Applicator syringe for a dental compound

Claim 1

A disposable applicator syringe for a dental compound, comprising: a tubular member made from an elastically yielding polymeric material having a rear entrance end portion, a smoothly curved front discharge end portion, an intermediate portion between the end portions, and a continuous, substantially cylindrical central channel extending from the entrance end portion to the discharge end portion through the intermediate portion, the channel at least in the intermediate portion having a smaller diameter than the channel in the entrance end portion and a clear cross sectional area no greater than about 10 mm 2 , the intermediate portion being adapted for receiving a predetermined quantity of viscous dental compound to be discharged through said discharge end portion, wherein the cross sectional area of the channel through the intermediate portion and discharge end portion reduces with substantially smooth continuity by no greater than a ratio of about three; and a piston in the form of an elongated rod having a head portion including annular lip means defining the diameter of the head, which is less than the channel diameter in the entrance end portion, the piston adapted to be manually advanced through the entrance end portion and the intermediate portion into contact with the dental compound such that the lip means are pressed radially outwardly by the compound into sealing engagement with the wall of the channel, the head of the piston having a useful stroke in the intermediate portion while advancing the compound through the channel, said useful stroke being equal to at least about ten times the diameter of the channel in the intermediate portion.