Steve M Baldwin

US Patent:

62243780, May 1, 2001

Filed:

Jul 9, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/890496

Inventors:

Juan C. Valdes - Alta Loma CA
Randal Bailey - Lake Forest CA
Steve Baldwin - Berkeley CA
Rex E. Doherty - Orinda CA

Assignee:

SurgiJet, Inc. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

A61C 502

US Classification:

433224

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for dental procedures using a dental hydrojet tool having a cannula extending therefrom. The cannula is connected to a source of high pressure liquid, and delivers a high velocity, high pressure jet. For root canal procedures, the cannula is directed through an opening formed in the crown of the tooth, and the hydrojet is directed at the pulp, nerve and vascular tissue within the interior chamber. The jet may comprise medical-grade saline, disinfectant, antibiotic or abrasive solutions. All the soft tissue within the tooth is cut, excised, emulsified, and aspirated out of the tooth. The time required to excise, emulsify, and aspirate all the soft tissue within a typical molar is on the order of 10-240 seconds. The interior chamber of the tooth is completely aspirated and verified visually for completion of removal of all soft tissue, and then packed with an appropriate filler material, and the opening in the top of the tooth is filled or provided with a prosthetic crown. The fluid jet may comprise a pulsed jet formed by a pulse intensifier device in the handpiece of the dental hydrojet tool, or a steady stream jet emanating from the orifice.