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 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method for evacuating a root canal of a tooth, said tooth having a coronal end with an open access cavity and an apex end, the method comprising:
 delivering a fluid into said root canal at said coronal end of said tooth;   inserting a cannula into said root canal such that a tip of said cannula is located in an apical third of said root canal; and   evacuating said fluid from said root canal through said cannula to cause fluid flow in a direction from said coronal end toward said apex end.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein inserting said cannula positions said tip of said cannula in an apical portion of the root canal. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein inserting said cannula positions said tip of said cannula within 5 mm of the apex end. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein, prior to inserting the cannula into said root canal, the method further comprises:
 inserting a second cannula larger in diameter than said cannula into said root canal nearer said coronal end of said tooth than said cannula; and 
 evacuating said fluid from said tooth through said second cannula. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 evacuating said fluid from said coronal end of said tooth during evacuating said fluid from said root canal through said cannula. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 evacuating said fluid from said coronal end of said tooth during evacuating said fluid from said root canal through said cannula. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein inserting said cannula includes inserting said tip of said cannula through an apical foramen of said root canal and then withdrawing said tip of said cannula to a position in said root canal at which evacuating said fluid from said root canal through said cannula starts. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8  wherein evacuating said fluid through said cannula includes evacuating said fluid through one or more openings that are positioned around the circumference of said cannula. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said one or more openings are each smaller than the internal diameter of said cannula. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 providing a source of vacuum at said open access cavity for evacuating said fluid from said coronal end of said tooth. 
 
     
     
         18 . A method for evacuating a root canal of a tooth, said tooth having a coronal end with an open access cavity and an apex end, the method comprising:
 supplying a fluid to said root canal;   inserting a cannula into said root canal; and   evacuating said fluid from said root canal to cause fluid flow near an apical third of said root canal.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein evacuating said fluid causes fluid flow near an apical portion of said root canal. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein inserting said cannula includes positioning a tip of said cannula near an apical portion of said root canal. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein evacuating said fluid evacuates fluid through said cannula. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein supplying said fluid includes delivering said fluid at said coronal end of said tooth. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18  wherein, prior to inserting the cannula into said root canal, the method further comprises:
 inserting a second cannula larger in diameter than said cannula into said root canal nearer said coronal end of said tooth than said cannula; and 
 evacuating said fluid from said tooth through said second cannula.