Abstract:
A method is for fabricating a device for injecting a filler material in the fluid phase into a root canal space, the device including an adapter nozzle, an auto-mixer connected to the adapter nozzle, an intra-oral injection nozzle positioned at the upper end of the auto-mixer. The method includes using a shape memory material to make the injection nozzle so as to be bendable according to a desired orientation. The method also includes arranging on the exterior surface of the injection nozzle, circular ribs defining a groove, and moulding the upper end of the auto-mixer in this groove so that the injection nozzle is lodged in position in the upper end while retaining a degree of freedom in rotation around its axis of symmetry, or one or multiple circular ribs parallel to each other.
Abstract:
Dental retention systems which facilitate the adjustment or removal of an oral appliance. e.g., a crown or bridge, from a reconfigurable abutment assembly are described. The adjustable abutment assembly may be secured to an anchoring implant bored into the bones within the mouth. The abutment assembly has a projecting abutment portion with one or more shape memory alloy compression plates or elements extending along the projecting abutment portion. Each of the plates has a length with one or more straightened portions and with at least one curved or arcuate portion. Energy may be applied to the elements such that the arcuate portion self-flattens to allow for the oral appliance to be placed thereupon while removal of the energy allows the elements to reconfigure into its curved configuration thereby locking the oral appliance to the abutment. Removal of the oral appliance may be effected by reapplication of energy to the elements.
Abstract:
Root canal abutment devices and methods which facilitate the adjustment or removal of an oral appliance, e.g., a crown or bridge, from a reconfigurable abutment assembly are described. The adjustable abutment assembly may be secured within a pulp chamber of a pre-existing tooth. The abutment assembly has a projecting abutment portion with one or more shape memory alloy sleeves or plates or elements extending along the abutment. Each of the sleeves has a length with at least one curved or arcuate portion. Energy may be applied to the elements such that the arcuate portion flattens to allow for the oral appliance to be placed thereupon while removal of the energy allows the elements to reconfigure into its curved configuration thereby locking the oral appliance to the abutment. Removal of the oral appliance may be effected by reapplication of energy to the elements.
Abstract:
Articles made of shape memory alloys having improved fatigue performance and to methods of treating articles formed from shape memory alloy materials by pre-straining the articles (or desired portions of the articles) in a controlled manner so that the resultant articles exhibit improved fatigue performance. The shape memory articles are preferably medical devices, more preferably implantable medical devices. They are most preferably devices of nitinol shape memory alloy, most particularly that is superelastic at normal body temperature. The pre-straining method of the present invention as performed on such articles includes the controlled introduction of non-recoverable tensile strains greater than about 0.20% at the surface of a desired portion of a shape memory alloy article. Controlled pre-straining operations are performed on the shape-set nitinol metal to achieve non-recoverable tensile strain greater than about 0.20% at or near the surface of selected regions in the nitinol metal article. The pre-straining operations result in a significant increase in fatigue life of the selectively treated regions and an overall improvement in the fatigue performance of the device.
Abstract:
A method for enhancing an initial tension by changing a wound direction of a coil spring. A large and precise initial tension is provided to the coil spring. An actuator having an excellent function is prepared by using a shape memory alloy. Each shape of the coil spring at high and low temperatures can be controlled by a flexible shape memory effect.
Abstract:
Described herein are methods, systems, and apparatus for shape-setting hyperelastic, single-crystal shape memory alloy (SMA) material while preserving the hyperelastic properties of the material. Also described are hyperelastic, single-crystal SMA devices that have been shape set by these methods. In particular, described herein are hyperelastic, single crystal SMA dental archwires and methods of forming them while preserving the hyperelastic properties, e.g., without significant grain boundaries in the crystal structure.
Abstract:
Dental retention systems which facilitate the adjustment or removal of an oral appliance, e.g., a crown or bridge, from a reconfigurable abutment assembly are described. The adjustable abutment assembly may be secured to an anchoring implant bored into the bones within the mouth. The abutment assembly has a projecting abutment portion with one or more shape memory alloy compression plates or elements extending along the projecting abutment portion. Each of the plates has a length with one or more straightened portions and with at least one curved or arcuate portion. Energy may be applied to the elements such that the arcuate portion self-flattens to allow for the oral appliance to be placed thereupon while removal of the energy allows the elements to reconfigure into its curved configuration thereby locking the oral appliance to the abutment. Removal of the oral appliance may be effected by reapplication of energy to the elements.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a device for injecting a filling material in the fluid phase into a canal space, the said device comprising an adaptor, an automatic mixer connected to the said adaptor, an intra-oral injection tip fitted at the upper end of the said automatic mixer, and is characterized in that the said injection tip is a tube the distal end of which has an outside diameter smaller than or equal to 1.5 mm over a length greater than or equal to 8 mm, in that the said injection tip is made of a shape memory material so that it can be bent to a desired orientation, in that the said injection tip is moulded at the upper end of the said automatic mixer, and in that the said injection tip comprises, on its exterior surface: *either circular ribs defining a groove, the upper end of the automatic mixer being moulded into this groove so that the said injection tip is locked in position in the said upper end while at the same time retaining a degree of freedom to rotate about its axis of symmetry, *or one or more mutually parallel circular ribs, the upper end of the automatic mixer being moulded onto this circular rib in such a way that the said injection tip is blocked in position in the said upper end while at the same time retaining a degree of freedom to rotate about its axis of symmetry.
Abstract:
Shape memory dental retention systems which facilitate the adjustment or removal of an oral appliance, e.g., a crown or bridge, from a reconfigurable abutment assembly are described. The adjustable abutment assembly may be secured to an anchoring implant bored into the bones within the mouth. The abutment assembly has a projecting abutment portion with one or more shape memory material sleeves or plates or elements extending along the abutment. Each of the sleeves has a length with at least one curved or arcuate portion. Energy may be applied to the elements such that the arcuate portion flattens to allow for the oral appliance to be placed thereupon while removal of the energy allows the elements to reconfigure into its curved configuration thereby locking the oral appliance to the abutment. Removal of the oral appliance may be effected by reapplication of energy to the elements.
Abstract:
Embodiments are provided for utilizing metallic portions in dental positioning appliances. One embodiment includes a removable dental positioning appliance having a shell having one or more cavities shaped to receive and reposition one or more teeth from a first orientation to a successive orientation and where at least a portion of the shell is formed from a metallic mesh material.