US4247285A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Root canal working
Assignee: Advanced Safety Concepts Inc
•
Filing: 1979-04-23
•
Granted: 1981-01-27
•
Expires: 1999-04-23
Abstract
Abstract A method of removing an endodontic instrument fragment from a root canal, and a retrieving assembly for practicing the method. A wire is formed into a loop having two free ends opposite the loop. The free ends of the wire are passed through an elongated tube so that the loop extends from one side of the tube and the free ends extend from the opposite side of the tube. The loop is bent so that it makes a positive angle with respect to the tube, and the loop and a portion of the tube are inserted into the root canal alongside the fragment. The loop is slid passed the fragment so that the closed portion of the loop is on the opposite side of the fragment than the tube, and then the free ends of the wire are gripped with a hemostat and the hemostat is rotated about an axis perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the tube, to cause the loop and tube to tightly hold the fragment. Then the tube and loop, with tightly held fragment, are withdrawn from the root canal.
Inventors
- 👤 Jose L. Roig-Greene
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:01
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C5/00; A61C5/40; A61C5/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A retrieving assembly comprising: a wire; a mosquito hemostat having elongated jaws for clamping the wire; and an elongated tube having a cross-sectional area greater than the cross-sectional area of said wire, and having a hub formed at one end thereof, and said hub having a width dimension extending perpendicular to the dimension of elongation of said tube, and said width being less than the length of said jaws but great enough to support said jaws on said hub for rotation of said jaws with respect to said hub about an axis perpendicular to the dimension of elongation of said tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
A retrieving assembly comprising: a wire; a mosquito hemostat having elongated jaws for clamping the wire; and an elongated tube having a cross-sectional area greater than the cross-sectional area of said wire, and having a hub formed at one end thereof, and said hub having a width dimension extending perpendicular to the dimension of elongation of said tube, and said width being less than the length of said jaws but great enough to support said jaws on said hub for rotation of said jaws with respect to said hub about an axis perpendicular to the dimension of elongation of said tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said wire extends through said tube so that a loop is formed in said wire at one end of said tube, and two wire free ends extend from the other end of said tube, said tube cross-sectional area being at least twice as great as that of said wire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said elongated tube is flexible.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of removing an endodontic instrument fragment or the like from a root canal, utilizing a wire, and an elongated tube, wherein clearance is provided between the fragment and the canal wall along the side of the fragment, said method comprising the steps of: (a) forming the wire into a loop; (b) passing a free end of the wire through the tube so that the loop extends from one side of the tube and the free end extends from the opposite side of the tube; (c) inserting the loop and a portion of the tube into the root canal alongside the fragment; (d) sliding the loop past the fragment so that the closed portion of the loop is on the opposite side of the fragment than the tube; (e) exerting a force on the wire free end sufficient to cause the loop and the tube to tightly hold the fragment; and (f) withdrawing the tube and loop, with held fragment, from the root canal.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of removing an endodontic instrument fragment or the like from a root canal, utilizing a wire, and an elongated tube, wherein clearance is provided between the fragment and the canal wall along the side of the fragment, said method comprising the steps of: (a) forming the wire into a loop; (b) passing a free end of the wire through the tube so that the loop extends from one side of the tube and the free end extends from the opposite side of the tube; (c) inserting the loop and a portion of the tube into the root canal alongside the fragment; (d) sliding the loop past the fragment so that the closed portion of the loop is on the opposite side of the fragment than the tube; (e) exerting a force on the wire free end sufficient to cause the loop and the tube to tightly hold the fragment; and (f) withdrawing the tube and loop, with held fragment, from the root canal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
A method as recited in claim 4 wherein step (a) is accomplished by forming the wire into a loop at a center portion thereof and having two free ends opposite the loop; and wherein step (b) is accomplished by passing both free ends of the wire through the tube so that both free ends extend from the opposite end of the tube as the loop; and wherein step (e) is accomplished by exerting a force on both free ends of the wire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as recited in claim 4 comprising the further step of, in conjunction with steps (c) and (d), taking radiographs of the root canal area to insure that the loop is properly in place with respect to the fragment before practicing step (e).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as recited in claim 5 wherein the tube is flexible, and further utilizing a hemostat or like clamping structure; and wherein step (e) is accomplished by gripping the wire free ends with the hemostat, and rotating the hemostat about an axis generally perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as recited in claim 7 wherein the tube has a hub formed adjacent the end thereof through which the wire free ends pass, and wherein step (e) is further accomplished by rotating the hemostat against the tube hub.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as recited in claim 5 comprising the further step of (h) between steps (b) and (c), bending the loop extending past the tube end with which it is associated to form a positive angle between the loop and the tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
86 words
A method as recited in claim 9 wherein step (h) is accomplished by bending the loop to have an angle of about 45° with respect to the tube, said bending being accomplished by placing an object having a larger cross-sectional area than that of the fragment through the loop; exerting force on the wire free ends sufficient to cause tightening of the loop around the object; placing the object at about a 45° angle with respect to the tube; and removing the object from the loop.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method as recited in claim 4 comprising the further step of forming the elongated tube from a disposable dental injector needle having a hub, a hollow needle extending through the hub on both sides thereof with a bevel cut on the most distal end of the needle; said forming being accomplished by cutting off the needle just before the bevel cut, and cutting off the needle so that it is substantially flush with the hub on the end thereof opposite the bevel cut.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 4 comprising the further step of (g) before step (c), forming the clearance alongside the fragment, clearance formation being accomplished without the removal of essential root structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 12 wherein step (g) is accomplished by reaming and/or filing, of the root canal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3417752A
Cited
US3955578A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-01-27 | 1984-07-28 | 1985-01-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-01-27 | 1988-07-28 | 1989-01-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-01-27 | 1992-07-28 | 1993-01-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |