Acoustic Wave Root Canal Cleaning via Liquid Jet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional root canal procedures fail to completely remove organic material from the root canal system, leading to post-procedure complications such as infections due to the creation of a smear layer and remaining necrotic tissue.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method utilizing a high-velocity liquid jet to propagate acoustic energy through the tooth, detaching organic material from dentinal surfaces, which is then flushed out using low-velocity irrigation fluid, effectively addressing the issue of organic material retention in root canal systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional endodontic files are used to open the canal and remove organic material, then the canal is opened and some organic material is removed, but a smear layer of dentinal filings and diseased organic material is created on the dentinal walls which is extremely difficult to remove
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical action of endodontic files with acoustic energy (ultrasonic vibrations) to remove organic material. The acoustic energy creates cavitation bubbles that collapse and detach organic material from dentinal surfaces without creating a smear layer, thus resolving the contradiction between removal efficiency and harmful byproduct formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of liquid (cavitation) to achieve organic material removal. Ultrasonic vibrations create rapid pressure changes that form and collapse vapor bubbles in the irrigation fluid, generating localized high-energy events that detach organic material without mechanical contact, thereby avoiding smear layer formation while maintaining high removal efficiency.
2Ease of manufacture
If endodontic files are inserted into the root canal system to open the canal, then the canal is opened, but organic material and necrotic tissue remain in the canal spaces resulting in post-procedure complications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical file instrumentation with acoustic energy delivery. The ultrasonic vibrations propagate through the tooth structure and irrigation fluid, creating cavitation effects that thoroughly detach organic material from all canal surfaces including complex anatomy, thereby improving complete removal reliability while maintaining ease of procedure implementation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs mechanical vibration in the form of ultrasonic frequencies to remove organic material. The high-frequency vibrations create acoustic streaming and cavitation effects that penetrate complex canal geometries, ensuring complete removal of organic material and necrotic tissue without the limitations of mechanical file access, thus improving reliability while keeping the procedure simple to perform.
3Productivity
If a high velocity collimated liquid beam is used to produce acoustic waves, then organic material is detached from dentinal surfaces, but the apparatus complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses irrigation fluid as an intermediary medium to transmit acoustic energy and facilitate organic material removal. The high-velocity liquid jet creates acoustic waves that propagate through the fluid and tooth structure, with the fluid serving as both the energy transmission medium and the cavitation generation medium, achieving effective detachment while managing apparatus complexity through the use of a common dental irrigation system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic principles by using a high-velocity liquid jet to generate acoustic energy. The pressurized fluid system, already standard in dental practice, is utilized to create the acoustic waves needed for organic material removal, achieving high productivity while minimizing additional apparatus complexity by leveraging existing hydraulic infrastructure in dental units.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution achieves thorough removal of organic material from the root canal system, reducing the risk of post-procedure infections and complications by using acoustic energy to detach and flush out organic matter without damaging the dentin.
Implementation Method 1
The orifice may be sized and shaped to convert the pressurized liquid into a high velocity collimated beam that produces an acoustic wave upon impact with a surface of the tooth
Implementation Method 2
The energy of the wave may cause organic material within the canal to be detached from the surrounding dentinal surface along a length of the canal
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for endodontic treatment of teeth provide effective cleaning of organic material (such as pulp and diseased tissue) from the root canal system. In an embodiment, a compressor system generates high pressure liquid (e.g., water) that flows through an orifice to produce a high-velocity collimated jet of liquid. The high-velocity jet is directed toward a surface of a tooth, for example, an exposed dentinal surface, and impingement of the jet onto the surface generates an acoustic wave that propagates throughout the tooth. The acoustic wave effectively detaches organic material from dentinal surfaces and tubules. The detached organic material is flushed from the root canal system by the liquid jet and/or by additional irrigation.