Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A dental apparatus for intraosseously delivering dental anesthesia comprising: a drilling member including a drill housing, a connecting portion for establishing a connection to a dental drilling apparatus, and a drill extending from the drill housing; and a sleeve member including a sleeve housing, and a hollow sleeve extending from the sleeve housing; wherein the sleeve housing is adapted to be removably engaged with the drill housing such that the drill is inserted into the sleeve; wherein the drill is made of a titanium alloy comprising at least 10% titanium and has a length such that when the drill is inserted into the hollow sleeve, a portion of the drill extends beyond the hollow sleeve; wherein the drill and the hollow sleeve are rotatable by the dental drilling apparatus, the drill comprises a cutting edge that drills a hole in bone, and the hollow sleeve comprises a leading edge that reams a proximal portion of the hole drilled by the drill; wherein the hollow sleeve is adapted to receive a syringe needle when the sleeve housing and the drill housing are disengaged and the drill is removed from the hollow sleeve; and wherein the drill is solid and has a smooth outer surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
A dental apparatus for intraosseously delivering dental anesthesia comprising: a drilling member including a drill housing, a connecting portion for establishing a connection to a dental drilling apparatus, and a drill extending from the drill housing; and a sleeve member including a sleeve housing, and a hollow sleeve extending from the sleeve housing; wherein the sleeve housing is adapted to be removably engaged with the drill housing such that the drill is inserted into the sleeve; wherein the drill is made of a titanium alloy comprising at least 10% titanium and has a length such that when the drill is inserted into the hollow sleeve, a portion of the drill extends beyond the hollow sleeve; wherein the drill and the hollow sleeve are rotatable by the dental drilling apparatus, the drill comprises a cutting edge that drills a hole in bone, and the hollow sleeve comprises a leading edge that reams a proximal portion of the hole drilled by the drill; wherein the hollow sleeve is adapted to receive a syringe needle when the sleeve housing and the drill housing are disengaged and the drill is removed from the hollow sleeve; and wherein the drill is solid and has a smooth outer surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The dental apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the drill is dimensioned to substantially fill the hollow sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The dental apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the drill has an outer diameter of about 0.4 mm, and wherein the hollow sleeve has an inner diameter of about 0.42 mm and an outer diameter of about 0.62 mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The dental apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the drill is such that when the drill is inserted into the hollow sleeve, the drill extends about 0.3 mm beyond the hollow sleeve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The dental apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the cutting edge of the drill and the leading edge of the hollow sleeve are both oblique.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The dental apparatus according to claimed 4 , wherein the leading edge of the hollow sleeve is roughened or serrated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The dental apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the leading edge of the hollow sleeve is tapered.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The dental apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow sleeve has a smooth outer surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The dental apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow sleeve has grooves formed along an outer surface thereof in a longitudinal direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The dental apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow sleeve is adapted to receive a syringe needle having substantially a same outer diameter as the drill.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The dental apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the drill housing and the sleeve housing are formed of a plastic material, and the drill and the hollow sleeve are insert molded in the drill housing and the sleeve housing, respectively.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The dental apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the titanium alloy comprises at least 40% titanium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The dental apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the titanium alloy is a NITINOL alloy comprising 55%-56% nickel and 44%-45% titanium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The dental apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the titanium alloy consists of 44% titanium and 56% nickel and no other appreciable amount of any other ingredient.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
237 words
A dental method of intraosseously delivering dental anesthesia comprising the steps of: removably coupling a drilling member and a sleeve member such that a drill housing of the drilling member and a sleeve housing of the sleeve member are removably engaged, and such that a solid drill having a smooth outer surface and extending from the drill housing is inserted into a hollow sleeve extending from the sleeve housing; removably engaging a connecting portion of the drilling member to a dental drilling apparatus; operating the dental drilling apparatus to cause the drill to drill a hole in a bone and the hollow sleeve to ream the drilled hole, thereby inserting the drill and the hollow sleeve into the bone, said drill having a length such that a portion thereof extends beyond the hollow sleeve and is inserted deeper into the drilled hole than the hollow sleeve; disengaging the drill housing and the sleeve housing such that the drill is removed from the hollow sleeve and the hollow sleeve is left inserted in the bone; inserting a syringe needle into the hollow sleeve left inserted in the bone; and introducing a fluid from the syringe needle directly into the bone via an exposed bottom portion of the drilled hole as well as via exposed side-wall portions at a distal end of the drilled hole; wherein the drill is made of a titanium alloy comprising at least 10% titanium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
237 words
A dental method of intraosseously delivering dental anesthesia comprising the steps of: removably coupling a drilling member and a sleeve member such that a drill housing of the drilling member and a sleeve housing of the sleeve member are removably engaged, and such that a solid drill having a smooth outer surface and extending from the drill housing is inserted into a hollow sleeve extending from the sleeve housing; removably engaging a connecting portion of the drilling member to a dental drilling apparatus; operating the dental drilling apparatus to cause the drill to drill a hole in a bone and the hollow sleeve to ream the drilled hole, thereby inserting the drill and the hollow sleeve into the bone, said drill having a length such that a portion thereof extends beyond the hollow sleeve and is inserted deeper into the drilled hole than the hollow sleeve; disengaging the drill housing and the sleeve housing such that the drill is removed from the hollow sleeve and the hollow sleeve is left inserted in the bone; inserting a syringe needle into the hollow sleeve left inserted in the bone; and introducing a fluid from the syringe needle directly into the bone via an exposed bottom portion of the drilled hole as well as via exposed side-wall portions at a distal end of the drilled hole; wherein the drill is made of a titanium alloy comprising at least 10% titanium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The dental method according to claim 15 , wherein the drill is inserted into the hollow sleeve so as to extend about 3 mm beyond the hollow sleeve.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The dental method according to claim 15 , wherein the drill is operated to drill the hole such that the distal end of the drilled hole has a diameter which is smaller than an outer diameter of the hollow sleeve.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The dental method according to claim 17 , wherein the hollow sleeve remains inserted in the bone throughout a dental procedure, and wherein fluid is repeatedly injected directly into the bone, if and when necessary, during the dental procedure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The dental method according to claim 15 , further comprising a step of removing the needle of the syringe from the hollow sleeve in a manner such that the hollow sleeve remains inserted in the bone.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The dental apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the drill and the hollow sleeve are adapted to be rotated by the dental drilling apparatus at a rotation speed of about 2,000 to 20,000 rpm.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The dental method according to claim 15 , wherein the dental drilling apparatus is operated at a rotation speed of about 2,000 to 20,000 rpm.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 15 , wherein the titanium alloy comprises at least 40% titanium.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The dental method according to claim 15 , wherein the titanium alloy is a NITINOL alloy comprising 55%-56% nickel and 44%-45% titanium.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The dental method according to claim 15 , wherein the titanium alloy consists of 44% titanium and 56% nickel and no other appreciable amount of any other ingredient.