Probes and biofluids for treating and removing deposits from tissue surfaces
View Patent ↗An endodontic probe is used to perform disinfection procedures on target tissues within root canal passages and tubules. The endodontic probe can include an electromagnetic radiation emitting fiber optic tip having a distal end and a radiation emitting region disposed proximally of the distal end. According to one aspect, the endodontic probe can include a porous structure that encompasses a region of the fiber optic tip excluding the radiation emitting region and that is loaded with biologically-active particles, cleaning particles, biologically-active agents, or cleaning agents for delivery from the porous structure onto the target tissues. Another aspect can include provision of the endodontic probe with an adjustable channel-depth indicator, which encompasses a region of the fiber optic tip besides the radiation emitting region and which is movable in proximal and distal directions along a surface of the fiber optic tip to facilitate the provision of depth-of-insertion information to users of the endodontic probe.
1. An endodontic probe having an elongate body sized to fit within a root canal passage, the elongate body including a body proximal region, a body distal region and a body longitudinal axis extending between the body proximal region and the body distal region, the endodontic probe comprising:
(a) an electromagnetic radiation emitting fiber optic tip disposed at the body distal region, the fiber optic tip having a distal end and a radiation emitting region disposed proximally of the distal end, the radiation emitting region being structured to emit a peak concentration of radiation along a line that is not parallel to the body longitudinal axis; and
(b) a porous structure characterized by one or more of (i) encompassing a region of the fiber optic tip excluding the radiation emitting region and (ii) comprising a material that is transparent to a wavelength of energy carried by the electromagnetic radiation emitting fiber optic tip, the porous structure comprising pores that are loaded with a biofluid or biopowder, the biofluid or biopowder comprising one or more of biologically-active particles, cleaning particles, biologically-active agents, and cleaning agents that are structured to be delivered from the porous structure onto tissue.
2. The endodontic probe as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the porous structure is a porous wall which is an integral, non-removable part of the fiber optic tip.
3. The endodontic probe as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the porous structure covers a region of the fiber optic tip distally of the radiation emitting region.
4. The endodontic probe as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the porous structure is secured to and can be retracted and removed from the endodontic probe while inside of a dentinal canal.
5. The endodontic probe as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation emitting fiber optic tip is coupled to one or more of an infrared laser and a near-infrared laser.
6. The endodontic probe as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the radiation emitting region is structured to emit a greater concentration in a non-distal direction than in a distal direction.
7. The endodontic probe as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the radiation emitting region comprises a longitudinal axis and is structured to emit a peak concentration of radiation along a line that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis.
8. The endodontic probe as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the particles or agents comprise cleaning particles.
9. The endodontic probe as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the particles or agents comprise anesthetizing particles.
10. The endodontic probe as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the particles or agents comprise disinfectant particles.
11. The endodontic probe as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the particles or agents are suspended in a liquid.
12. The endodontic probe as set forth in claim 1 , wherein liquid has a viscosity greater than that of water.
13. The endodontic probe as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the porous structure comprises a sheath.
14. The endodontic probe as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the porous structure comprises a fabric.
15. The endodontic probe as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the porous structure comprises a sponge.
16. The endodontic probe as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the porous structure comprises a membrane disposed around at least a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitting fiber optic tip.
17. The endodontic probe as set forth in claim 1 , and further comprising a fluid output.
18. The endodontic probe as set forth in claim 1 , a portion of the electromagnetic radiation emitting fiber optic tip disposed proximally of the distal end comprising a jacket, and the distal end not comprising the jacket.
19. The endodontic probe as set forth in claim 1 , the porous structure comprising a sponge or sheath formed in a compact, low-profile fashion for providing minimally invasive access to a surgical site of tissue comprising one or more of a canal, a pocket, and a periodontal pocket.
20. The endodontic probe as set forth in claim 1 , the porous structure comprising a sponge or sheath formed to expand and allow the release of biofluids or biopowders to a target site upon placement into contact with a fluid in a mouth.