DENTAL CARTRIDGE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a dental cartridge according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] It is common practice to fill a dental cartridge with a special dental material for later use in dental treatment. For this purpose, the dental cartridge is inserted into an applicator, also known as an injector. Using a pistol grip and a lifting mechanism, the dental material is extruded from a cylindrical chamber in the dental cartridge through a dispensing nozzle with the aid of a cyclinder piston. The dental material is then used to fill cavities in molars or other teeth. Depending on the specifications, the dental material can optionally be cured at an accelerated rate, for example, using UV light.

[0003] A typical dental cartridge has a cylindrical body with a dispensing nozzle protruding at an angle of, for example, 45°. The cylindrical body and the dispensing nozzle are manufactured as a single piece. The cylindrical body is closed at a first end with a first closure cap. The dispensing nozzle is located at the opposite second end of the cylindrical body. A second closure cap is attached to the tip of the dispensing nozzle, preventing the dental material from escaping during storage. The closure cap is removed for application.

[0004] It is also a dental cartridge, in particular for insertion into an injector, comprising a cylinder body with a gripping shoulder at a first end face, a cylinder chamber into which dental material can be filled, and a dispensing nozzle arranged at a second end face of the cylinder body opposite the gripping shoulder. The cylinder body and the dispensing nozzle are connected via a joint. The gripping shoulder serves for fastening in the injector to apply counterpressure when dispensing the dental material from the cylinder chamber.

[0005] DE 10 2020 109 432 A1 describes a dental cartridge with a cylinder body for receiving dental material. A dispensing nozzle is articulated on the cylinder body. The dispensing nozzle has a joint socket that engages over a joint head of the cylinder head. The dispensing nozzle and the cylinder body are manufactured by assembly injection molding.

[0006] CH 710 763 B1 describes a syringe for applying a dental compound with a cylindrical container and a discharge nozzle. The discharge nozzle can be pivoted relative to the container.

[0007] EP 0 157 121 B describes a container for mixing and dispensing dental materials, comprising a chamber and a dispensing nozzle. The dispensing nozzle is pivotably mounted in a main body. The dispensing nozzle comprises a rotatable bearing body with which the front end of the chamber can be closed. GB 2490365 A relates to a screw-on nozzle for a container containing an extrudable product, such as a sealant used in bathrooms.

[0008] US 2,717,726 A relates to a two-part valve and spout structure for installation in a liquid-holding container, which can be manually actuated into the ejection position for dispensing liquid and into the "off" position.

[0009] The document EP 2 818 133 A1 discloses a dental cartridge with a removable dispensing nozzle, wherein the cartridge body and the dispensing nozzle are connected via a joint.

[0010] In contrast, the invention is based on the object of creating a dental cartridge according to the preamble of claim 1, so that a dental cartridge can be produced compactly and efficiently.

[0011] The object is achieved by an object according to claim 1. Advantageous further developments emerge from the subclaims.

[0012] According to the invention, a joint with a ball-shaped joint head is formed as part of the dispensing nozzle and with a joint socket complementary to the joint head as part of the cylinder body at a second end face and opposite a gripping shoulder. The dispensing nozzle is pivotable—and in particular also rotatable—with respect to the cylinder body within a three-dimensional pivoting range.

[0013] Such a dental cartridge offers several advantages. The dispensing nozzle is compactly and securely mounted in the cylinder body, even under the high pressing forces that act on it when the dental material is extruded. The dispensing nozzle is therefore fundamentally impossible to detach from or remove from the cylinder body. A joint that can be pivoted about all axes in the three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system enables better access to cavities during the application process, so that the dental material can be applied more safely at the desired location. The ergonomics of the application process are thus improved for both the user and the patient. The dispensing nozzle has three rotational degrees of freedom and no translational degrees of freedom. The dispensing nozzle can be rotated and pivoted about the three xyz axes. The dispensing nozzle has a nozzle.The nozzle can be gripped and by pivoting the nozzle the joint ball of the application nozzle can be pivoted in the joint socket of the cylinder body.

[0014] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the dispensing nozzle, or at least its spout, is made of a softer material than the cylinder body. This makes it possible to bend the spout so that it assumes an optimized dispensing position beyond its pivoting capability, e.g., for filling distal cavities.

[0015] Advantageously, the dispensing nozzle with its joint head can be pivoted in the joint socket of the cylinder body so that a channel in the joint head either rests against the joint socket or is open to the cylinder chamber. In the first position, a dispensing path for the dental material from the cylinder chamber is closed, and in the second position, it is open.

[0016] A pivot axis Z, around which the joint head can pivot in the joint socket, extends transversely to the axis of the cylinder chamber. The pivot angle of the joint head is at least approximately 45°, preferably up to approximately 135°. The channel through the joint head forms part of the dispensing path for the dental material. In the second position, it is closed. According to the invention, a closure cap, which can be placed on the tip of the dispensing nozzle, can be omitted. This saves components, manufacturing steps, and material. The joint and the dispensing nozzle thus have a dual function. The dispensing nozzle, specially designed according to the invention, forms a frontal closure of the cylinder chamber, which prevents the dental material from escaping and also enables longer storage.On the other hand, the discharge nozzle can be ergonomically swivelled around two axes in a large three-dimensional swivel range and rotated up to 360° around another axis, so that every position perpendicular to the cylinder space can be reached by the discharge nozzle.

[0017] The joint is designed as a ball joint. The joint ball, with its attached discharge nozzle, can be pivoted in all spatial directions, i.e., three-dimensionally, as is usual with a ball joint. The joint socket extends around the joint ball in such a way that it is securely held in the socket, but can also be pivoted as far as possible. The angle of wrap, i.e., the angle that indicates how far the joint socket extends around the joint head, is more than 180 degrees, e.g., 200 degrees or 220 degrees, or any angle between 185 degrees and 270 degrees.

[0018] The joint socket ends - as it were still at the front - in a collar which forms a swivel stop for the dispensing nozzle protruding from the joint ball.

[0019] This results in a free three-dimensional pivoting range, depending on the diameter of the discharge nozzle at its attachment point on the joint ball. This range extends, for example, over an angle of 45 degrees relative to the axis of the cylinder body, but can also be selected smaller or larger as desired, e.g., between 20 degrees and 80 degrees.

[0020] The dental cartridge is open within this free pivoting range. The channel passing through the ball joint and the dispensing nozzle is therefore not closed at its rear end by the joint socket, but rather open to the cylinder chamber.

[0021] Once dental material is contained in the dental cartridge, it can be extruded in a conventional manner and applied to the desired location by applying pressure to a piston entering the cylinder body. The dentist benefits from the free three-dimensional pivoting of the dispensing nozzle, which eliminates the need to laboriously rotate the entire dental cartridge, including the dispensing device, but can quickly align the dispensing nozzle to the desired application location.

[0022] According to the invention, the dental cartridge can also be closed if necessary, simply by pivoting it beyond the free pivoting range.

[0023] As soon as the swiveling continues beyond the free swivel range, the rear opening of the channel comes into contact with the socket. If the swiveling continues, it is eventually closed by the socket. This is the closed position of the dental cartridge.

[0024] To enable this, in a preferred embodiment, the cylinder body has a recess in the joint socket. This recess is open toward the front, i.e., in the direction away from the gripping shoulder. It can accommodate the dispensing nozzle at its attachment point on the joint ball. The dimensions of the attachment point and recess are preferably selected such that the attachment point can be locked into the recess.

[0025] According to an advantageous embodiment, the dispensing nozzle of the dental cartridge is formed on the joint head with a neck ring projecting relative to the joint head, which neck ring is designed to be latchable laterally on the joint socket in a complementary recess, particularly partially circular in shape when viewed from above, with a circular axis perpendicular to the cylinder axis of the cylinder chamber.

[0026] When the application nozzle, especially with its neck ring, is in the recess, it extends transversely to the axis of the cylinder body.

[0027] Furthermore, for the locking function of the dispensing nozzle, it is preferred that a chord of the recess, which forms a through-opening for the attachment or neck ring to the free pivoting area of ​​the joint ball and the dispensing nozzle in the joint socket, is slightly smaller than the diameter of the attachment or neck ring, in particular as in the case of a press fit.

[0028] Furthermore, the dispensing nozzle can be rotated 360°. In a preferred embodiment, the dispensing nozzle is angled. This allows the dentist to freely adjust the dispensing location by rotating the dispensing nozzle.

[0029] The dispensing nozzle of the dental cartridge further preferably comprises a nozzle with a nozzle axis. A channel, in particular a conically tapered one, with a channel axis is formed in the joint head, wherein the nozzle axis preferably forms an angle of approximately 45° to the channel axis to provide the offset. This offset angle can, however, also be selected to be as large or small as desired, e.g., between 0 degrees (no offset) and 80 degrees. This allows the nozzle axis to be pivoted by 90° from a straight position parallel to the cylinder axis of the cylinder chamber to an inclined position, possibly even perpendicular to the cylinder axis. This allows even distal cavities on molars to be easily reached. The dispensing nozzle can therefore be pivoted and rotated three-dimensionally up to 360° in the ball joint. This means that any angle can be achieved, even when the position of the dispensing device of the dental cartridge remains the same during application.

[0030] Preferably, the application nozzle is tapered in its outer contour.

[0031] According to a further preferred embodiment, the diameter of the joint head is larger than the diameter of the cylinder chamber, and the joint socket of the dental cartridge is designed as a bead at the end opposite the gripping shoulder, relative to the rest of the cylinder body. This allows the cylinder body to be manufactured with reduced material consumption. The closable joint effectively seals the cylinder chamber from the dispensing nozzle. A larger diameter of the joint head than that of the cylinder chamber improves compact storage.

[0032] To simplify and improve the manufacturing process of the dental cartridge and reduce the number of parts, the cylinder body and dispensing nozzle are manufactured using assembly injection molding, specifically two-component assembly injection molding. Further assembly processes are no longer necessary.

[0033] According to a further embodiment, the material of the cylinder body differs from the material of the dispensing nozzle, whereby a material pairing is used so that no, or more preferably moderate, adhesion occurs between the materials in the joint. Different materials have the advantage that they can be separated more easily during the manufacturing process, i.e. during the injection molding process, so that a joint can be formed(er) easily. The cylinder body can be made of a harder plastic than the dispensing nozzle. An elastic dispensing nozzle has the advantage that manual contact pressure is compensated when filling the cavities. A lack of adhesion between the two materials has the advantage that the joint is freely movable. Moderate adhesion has the advantage that the set position of the joint is maintained up to a certain pressure limit.

[0034] Any suitable material pairs can be used for assembly injection molding. These include: PA66 / POM PPS / POM PPS / PA6 PEEK / PPS

[0035] However, any other suitable material combinations are also possible, e.g. TPE / ABS, PA6 mod. / PE, PA6 mod. POM, PE / PMMA, PC / PS, PP / PMMA, PP / POM, PP / PS.

[0036] If a more elastic material is selected for the joint ball with the dispensing nozzle, the following material pairings are possible: PA6 / EPDM, PA6 / NR, PA6 / SBR, or e.g. PBT / NR or PBT / SBR.

[0037] By appropriately adjusting the temperature difference during injection molding of the materials, the friction coefficient can also be influenced as desired.

[0038] A dental cartridge according to the invention can be used, in particular, in an injector or a dispensing device. Two components, a cylinder body with the joint socket and a dispensing nozzle with the joint ball, are connected via a ball joint. Both components are manufactured in a single step using the assembly injection molding process, in particular in a single injection molding tool.

[0039] Using sliders in the injection mold, the dispensing nozzle is injected first, as required, and in a second step, the cylinder body with the joint socket is injected onto the dispensing nozzle. It goes without saying that the cylinder body can also be injected first, followed by the dispensing nozzle. To create a uniform surface for the joint head, the dispensing nozzle is preferably created first in the injection mold. This advantageously eliminates additional assembly steps. Further advantages, details, and features will become apparent from the following description of several embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 a dental cartridge in perspective in cross-section with closed dispensing nozzle; Fig. 2 a complete dental cartridge in perspective according to Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 a dental cartridge in perspective in cross-section with closed dispensing nozzle; Fig. 4 a complete dental cartridge in perspective according to Fig. 3 , Fig. 5 a dental cartridge in perspective in cross-section with a spout essentially extending the cylinder body; Fig. 6 a complete dental cartridge in perspective according to Fig. 5 ; Fig. 7 a dental cartridge in perspective in cross-section with the nozzle in the direction perpendicular to the cylinder axis of the cylinder body; Fig. 8 a complete dental cartridge in perspective according to Fig. 7 ; Fig. 9 a dental cartridge in perspective in cross-section with a closed dispensing nozzle with an insert in a peripheral section of the cylinder body; and Fig. 10 a complete dental cartridge in perspective according to Fig. 9 .

[0040] The Fig. 1 shows a dental cartridge 1 for insertion into an injector (not shown). The dental cartridge 1 is formed with a cylindrical body 2 and a dispensing nozzle 6. The cylindrical body 2 has a gripping shoulder 3 at a first end 4 and a cylindrical chamber 5 into which dental material can be filled. The dispensing nozzle 6 is arranged at a second end 7 of the cylindrical body 2, which is opposite the gripping shoulder 3. A dental material for filling cavities during dental treatment is stored in the cylindrical chamber 5. The cylindrical chamber 5 is closed at both ends, at the end 6 by a film as packaging material or a piston of the injector (not shown), and at the second end 7 by the ball joint special according to the invention in its closed position.

[0041] The cylinder body 2 and the discharge nozzle 6 are connected via a joint 8. The joint 8 is formed with a ball-shaped joint head 9 as part of the discharge nozzle 6 and with a complementary joint socket 10 as part of the cylinder body 2 at the second end face 7, opposite the gripping shoulder 3. The discharge nozzle 6 can be pivoted relative to the cylinder body 2 within a pivot range 20 about the two axes x and z and can be rotated about the y axis.

[0042] The Fig. 1 shows the dental cartridge 1 in a cross-sectional view with a closed cylinder chamber 5 at the second end face 7. The dental material is filled into the cylinder chamber 5 from the first end of the first end face 4. After the filling process, the first end face 4 is also completely sealed until use, e.g. with a film not shown.

[0043] As soon as the dental cartridge 1 is inserted into an injector, a piston of the injector is inserted from the front end 4 into the cylinder chamber 5 during the application process. The dental material is pressed from the cylinder chamber 5 toward the second front end 7 into the dispensing nozzle 6.

[0044] The dispensing nozzle 6 is formed on the joint head 9 with a protruding, extended neck ring 14, which is designed to be latched into a complementary circular recess 16 with a circular axis 15 perpendicular to the cylinder axis 12 of the cylinder chamber 2 and perpendicular to the pivot axis 24 on the circumference of the joint socket 10. The circular axis 15 coincides with the Y-pivot axis 22 of the joint 8, thus being congruent with it.

[0045] To realize the locking function, a tendon 17 of the recess 16, which forms a through opening for the neck ring 14 to the pivoting area 20 within the joint socket 10, is slightly smaller than the diameter 34 of the neck ring 14.

[0046] The joint 8 of the dental cartridge 1 has a dual function. It serves to close and open the dispensing path 11 for the dental material from the cylinder chamber 5. To open, the dispensing nozzle 6 is pivoted out of the recess 16 and then extends further forward, i.e., away from the gripping shoulder. A pivot axis 24 of the cylinder body 2 is formed obliquely to or even perpendicular to the cylinder axis 12 and perpendicular to a circular axis 15 and is congruent with the Z-axis of the dispensing nozzle 6. In the open position, the dispensing nozzle 6 can be freely pivoted, with a pivot angle 13 of at least 45° to approximately 135° relative to the cylinder axis 12.

[0047] A free pivoting range 20 of the dental cartridge encompasses 6 pivot angles for the dispensing nozzle around its three xyz axes. From the cylinder axis 12, the free pivoting range 20 possible for application is at least 45° in both directions, i.e., a total of at least 90°, around the xy axis. The dispensing nozzle can rotate 360° around the z axis.

[0048] The dispensing nozzle 6 comprises a nozzle 18 with a nozzle axis 19. The nozzle 18 has a nozzle channel 26 with the same inner diameter over the entire length of the nozzle. This allows precise manual dosing of the dental material. A channel 21, particularly a conically tapered channel, with a channel axis 22 is formed in the joint head 9, which opens into the beveled nozzle channel 26. In the Fig. 1 In the closed position of the discharge nozzle 6 shown, the channel axis 22 coincides with the Y-axis for rotation by 360° and the circular axis 15.

[0049] The nozzle axis 19 preferably forms an angle of approximately 45° to the channel axis 22. The channel 21 extends into the neck ring 14 of the dispensing nozzle 6. The nozzle 18 forms a tapered funnel shape from the neck ring 14, at least in its outer contour.

[0050] The diameter 25 of the joint head 9 is larger than the diameter 23 of the cylinder chamber 5. Thus, the joint socket 10 forms a bead at the second end adjacent to the second end face 7 relative to the remaining cylinder body 2. The joint head 9 is thus stably and securely mounted. The channel 21 of the discharge nozzle 6 in the joint head 9 is thus as large as possible, which leads to reduced force during extrusion.

[0051] The cylinder body 2 and the dispensing nozzle 6 are preferably manufactured in an integrated injection molding tool (not shown), preferably by means of a two-component assembly injection molding process. To ensure moderate or no adhesion between the cylinder body 2 and the dispensing nozzle 6, a suitable material pairing is selected. Possible material pairings are known to the person skilled in the art, for example, from the prior art cited above.

[0052] Fig. 2 shows the body of the dental cartridge 1 from Figur 1 in perspective view, but in the closed position. The three degrees of freedom of the pivoting range 20, rotation about the y-axis and pivoting about the xz-axes, as well as the locking of the neck 14 in the recess 16 with the help of the chord 17 as a press fit, are shown.

[0053] Fig. 3 shows a perspective cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 1 , with the difference that the recess 16 in the socket 10 is not oriented upwards with the Y-axis, but is rotated 180° around the cylinder axis 12 and thus points downwards. The grommet 18 is rotated 180° around the Y-axis compared to the illustration in the Fig. 1 shown rotated to the first end face 6. This is, for example, a storage state In these, the length of the dental cartridge 1 is minimized. The height and the width / depth of the dental cartridge 1 are in both storage states, ie according to the Fig. 1 and the Fig. 3 identical. The Y-axis of the application nozzle is in the Figur 3 congruent to the circular axis 15 of the recess 16, both of which are at right angles to the cylinder axis 12.

[0054] Fig. 4 shows the dental cartridge 1 according to the Fig. 3 as a complete body.

[0055] Fig. 5 shows the dental cartridge 1 in longitudinal cross-section, with the dispensing nozzle 6 being angled 30°, with more than 90°, ie for example approximately 120°, compared to the view of the Fig. 3 is pivoted upwards. Despite the recess 16, the dispensing nozzle 6 can be pivoted so far within the pivoting range 20 that the dispensing path 11 for applying the dental material from the cylinder chamber 5 through the dispensing channel 21 and through the nozzle channel 26 of the nozzle 18 remains closed. The nozzle axis 19 is pivoted downwards by approximately 15° with respect to the cylinder axis 12. The nozzle 18 is thus essentially a longitudinal extension of the cylinder body 2.

[0056] Fig. 6 shows the fully closed body of the dental cartridge 1 in the state according to Fig. 5 .

[0057] Fig. 7 shows according to the Fig. 3 und 5 the longitudinal cross-sectional half of the dental cartridge 1 with the difference that the dispensing nozzle 6, in contrast to Fig. 3 is pivoted by approximately 45°, so that the nozzle axis 19 is pivoted essentially perpendicular to the cylinder axis 12. Thus, cavities can be reached for filling at an angle of 90° from a horizontal position of the cylinder body 2.

[0058] Fig. 8 shows the dental cartridge 1 as a complete body in a swivel state of the dispensing nozzle 6 according to Fig. 7 .

[0059] Fig. 9 essentially shows the embodiment according to Fig. 1 . In a region of the cylinder body 2 shown above, a window 28 is formed, which extends flush with the cylinder body 2 on the inside and outside. This allows the user to immediately see the filling level of the cylinder body 2 in the cylinder chamber 5 with dental material. Furthermore, the color and at least approximately the consistency of the dental material are also visible to the user.

[0060] In an embodiment not shown, a slit extends through the joint socket on both sides, parallel to the axis of the cylinder body 2. Slits increase the flexibility of the joint socket 10, thus reducing the adhesion between the joint head 9 and the joint socket 10.

Claims

1. A dental cartridge (1), in particular for insertion into an injector, having a cylinder body (2) with a gripping shoulder (3) at one end face (4) and having a cylinder chamber (5) into which dental material can be filled, with a dispensing nozzle (6) which is arranged at an end face (7) of the cylinder body (2) opposite the gripping shoulder (3), wherein the cylinder body (2) and the dispensing nozzle (6) are connected via a joint (8), characterized in that - the joint (8) is formed with a joint head (9) in the form of a ball as an integral part of the dispensing nozzle (6) and with a joint socket (10) complementary to the joint head (9) as an integral part of the cylinder body (2) at the end face (7) opposite the gripping shoulder (3), and in that the dispensing nozzle (6) can be swiveled relative to the cylinder body in a three-dimensional swivel range, - wherein the diameter (18) of the joint head (9) is larger than the diameter of the cylinder chamber (5).

2. The dental cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the joint (8) is formed as a mechanism for closing and opening a dispensing path (11) of dental material from the cylinder chamber (5) with a swivel axis (12) and with a swivel angle (13) of at least approximately 110°, preferably at least 135°.

3. The dental cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a recess (16) which extends outside the cylinder axis (12) of the cylinder chamber (5) is formed on the joint socket (10) of the cylinder body, and in that the dispensing nozzle (6) can be pivoted into the recess (16) by means of a projection (14) adjoining the joint ball and can thus be brought into a closed position of the dental cartridge.

4. The dental cartridge according to claim 3, characterized in that the recess (16) is substantially U-shaped and is open towards the front, i.e. towards the side opposite the gripping shoulder.

5. The dental cartridge according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the dispensing nozzle (6) is formed to be able to be locked to the recess (16), and in particular in that a chord of the recess (16), which forms a passage opening for the neck ring to the swivel range within the joint socket, is formed to be smaller, in particular less than 10% smaller, than the diameter of the projection (14).

6. The dental cartridge according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the dispensing nozzle (6) can be swiveled in all directions in a free swivel range in the open state of the dental cartridge, wherein the swivel angle of the swivel range, viewed from the cylinder axis, is at least 45°.

7. The dental cartridge according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a channel (21) for the joint head extends therethrough, of which the end facing the cylinder chamber (5) can be closed by swiveling the dispensing nozzle (6).

8. The dental cartridge according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the dispensing nozzle comprises a spout with a spout axis and a channel (21) with a channel axis is formed in the joint head, wherein the spout axis is formed at an angle of between 0° and 70°, preferably between 30° and 60°, to the channel axis, wherein in particular the channel is formed so as to taper into the neck ring of the dispensing nozzle.

9. The dental cartridge according to claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the joint socket is formed as a bead projecting relative to the rest of the cylinder body at the end face (5) opposite the gripping shoulder (3).

10. The dental cartridge according to claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the material used for the cylinder body differs from the material used for the dispensing nozzle, wherein a material pairing with a coefficient of sliding friction µslide between the materials of less than 0.8, in particular of less than 0.6, is used in the joint.

11. The dental cartridge according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the materials of the cylinder body and the dispensing nozzle are selected from material pairs suitable for material injection molding and preferably have different coefficients of thermal expansion, and in particular consist of PA66 / POM, PPS / POM, PPS / PA6 or PEEK / PPS.

12. The dental cartridge according to claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the cylinder body and the dispensing nozzle are produced by means of assembly injection molding, in particular by means of two-component assembly injection molding.