prior to impaction, comprising: 
 a paste cartridge for holding a paste;    a paste channel defining a cavity for holding the paste cartridge;    a paste feeder tube, operatively connected between the paste channel and a dispensing tip; and    a ratcheting device operatively connected to a plunger, for moving the paste from the paste cartridge through the paste feeder tube to the dispensing tip in controlled incremental amounts.    
     
     
         7 . The mechanical paste feeder according to  claim 6 , wherein the paste comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silver, silver alloys, gold, and gold alloy powder in paste form to which is added 2% HBF 4 .  
     
     
         8 . The mechanical paste feeder according to  claim 6 , further including a vacuum system for removing liquids, semi-liquids, and solids from a cavity of a patient's tooth.  
     
     
         9 . The mechanical paste feeder according to  claim 6 , wherein said paste cartridge is a disposable paste cartridge.  
     
     
         10 . A mechanical paste feeder for moving paste, comprising: 
 a paste cartridge for holding a paste;    a paste channel defining a cavity for holding the paste cartridge;    a paste feeder tube, operatively connected between the paste channel and a dispensing tip; and    a displacement apparatus, coupled to the paste channel and the paste feeder tube, for moving the paste from the paste cartridge to the dispensing tip via the paste feeder tube in controlled, preselected amounts.    
     
     
         11 . The mechanical paste feeder according to  claim 10 , wherein the displacement apparatus includes a piston for displacing a controlled amount of paste to a cavity of a patient's tooth.  
     
     
         12 . The mechanical paste feeder according to  claim 10 , wherein the displacement apparatus includes a plunger for displacing a controlled amount of paste to a cavity of a patient's tooth.  
     
     
         13 . The mechanical paste feeder according to  claim 10 , wherein the paste comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silver, silver alloys, gold, and gold alloy powder in paste form to which is added 2% HBF 4 .  
     
     
         14 . The mechanical paste feeder according to  claim 10 , further including a vacuum system for removing liquids, semi-liquids, and solids from a patient's mouth.  
     
     
         15 . The mechanical paste feeder according to  claim 10 , wherein the displacement apparatus is displaced by a constant amount and includes a piston displacing a constant amount of paste to a cavity of a patient's tooth.  
     
     
         16 . The mechanical paste feeder according to  claim 10 , wherein the displacement apparatus is displaced by a decreasing amount and includes a piston displacing a predetermined amount of paste to a cavity of a patient's tooth.