IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0444242
(2003-05-23)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Fischer,Dan E.
- McLean,Bruce S.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
27 인용 특허 :
87 |
초록
▼
A dental treatment system comprises membrane treatment tray that is self-conforming to a person's own teeth when used with a sticky dental treatment composition and a support skeleton. The support skeleton maintains the flexible membrane tray in the form of tray prior to placing the tray over a pers
A dental treatment system comprises membrane treatment tray that is self-conforming to a person's own teeth when used with a sticky dental treatment composition and a support skeleton. The support skeleton maintains the flexible membrane tray in the form of tray prior to placing the tray over a person's teeth. A sticky viscous composition is either provided in or applied to the membrane tray, and then the treatment system is placed so as to position the membrane tray over the upper or lower teeth of the person. The support skeleton (internal or external) is separated from the membrane tray so that just the membrane tray remains over the person's teeth during the desired dental treatment. The sticky viscous composition holds the membrane tray against the teeth and helps it to at least partially conform to the shape of the teeth. The membrane dental tray is useful for teeth bleaching and other dental treatments known in the art.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A dental treatment system for use in applying a treatment composition to a person's teeth, comprising: a dental treatment tray that is adapted to be worn without requiring customization, the dental treatment tray having a tray configuration that is adapted to permit the treat
What is claimed is: 1. A dental treatment system for use in applying a treatment composition to a person's teeth, comprising: a dental treatment tray that is adapted to be worn without requiring customization, the dental treatment tray having a tray configuration that is adapted to permit the treatment tray to fit and be worn over at least a portion of a person's upper or lower dental arch when the tray is used to apply a treatment composition, the treatment tray comprising a thin-walled, flexible membrane material that is adapted to at least partially conform to the person's teeth when worn by a patient so as to be used to apply a dental treatment composition; a support skeleton positioned adjacent to the dental treatment tray so as to maintain the thin-walled flexible membrane material tray in the configuration of a tray prior to its placement over the person's teeth; and when maintained in the configuration of a tray by the support skeleton, the thin-walled flexible membrane defining an interior trough for holding the dental treatment composition, and having an exterior opening through which the person's teeth can be inserted. 2. A dental treatment system as recited in claim 1, wherein the interior trough further includes a dental treatment composition contained therein. 3. A dental treatment system as recited in claim 2, wherein the dental treatment composition is sticky so as to adhere and retain the dental treatment tray over a person's teeth during a desired treatment time and so as to cause the tray to at least partially conform to the person's teeth. 4. A dental treatment system as recited in claim 2, wherein the dental treatment composition comprises at least one tackifying agent. 5. A dental treatment system for use in applying a treatment composition to a person's teeth, comprising: a dental treatment tray having a tray configuration so as to fit over at least a portion of a person's upper or lower dental arch, the treatment tray having a thickness and flexibility so that it at least partially conforms to the person's teeth when used in combination with a sticky dental treatment composition, the treatment tray defining an interior trough having an exterior opening through which a treatment composition and the person's teeth can be inserted; a support skeleton positioned adjacent to the dental treatment tray so as to maintain the tray in the tray configuration prior to placement of the dental treatment tray over the person's teeth; and wherein the interior trough further includes a dental treatment composition contained therein that comprises at least one tackifying agent. 6. A dental treatment system as recited in claim 4 or 5, wherein the tackifying agent comprises at least one of carbopol, cellulosic ether, protein, polyacrylic acid polymer, polyacrylic acid copolymer, pemulen, or polyvinyl pyrrolidone. 7. A dental treatment system as recited in claim 2 or 5, wherein the dental treatment composition comprises at least one of a dental bleaching agent, an anticariogenic agent, an antimicrobial agent, a remineralizing agent, a desensitizing agent, or fluoride. 8. A dental treatment system as recited in claim 2 or 5, wherein the support skeleton and dental treatment tray containing the dental treatment composition are contained within a sealed package. 9. A dental treatment system as recited in claim 8, wherein the sealed package comprises at least one of a plastic or foil pouch. 10. A dental treatment system as recited in claim 8, wherein the sealed package comprises a peelable cover. 11. A dental treatment system as recited in claim 1 or 5, wherein the dental treatment tray comprises at least one of ultra low density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, paraflin wax, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polycaprolactone, polyethylene, or polypropylene. 12. A dental treatment system as recited in claim 1 or 5, wherein the dental treatment tray has a wall thickness in a range of about 0.0001 inch to about 0.01 inch. 13. A dental treatment system as recited in claim 1 or 5, wherein the dental treatment tray has a wall thickness in a range of about 0.001 inch to about 0.005 inch. 14. A dental treatment system as recited in claim 1 or 5, wherein the dental treatment tray has a wall thickness in a range or about 0.0025 inch to about 0.003 inch. 15. A dental treatment system as recited in claim 1 or 5, wherein the dental treatment tray is sufficiently thin and flexible that it does not maintain its physical integrity as a tray when separated from the support skeleton absent external support. 16. A dental treatment system as recited in claim l or 5, wherein the dental treatment tray is sufficiently thin and flexible that it does not maintain its physical integrity as a tray when removed from a person's teeth absent external support. 17. A dental treatment system as recited in claim 1 or 5, wherein the support skeleton is an external skeleton positioned at least partially adjacent to an exterior wall of the dental treatment tray. 18. A dental treatment system as recited in claim 1 or 5, wherein the support skeleton is an internal skeleton positioned at least partially within the interior trough of the dental treatment tray. 19. A dental treatment system as recited in claim 1 or 5, wherein the support skeleton comprises a handle that facilitates placement of the dental treatment tray over a person's teeth. 20. A dental treatment system as recited in claim 1 or 5, wherein the support skeleton comprises at least one of polyurethane, elastomer, molded plastic, closed or open cell polymeric foam, metal, wire, cardboard, or sugar. 21. A dental treatment system as recited in claim 18, wherein the internal skeleton comprises a sufficiently rigid treatment matrix, which upon wetting becomes sufficiently sticky to hold the dental treatment tray against the teeth and/or gums. 22. A dental treatment system as recited in claims 1 or 5, comprising a plurality of dental treatment trays and support skeletons within a kit. 23. A dental treatment system as recited in claim 21, wherein the plurality of dental treatment trays and support skeletons are packaged together in a roll. 24. A dental treatment kit for use in applying a treatment composition to a person's teeth, comprising: a dental treatment tray that is adapted to be worn without requiring customization, the dental treatment tray having a tray configuration that is adapted to permit the treatment tray to fit and be worn over at least a portion of a person's upper or lower dental arch when the tray is used to apply treatment composition, the treatment tray comprising a thin-walled, flexible membrane material that is adapted to at least partially conform to the person's teeth when worn by a patient so as to be used to apply a dental treatment composition, the treatment tray defining an interior trough for holding the dental treatment composition, and having an exterior opening through which the person's teeth can be inserted; a support skeleton positioned adjacent to the dental treatment tray so as to maintain the thin-walled flexible membrane material tray in the configuration of a tray prior to its placement of the dental over the person's teeth; and a dental treatment composition for treating the patient's teeth when placed in the tray that is worn by the patient. 25. A dental treatment kit as recited in claim 24, wherein the dental treatment tray comprises at least one of ultra low density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, paraffin wax, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polycaprolactone, polyethylene, or polypropylene. 26. A dental treatment kit as recited in claim 24, wherein the dental treatment tray has a wall thickness in a range of about 0.0001 inch to about 0.01 inch. 27. A dental treatment kit as recited in claim 24, wherein the dental treatment tray has a wall thickness in a range of about 0.001 inch to about 0.005 inch. 28. A dental treatment kit as recited in claim 24, wherein the dental treatment tray has a wall thickness in a range of about 0.0025 inch to about 0.003 inch. 29. A dental treatment kit as recited in claim 24, wherein the dental treatment tray is sufficiently thin and flexible that it does not maintain its physical integrity as a tray when separated from the support skeleton absent external support. 30. A dental treatment kit as recited in claim 24, wherein the dental treatment tray is sufficiently thin and flexible that it does not maintain its physical integrity as a tray when removed from a person's teeth absent external support. 31. A dental treatment kit as recited in claim 24, wherein the support skeleton is an external skeleton positioned at least partially adjacent to an exterior wall of the dental treatment tray. 32. A dental treatment kit as recited in claim 24, wherein the support skeleton is an internal skeleton positioned at least partially within the interior trough or the dental treatment tray. 33. A dental treatment kit as recited in claim 32, wherein the internal skeleton comprises a sufficiently rigid treatment matrix, which upon wetting becomes sufficiently sticky to hold the dental treatment tray against the teeth and/or gums. 34. A dental treatment kit as recited in claim 24, wherein the support skeleton comprises a handle that facilitates placement of the dental treatment tray over a person's teeth. 35. A dental treatment kit as recited in claim 24, wherein the support skeleton comprises at least one of polyurethane, elastomer, molded plastic, closed or open cell polymeric foam, metal, wire, cardboard, or sugar. 36. A dental treatment kit as recited in claim 24, comprising a plurality of dental treatment trays and support skeletons. 37. A dental treatment kit as recited in claim 36, wherein the plurality of dental treatment trays and support skeletons are packaged together in a roll. 38. A method of applying a treatment composition to a person's teeth, comprising: (a) providing a dental treatment system comprising: a dental treatment tray that is adapted to be worn without requiring customization, the dental treatment tray having a tray configuration so as that is adapted to permit the treatment tray to fit and be worn over at least a portion of a person's upper or lower dental arch when the tray is used to apply a treatment composition, the treatment tray comprising a thin-walled, flexible membrane material that is adapted to at least partially conforms to the person's teeth when worn by a patient so as to be used to apply a dental treatment composition, the treatment tray defining an interior trough for holding the dental treatment composition, and having an exterior opening through which the person's teeth can be inserted; and a support skeleton positioned adjacent to the dental treatment tray so as to maintain the thin-walled flexible membrane material in the configuration of a tray prior to its placement over the person's teeth; and when maintained in the configuration of a tray by the support skeleton, the thin-walled flexible membrane defining an interior trough for holding the dental treatment composition, and having an exterior opening through which the person's teeth can be inserted; (b) introducing a quantity of a dental treatment composition into the interior trough of the dental treatment tray; (c) placing the dental treatment tray over at least a portion of the person's teeth; (d) separating the support skeleton from the dental treatment tray; and (e) at least partially conforming the thin-walled flexible membrane and the treatment composition contained therein over the patient's teeth and then wearing the dental treatment tray for a period of time to permit treatment of the teeth by the dental composition. 39. A method as recited in claim 38, wherein the dental treatment composition is sticky so that it helps to partially conform the treatment tray to the patient's teeth, and adheres and retains the dental treatment tray over the person's teeth during a desired treatment time. 40. A dental treatment kit as recited in claim 24, wherein the interior trough further includes a dental treatment composition contained therein. 41. A dental treatment kit as recited in claim 40, wherein the dental treatment composition is sticky so as to adhere and retain the dental treatment tray over a person's teeth during a desired treatment time and so as to cause the tray to at least partially conform to the person's teeth. 42. A dental treatment kit as recited in claim 40, wherein the dental treatment composition comprises at least one tackifying agent. 43. A dental treatment kit as recited in claim 42, wherein the tackifying agent comprises at least one of carbopol, cellulosic ether, protein, polyacrylic acid polymer, polyacrylic acid copolymer, pemulen, or polyvinyl pyrrolidone. 44. A dental treatment kit as recited in claim 40, wherein the dental treatment composition comprises at least one of a dental bleaching agent, an anticariogenic agent, an antimicrobial agent, a remineralizing agent, a desensitizing agent, or fluoride. 45. A dental treatment kit as recited in claim 40, wherein the support skeleton and dental treatment tray containing the dental treatment composition are contained within a sealed package. 46. A dental treatment kit as recited in claim 45, wherein the sealed package comprises at least one of a plastic or foil pouch. 47. A dental treatment kit as recited in claim 45, wherein the sealed package comprises a peelable cover. 48. A method of applying a treatment composition to a person's teeth, comprising: (a) providing a dental treatment system comprising: a dental treatment tray having a tray configuration so as to fit over at least a portion of a person's upper or lower dental arch, the treatment tray having a thickness and flexibility so that it at least partially conforms to the person's teeth when used in combination with a sticky dental treatment composition, the treatment tray defining an interior trough having an exterior opening through which a treatment composition and the person's teeth can be inserted; and a support skeleton positioned adjacent to the dental treatment tray so as to maintain the tray in the tray configuration prior to placement of the dental treatment tray over the person's teeth; (b) introducing a quantity of a dental treatment composition into the interior trough of the dental treatment tray, the dental treatment composition comprising at least one tackifying agent; (c) placing the dental treatment tray over at least a portion of the person's teeth; and (d) separating the support skeleton from the dental treatment tray. 49. A method as recited in claims 38 or 48, wherein the support skeleton is an external skeleton initially positioned at least partially adjacent to an exterior wall of the dental treatment tray such that (d) is performed subsequent to (c). 50. A method as recited in claims 38 or 48, wherein the support skeleton is an internal skeleton positioned at least partially within the interior trough of the dental treatment tray such that (d) is performed prior to or substantially simultaneously with (c). 51. A dental treatment system for use in applying a treatment composition to a person's teeth, comprising: a dental treatment tray having a tray configuration so as to fit over at least a portion of a person's upper or lower dental arch, the treatment tray having a thickness and flexibility so that it at least partially conforms to the person's teeth when used in combination with a sticky dental treatment composition, the treatment tray defining an interior trough having an exterior opening through which a treatment composition and the person's teeth can be inserted; a support skeleton positioned adjacent to the dental treatment tray so as to maintain the tray in the tray configuration prior to placement of the dental treatment tray over the person's teeth; and wherein the support skeleton is an internal skeleton positioned at least partially within the interior trough of the dental treatment tray. 52. A method of applying a treatment composition to a person's teeth, comprising: (a) providing a dental treatment system comprising: a dental treatment tray having a tray configuration so as to fit over at least a portion of a person's upper or lower dental arch, the treatment tray having a thickness and flexibility so that it at least partially conforms to the person's teeth when used in combination with a sticky dental treatment composition, the treatment tray defining an interior trough having an exterior opening through which a treatment composition and the person's teeth can be inserted; and a support skeleton positioned adjacent to the dental treatment tray so as to maintain the tray in the tray configuration prior to placement of the dental treatment tray over the person's teeth, and wherein the support skeleton is an internal skeleton positioned at least partially within the interior trough of the dental treatment tray such that (d) is performed prior to or substantially simultaneously with (c); (b) introducing a quantity of a dental treatment composition into the interior trough of the dental treatment tray; (c) placing the dental treatment tray over at least a portion of the person's teeth; and (d) separating the support skeleton from the dental treatment tray.
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