Activated micro-bubble based root canal disinfection system

Abstract

A photoactive solution and a micro-bubble solution are provided as part of a system for use in disinfecting a root canal. The system also include a handpiece having a flexible tip. When the handpiece is energized, vibrations are induced in the flexible tip to mechanically activate the micro-bubble solution in the root canal. The photoactive solution contains a photoactive compound dissolved in an alcohol carrier solution; and the micro-bubble solution contains an oxygen carrier, an oxidizing agent and a surfactant. The flexible tip transmits light energy into the root canal. The micro-bubble solution facilitates delivery of the light to the photoactive solution to activate the photoactive solution in the canal. The activated photoactive solution then acts on the oxygen introduced in the canal via the micro-bubble solution to disinfect the root canal.

1 . A root canal disinfecting system comprising a photosensitive solution and a separate oxygen carrying, micro-bubble producing solution;
 the photosensitive solution comprising a photoactive compound dissolved in an alcohol carrier solution; wherein,
 the photosensitive compound is chosen from the group consisting of toluidine blue (TBO), methylene blue (MB), rose bengal (RB) arianor steel blue, tryptan blue, crystal violet, azure blue cert, azure B chloride, azure 2, azure A chloride, azure B tetrafluoroborate, thionin, azure A eosinate, azure B eosinate, azure mix sicc, azure II eosinate, haematoporphyrin HCl, haematoporphyrin ester, aluminum disulphonated phthalocyanine, chlorins, photoactive fullerenes (e.g. Cl6-b), aminolevulinic acid (ALA), bacteriochlorins, phthalocyanines, pheophorbides, purpurins, naphthalocyanines, indocyanine green, and combinations thereof; and 
 the alcohol solution comprises polyethylene glycol and/or ethanol; and 
   the oxygen carrying, micro-bubble producing solution comprising an oxygen carrier, an oxidizing agent and a surfactant; wherein.
 the oxygen carrier is chosen from the group consisting of perfluorodecahydro naphthalene, perfluorodecalin, perfluorohexane, octafluoropropane, perfluorobutane, perfluorooctane, perfluoromethyldecalin and O 2 IrCl(CO)P[C 6 H 5 ] 3 ) 2 , and combinations thereof; 
 the oxidizing agent of the micro-bubble solution is chosen from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), dilute sodium hypochlorite, dimethyl sulfoxide and chlorine dioxide and combinations thereof; and 
 the surfactant of the micro-bubble solution is chosen from the group consisting of mineral oil, glycerol, polyethylene glycol, non-ionic detergent, polypropylene glycol, SDS, a nonionic polyoxyethylene surfactant and combinations thereof. 
   
     
     
         2 . The root canal disinfecting system of  claim 1  further comprising a mechanical activator; said mechanical activator comprising an energizable handpiece having a flexible activator depending from a head of said handpiece; said activator being sized to be inserted in a root canal; whereby, when said handpiece is energized, vibrations are induced in said activator. 
     
     
         3 . The root canal disinfecting system of  claim 2  wherein said activator is comprised of a fiber optic and said system further includes a light source; said fiber optic transmitting light from said light source along the length of said fiber optic. 
     
     
         4 . The root canal disinfecting system of  claim 3  wherein said light source is an LED or a laser. 
     
     
         5 . A photosensitive solution for use in light activated disinfection of a prepared canal; the solution comprising a photoactive compound dissolved in an alcohol carrier solution, said photosensitive solution being void of oxygen carrying compounds:
 wherein the photosensitive compound is chosen from the group consisting of toluidine blue (TBO), methylene blue (MB), rose bengal (RB) arianor steel blue, tryptan blue, crystal violet, azure blue cert, azure B chloride, azure 2, azure A chloride, azure B tetrafluoroborate, thionin, azure A eosinate, azure B eosinate, azure mix sicc, azure II eosinate, haematoporphyrin HCl, haematoporphyrin ester, aluminum disulphonated phthalocyanine, chlorins, photoactive fullerenes (e.g. Cl6-b), aminolevulinic acid (ALA), bacteriochlorins, phthalocyanines, pheophorbides, purpurins, naphthalocyanines, indocyanine green, and combinations thereof; and   wherein alcohol solution comprises polyethylene glycol and/or ethanol.   
     
     
         6 . The solution according to any of  claim 5  wherein the photosensitive compound is methylene blue or rose bengal arianor steel blue. 
     
     
         7 . The solution according to any of  claim 6  wherein the photosensitive compound is methylene blue. 
     
     
         8 . The solution according to  claim 5  wherein the carrier alcohol solution comprises polyethylene glycol and ethanol. 
     
     
         9 . The solution according to  claim 5  wherein the polyethylene glycol is glycerol. 
     
     
         10 . The solution according to  claim 5  wherein the polyethylene glycol, ethanol, and water of the carrier solution are combined in a ratio of about 1:1:1 to about 3:1:2. 
     
     
         11 . The solution according to  claim 5  wherein the polyethylene glycol, ethanol, and water of the carrier solution are combined in a ratio of about 30:20:50. 
     
     
         12 . The solution according to any of  claim 5  wherein the photosensitive compound has a concentration of about 5 micro molar to about 100 micro molar in the photosensitive solution. 
     
     
         13 . The solution according to any of  claim 5  wherein the photosensitive compound has a concentration of about 100 micro molar. 
     
     
         14 . An oxygen carrying, micro-bubble producing solution for use in light assisted photodynamic root canal therapy comprising an oxygen carrier, an oxidizing agent and a surfactant, said micro-bubble solution being void of photosensitive compounds;
 wherein the oxygen carrier is chosen from the group consisting of perfluorodecahydro naphthalene, perfluorodecalin, perfluorohexane, octafluoropropane, perfluorobutane, perfluorooctane, perfluoromethyldecalin and O 2 IrCl(CO)P[C 6 H 5 ] 3 ) 2 , and combinations thereof;   wherein the oxidizing agent of the micro-bubble solution is chosen from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), dilute sodium hypochlorite, dimethyl sulfoxide and chlorine dioxide and combinations thereof; and   wherein the surfactant of the micro-bubble solution is chosen from the group consisting of mineral oil, glycerol, polyethylene glycol, non-ionic detergent, polypropylene glycol, SDS, a nonionic polyoxyethylene surfactant and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         15 . The solution according to  claim 14  wherein the oxygen carrier of the micro-bubble solution is a perflourocarbon. 
     
     
         16 . The solution according to  claim 14  wherein the oxidizing agent of the micro-bubble solution is of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). 
     
     
         17 . The solution according to  claim 16  wherein the concentration of the hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) used is about 35% H 2 O 2 . 
     
     
         18 . The solution according of  claim 14  wherein the surfactant of the micro-bubble solution is a nonionic polyoxyethylene surfactant. 
     
     
         19 . The solution according to  claim 14  wherein the oxygen carrier, oxidizing agent and surfactant of the micro-bubble solution are combined in a ratio of about 30:20:50 by volume. 
     
     
         20 . The solution according to  claim 14  wherein the oxygen carrier, oxidizing agent and surfactant of the micro-bubble solution are combined in a ratio of 75.0:24.5:0.5 by volume.