The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 09, 1999
Filed:
Jun. 03, 1998
Clifford J Ruddle, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
Briefly stated, the present invention provides a kit which facilitates the removal of obstructions, such as broken files, from the root canal of a patient during an endodontic or root canal procedure. The kit includes a trephine sized to be inserted in the root canal and adapted to widen the root canal around the obstruction to expose the obstruction and an obstruction removal tool adapted to engage and mechanically grasp the obstruction to remove the obstruction from the root canal. The obstruction removal tool includes a hollow tube and a plunger slideable within the tube. The hollow tube is sized to be inserted into the root canal a distance sufficient to receive the obstruction within its lumen. A cutout is spaced from the end of the hollow tube, and the hollow tube is slid over the obstruction a distance sufficient to generally align the top of the obstruction with the cutout. A plunger having a beveled end is slid through the hollow tube. The beveled end of the plunger engages the obstruction and urges the obstruction into the cutout so that the tool will mechanically grasp the obstruction. Once the tool has mechanically grasped the obstruction, the tool with the obstruction can be removed from the root canal.