Method for dissolving dental cement

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of biochemistry, and particularly discloses a method for dissolving dental cement, which comprises the following steps: providing a sample attached with solidified dental cement and consumables to be recycled; placing the sample in a container or environment which can be acted by volatile organic solvent steam; providing a volatile organic solvent, and vaporizing the volatile organic solvent in the container or environment to form a steam atmosphere; exposing the sample to the vapor atmosphere for a time sufficient to soften the dental cement; after the dental cement is softened, separating the experimental consumables from the dental cement; according to the invention, the dental cement is efficiently and controllably softened by using volatile organic solvent steam, so that the nondestructive recovery of various solid-sealed expensive implantable experimental consumables can be realized, the permanent waste of precise parts such as optical fiber ferrules, electrodes and micro drivers is avoided, and the repeated purchase cost of scientific research consumables is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of biochemical technology, specifically relating to a method for dissolving dental cement. Background Technology

[0002] In research fields such as neurobiology and pharmacology that involve in vivo animal experiments, it is often necessary to permanently fix implantable devices such as fiber optic ferrules, electrodes, cannulas, or microinjection pumps onto the skull surface of experimental animals (such as mice and rats). Currently, biocompatible dental cement is commonly used as the fixation material. After curing, this material has extremely high mechanical strength and stability, which can ensure that the implanted device does not shift or fall off during the experimental period.

[0003] However, after the experiment, these implantable devices, which are firmly embedded in dental cement, often face disposal. Due to the excellent adhesion and resistance to damage of dental cement, there is a lack of effective recycling methods. If mechanical methods (such as crushing or drilling) are used to disassemble them, irreversible physical damage can easily be caused to the internally embedded optical fibers, precision electrodes, or micro-metal components, leading to their complete scrapping and resulting in huge waste. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a method for dissolving dental cement to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0006] A method for dissolving dental cement includes the following steps:

[0007] S1. Provide a sample with hardened dental cement and recyclable consumables attached;

[0008] S2. Place the sample in a container or environment that can be exposed to volatile organic solvent vapors;

[0009] S3. Provide a volatile organic solvent and vaporize it in the container or environment to form a vapor atmosphere;

[0010] S4. Expose the sample to the vapor atmosphere for a period of time sufficient to soften the dental cement;

[0011] S5. After the dental cement softens, separate the experimental consumables from it.

[0012] Preferably, the volatile organic solvent is acetone.

[0013] Preferably, step S2 specifically involves placing the sample in a first container, and then placing the first container and the solvent, which serves as the source of volatile organic solvent, together in a larger second sealed container, so that the sample does not directly contact the liquid solvent, but is exposed to its vapor atmosphere.

[0014] Preferably, in step S4, the exposure time is 12 to 48 hours.

[0015] Preferably, the experimental consumables are any one of fiber optic ferrules, sleeves, electrodes, or micro-drive devices.

[0016] Preferably, the sample is an animal skull that has been perfused and removed.

[0017] An apparatus for implementing the method described in any one of the preceding claims, comprising:

[0018] A sealed container;

[0019] A solvent container located at the bottom of the sealed container for holding volatile organic solvents;

[0020] A sample support located above the solvent container for placing the sample, the sample support being configured to prevent the sample from contacting the liquid solvent.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0022] (1) By using volatile organic solvent vapor to soften dental cement efficiently and in a controllable manner, it is possible to achieve the non-destructive recycling of various sealed and expensive implantable experimental consumables, avoid the permanent disposal of precision components such as fiber optic ferrules, electrodes and micro-drivers, and reduce the cost of repeated procurement of scientific research consumables.

[0023] (2) The entire process does not require mechanical disassembly, which fundamentally eliminates the risk of deformation or damage to precision consumables due to physical stress; at the same time, as a non-liquid phase direct immersion vapor phase treatment method, it can gently act on the inside of cement without damaging the electronic properties and mechanical structure of consumables. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the device structure of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] Example 1:

[0028] Please see Figures 1-2 As shown, a method for dissolving dental cement includes the following steps:

[0029] S1. Provide a sample with hardened dental cement and recyclable consumables attached;

[0030] S2. Place the sample in a container or environment that can be exposed to volatile organic solvent vapors;

[0031] S3. Provide a volatile organic solvent and vaporize it in the container or environment to form a vapor atmosphere;

[0032] S4. Expose the sample to the vapor atmosphere for a period of time sufficient to soften the dental cement;

[0033] S5. After the dental cement softens, separate the experimental consumables from it.

[0034] In one embodiment of the present invention, the volatile organic solvent is acetone.

[0035] In one embodiment of the present invention, step S2 specifically involves placing the sample in a first container, and then placing the first container and the solvent, which serves as a volatile organic solvent source, together in a larger second sealed container, so that the sample does not directly contact the liquid solvent, but is exposed to its vapor atmosphere.

[0036] In one embodiment of the present invention, in step S4, the exposure time is 12 to 48 hours.

[0037] In one embodiment of the present invention, the experimental consumables are any one of fiber optic ferrules, sleeves, electrodes, or micro-drive devices.

[0038] In one embodiment of the present invention, the sample is an animal skull that has been perfused and removed.

[0039] An apparatus for implementing the method described in any one of the preceding claims, comprising:

[0040] A sealed container;

[0041] A solvent container located at the bottom of the sealed container for holding volatile organic solvents;

[0042] A sample support located above the solvent container for placing the sample, the sample support being configured to prevent the sample from contacting the liquid solvent.

[0043] Example 2:

[0044] This embodiment demonstrates the specific process of non-destructively recovering expensive fiber optic ferrules from the perfused mouse skull by softening and curing dental cement with acetone vapor in a neuroscience experiment.

[0045] Materials and equipment required for implementation:

[0046] The sample was the head of a mouse that had completed the experiment and was fixed by cardiac perfusion. A standard ceramic fiber optic ferrule (2.5 mm in diameter) was fixed to the surface of the skull with dental cement. The solvent was analytical grade acetone solution, about 50 mL.

[0047] The apparatus includes: a 500mL glass beaker (as the first container for holding the sample); a 2000mL (2L) large glass desiccator (as the second sealed container), a porous ceramic plate and a sealing cap for the desiccator;

[0048] The specific operating steps are as follows:

[0049] Carefully remove the skull with the fiber optic ferrule from the perfused mouse head using bone shears, ensuring the dental cement fixation block remains largely intact, and place the sample in a 500 mL glass beaker.

[0050] (1) Setup of the device:

[0051] a. Pour approximately 50 mL of analytical grade acetone solution into the bottom of the glass desiccator;

[0052] b. Cover the bottom solvent tank with the porous ceramic plate of the dryer;

[0053] c. Place the 500mL beaker containing the sample stably in the center of the porous ceramic plate;

[0054] (2) Sealing and vapor exposure:

[0055] a. Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the edge of the dryer's ground joint, then cover it with the glass lid, ensuring a complete seal;

[0056] b. Place the sealed desiccator on a well-ventilated, light-proof laboratory bench at room temperature (approximately 25°C) and let it stand.

[0057] c. Allow the sample to be continuously exposed to the acetone vapor atmosphere that fills the inside of the desiccator for 24 hours; during this process, the sample should not come into direct contact with the liquid acetone at the bottom.

[0058] (3) Separation and recycling:

[0059] a. After 24 hours, open the desiccator lid (ensure ventilation) and remove the sample;

[0060] b. At this point, it can be observed that the originally hard dental cement fixation block has become very soft, and it can be deformed by gently touching it with plastic tweezers;

[0061] c. The fiber optic ferrule can be easily and completely removed from the softened dental cement by hand or tweezers. The ferrule surface is smooth, without any damage or corrosion, and its optical performance is unchanged after testing.

[0062] d. Softened dental cement can be easily peeled off the skull.

[0063] The method described in this embodiment recovers valuable fiber optic ferrules from discarded animal specimens. The entire process does not require mechanical force to break them, thus avoiding damage to consumables. The acetone solvent used is inexpensive, and the method is simple and safe, which greatly saves research costs and reduces the waste of electronic and metal consumables.

[0064] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for dissolving dental cement, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. Provide a sample with hardened dental cement and recyclable consumables attached; S2. Place the sample in a container or environment that can be exposed to volatile organic solvent vapors; S3. Provide a volatile organic solvent and vaporize it in the container or environment to form a vapor atmosphere; S4. Expose the sample to the vapor atmosphere for a period of time sufficient to soften the dental cement; S5. After the dental cement softens, separate the experimental consumables from it.

2. The method for dissolving dental cement according to claim 1, characterized in that: The volatile organic solvent is acetone.

3. The method for dissolving dental cement according to claim 1, characterized in that, Step S2 specifically involves placing the sample in a first container, and then placing the first container and the solvent, which serves as the source of volatile organic solvent, together in a larger, sealed second container, so that the sample does not directly contact the liquid solvent but is exposed to its vapor atmosphere.

4. The method for dissolving dental cement according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step S4, the exposure time is 12 to 48 hours.

5. The method for dissolving dental cement according to claim 1, characterized in that: The experimental consumables are any one of fiber optic ferrules, sleeves, electrodes, or micro-drive devices.

6. The method for dissolving dental cement according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sample was an animal skull that had undergone perfusion treatment and was then removed.

7. An apparatus for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, include: A sealed container; A solvent container located at the bottom of the sealed container for holding volatile organic solvents; A sample support located above the solvent container for placing the sample, the sample support being configured to prevent the sample from contacting the liquid solvent.

Images