Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
  • A61C5/00—Filling or capping teeth
  • A61C5/40—Implements for surgical treatment of the roots or nerves of the teeth; Nerve needles; Methods or instruments for medication of the roots
  • A61C5/42—Files for root canals; Handgrips or guiding means therefor
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
  • A61C1/00—Dental machines for boring or cutting ; General features of dental machines or apparatus, e.g. hand-piece design
  • A61C1/08—Machine parts specially adapted for dentistry
  • A61C1/14—Tool-holders, i.e. operating tool holders, e.g. burr holders
  • A61C1/141—Tool-holders, i.e. operating tool holders, e.g. burr holders in an angled handpiece
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
  • A61C1/00—Dental machines for boring or cutting ; General features of dental machines or apparatus, e.g. hand-piece design
  • A61C1/08—Machine parts specially adapted for dentistry
  • A61C1/14—Tool-holders, i.e. operating tool holders, e.g. burr holders
  • A61C1/142—Operating tool blocking means
  • A61C1/144—Operating tool blocking means constricting the operating tool, e.g. chuck
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
  • A61C5/00—Filling or capping teeth
  • A61C5/40—Implements for surgical treatment of the roots or nerves of the teeth; Nerve needles; Methods or instruments for medication of the roots

Definitions

• the present invention relates to devices for performing oral care.
• the invention relates to oral devices in which the oral instruments are endodontic instruments.
• Certain instruments such as dental burs, intended to cut teeth, are rotated at high speeds, of the order of 200,000 rpm. In this case, the rotation of the instrument is driven with a relatively low torque.
• Implantology instruments intended to cut the jaw bone before placing an implant there.
• Such instruments which often have a diameter of several millimeters, are generally driven at a relatively slow speed, of the order of a few hundred revolutions per minute, but with a high torque, often between 5 and 50 N/cm, in order to effectively cut the bone.
• endodontic instruments intended for endodontics, which have a small diameter, generally less than or equal to 1.2 mm, and which are intended to be inserted into the root canal of a tooth.
• Such endodontic instruments are generally rotated at relatively slow speeds, of the order of a few hundred revolutions per minute.
• Such endodontic instruments must be driven with higher torque than dental drills.
• this torque must be controlled precisely, and not exceed a ceiling value.
• endodontic instruments are fragile and risk, in the event of jamming, breaking in the root canal of the tooth if too high a torque is applied to them.
• endodontic instruments are driven with a torque of between 0.5 N/cm and 3 N/cm.
• the present invention applies, in particular, to such rotary endodontic instruments.
• Such endodontic instruments are held and rotated by oral instrument holder equipment.
• Such instrument-holding equipment generally comprises a body, which can be held by the practitioner and which may include a motor, and a head of oral-dental instrument-holding equipment which ensures the maintenance of the endodontic instrument.
• This assembly of an endodontic instrument with oral instrument holder equipment forms the endodontic device.
• the present invention particularly applies to this type of oral and dental device intended for endodontics.
• Endodontic instruments generally include an active portion, which is the portion of the instrument that is intended to perform work on or in the patient's teeth or mouth, and a non-active portion that is intended to be introduced into the head of the patient. instrument carrying equipment.
• this non-active portion of the instrument intended to be introduced into the head of instrument-carrying equipment is constituted by a handle, and the active portion of this endodontic instrument is constituted by a blade attached to this handle.
• Such handles of the prior art often have a standardized shape and dimensions, making them compatible with the head of the instrument-holding equipment which is intended to accommodate them. These handles have a peripheral groove allowing the handle to be blocked in an axial direction. They also have a flat surface allowing the head of the instrument holder equipment to transmit high torque to it. Such handles most often have standardized characteristics and dimensions, for example corresponding to “Type 1” handles, as defined by standard EN ISO 1797 concerning rotary oral and dental instruments including endodontic instruments.
• instrument holder heads designed to receive standardized “Type 1” handles have a relatively large footprint, which can prove annoying for the practitioner. Indeed, such large heads of instrument-holding equipment can particularly obstruct vision when they are introduced into the patient's mouth.
• the present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks of the prior art.
• the present invention aims to enable a reduction in the manufacturing costs of endodontic instruments. Its particular objective is to reduce the number of manual interventions and specific machines used for the manufacture and assembly of such instruments.
• Another particular objective of the invention is to allow the use of endodontic instruments whose cost is reduced, compared to the endodontic instruments with which dental practitioners are usually equipped.
• Yet another objective of the invention is to allow the use of endodontic devices, composed of an endodontic instrument carried by a head of instrument-carrying equipment, which have a reduced footprint in the patient's mouth, and thus which allow easier access, for the practitioner, to the area to be treated in the patient's mouth, and better vision of this area during treatment.
• Another objective of the invention is also to facilitate the assembly, by the practitioner, of an endodontic instrument in an instrument holder equipment head.
• instrument-holding equipment capable of removably holding an endodontic instrument
• this instrument-holding equipment comprising a mandrel, pivotally mounted in the instrument holder equipment, around a longitudinal axis, this mandrel having a first end, on the longitudinal axis, and a second end, opposite the first end on the longitudinal axis, the mandrel comprising exactly three movable elements distributed angularly around the longitudinal axis, these movable elements each comprising an internal surface surrounding an internal housing defined in the mandrel, which extends along the longitudinal axis and is open at the level of the second end, this internal housing being able to receive a portion of the endodontic instrument.
• each of the movable elements has at least one flat or substantially flat holding portion, these movable elements being movable between a closed configuration, in which the holding portions are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and located at the same distance from this longitudinal axis, and an open configuration, in which their internal surface is further from the longitudinal axis than in their closed configuration.
• Such instrument holder equipment according to the present invention makes it possible to center and removably hold a small diameter endodontic instrument, by being capable of rotating it by transmitting a relatively large torque to it.
• this instrument holder equipment can for example receive an endodontic instrument consisting of a simple blade, fitting into a cylindrical envelope which can have a diameter of 1.2 mm, or even 0.8 mm.
• the instrument-carrying equipment according to the invention is capable, thanks in particular to its holding portions, of driving such an instrument in rotation by imparting sufficient torque to carry out endodontic treatment.
• Such instrument-holding equipment according to the invention can also have a reduced footprint, thereby offering better visibility to the dental practitioner who uses it.
• the triangular internal shape of the mandrel allows the instrument-holding equipment to receive endodontic instrument blades with very small diameters.
• this triangular shape allows the instrument holder equipment to hold blades having a greater variability in diameter than an instrument holder having a pentagonal or hexagonal shape.
• the contact surface between the mobile elements and the blade of the endodontic instrument which preferably fits into an equilateral triangle, allows the transfer of a significant torque, including on small diameter blades.
• the chuck of the instrument holder equipment according to the invention can hold an endodontic instrument blade having a diameter of 0.8 mm as well as an endodontic instrument blade having a diameter of 1.2 mm, and transfer to them the torque usually used in endodontic operations.
• the movable elements are constituted by elongated tabs extending between two ends, a first end of each tab being fixed to another part of the mandrel and the second end of each tab being free, and forming the second end of the mandrel, the internal housing being formed between the legs.
• these legs are able to deform elastically, in order to be mobile relative to each other.
• the legs can thus move easily to allow the insertion or withdrawal of a portion of an endodontic instrument in the internal housing of the mandrel.
• the mandrel comprises movable retaining means between a so-called locking position, in which they hold the movable elements in the closed configuration, and a so-called unlocking position, in which they do not hold the movable elements. in this closed configuration.
• These mobile retaining means ensure that the mobile elements are maintained in their closed configuration when they are in the so-called locking position, thus preventing the removal of an endodontic instrument placed in the internal housing.
• these restraining means surround the legs and slide along them, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, between their locked position and their unlocked position.
• the restraining means comprise a helical spring surrounding the legs.
• This helical spring can thus itself form the mobile restraining means between a locking position in which it maintains the tabs in their closed configuration, and an unlocking position in which it does not maintain the tabs in this closed configuration. It is also possible that it pushes another component, such as for example a ring surrounding the legs, towards its position corresponding to the locking position of the restraint means.
• the internal surfaces have at least one shoulder oriented towards the first end of the mandrel.
• This shoulder of the internal surfaces can advantageously participate in maintaining in the mandrel a portion of endodontic instrument having a complementary shape, preventing its removal from the internal housing.
• the holding portions in the closed configuration, are located at a distance from the longitudinal axis less than 0.4 mm.
• the holding portions can thus contribute to effectively holding a small endodontic instrument in the mandrel, and causing it to rotate by transmitting a torque sufficient to carry out endodontic care.
• This instrument can thus be a simple blade, formed from a cylindrical rod with a diameter of 1.2 mm, or even 0.8 mm.
• the holding portions in the closed configuration, are advantageously located at a distance from the longitudinal axis of less than 0.3 mm.
• the holding portions in the closed configuration, form angles of 60° between them.
• This angular distribution of the surfaces of the holding portions, which are part of an equilateral triangle, allows an endodontic instrument to be placed in the mandrel in 3 different angular positions. It is thus easier for the practitioner to place an endodontic instrument in the mandrel.
• the present invention also relates to an endodontic device, comprising instrument holder equipment as described above and an endodontic instrument, a portion of which is introduced into the internal housing, the mobile elements and this portion of the endodontic instrument having shapes complementary, such that the mobile elements maintain the portion of the endodontic instrument in the internal housing, when they are in the closed configuration, called first configuration, and allow the removal of the endodontic instrument from this internal housing, when they are in the open configuration, called the second configuration.
• This holding of the endodontic instrument, in the closed configuration, by three substantially flat holding portions, substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and located at the same distance from this longitudinal axis, allows effective centering of the instrument and training in rotation, with sufficient torque to carry out endodontic treatment, even when the instrument has small dimensions, smaller than the dimensions of the handles of instruments commonly used in the prior art.
• the endodontic instrument consists of a blade inscribed in a cylindrical envelope with a diameter less than or equal to 1.6 mm, or even less than or equal to 1.2 mm.
• the portion of the endodontic instrument which is inserted into the internal housing is inscribed in a cylindrical envelope with a diameter less than or equal to 0.8 mm.
• the endodontic instrument can thus be formed of a simple blade, and be without the handle which fitted most of the endodontic instruments of the prior art.
• this portion of the endodontic instrument has three flats, distributed angularly around its perimeter, in contact with the holding portions when the mobile elements are in the closed configuration.
• This arrangement ensures that the endodontic instrument is maintained in the mandrel, preventing its separation from it when the mobile elements are in the closed configuration, and allows it to be driven in effective rotation, with sufficient torque to carry out endodontic treatment.
• Instrument holding equipment is dental equipment comprising a body, intended to be held by the hand of a dental practitioner, and a head, assembled to the body, presenting means for holding a dental instrument.
• the body of the instrument-carrying equipment often includes drive means, such as for example a motor, making it possible to rotate the instrument held by the head of the instrument-carrying equipment.
• a head of instrument-carrying equipment 1 in sectional view along a plane passing through the longitudinal axis 100, which corresponds to the axis of rotation of the instrument that can be carried by this head of instrument holder equipment 1.
• the head of instrument-holding equipment 1 comprises a housing 11 which is intended to be assembled with the body of instrument-holding equipment.
• a socket 12 is mounted in the housing 11 via bearings 121 and 122, so as to be pivotable, relative to the housing 11, around the longitudinal axis 100.
• the external face of this socket 12 forms a toothed wheel 123.
• This toothed wheel 123 can be engaged with a drive pinion, not shown on the , which can for example be linked to a drive shaft coming from the body of the instrument-carrying equipment, and capable of transmitting to the toothed wheel 123 of the socket 12 a rotary movement coming from a drive motor.
• the socket 12 At one end, called the front end 120 of the socket 12, the socket 12 is open in order to allow an endodontic instrument to be introduced into it to be carried by the instrument holder equipment head 1.
• the housing 11 At the level of a other end, called the rear end 129 of the socket 12, opposite the front end 120, the housing 11 is closed by a plug 111.
• a mandrel 2 is mounted in the socket 12, integrally with this socket 12. This mandrel 2 is intended to hold an endodontic instrument and to drive it in rotation, with a torque adapted to carrying out an endodontic treatment.
• the mandrel 2 is visible in longitudinal section view, along a plane passing through the longitudinal axis 100, on the , in cross section, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 100, in Figures 2 to 5, and in perspective, separated from the other elements of the instrument holder equipment head 1, in Figures 6 and 7.
• This mandrel 2 is elongated along the longitudinal axis 100, and is part of a cylindrical envelope whose axis corresponds to the longitudinal axis 100. It has a first end 25 on the longitudinal axis 100, held close to the the rear end 129 of the socket 12, and a second end 26, opposite its first end 25 on the longitudinal axis 100, which is held close to the front end 120 of the socket 12.
• the mandrel 2 has an assembly portion 21, which is intended to be assembled with the other elements of the instrument holder equipment head 1.
• this portion of assembly 21 is a cylindrical portion, intended to be mounted by force in the cylindrical opening of the socket 12, near its rear end 129.
• the mandrel 2 continues with an intermediate portion 23, which is a cylindrical portion concentric with the assembly portion 21, but of smaller diameter.
• This intermediate portion 23 is represented by the section of the . It should be noted that the helical spring 29, which surrounds this intermediate portion 23, is not shown in Figures 2 to 5.
• the mandrel 2 has an internal housing 220 open on its second end 26, and extending along the longitudinal axis 100, over part of the length of the mandrel 2.
• This internal housing 220 is intended to receive the non-active portion of a blade of an endodontic instrument. According to the invention, this internal housing 220 is surrounded by several elements of the mandrel 2, which are mobile relative to each other.
• the portion of the mandrel 2 which surrounds the internal housing 220 is formed by three legs 22 distinct and identical to each other. These legs 22 form the movable elements of the mandrel 2. Each of these three legs 22 is secured, via one of its ends, to the intermediate portion 23 of the mandrel 2. From this intermediate portion 23, each of the three legs 22 extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 100 of the mandrel 2, up to its free end, at the level of the second end 26 of the mandrel 2.
• Each of these tabs 22 has an external surface 221, the largest part of which is in continuity with the cylindrical external shape of the intermediate portion 23. At the level of the free end of the tabs 22, these external surfaces 221 have stops 225, the surface of which is further from the longitudinal axis 100 than the rest of the external surface 221 of the tabs 22.
• Each of these tabs 22 also has an internal surface 226 surrounding the internal housing 220, and forming the surface of this internal housing 220.
• This internal surface 226 has a variable shape along the tab 22, from the intermediate portion 23 to the second end 26 of the instrument. This shape of the internal surface 226 is described below, in connection with Figures 2 to 5 and the sectional view of the .
• each of the legs 22 advantageously has a reduced section compared to the neighboring portions of the tab 22, and therefore a lower moment of inertia, so as to form a flexible hinge 222, this flexible hinge 222 being defined by the shape of the internal surface 226 of the tab 22, which is locally closer to the surface external 221.
• the mandrel 2 being advantageously made of a material having great elasticity, such as for example a nickel-titanium alloy, the tabs 22 can deform elastically, in particular at the level of the flexible hinges 222, in order to be mobile in relation to each other.
• each of these first surface portions 223 is substantially plane and parallel to the longitudinal axis 100 of the mandrel 2, and is distant from this longitudinal axis 100 by a distance D1 which is, in the embodiment shown, substantially equal to 0.4 mm.
• FIG. EE There represents another cross section EE of the head of instrument holder equipment 1, showing a section of the legs 22, further away from the intermediate portion 23 than the section represented by the .
• the internal surfaces 226 of each of the three tabs 22 form a second surface portion, also called holding portion 224, which is substantially flat, and closer to the longitudinal axis 100 than the first surface portions. 223.
• These holding portions 224 of the three legs 22 are advantageously arranged in such a way that they together form portions of the sides of an equilateral triangle centered on the longitudinal axis 100 of the mandrel 2.
• each of these holding portions 224 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 100. Furthermore, these holding portions 224 are preferably distant from this longitudinal axis 100 of the same distance D2. To effectively hold an endodontic instrument without a handle, this distance D2 can advantageously be less than 0.4 mm. Thus, in the embodiment shown, in which the mandrel 2 carries an instrument formed from a bar of 0.8 mm in diameter, each of these holding portions 224 is distant from the longitudinal axis 100 by a distance D2 which is, in the embodiment shown, substantially equal to 0.3 mm.
• the first surface portion 223 and the holding portion 224 are connected to each other by a shoulder 227.
• This shoulder 227 is a portion of the internal surface 226 which can provide support making it possible to block movement according to the longitudinal axis 100.
• the shoulder 227 extends substantially in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 100 and is oriented towards the first end 25 of the mandrel 2. It therefore makes it possible to provide support to a component inserted in the internal housing 220 coming into contact with the shoulders 227, this support blocking the translation of this component along the longitudinal axis 100 towards the second end 26 of the mandrel 2.
• such a shoulder may have an angle relative to the perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 100, for example to form a chamfer.
• any portion of surface making it possible to provide support capable of blocking translation along the longitudinal axis 100 can be considered as forming a shoulder within the meaning of this description. This is particularly the case, for example, for several complementary chamfers which together make it possible to block a translation, along the longitudinal axis 100, of a complementary shape of an instrument bearing on these chamfers.
• the internal surface 226 of the tabs 22 forms a third surface portion 228, further away from the intermediate portion 23 than the holding portions 224 represented on the section of the .
• This third surface portion 228 forms an entry portion of the internal housing 220, widening as it approaches the second end 26 of the mandrel 2, corresponding to the free end of the tabs 22, to form a chamfer facilitating the introduction of 'a blade in the internal housing 220.
• the three legs 22 of the mandrel 2 are separated from each other by slots extending longitudinally on the mandrel 2.
• these slots are formed by cutting using an electroerosion wire, s extending in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis 100, which is moved relative to the mandrel 2 in order to form the internal surfaces 226 of each of the tabs 22. Consequently, when the tabs 22 are in their closed configuration, all portions internal surfaces 226 of the tabs 22 have at least one generatrix constituted by a straight line not colliding with another surface of the mandrel 2.
• the slots separating the three legs 22 are substantially rectilinear, and parallel to the longitudinal axis 100. It is however possible, in other embodiments, that these slots have different shapes, for example helical slots centered on the longitudinal axis 100.
• the electroerosion wire which is used to cut the internal surfaces 226 of the tabs 22 can be moved, in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis 100 of the mandrel 2, in order to make the cuts locally reducing the cross section of the legs 22.
• a helical spring 29 surrounds the intermediate portion 23 and the external surface 221 of the tabs 22, up to the stops 225.
• this helical spring 29 is relaxed, in its position called “locking position” represented by the , it is supported on the assembly portion 21, on one side, and on the stops 225, on the other side.
• the dimensions of the helical spring 29, and in particular its internal diameter, and the shape and dimensions of the external surface 221 of the lugs 22 near the stops 225 are such that, when the helical spring 29 is in this locking position, its turns bearing against the stops 225 surround the external surfaces 221 of the tabs 22 while maintaining these tabs 22 in their closed configuration.
• the tabs 22 do not allow the introduction of an endodontic instrument into the internal housing 220 which they surround. On the other hand, if a suitable endodontic instrument is placed in this internal housing 220, it is held by the tabs 22 without being able to be removed.
• the helical spring 29 can also be compressed, as shown in , in a position called “unlocking position” in which it only partially surrounds the tabs 22 and is no longer resting against the stops 225.
• the shape of the external surfaces 221 of the tabs 22 is such that, in this position of unlocking the helical spring 29, this helical spring 29 no longer maintains the legs 22 in their closed configuration but, on the contrary, allows them to move slightly away from each other, in their second configuration called “open configuration” represented by the . In this open configuration, the legs 22 can move slightly away from each other. They then allow the introduction of an endodontic instrument into the internal housing 220 which they surround, or the withdrawal of such an endodontic instrument.
• the helical spring 29 thus forms a mobile containment means between a locking position, represented by the , in which it maintains the tabs 22 in their closed configuration, and an unlocking position, represented by the , in which it does not maintain the legs 22 in their closed configuration.
• the tabs 22 are advantageously in a rest position when they are in their open configuration, and are elastically deformed to move to their closed configuration.
• these tabs 22 can pass, without further intervention, into their open configuration.
• the legs 22 may be in their rest position when they are in their closed configuration.
• the spacing of the tabs 22 to pass them into their open configuration can for example be obtained by introducing an object into the internal housing 220 between these tabs 22.
• the mandrel 2 is designed to receive a specially adapted endodontic instrument, which can advantageously be formed from a simple blade, which is not assembled with a handle. So, for example, the represents an endodontic instrument formed by the blade 3, which has a first end, or assembly end 31, forming the end of its non-active portion 35, and a second end, or free end 37, forming the end of its active portion 36.
• the active portion 36 is the part of the instrument which extends from its free end 37 and which is intended to be introduced into the root canal of a tooth, in order to carry out work or cleaning there.
• This active portion 36 thus has a specific shape, generally obtained by machining, which allows it to carry out the necessary work inside this root canal.
• this active portion 36 is represented schematically by a cone.
• Those skilled in the art will of course be able to produce the blade 3, or an equivalent blade, with an active portion 36 having any known shape.
• the non-active portion 35 of the blade 3 is a portion of the blade 3 intended to connect the active portion 36 to the instrument-holding equipment.
• This non-active portion 35 fits into the cylindrical shape of the bar in which the blade 3 is machined, which is, in the embodiment shown, a bar with a diameter of 0.8 mm.
• the axis of this cylindrical shape is hereinafter designated as the longitudinal axis 300 of the blade 3, which corresponds, when the blade 3 is assembled to the mandrel 2 of the instrument holder equipment head 1, to the axis longitudinal 100 of the mandrel 2.
• This non-active portion 35 of the blade 3 is represented in detail by the and in cross-section view through the .
• this non-active portion 35 first has a short end segment 32, having three main flat surfaces parallel to the longitudinal axis 300, positioned in such a way that the cross section of this end segment 32 fits into an equilateral triangle centered on the longitudinal axis 300 of the blade 3.
• this end segment 32 advantageously ends with chamfers 310 approaching the longitudinal axis 300.
• the non-active portion 35 has a holding segment 33, around which three flats 34 are distributed.
• These flats 34 preferably form flat surfaces parallel to the longitudinal axis 300, positioned in such a way that the cross section of this holding segment 33, which is visible on the , is part of an equilateral triangle centered on the longitudinal axis 300 of the blade 3. In the embodiment shown, each of these flats 34 is located at a distance of 0.3 mm from the longitudinal axis 300.
• These flats 34 are advantageously closer to the longitudinal axis 300 of the blade 3 than the main flat surfaces of the end segment 32, such that shoulders 341 appear at the junction between the flats 34 and the end segment 32.
• These shoulders 341 are parts of the surface of the blade 3 which can offer support making it possible to block movement of the blade 3 along its longitudinal axis 300. They are advantageously oriented towards the free end 37 of the blade 3, and can extend in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 300. It is however possible that these shoulders 341 are inclined relative to a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 300.
• the blade 3 can also be manufactured in a cylindrical bar of different diameter, and in particular of a larger diameter. It is thus possible, for example, to manufacture it in a bar with a diameter of 1.2 mm.
• the non-active portion 35 of the blade 3 may have flats 34 located at a distance of 0.3 mm from the longitudinal axis 300 which form an equilateral triangle centered on this longitudinal axis 300. Such flats are very easy to obtain, regardless of the diameter of the bar in which the blade is formed.
• the mandrel 2 can reversibly receive and hold a suitable blade such as the blade 3, the non-active portion of the blade being inserted into the internal housing 220 of the mandrel 2.
• a suitable blade such as the blade 3
• the non-active portion of the blade being inserted into the internal housing 220 of the mandrel 2.
• the helical spring 29 In the unlocking position of the helical spring 29, when it is pushed towards the intermediate portion 23, the helical spring 29 only partially surrounds the tabs 22, the tabs 22 can then move away from each other and pass into their open configuration. This passage can be done by the elastic return effect, if the rest position of the legs 22 corresponds to their open configuration, or under the effect of an action separating the legs 22 from each other, if the rest position of the legs 22 corresponds to their closed configuration.
• the non-active portion 35 of the blade 3 can be inserted between the legs 22 of the mandrel 2.
• the blade 3 can penetrate until the assembly end 31 of the blade 3 comes into contact with the intermediate portion 23 of the mandrel 2.
• the end segment 32 of the blade 3 is in the segment of the internal housing 220 of the mandrel 2 which is defined by the first portions of surface 223.
• the non-active portion 35 of the blade 3 advantageously has dimensions such that, when the assembly end 31 of the blade 3 is in contact with the intermediate portion 23, the flats 34 are facing the segment of the internal housing 220 defined by the holding portions 224.
• the helical spring 29 can then return to its locking position.
• the tabs 22 then return to their closed configuration, if necessary by rotating the blade 3 slightly around its longitudinal axis 300, in order to ensure the alignment of the surfaces of the holding portions 224 and the flats 34.
• the helical spring 29 maintains the tabs 22 in their closed configuration, in which the holding portions 224 are in contact with the flats 34.
• the non-active portion 35 of the blade 3 is then locked in the chuck 2 in its closed configuration.
• the end segment 32 of the blade 3 is introduced into the internal housing 220 such that the assembly end 31 of the blade 3 comes into contact with the intermediate portion 23 of the mandrel 2, which blocks the translation of the blade 3 in a direction tending to bring the blade 3 closer to the mandrel 2.
• the shoulders 227 of the legs 22 of the mandrel 2 come into contact with the shoulders 341 joining the flats 34 to the end segment 32 of the blade 3, prevent the removal of the blade 3 from the mandrel 2, as long as this mandrel 2 is in its closed configuration.
• the holding portions 224 of the tabs 22, in contact with the flats 34 center the blade 3 relative to the mandrel 2, such that the longitudinal axis 300 of the blade 3 corresponds to the longitudinal axis 100 of the mandrel 2.
• the endodontic instrument which must be introduced into the mandrel 2 can advantageously be equipped with a specific sheath, making it possible to pass the retaining means of the mandrel 2 into their unlocking position.
• a specific sheath there thus represents, by way of example, the blade 3 inserted in such a sheath 7.
• This sheath 7 advantageously has a case 71 surrounding the active portion 36 of the blade 3.
• This case 71 of tubular shape, can be made of a relatively flexible plastic and can be opened, near the tip of the active portion 36 of the blade 3, or on the contrary be closed, for example in order to maintain this active portion 36 sterile.
• the sheath 7 forms a rigid crown having three fingers 72, which extend along the non-active portion 35 of the blade 3, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 300 of this blade 3, towards its assembly end 31.
• these fingers 72 are chosen so as to allow their insertion into the slots located between the legs 22 of the mandrel 2, when the non-active portion 35 of the blade 3 is introduced into the internal housing 220 located between these legs 22.
• This introduction into the mandrel 2 of a blade 3, surrounded by a sheath 7, is represented by the .
• the ends of the fingers 72 come into contact with the helical spring 29 to push it towards its unlocking position.
• the sheath 7 has, between these fingers 72, inclined planes 73 capable, when the fingers 72 are introduced into the slots located between the tabs 22, of coming into contact with the third surface portions 228 of the tabs 22 to separate these legs 22 from each other.
• the sheath 7 thus allows the mandrel 2 to pass from its closed configuration represented by the to its open configuration represented by the , together with the introduction of the blade 3 into this mandrel 2.
• the sheath 7 can be removed, while maintaining the blade 3 in the mandrel 2.
• the mandrel 2 then returns to its closed configuration while maintaining securely the blade 3, as shown in .
• the removal of the blade 3 from the mandrel 2 can be carried out by replacing the sheath 7 on the blade 3, in such a way that the fingers 72 are introduced into the slots located between the legs 22 of the mandrel 2, pushing back the helical spring 29 , and that the third surface portions 228 of the legs 22 are spaced apart by the inclined planes 73, such that the legs 22 move away from each other.
• the mandrel 2 then returns to its open configuration, and the blade 3 can be removed from the mandrel 2, for example at the same time as the sheath 7.
• an instrument holder equipment head 1 can be adapted to supply irrigating liquid to an instrument specially adapted to conduct this irrigating fluid into the patient's tooth.
• Figures 17 and 18 show two examples of such instrument holder equipment heads 1.
• the mandrel 2 fitted to the instrument holder equipment heads 1 has an axial conduit 24 passing through the assembly portion 21 and the intermediate portion 23, along the longitudinal axis 100.
• This axial conduit 24 therefore opens on the one hand on the first end 25 of the mandrel 2, and on the other hand at the bottom of the internal housing 220.
• Such a mandrel 2 can receive a specifically adapted instrument, such as instruments 301 and 302, the non-active portions of which are represented, respectively, by Figures 15 and 16.
• These instruments 301 and 302 have axial conduits, respectively 3010 and 3020, extending along their longitudinal axis 300.
• the instrument 302 represented by the furthermore comprises a pipe portion 3021 extending its non-active portion, which is capable of being introduced into the axial pipe 24 of the mandrel 2.
• the cover 112 of the housing 11 is adapted to allow the supply of fluid to the axial pipe 24 of the mandrel 2.
• this cover 112 can have an opening aligned with the longitudinal axis 100, as represented by or a fluid supply chamber 113, facing the first end 25 of the mandrel 2, which is itself supplied by a supply pipe 114, as shown in .
• FIG. 1 There is a sectional view of a head of instrument holder equipment 1 according to another possible embodiment of the invention.
• This instrument holder equipment head 1 has a housing 11 and a socket 12 similar to those of the instrument holder equipment head 1 of the .
• the socket 12 maintains a mandrel 2 which, as shown in , has an assembly portion 21, an intermediate portion 23 and three legs 22, extending the intermediate portion 23 and defining an internal housing 220 capable of receiving the non-active portion 35 of a blade such as the blade 3.
• the external surface 221 of the tabs 22 has, at the free end of the tabs 22, stops 225.
• a ring 27 is slidably mounted around the external surface 221 of the tabs 22 and the intermediate portion 23 of the socket 12. It is kept in contact with the stops 225 by a helical spring 29 surrounding the lugs 22 and the intermediate portion 23.
• This helical spring 29 and this ring 27 constitute means of restraint.
• these retaining means are in their locking position, in which they maintain the tabs 22 in their closed configuration.
• these retaining means are in their unlocking position in which they allow the tabs 22 to move away from each other. of others to reach their open configuration.
• This instrument holder equipment head 1 represented by the is intended to be used with the blade 3 surrounded by a sheath 8, as shown in .
• the sheath 8 has a circular opening forming a crown 81, surrounding the assembly end 31 of the blade, which is able to push the ring 27 towards its unlocking position, passing between the socket 12 and the tabs 22. dimensions of this crown 81 are such that it does not hinder the spacing of the legs 22, when they pass into their open configuration.
• the sheath 8 pushes the ring 27 towards its position unlocking at the very moment when the assembly end 31 of the blade 3 enters the internal housing 220, between the tabs 22 which then pass into their open configuration.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
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• Dental Tools And Instruments Or Auxiliary Dental Instruments (AREA)

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• 2022
  • 2022-09-08 EP EP22783433.0A patent/EP4583808A1/de active Pending
  • 2022-09-08 WO PCT/EP2022/075016 patent/WO2024051946A1/fr not_active Ceased

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