Apparatus for Evacuation of Root Canal

Abstract

In an endodontic procedure, after the working of a root canal by instruments to remove material and shape the walls of the canal, irrigant is supplied via a microcannula. A vacuum is applied via a tube which is inserted partway down the root canal. The tube and microcannula pass through a material created by a standard dental filling material of a composite nature which provides a seal at a position near the top of the coronal opening. The irrigant is supplied in a manner sufficient to ensure delivery to a side vent of the microcannula. The vacuum at the end of tube draws the irrigant and debris up from the apex of the root canal into the tube. The side vent may have a plurality of more round holes, a diagonal slit, or a U shaped slit, or any other shape. The vent opening should not extend more than approximately 0.75 mm from the closed spherical tip of the microcannula, it must be burr free and the opening must be smaller than the internal diameter of the microcannula.

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for irrigating a root canal of a tooth having a coronal end with an access cavity and an apex end, comprising: 
 at least one body portion; and    at least two tubes extending from said body portion, one of said tubes comprising a fluid delivery tube for delivering a fluid into the canal, and the other of said tubes comprising a vacuum tube for connecting to a device for evacuation;    wherein at least a portion of the apparatus is adapted to be inserted into the canal access cavity.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein each tube comprises an interior bore, and said bores of said fluid delivery tube and said vacuum tube do not communicate with each other independently of the canal.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said vacuum tube is adapted for positioning over the canal.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of any of  claim 12  wherein said vacuum tube is adapted to be disposed partway inside the canal for performing an evacuation of a coronal portion of the root canal.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of claims  12  wherein said vacuum tube is adapted to be fully extended into the canal for performing an evacuation including the apex portion of the root canal.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said apparatus is adapted for performing an evacuation of a coronal portion of the root canal and followed by performing an evacuation of the apex portion of the root canal  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus  claim 12  wherein said vacuum tube comprises a microcannula.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein both tubes are adapted to be positioned towards the coronal portion of the canal.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said at least two tubes comprises a second vacuum tube surrounding at least a portion of said fluid delivery tube.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein both vacuum tubes are adapted to be connecting to the same device for evacuation.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said fluid delivery tube comprises a polymeric or a metal tube.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said body portion and said vacuum tube comprise a polymeric material or a metal.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein said second vacuum tube comprises a polymeric material.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said microcannula comprises an uncovered end that is substantially closed.  
     
     
         26 . An apparatus for use in irrigating a root canal comprising: 
 a cannula;    a microcannula; and    a handle adapted for coupling interchangeably to each of said microcannula and cannula used during a root canal procedure, said handle having a first opening at one end sized to hold each of said microcannula and said cannula by friction and a second opening at a second end arranged approximately 90° from said first opening and sized to hold a fluid delivery tube.    
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  further comprising a vacuum tube surrounding at least a portion of said fluid delivery tube.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein said microcannula comprises a tube open at one end and closed at a second end, and adapted to be fitted into and extending substantially to the apex of the root canal.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein said microcannula comprises a side vent disposed adjacent the second end, wherein said side vent comprises a plurality of holes, a generally diagonal slit or a U shaped slit.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29  wherein said side vent is approximately 0.75 mm in length and begins approximately 0.22 mm from said second end.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein said cannula or microcannula and said vacuum tube are adapted for connecting to the same device for evacuation.  
     
     
         32 . A master delivery tip for delivering a fluid into a root canal having an access cavity, comprising: 
 a body portion; and    at least two tubes extending from the body portion, one of said tubes comprises a fluid delivery tube and the other of said tubes comprises a vacuum tube having one end adapted for coupling to an apparatus for evacuation;    wherein said fluid delivery tube is adapted for delivering a fluid into the access cavity of the root canal, and the vacuum tube is adapted for suctioning away any fluid above a certain level of the access cavity.    
     
     
         33 . The master delivery tip of  claim 32  wherein said vacuum tube has a second end disposed about and surrounding at least a portion of said fluid delivery tube.  
     
     
         34 . The master delivery tip of  claim 32  wherein each tube comprises an interior bore, and said bores of said fluid delivery tube and said vacuum tube do not communicate with each other independently of the canal.  
     
     
         35 . The master delivery tip of  claim 32  wherein said vacuum tube is adapted for positioning over the access cavity of the coronal end of the root canal.