Pulsing Laser Root Canal Cleaning Without Thermal Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current root canal procedures face challenges in effectively cleaning and disinfecting small, curved, and irregularly shaped lateral canals due to the limitations of traditional endodontic files and laser treatments, which often result in damage to the tooth structure and incomplete removal of diseased tissue, leading to potential failure of the therapy.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a pulsing laser system with an elongate optical fiber and a tapered tip that emits laser light omnidirectionally, producing photoacoustic energy waves in a root canal filled with a hydroxyl-containing solution to disintegrate tissue without generating significant heat, ensuring the integrity of the tooth structure and thorough disinfection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional endodontic files are used to clean and shape root canals, then the canal can be mechanically extirpated, but the tooth structure is aggressively removed and the integrity of the tooth is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical endodontic file system with a laser-based system. The laser energy is delivered through an optical fiber to the root canal, where it interacts with the tissue and irrigation solution to achieve cleaning and extirpation without mechanical contact. This substitution eliminates the aggressive mechanical removal of tooth structure while maintaining effective cleaning of the canal system.
2Productivity
If high power laser is used to ablate tissue in the root canal, then tissue removal is effective, but thermal damage occurs to the surrounding dentin and periodontal tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the laser operating parameters from high continuous power to pulsed low power operation. The laser is delivered in short pulses through an optical fiber, allowing the tissue to be processed without accumulating excessive heat. The pulsed delivery mode enables effective tissue interaction while the low average power prevents thermal damage to surrounding structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser is delivered in periodic pulsed fashion rather than continuous operation. This periodic action allows brief intervals for heat dissipation between pulses, preventing thermal accumulation in the dentin and periodontal tissue while still achieving effective tissue removal during the active pulse periods.
3Ease of manufacture
If chemical sterilization is used alone in lateral canals, then the procedure is simple, but complete disinfection cannot be achieved due to inability to reach all areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces purely chemical sterilization with a laser-based system that can physically reach and treat lateral canals. The optical fiber can be directed into lateral canals and the laser energy can interact with tissue and irrigation solution in these difficult-to-reach areas, providing effective disinfection while maintaining procedural simplicity through the minimally invasive nature of the approach.
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 method achieves complete removal of diseased tissue and bacteria from both main and lateral canals without thermal damage, preserving the tooth's structure and porosity, thereby enhancing the success rate of root canal treatments.
Implementation Method 1
producing photoacoustic energy waves in a root canal filled with a hydroxyl-containing solution to disintegrate tissue without generating significant heat
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
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AI summary
A system for treating a root canal of a tooth. The system comprising an ErCrYSGG laser source configured to generate an energy beam, an optical fiber connectable to said laser source configured to transmit said energy beam to a tip of said optical fiber, said tip being a tapered tip configured to direct said energy beam out of said tapered tip, wherein said tapered tip is configured to be inserted into said root canal and being configured to direct said energy beam into a fluid dispersed in said root canal and thereby generate a photoacoustic wave in said fluid, and wherein said laser source having a subablative power setting in which the energy beam is pulsed at a power level of 0.1 W to 1.5 W.