Abstract: Medical instruments, particularly, endodontic instruments with unique limited memory characteristics, and methods for making such instruments. One embodiment includes heat treating an endodontic blank prior to forming a working portion of the endodontic instrument.

Abstract: Methods for modifying a physical characteristic of finished endodontic instruments made from one or more superelastic alloys is described which include heat treating one or more finished endodontic instruments in a salt bath for a specific time (e.g., from about four hours to about six hours), at a specified temperature (e.g., from about 475° C. to about 550° C.), and preferably at a specified pH range.

Abstract: Medical instruments, particularly, endodontic instruments with unique limited memory characteristics, and methods for making such instruments. One embodiment includes heat treating a finished endodontic instrument. A related embodiment includes electropolishing a finished endodontic instrument and then heat treating the endodontic instrument.

Abstract: Medical instruments, particularly, endodontic instruments with unique limited memory characteristics, and methods for making such instruments. One embodiment includes heat treating an endodontic blank prior to forming a working portion of the endodontic instrument.

Abstract: Medical instruments, particularly, endodontic instruments with unique limited memory characteristics, and methods for making such instruments. One embodiment includes heat treating a finished endodontic instrument. A related embodiment includes electropolishing a finished endodontic instrument and then heat treating the endodontic instrument.

Abstract: Methods for modifying a physical characteristic of finished endodontic instruments made from one or more superelastic alloys is described which include heat treating one or more finished endodontic instruments in a salt bath for a specific time (e.g., from about four hours to about six hours), at a specified temperature (e.g., from about 475° C. to about 550° C.), and preferably at a specified pH range.

Abstract: Medical instruments, particularly, endodontic instruments with unique limited memory characteristics, and methods for making such instruments. One embodiment includes heat treating a finished endodontic instrument. A related embodiment includes electropolishing a finished endodontic instrument and then heat treating the endodontic instrument.

Abstract: A machining apparatus and method for fabricating endodontic instruments adapted for use in performing root canal procedures is disclosed. The machining apparatus includes computer numerical control (CNC) machining that automates much of the fabrication process. The disclosed machining apparatus and method is programmable to efficiently produce varying configurations of endodontic instruments on the same machining apparatus.

Abstract: Methods for modifying a physical characteristic of finished endodontic instruments made from one or more superelastic alloys is described which include heat treating one or more finished endodontic instruments in a salt bath for a specific time (e.g., from about four hours to about six hours), at a specified temperature (e.g., from about 475° C. to about 550° C.), and preferably at a specified pH range.

Abstract: Medical instruments, particularly, endodontic instruments with unique limited memory characteristics, and methods for making such instruments. One embodiment includes heat treating a finished endodontic instrument. A related embodiment includes electropolishing a finished endodontic instrument and then heat treating the endodontic instrument.

Abstract: A method and instrument for removing material from an internal portion of a tooth wherein the tool used to remove the material includes an elongate shaft extending from a first end to a second end; a cutting surface extending along a working portion of the elongate shaft; a handle attached to the first end of the elongate shaft, the handle including a first end and a second end; a projection attached to the elongate shaft and extending around a portion of the perimeter of the shaft substantially adjacent to the first end of the handle, wherein the projection provides a barrier to prevent a user's fingers from moving beyond the handle directly onto the elongate shaft.

Abstract: Medical instruments, particularly, endodontic instruments with unique limited memory characteristics, and methods for making such instruments. One embodiment includes heat treating a finished endodontic instrument. A related embodiment includes electropolishing a finished endodontic instrument and then heat treating the endodontic instrument.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument adapted for use in performing root canal therapy. The instrument includes a holder with a grip sized to be gripped by a hand of a user. An arm extends from the grip and has a length sufficient to permit a free end portion to reach into a patient's mouth while the grip remains outside the mouth. An elongate rod with a working portion having cutting portions thereon extends along the length of the arm of the holder such that a proximal end of the rod is adjacent the grip of the holder and the distal end of the rod with the working portion thereon extends from the free end portion of the arm, such that the working portion may be used to treat a root canal in a patient's mouth by a dentist manipulating the holder outside the mouth of the patient.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument adapted for use in performing root canal therapy. The instrument includes a holder with a grip sized to be gripped by a hand of a user. An arm extends from the grip and has a length sufficient to permit a free end portion to reach into a patient's mouth while the grip remains outside the mouth. An elongate rod with a working portion having cutting portions thereon extends along the length of the arm of the holder such that a proximal end of the rod is adjacent the grip of the holder and the distal end of the rod with the working portion thereon extends from the free end portion of the arm, such that the working portion may be used to treat a root canal in a patient's mouth by a dentist manipulating the holder outside the mouth of the patient.

Abstract: A cutting board for food products which is composed of a plurality of abrasive conical inserts arranged in parallel rows on a support so that a knife blade may be drawn along the channel formed between adjacent rows to sharpen the knife blade on both sides by contact with the inserts. The inserts are separately fabricated and mounted in tapered openings formed through the support.

Abstract: A cutting board for food products which is composed of a plurality of abrasive conical inserts arranged in parallel rows on a support so that a knife blade may be drawn along the channel formed between adjacent rows to sharpen the knife blade on both sides by contact with the inserts. The inserts are separately fabricated and mounted in tapered openings formed through the support.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an endodontic instrument by a machining operation is disclosed, and wherein a wire-like rod composed of a titanium alloy is advanced past a rotating grinding wheel at a relatively slow feed rate, with a sufficient depth of cut to remove all of the material on a given surface without over grinding a previously ground surface, and with the grinding wheel rotating at a relatively slow surface speed. The disclosed method is able to efficiently produce endodontic instruments having a high degree of flexibility, high resistance to torsional breakage, and with sharp cutting edges along the working length.

Abstract: A cutting board for cutting food products which is composed of a plurality of abrasive inserts arranged in parallel rows. In use, the knife blade is drawn along the channel formed between the adjacent rows, and the contact between the knife blade and the abrasive inserts acts to sharpen the knife blade on both of its sides.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an endodontic instrument having depth indicating calibrations formed between the handle and the fluted tapered end portion, and wherein the calibrations are formed by a cold rolling operation. The rolled calibrations do not form fracture points, they may be rapidly and inexpensively formed, and they have a smooth surface finish. Further, the rolled calibrations provide a sufficient physical indentation to be readily visible on x-ray photographs.