US 6,981,869 B2
Injection molded endodontic brush
Clifford J. Ruddle, 227 Las Alturas Rd., Santa Barbara, Calif. 93103 (US)
Filed on Apr. 22, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/420,302.
Prior Publication US 2004/0214135 A1, Oct. 28, 2004
Int. Cl. A61C 17/02 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 433—102 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A one-piece, integrally formed microbrush for use in cleaning a root canal during an endodontic procedure on a living patient after the root canal has been shaped but before obturation of the root canal system:
a handle adapted to be connected to a dental handpiece or hand-held by a practitioner for inserting the microbrush through an access cavity preparation in the tooth, through an orifice into the root canal; and
a brush section operatively connected to and extending from said handle; said brush section comprising a core and a plurality of bristles projecting outwardly from the core to clean debris and other material out of the root canal as the core is inserted therethrough, in preparation for filling the root canal; said core being molded from a plastic resin; said microbrush having an overall diameter, at least at a distal end, sized to enable the microbrush to reach the apical ends of root canals; said brush section being tapered and having a first diameter at a tip end of said brush section and a second, larger, diameter at the coronal end of said brush section; said taper being a progressive taper.