IP Library Granted Patent US 11,648,083
Granted Patent B2
US 11,648,083 · App. 16/284,836 · Granted May 16, 2023

Piezoelectric device and circuitry

Inventors: Gary J. Pond (Milwaukee, WI); John Baeten (Oak Creek, WI); Michael W. Allen (Shortsville, NY)
Assignee: INTER-MED, INC.
A61C1/07A61C1/0015A61C17/0202A61N7/00B06B1/0207H01L41/042H01L41/09A61C5/40A61C5/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,648,083
App. No.
16/284,836
Granted
May 16, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides a device having a circuit. The circuit includes at least one boost converter receiving power from an energy source, a square wave driver in series with the boost converter, an inductor in series with the square wave driver for converting a square wave to a sinusoidal wave, and a piezoelectric transducer in series with the inductor, the piezoelectric transducer connectable to a load. The device further includes a phase-locked loop coupled to the circuit to determine a resonance frequency of the piezoelectric transducer when the piezoelectric transducer is connected to the load.

Claims (23)

1. A cordless device for activating intracanal irrigants during endodontic procedures, the device comprising:

a housing to contain internal components of the device;

a button located on a top of the housing for controlling ultrasonic activation;

a direct current electrical power source contained within the housing;

a printed circuit board assembly located proximate to a midline of the device housing;

an ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer located distally on the device and contained within the housing;

wherein the ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer comprises:

a piezoelectric ceramic stack with a stack first side and a stack second side including a plurality of piezoelectric discs;

a back mass body having a back mass first end and a back mass second end, wherein a series of rings of different radii is interposed between the back mass first and second ends;

a horn for amplifying mechanical vibrations by the piezoelectric ceramic stack; and

a treatment tip located at the body distal end that mechanically mates to the horn of the piezoelectric transducer;

wherein the printed circuit board assembly determines a loaded resonant frequency of the piezoelectric transducer through circuit elements comprising at least one diode;

wherein mechanical vibrations from the ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer are transferred to the intracanal irrigants via the treatment tip to achieve intracanal irrigant activation.

2. The cordless device of claim 1 , further comprising a pump in fluid communication with the treatment tip, wherein the pump is selected from the group consisting of: an elastomeric infusion pump and a piezoelectric pump, wherein the pump is capable of producing flow rates between 0.01 and 20.0 mL per minute through the treatment tip.

3. The cordless device of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric transducer is between 40 and 60 mm in length and has a loaded resonance frequency between 25 and 50 kHz.

4. The cordless device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical power source is selected from a DC battery, a supercapacitor, a rechargeable battery, a lithium ion battery, and combinations of the same.

5. The cordless device of claim 1 , wherein the printed circuit board first determines the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric transducer and treatment tip via a phase-lock loop in a feedback loop by identifying where the impedance is a local minimum and the phase is zero; and drives the piezoelectric transducer and treatment tip at the resonant frequency via an AC voltage signal of 100-800V.

6. The cordless device of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid port located on the device in fluid communication with the treatment tip.

7. The cordless device of claim 1 , wherein the treatment tip is made from stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, plastic composites, or a combination thereof.

8. The cordless device of claim 1 , wherein the treatment tip is mechanically mated to the horn of the piezoelectric transducer via threads or quick connect means.

9. The cordless device of claim 1 , wherein the treatment tip is titanium and mechanically mates to the horn of the piezoelectric transducer via threads.

10. The cordless device of claim 1 , wherein the intracanal irrigant activation results in cavitation within the irrigant.

11. The cordless device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one diode is connected in series with the piezoelectric transducer and arranged to form a junction between the piezoelectric transducer and ground.

Assignments (6)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE TO RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67010 FRAME 306. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Apr 8, 2024
From: MARANON CAPITAL, L.P., AS AGENT
To: INTER-MED, INC.; APEX DENTAL MATERIALS, LLC
Reel/Frame 067028/0628 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67010 FRAME 306. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Apr 8, 2024
From: MARANON CAPITAL, L.P., AS AGENT
To: INTER-MED, INC.; APEX DENTAL MATERIALS, LLC
Reel/Frame 067029/0280 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 4, 2024
From: MARANON CAPITAL, L.P., AS AGENT
To: INTER-MED, INC.; APEX DENTAL MATERIALS, LLC
Reel/Frame 067010/0306 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2024
From: INTER-MED, INC.
To: BMO BANK N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 066993/0755 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 7, 2022
From: INTER-MED, INC.; APEX DENTAL MATERIALS, LLC
To: MARANON CAPITAL, L.P., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 059530/0599 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2019
From: POND, GARY J.; BAETEN, JOHN; ALLEN, MICHAEL W.
To: INTER-MED, INC.
Reel/Frame 051200/0127 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 15108033
Provisional Application 61986563 · Apr 30, 2014
Provisional Application 61921294 · Dec 27, 2013
Related Publication 20190357996A1 · Nov 28, 2019