Apparatus and method for heating an endodontic instrument by infrared radiation

Abstract

An apparatus and method for heating an endodontic instrument by infrared radiation includes a housing defining a chamber. An infrared heating element is positioned within the chamber. The housing includes an aperture and an adjacent holder for holding the endodontic instrument, such as an obturator. The endodontic instrument held by the holder extends through the aperture and into the chamber. The infrared heating element directs infrared radiation toward the endodontic instrument, which heats the endodontic instrument.

1 . An apparatus for heating and softening a filling material portion of an endodontic instrument by infrared radiation, comprising;
 a housing, the housing defining a chamber;   an aperture in the housing;   an infrared heating element within the chamber, the infrared heating element configured to generate heat energy; and   a holder positioned adjacent to the housing and configured to hold the endodontic instrument such that at least the filling material portion of the endodontic instrument extends through the aperture and into the chamber for receiving the heat energy generated by the infrared heating element.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a heat sink, the heat sink being adjacent to the housing and configured to dissipate a portion of the heat energy. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the housing further comprises air vents in the housing configured to dissipate a portion of the heat energy. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a reflective surface configured to direct at least a portion of the heat energy from the infrared heating element toward the filling material portion of the endodontic instrument. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a battery power source, the battery power source electrically coupled to the infrared heating element. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the infrared heating element comprises an infrared heating ribbon. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the filling material portion absorbs more heat from infrared radiation than from convection. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the housing further includes:
 a heater well; and 
 a removable cover, 
 wherein the heater well and the removable cover are positioned below the infrared heating element and adjacent to the housing such the removable cover may be removed to gain access to the endodontic instrument collected within the heater well. 
 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for heating and softening a filling material portion of an endodontic instrument by infrared radiation, comprising;
 a housing including:   a top cover; and   a bottom;   a core structure, the core structure being hollow and interposed between the top cover and the bottom of the housing, wherein the housing and core structure define a chamber;   an infrared heating element, the infrared heating element positioned within the chamber;   a reflective surface, the reflective surface positioned within the chamber and extending around at least a portion of the infrared heating element;   an aperture in the top cover; and   a holder positioned adjacent to the top cover and configured to hold the endodontic instrument such that at least the filling material portion of the endodontic instrument extends through the aperture and into the chamber,   wherein the infrared heating element is configured to generate a heat energy and the reflective surface is configured to direct at least a portion of the heat energy at the filling material portion of the endodontic instrument.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the housing includes an air vent configured to dissipate a portion of the heat energy. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a heat sink, the heat sink configured to dissipate a portion of the heat energy. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for heating and softening a filling material portion of an endodontic instrument by infrared radiation, comprising;
 a housing, the housing defining a chamber; wherein the housing includes an air vent configured to permit air exchange between the chamber and an ambient environment;   a heat sink, the heat sink positioned adjacent to the housing;   an aperture in the housing;   a holder positioned adjacent to the housing and configured to hold the endodontic instrument such that at least the filling material portion of the endodontic instrument extends through the aperture and into the chamber; and   an infrared heating element within the chamber, the infrared heating element configured to generate heat energy,   wherein the heat sink is in thermal communication with the chamber and configured to dissipate a portion of the heat energy.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising a reflective surface adjacent to the infrared heating element and configured to direct at least a portion of the heat energy at the filling material portion of the endodontic instrument in the chamber. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for heating and softening a filling material portion of an endodontic instrument by infrared radiation, comprising;
 a housing, the housing defining a chamber;   an instrument axis extending through a central portion of the chamber;   an aperture in the housing; the aperture located at the central portion of the chamber;   a holder positioned adjacent to the housing and configured to hold the endodontic instrument such that at least the filling material portion of the endodontic instrument extends through the aperture and into the chamber along the instrument axis; and   an infrared heating element within the chamber, the infrared heating element configured to produce an infrared heat and a convective heat,   wherein the length from the instrument axis to the infrared heating element is defined such that the filling material portion absorbs more of the infrared heat than the convective heat.   
     
     
         15 . A method of filling a root canal with a heat softenable filling material carried on an endodontic instrument, the method comprising;
 holding the endodontic instrument with at least a filling material portion thereof with a holder, the holder positioned adjacent to a housing, the housing defining a chamber and having an aperture, the filling material portion extending through the aperture and into the chamber;   directing infrared radiation from an infrared heating element positioned within the chamber at the filling material portion within the chamber;   heating and softening the filling material portion with the radiation; and   filling the root canal with the softened filling material portion.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising;
 dissipating heat from the chamber into an ambient environment with a heat sink. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising;
 reflecting the infrared radiation with a reflective surface in the chamber. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising;
 drawing cool air from an ambient environment into the chamber through a first air vent; and 
 expelling heated air from the chamber into the ambient environment through a second air vent. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising;
 sensing a temperature within the chamber; 
 communicating the temperature to a CPU; and 
 using the CPU to adjust the amount of time that the filling material portion is heated based on the sensed temperature. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising;
 using a material selection control element to select a type of the filling material to be heated; 
 communicating the selected material to a CPU; and 
 using the CPU to adjust the amount of time that the filling material portion is heated based on the selected material.