Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A method for preparing enamel for restoring a human tooth, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining bovine teeth; (b) sterilizing and coagulating proteins in said bovine teeth by boiling in water sufficiently to kill living organisms in said bovine teeth; (c) desiccating said bovine teeth at an elevated ambient temperature; (d) crushing said bovine teeth into coarse particles; (e) hydrolyzing organic bonding between enamel and dentin of said coarse particles by boiling in concentrated sodium hydroxide; (f) cooling and rinsing said coarse particles with water; (g) neutralizing the pH of said coarse particles; (h) desiccating said coarse particles; (i) further crushing said coarse particles into fine particles having dimensions of less than about 200 microns such that a first portion of said fine particles comprises substantially enamel material and a second portion of said fine particles comprises substantially dentin material; (j) cleaning and desiccating said fine particles; (k) separating said first portion from said second portion by placing said fine particles in a solution having a density intermediate said first and second portions; (l) pouring off said solution with said second portion suspended therein; (m) washing said first portion with water; and (n) drying said first portion.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
197 words
A method for preparing enamel for restoring a human tooth, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining bovine teeth; (b) sterilizing and coagulating proteins in said bovine teeth by boiling in water sufficiently to kill living organisms in said bovine teeth; (c) desiccating said bovine teeth at an elevated ambient temperature; (d) crushing said bovine teeth into coarse particles; (e) hydrolyzing organic bonding between enamel and dentin of said coarse particles by boiling in concentrated sodium hydroxide; (f) cooling and rinsing said coarse particles with water; (g) neutralizing the pH of said coarse particles; (h) desiccating said coarse particles; (i) further crushing said coarse particles into fine particles having dimensions of less than about 200 microns such that a first portion of said fine particles comprises substantially enamel material and a second portion of said fine particles comprises substantially dentin material; (j) cleaning and desiccating said fine particles; (k) separating said first portion from said second portion by placing said fine particles in a solution having a density intermediate said first and second portions; (l) pouring off said solution with said second portion suspended therein; (m) washing said first portion with water; and (n) drying said first portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method according to claim 1 including the subsequent steps of: (a) forming a mixture comprising said first portion having a selected range of particle sizes and adhesive means; and (b) restoring a tooth by applying said mixture to a tooth structure prepared for such restoration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
86 words
The method of claim 2 wherein step (a) includes: (a) preparing a mixture of glass ionomer powder and said first portion having enamel particles ranging in size from 1 to 100 microns such that said glass ionomer powder comprises approximately 85% of said mixture and said first portion comprises the remainder of said mixture; and (b) preparing material for a restorative by mixing said mixture with a carboxylic acid solution in an approximate ratio of 4.5 grams of said mixture to 1 gram of said solution.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method according to claim 1, including the subsequent steps of: (a) submerging said first portion into a phosphoric acid solution; (b) rinsing said first portion with water; (c) submerging said first portion in a sodium fluoride solution; (d) rinsing said first portion with water; (e) desiccating said first portion; (f) forming a mixture comprising said first portion having a selected range of particle sizes and adhesive means; and (g) restoring a tooth by applying said mixture to a tooth structure prepared for such restoration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 4 wherein: (a) said adhesive means is methyacrylate.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for preparing enamel for restoring a human tooth, comprising the steps of: (a) submerging bovine teeth in boiling water; (b) crushing said bovine teeth into coarse particles; (c) hydrolyzing organic bonding between enamel and dentin of said coarse particles by boiling in concentrated sodium hydroxide; (d) neutralizing the pH of said coarse particles; (e) crushing said coarse particles into fine particles such that a first portion of said fine particles comprises substantially enamel material and a second portion of said fine particles comprises substantially dentin material; and (f) separating said first portion from said second portion.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for preparing enamel for restoring a human tooth, comprising the steps of: (a) submerging bovine teeth in boiling water; (b) crushing said bovine teeth into coarse particles; (c) hydrolyzing organic bonding between enamel and dentin of said coarse particles by boiling in concentrated sodium hydroxide; (d) neutralizing the pH of said coarse particles; (e) crushing said coarse particles into fine particles such that a first portion of said fine particles comprises substantially enamel material and a second portion of said fine particles comprises substantially dentin material; and (f) separating said first portion from said second portion.