Abstract: An endodontic instrument (10) for preparing a tooth of a patient, in particular an instrument for cleaning the root canal that follows the natural geometry of the canal. The instrument (10) comprises a rigid tip (11) arranged to be mounted on a rotating support (102) of an apparatus (103), known as a contra-angle, and a working sector (12). The working sector (12) comprises a free end section (13) which is arranged to engage in the root canal (101). The working sector (12) is composed of a first essentially straight active segment (14) disposed in the extension of the rigid tip (11), and at least one second active segment (15) comprising the free end section (13). In the static state, the second active segment (15) is substantially straight and, in the dynamic state, the second active segment (15) has a curved shape.

Abstract: A method of forming a dental tool or instrument having a memorized shape. The method comprises selecting a nitinol wire having an initial transition temperature below room temperature; grinding the nitinol wire to form the dental tool or instrument so as to have a shank, located adjacent a first end, and a working area, with at least one cutting edge, located adjacent an opposite second leading end; molding the working area into a molded shape having at least one protrusion formed therein; heating the dental tool or instrument to both: a) alter the initial transition temperature of the dental tool or instrument to a final transition temperature, and b) memorize the Molded shape including the at least one protrusion so that the dental tool or instrument will automatically return to the molded shape having the at least one protrusion when at a temperature at or above the final transition temperature.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument (20) for drilling root a canal within a tooth. The instrument has a working area (21) that is arranged so as to form, shape and/or cut the inner wall of the root canal. The instrument has a plurality of flutes wound around a central axis in the form of a spiral, within a conical envelope (25) so as to have a cross-section that becomes narrower from a first end (23) to the second end (26) of the instrument. The working area (21) is sub-divided into adjacent segments (13) such that the flutes alternately have a straight section and a section that is twisted in the form of a spiral and are arranged, in such a way, that the edges of the flutes are located either on the conical envelope (25) or inside the envelope on the straight sections or on the twisted sections.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument for drilling root canals, in particular a flexible drilling instrument which includes a working part and a securing end fitting intended for mounting the instrument in a mandrel of a contra-angle-type support provided with an electric motor used to drive an instrument clockwise. The casing of the working part is conical along its length and ends in a tip. The working part is provided with a spiral flute forming a ridge having a cutting edge. The drill bit, relief and cutting angles defined by the cutting edge can be varied along the length of the working part so that the instrument is particularly sharp in the area near the tip and so that the profile of the cutting ridge becomes progressively more blunt along the length of the instrument.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument for drilling root canals, in particular a flexible drilling instrument which comprises a working part and a securing end fitting intended for mounting the instrument in a mandrel of a contra-angle-type support provided with an electric motor used to drive an instrument clockwise. The casing of the working part is conical along its length and ends in a tip. The working part is provided with a spiral flute forming a ridge having a cutting edge. The drill bit, relief and cutting angles defined by the cutting edge can be varied along the length of the working part so that the instrument is particularly sharp in the area near the tip and so that the profile of the cutting ridge becomes progressively more blunt along the length of the instrument.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument for drilling the root canals of a tooth. The instrument comprises a working area for forming and/or shaping and/or cutting the wall of the root canal of the tooth. The working area is provided with a supporting endpiece that can be attached to a manual or mechanically driven mounting. The working area is arranged so as to assume a stowed configuration when the instrument is in an inoperative position to the working position, and vice versa, being cause by a predetermined variation in the temperature of the instrument. To this end, the working area is made from a wire of a metal alloy having shape-memory properties or particular elasticity properties.

Abstract: A method and device for monitoring and identifying a medical instrument, capable of being incorporated in the instrument itself, and provided with the sufficient storage capacity to store all the data relative to the use of the instrument. The device for monitoring and identifying the medical instrument (10) includes an electronic component (14) integrated in the grip (11) of the instrument. The electronic component is an electronic label comprising an integrated circuit including a storage unit containing variable data based on the use of the instrument (10) and a way for writing and/or modifying and reading the data. The electronic label communicates, via radio frequency, with the software of a motor driving the instrument and via a read/write interface module to allow the software to monitor the motor based on a cyclic fatigue value of the odontological instrument.