Medical treatment apparatus and needle manufacturing method

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing material during a dental or endodontic procedure includes a housing having a motor with an output. A needle heating member including a chamber may receive a prefilled needle of dispensing material. A heater at least substantially surrounds the chamber for heating the material in the needle. A plunger is used to expel the material from the needle during activation of the motor. A reusable protective sheath is provided for disposition on the outside of the housing. A method of manufacturing a needle for use and dispensing a material during a dental or endodontic procedure includes drawing a blank of metal having a closed distal end, bending the blank at a desired angle, and removing a portion of the drawn metal from the distal end to open the distal end thereby forming the dispensing needle.

1 . A method of manufacturing a needle for use in dispensing a material during a dental or endodontic procedure, comprising: 
 drawing a blank of metal into a tubular element having an open proximal end and a closed distal end extending along a first axis,    bending the blank such that a proximal portion of the blank extends along the first axis and a distal portion of the blank extends along a different, second axis oriented at an acute angle relative to said first axis, and    removing a portion of the drawn metal from the distal end to open the distal end thereby forming the needle capable of dispensing the material through the open distal end.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second axes extend at an angle of between about 25 degrees and about 65 degrees relative to each other.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein removing metal from the distal end further comprises shearing the distal end with a cutting instrument.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 placing a movable piston element in the proximal portion for use in expelling the material.    
   
   
       5 . A reusable protective sheath capable of being attached to and removed from a hand-operated medical instrument, the sheath comprising: 
 a rigid body portion having a generally tubular, elongate shape with proximal and distal ends and having at least one connector portion for releasably connecting said body portion to the hand-operated medical instrument, and    an outer boot portion coupled to at least the distal end of said body portion and extending toward said proximal end, said outer boot portion surrounding said rigid body portion and formed from a material more resilient than said body portion.    
   
   
       6 . The reusable protective sheath of  claim 5 , wherein said boot is formed from silicone rubber.  
   
   
       7 . The reusable protective sheath of  claim 5 , wherein said boot further includes a push button area capable of being depressed, and said body portion includes an opening through which said push button area may be depressed.