Dental material delivery system

Abstract

Described herein is a dental material applicator system comprising a segmented capsule and handpiece. The capsule separately holds a powder and a liquid such that upon activation in the handpiece by an operator, the powder and liquid are mixed into a paste. The operator then triggers the handpiece so that the mixed paste is extruded.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A handpiece, comprising:
 a chamber having a powder and liquid,   the handpiece capable of activating the chamber such that the powder and the liquid are mixed into a paste,   The handpiece further being capable of dispensing the paste from the chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The handpiece of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is a capsule. 
     
     
         3 . The handpiece of  claim 1 , wherein the mixing occurs through an ultrasonic vibration. 
     
     
         4 . The handpiece of  claim 1 , wherein the mixing occurs through a planetary motion in the chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The handpiece of  claim 1 , wherein the mixing occurs through an offset mixing chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The handpiece of  claim 1 , wherein the handpiece is battery powered. 
     
     
         7 . The handpiece of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber further comprising a radio frequency identification such that the chamber is read by the handpiece and the handpiece imparts the proper mixing sequence for that a product. 
     
     
         8 . The handpiece of  claim 1 , wherein the handpiece further includes a vacuum. 
     
     
         9 . The handpiece of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber has internal mixing elements that rotate and reciprocate to mix the powder and liquid. 
     
     
         10 . The handpiece of  claim 9 , wherein the internal mixing elements can fold flat against an end wall during extrusion. 
     
     
         11 . The handpiece of  claim 9 , wherein the internal mixing elements are parallel to an axis of the chamber and rotate about an axis against an outer side wall of the chamber, and a liquid cup pushes past the internal mixing elements to extrude the paste. 
     
     
         12 . The handpiece of  claim 1 , wherein pressure is relieved during an intermediate pausing of dispensing by backing up pistons a small amount to reduce oozing of the paste during such a pause. 
     
     
         13 . The handpiece of  claim 1 , the handpiece further comprising a current limit sensor that reduces the motor speed and the dispensing rate to compensate for thick pastes. 
     
     
         14 . The handpiece of  claim 1 , wherein the handpiece is capable of automatically retracting plungers and unlocking the chamber after all of the paste has been dispensed so that the chamber can be unloaded. 
     
     
         15 . The handpiece of  claim 1 , wherein a spring loaded cam on a front face supporting the chamber so that the when the chamber is rotated the spring loaded cam imparts a rapid back and forth vibration to the chamber such that mixing of the powder and liquid into the paste occurs. 
     
     
         16 . The handpiece of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber includes the liquid in a hollow section of an internal shaft holding for mixing that also supports internal mixing elements. 
     
     
         17 . The handpiece of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber comprises a donut-shaped liquid cup that has a central bearing through which the mixing shaft and internal mixing elements are supported. 
     
     
         18 . The handpiece of  claim 1 , further comprising internal mixing elements that are perforated disks that rotate and reciprocate back and forth to mix the liquid and the powder together. 
     
     
         19 . The handpiece of  claim 1 , further comprising two disks that rotate relative to one another to open and close holes that when in the open position are for mixing the paste and when in the closed position facilitate the paste extrusion. 
     
     
         20 . A dental material applicator system, comprising:
 a segmented capsule having a powder and a liquid,   a handpiece,   wherein the handpiece is capable of being triggered in order for the capsule to be activated such that the powder and the liquid are mixed into a paste, and   wherein the mixed paste is extruded from the handpiece.