AU2014201991B2

AU2014201991B2 - A dental capsule

Info

Publication number: AU2014201991B2
Application number: AU2014201991A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Joshua James Cheetham
Original assignee: SDI Ltd
Current assignee: SDI Ltd
Priority date: 2013-04-12
Filing date: 2014-04-08
Publication date: 2019-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2034-04-08
Also published as: AU2014201991A1

Abstract

A dental capsule (10) for storing a dental powder component and a liquid component (30) in separated condition in which the powder component is contained in a chamber (26) and the liquid component (30) is contained in a pouch (27). The capsule (10) comprises a freely movable member (36) arranged to rupture the pouch (27) upon vibration of the capsule (10) so that the liquid component (30) admixes with the powder component to forma dental paste. The chamber (26) of the capsule (10) has a dispensing nozzle (14)to enable the dental paste to be dispensed for use. ' 22 ' 35 28 'I 3 Fig

Description

DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO:

Australian Provisional Patent Application Number 2013901272 filed on 12 April 2013

The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me/us:

2014201991 28 Mar 2019

TITLE “A DENTAL CAPSULE”

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a dental capsule

BACKGROUND [0002] It is known to provide dental capsules containing dental powder and liquid in separated condition. The powder and liquid components are typically admixed by any convenient means and the capsule is subsequently placed in a mixing device. In the mixing device the components are thoroughly admixed to form a dental paste suitable for application to a tooth for treatment thereof.

[0003] It has now been discovered that it is possible to admix the components of a dental capsule simultaneously with vibration thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a dental capsule comprising means for storing dental powder and liquid components in separated condition having a hollow body with a first end and second end, wherein the powder component is contained in a compartment of the hollow body adj acent the first end of the capsule and the liquid component is contained in a pouch adjacent the second end of the hollow body, the second end of a hollow body being provided with a chamber having an open outer end and a partially closed inner end, the chamber having mounted therein the pouch, a restraining cup being mounted in the open outer end of the chamber, the restraining cup having a closed outer end and an open inner end, the pouch being retained

2014201991 08 Apr 2014 engagement between the inner end of the cup and the inner end of the chamber, the cup further containing an unrestrained member disposed between an outer end of the cup and the pouch, the unrestrained member being arranged to move reciprocally within the cup when the capsule is vibrated in a vibrating mixer so as to impact against the pouch so as to rupture the pouch at the partially closed inner end of the chamber to enable the liquid component to admix with the powder component to form a dental paste simultaneously with vibration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0005] The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure lisa transverse sectional view of a capsule in accordance with the present invention in exploded condition;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the capsule of Figure 1 in assembled condition;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the capsule in a partially activated condition;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 with the capsule in a further partially activated condition;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 in a yet further partially activated condition; and Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 in a fully activated condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0006] In Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown a dental capsule 10 having a hollow main body 12 and a dispensing nozzle 14 arranged to engage with an end of the body 12,

2014201991 28 Mar 2019 [0007] The body 12 has an internal circumferential step 16 so that the body is relatively narrow adjacent the nozzle 14 and relatively wide remote from the nozzle 14. The nozzle 14 has an inner end 15 of enlarged lateral dimension. The end 15 comprises a circumferential flange 17 provided with an inwardly extending projection 18. The body 12 is provided with a lateral circumferential recess 19 adjacent one end thereof. As shown in Figure 2, the projection 18 engages with the recess 19 to secure the nozzle 14 to the body 12.

[0008] The adjacent end of the body 12 is provided with a longitudinal aperture 20 adjacent the nozzle 14. A seal 21 is mounted across the aperture 20 as shown in Figure 2.

[0009] A chamber 22 is engaged with the body 12 at the end thereof remote from the nozzle 14. The chamber 22 is inserted into the body 12 until the chamber 22 engages with the step 16. Further, the chamber 22 has an open outer end 23 and a partially closed inner end 24 containing a relatively small central aperture 25. The combination of the chamber 22 and the seal 21 define a chamber 26 in the body 12 (as shown in Figure 2), arranged to contain a dental powder component.

[0010] Further a liquid component containing pouch 27 is mounted within the chamber 22. As shown the pouch 27 comprises a pair of opposed layers 28 which are typically formed of film. As shown one layer 28 is flat and the other is recessed so that the pouch 27 defines a volume 29 containing a liquid component 30. However, the volume 29 could be defined by the other layer 28 being recessed or by both layers 28 being recessed. The volume 29 is sized so as to hold an amount of liquid component 30 compatible with the amount of powder in the chamber 26.

[0011 ] Edges 31 of the layers 28 forming the pouch 27 may be ultrasonically welded or laser welded or heat sealed together. Thus, the edges 31 of the layers 28 are then joined together to form a hermetic seal around the liquid containing volume 29.

[0012] The layers 28 may be made from mono, di or tri layered film. Film with more

2014201991 08 Apr 2014 than three layers can be used. The flat layer 28 may be made thinner or weaker than the recessed layer 28.

[0013] The pouch 27 is retained in place initially by a restraining cup 32 which has an open inner end 33 and a closed outer end 34 as shown in Figure 2. As shown the cup 32 engages with the chamber 22. The inner end 33 of the cup 32 together with the inner end 24 of the chamber 22 sandwiches the edges 31 of the layers 28 in the assembled condition of the capsule 10 as can been seen in Figure 2.

[0014] Further, the cup 32 contains a freely mounted or unrestrained member 36 which is disposed in the volume between the outer end 34 of the cup 32 and the pouch 27. The member 36 may be a solid member which fits snugly in the cup 32. The member 36 may be made of plastics material. The member 36 is smaller longitudinally than the volume defined by the cup 32 and the pouch 27 and is therefore able to move reciprocally within the cup 32 when the capsule 10 is placed in a vibratory mixer.

[0015] In use, the capsule 10 in assembled condition is inserted in a vibratory dental mixer of known type by the use of a circumferential groove 37. As the capsule 10 is vibrated the unrestrained member 36 is moved reciprocally in the volume between the outer end 34 of the cup 32 and the pouch 27. Thus, the unrestrained member 36 impacts the adjacent layer 28 of the pouch 27 repeatedly. This causes the adjacent layer 28 to be depressed. This action causes hydraulic pressure of the liquid component in the pouch 27 to be increased so that the layer 28 of the pouch 27 adjacent the aperture 25 in the inner end of the chamber 22 is ruptured at the aperture 25 as shown in Figure 3. This creates a path for the liquid 30 to contact a powder component in the chamber 26 for mixing. Generally, a mixing time of 5 to 15 seconds such as about 10 seconds is sufficient for the liquid 30 in the pouch 28 to be forced into the chamber 26 for admixture of the components simultaneously with vibration.

[0016] As can be seen in the drawings the inner end 24 of the chamber 22 has a circumferential groove 38 extending therearound. The groove 38 results in a step 40

2014201991 08 Apr 2014 being formed at the inner end 24. The step 40 engages with the step 16 in the body 12 as shown in Figure 2.

[0017] However, the presence of the step 40 also provides a relatively thin weakened portion on the inner end 24 of the chamber 22. Thus, after the formation of the dental paste longitudinal pressure may be applied to the cup 32 to urge it inwardly of the body

12.

[0018] As shown in Figure 4, this action causes the inner end 23 of the chamber 22 to break away. The inner end 24 may then be urged towards the nozzle 14 by the cup 32. This causes the formed dental paste to apply hydraulic pressure on the seal 21 which causes the seal 21 to rupture as shown in Figure 5.

[0019] Continued urging of the cup 32 on the inner end 24 enables the inner end 24 to reach the far end of the chamber 26 such that substantially all of the dental paste is ejected into the nozzle 14 for dispensation.

[0020] Further, the end of the chamber 26 adjacent the nozzle 14 has a region 44 of relatively narrow lateral dimension. The region 44 constitutes a compression zone which imparts resistance to movement of the broken away portion 24 of the chamber 22.

[0021] Still further, the chamber 22 has an outwardly extending outer rib 46 which engages with a circumferential recess in the body 12 so that after the inner end has broken away the remainder of the chamber 22 remains in situ as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

[0022] Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A dental capsule comprising means for storing dental powder and liquid

2014201991 28 Mar 2019

CLAIMS components in separated condition having a hollow body with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the hollow body is arranged to be engaged with a dispensing nozzle, the powder component is contained in a compartment of the hollow body adjacent the first end of the capsule and the liquid component is contained in a pouch adjacent the second end of the hollow body, the second end of the hollow body being provided with a chamber having an open outer end and a partially closed inner end, the chamber having mounted therein the pouch, a restraining cup being mounted in the open end of the chamber, the restraining cup having a closed outer end and an open inner end, the pouch being retained in place by engagement between the inner end of the cup and the inner end of the chamber, the cup further containing an unrestrained member disposed between an outer end of the cup and the pouch, the unrestrained member being arranged to move reciprocally within the cup when the capsule is vibrated in a vibrating mixer so as to impact against the pouch so as to rupture the pouch at the partially closed inner end of the chamber to enable the liquid component to admix with the powder

2014201991 28 Mar 2019 component to form a dental paste simultaneously with vibration.

2. A dental capsule according to claim 1, wherein the hollow body is relatively narrow adjacent the first end thereof and relatively wide adjacent the second end thereof.

3. A dental capsule according to claim 2, wherein the narrow and wide internal portions of the hollow body are separated by an internal circumferential step.

4. A dental capsule according to claim 3, wherein the inner end of the chamber has a groove extending therearound so as to form a step at the inner end of the chamber which engages with the internal circumferential step in the hollow body.

5. A dental capsule according to claim 4, wherein the chamber is inserted into the hollow body until engagement thereof with the circumferential step, so as to define a chamber in the hollow body adjacent the first end thereof containing the dental powder.

6. A dental capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pouch comprises a pair of opposed layers defining a volume.

7. A dental capsule according to claim 6, wherein the pouch has edges which are

2014201991 28 Mar 2019 sealed together and the edges are sandwiched between the inner end of the cup together with the inner end of the chamber.

8. A dental capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner end of the chamber is provided with a relatively small central aperture.

9. A dental capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first end of the hollow body is provided with an aperture which is initially closed off by means of a seal.

10. A dental capsule according to claim 9, wherein after admixture of the components, the inner end of the chamber is arranged to be broken away by pressure applied to the cup, so that the broken away inner end of the chamber may be urged towards the first end of the hollow member so as to apply hydraulic pressure by means of the dental paste on the seal causing the seal to rupture so that the dental paste may be ejected into the dispensing nozzle.