Tip for dispensing dental adhesive or resin and method for using the same

Abstract

An apparatus is comprised of an applicator for selectively applying a hydrostatic force on a work material contained within the applicator, a tip coupled to the applicator for conducting the work material to a distal end of the tip, and a one-way, pressure-controlled valve defined into the distal end of the tip to selectively open the valve upon application of pressure on the work material supplied to the tip from the applicator and to selectively close the valve and prevent withdrawal or pull back of the work material back into the tip when the pressure on the work material supplied to the tip from the applicator falls below a predetermined value.

1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 an applicator for selectively applying a hydrostatic force on a work material contained within the applicator;    a tip coupled to the applicator for conducting the work material to a distal end of the tip; and    a one-way, pressure-controlled valve defined into the distal end of the tip to selectively open the valve upon application of pressure on the work material supplied to the tip from the applicator and to selectively close the valve and prevent withdrawal of the work material back into the tip when the pressure on the work material supplied to the tip from the applicator falls below a predetermined value.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the work material comprises a dental material.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  where the dental work material comprises a dental resin.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  where the dental material comprises a dental adhesive.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the tip is composed of material with a predetermined degree of flexibility and resiliency, and where the one-way, pressure-controlled valve comprises a rounded distal end of the tip with a pattern of slits defined through the rounded distal tip.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  where the predetermined degree of flexibility and resiliency is selected so that when the valve is selectively closed no appreciable amount of work material which has been disposed from the distal end of the tip is pulled back into the distal end of the tip.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  where the valve tends to pinch off the work material being expressed through it.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the tip is comprised of a nonstick material or coated with a nonstick material.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 5  where the slits form an X-shaped pattern through the distal end of the tip.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  where the X-shaped pattern is formed by two straight slits which are orthogonally oriented with respect to each other.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the tip is comprised of a tip body and a valve body in which the pattern of slits are defined, the valve body being angle with respect to the tip body, the tip body coupling to the applicator.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a kit comprised of a plurality of tips, each with a different geometric configuration and/or corresponding different one-way, pressure-controlled valve adapted to operate with different work materials.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the applicator comprises a plunger within a syringe and where the plunger has indents defined thereon to measure the amount of work material expressed from the valve.  
   
   
       14 . A method comprising: 
 selectively applying a hydrostatic force on a work material contained within an applicator;    forcing the work material through a tip coupled to the applicator to a distal end of the tip;    selectively opening a one-way, pressure-controlled valve defined into the distal end of the tip upon application of pressure on the work material supplied to the tip from the applicator; and    selectively closing the valve in a manner to prevent withdrawal of the work material back into the tip when the pressure on the work material supplied to the tip from the applicator falls below a predetermined value.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  where selectively applying a hydrostatic force, forcing the work material through a tip, selectively opening a one-way, pressure-controlled valve and selectively closing the valve are performed on a dental material.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  where selectively applying a hydrostatic force, forcing the work material through a tip, selectively opening a one-way, pressure-controlled valve and selectively closing the valve are performed on a dental resin.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  where selectively applying a hydrostatic force, forcing the work material through a tip, selectively opening a one-way, pressure-controlled valve and selectively closing the valve are performed on a dental adhesive.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising selecting the valve from a material with a predetermined degree of flexibility and resiliency, and defining the one-way, pressure-controlled valve by forming a rounded distal end of the tip with a pattern of slits defined through the rounded distal tip.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14  where selectively closing the valve stops the flow of work material through the valve so that no appreciable amount of work material which has been disposed from the distal end of the tip is pulled back into the distal end of the tip.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  where selectively closing the valve comprises pinching off the work material being expressed through it.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  where pinching off the work material comprise pinching off the work material with slits forming an X-shaped pattern through the distal end of the tip.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  where pinching off the work material with slits comprises pinching off the work material with two straight slits which are orthogonally oriented with respect to each other.