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 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A microcannula for use in irrigating a root canal comprising:
 a tube open at one end and closed at a second end, sized so as to be able to fit into a root canal, extending substantially to its apex;   a side vent disposed adjacent the second end,   wherein said side vent is formed by one of a plurality of holes, a generally diagonal slit and a U shaped slit, and said side vent is free of any burr which would scrape dentin from a wall of said root canal.   
     
     
         37 . The microcannula defined by  claim 36  wherein said side vent is approximately 0.75 mm in length and begins approximately 0.22 mm from said second end. 
     
     
         38 . The microcannula defined by  claim 37  wherein said side vent is about 0.40 mm to 0.80 mm in length. 
     
     
         39 . The microcannula defined by  claim 37  wherein said side vent is about 0.50 mm to 0.75 mm in length. 
     
     
         40 . The microcannula defined by  claim 37  wherein said side vent begins about 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm from said second end. 
     
     
         41 . The microcannula defined by  claim 37  wherein said side vent begins about 0.15 mm to 0.25 mm from said second end. 
     
     
         42 . A master delivery tip for delivering and evacuating a fluid from a root canal comprises a molded structure, comprising:
 a body portion; and   at least two tubes extending from the body portion, one of said tubes comprises a fluid delivery tube adapted for delivering a fluid into the canal, and the other of said tubes comprises a vacuum tube having one end disposed about and surrounding at least a portion of said fluid delivery tube and a second end adapted for coupling to an apparatus for evacuation, wherein said fluid delivery tube extends farther from the body than the vacuum tube and does not communication with the vacuum tube.   
     
     
         43 . The master delivery tube of  claim 42  wherein said fluid delivery tube comprises a metal. 
     
     
         44 . The master delivery tube of  claim 42  wherein said body portion and said vacuum tube comprises a polymeric material. 
     
     
         45 . The master delivery tube of  claim 42  wherein said fluid delivery tube comprises a microcannula. 
     
     
         46 . The master delivery tube of  claim 45  wherein said microcannula comprises a substantially closed uncovered end having a side vent disposed adjacent the uncovered end. 
     
     
         47 . The master delivery tube of  claim 45  wherein said microcannula comprises a closed uncovered end having a side vent disposed adjacent the uncovered end.