Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making an endodontic body in which a filling material blank comprising filling material suitable for endodontic applications is provided, a mold system defining at least one mold cavity is provided, where at least a portion of the mold cavity is in the shape of the endodontic body, the filling material blank is arranged adjacent to the at least one mold cavity, heat is applied to the filling material blank such that the filling material blank is deformable; and pressure is applied to the heated filling material blank such that at least a portion of the heated material blank flows into the at least one mold cavity.

Abstract: A handle system for supporting a tool defining a tool axis during the performance of dental procedures comprises a handle defining a handle axis, a rotation sleeve, a head assembly and a gear set comprising first and second gear portions. The rotation sleeve supports the first gear portion. The head assembly supports the second gear portion. The handle supports the rotation sleeve for rotation relative to the handle. The handle supports the head assembly such that the first gear portion engages the second gear portion. With the head assembly supported by the handle, the head assembly engages the tool to support the tool such that the tool axis extends at a first angle relative to the handle axis and rotation of the rotation sleeve relative to the handle causes axial rotation of the tool about the tool axis.

Abstract: An endodontic handpiece comprises a handle assembly and an endodontic tool. The handle assembly comprises a handle housing, a chuck assembly, a bearing system for supporting the chuck assembly for rotation relative to the handle housing, a first drive system for rotating the chuck assembly, and first and second drive systems. The endodontic tool defines a support portion and a working portion. The chuck assembly transfers movement of the chuck assembly to the endodontic tool. The endodontic handpiece operates in at least one of first, second, and third modes in which the first drive system causes rotation of the endodontic tool through the chuck assembly, the second drive system causes vibration of the endodontic tool, and/or the first drive system causes rotation of the endodontic tool through the chuck assembly.

Abstract: A handle system for supporting a tool defining a tool axis during the performance of dental procedures comprises a handle defining a handle axis, a rotation sleeve, a head assembly and a gear set comprising first and second gear portions. The rotation sleeve supports the first gear portion. The head assembly supports the second gear portion. The handle supports the rotation sleeve for rotation relative to the handle. The handle supports the head assembly such that the first gear portion engages the second gear portion. With the head assembly supported by the handle, the head assembly engages the tool to support the tool such that the tool axis extends at a first angle relative to the handle axis and rotation of the rotation sleeve relative to the handle causes axial rotation of the tool about the tool axis.

Abstract: A premixed cement paste for use in medical or dental applications. The premixed cement paste remains fluid when stored in a hermetically sealed condition, but hydrates and hardens to set when placed in a physiological environment. The cement paste includes at least one calcium silicate compound and at least one substantially water-free liquid carrier mixed with the at least one calcium silicate compound; the substantially water-free liquid carrier avoids hydration of the mixture during storage, but undergoes exchange with aqueous physiological solutions so that the cement past hydrates and hardens to set when placed in a physiological environment. The paste may be placed in the physiological environment by injection, for example. The at least one calcium silicate compound may be, for example, calcium silicate, dicalcium silicate, tricalcium silicate, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method for forming functional ceramic films on ceramic materials, to enhance mechanical properties, chemical stability, and/or biological properties of the materials. The functional ceramic film comprises at least about 10 weight percent pure zirconia, with phase transformation at tetragonal/cubic phases at high temperature to monoclinic phase at room temperature, leading to volume expansion and compressive stress. The compressive stress enhances mechanical strength, wear resistance, hardness and other properties, and also tends to eliminate cracks and flaws in the ceramic material. The functional film may also include bioactive materials, and may include a structure for eluting drugs so as to serve as a drug delivery vehicle. The functional ceramic films may be centered on the base ceramic, or the materials may be co-centered. Devices having the ceramic materials with functional films may be used, for various medical or dental purposes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are medical devices, such as stents, comprising a porous substrate, and a composition coating and/or impregnating the porous substrate where the composition comprises a bioresorbable carrier (e.g., at least one lipid) and at least one pharmaceutically active agent.

Abstract: A premixed cement paste for use in medical or dental applications. The premixed cement paste remains fluid when stored in a hermetically sealed condition, but hydrates and hardens to set when placed in a physiological environment. The cement paste includes at least one calcium silicate compound and at least one substantially water-free liquid carrier mixed with the at least one calcium silicate compound; the substantially water-free liquid carrier avoids hydration of the mixture during storage, but undergoes exchange with aqueous physiological solutions so that the cement past hydrates and hardens to set when placed in a physiological environment. The paste may be placed in the physiological environment by injection, for example. The at least one calcium silicate compound may be, for example, calcium silicate, dicalcium silicate, tricalcium silicate, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present invention discloses novel polymer-ceramic matrix composites and processes for making same. The composites can be used in biomedical applications, in particular, coatings of implants and other medical devices, where both the ceramic phase and the polymer phase are bio-compatible. The composites combine a reinforcing polymer phase with a continuous ceramic matrix to create materials with properties that are new and superior to polymer or ceramic phases alone. The composites can incorporate a bioactive agent.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel calcium phosphate-coated implantable medical devices and processes of making same. The calcium-phosphate coatings are designed to minimize the immune response to the implant (e.g. restenosis in stenting procedures) and can be used to store and release a medicinally active agent in a controlled manner. Such coatings can be applied to any implantable medical devices and are useful for a number of medical procedures including (but not limited to) balloon angioplasty in cardiovascular stenting, ureteral stenting and catheterisation. The calcium phosphate coatings can be applied to a substrate as one or more coatings by a sol-gel deposition process, an aerosol-gel deposition process, a biomimetic deposition process, a calcium phosphate cement deposition process, an electro-phoretic deposition process or an electrochemical deposition process. The coating can contain and elude a drug in an engineered manner.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel process of preparing chemically bonded composite hydroxide ceramics by exposing a thermally treated hydroxide ceramic to phosphate reagent and subsequent heat treating the resulting system to initiate a rapid chemical bonding reaction. Such combined hydroxide/chemical bonding process can be used to fabricate ceramics or ceramic coatings for a variety of high and low temperature applications, including corrosion protection, wear resistance, dielectric properties, metal reinforced ceramics, ceramic membranes, non-sticky surfaces, bio-active ceramics, thermal barrier ceramics, non-wetted surfaces, and others.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel room-temperature process for obtaining calcium phosphate, in particular hydroxyapatite, coatings and microspheres that encapsulate drugs, proteins, genes, DNA for therapeutical use. The coatings and microspheres are designed to perform a defined biological function related to drug delivery, such as gene therapy through gene delivery. A novel method for encapsulation, and subsequent controlled release of therapeutically active agents from such biofunctional coatings and microspheres is disclosed. Such coatings and microspheres are useful for side-effects free, long-term, targeted, controlled release and delivery of drugs, proteins, DNA, and other therapeutic agents.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel room-temperature process for obtaining calcium phosphate, in particular hydroxyapatite, coatings and microspheres that encapsulate drugs, proteins, genes, DNA for therapeutical use. The coatings and microspheres are designed to perform a defined biological function related to drug delivery, such as gene therapy through gene delivery. A novel method for encapsulation, and subsequent controlled release of therapeutically active agents from such biofunctional coatings and microspheres is disclosed. Such coatings and microspheres are useful for side-effects free, long-term, targeted, controlled release and delivery of drugs, proteins, DNA, and other therapeutic agents.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel process of preparing chemically bonded composite hydroxide ceramics by exposing a thermally treated hydroxide ceramic to phosphate reagent and subsequent heat treating the resulting system to initiate a rapid chemical bonding reaction. Such combined hydroxide/chemical bonding process can be used to fabricate ceramics or ceramic coatings for a variety of high and low temperature applications, including corrosion protection, wear resistance, dielectric properties, metal reinforced ceramics, ceramic membranes, non-sticky surfaces, bio-active ceramics, thermal barrier ceramics, non-wetted surfaces, and others.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel method of decreasing porosity of ceramics produced by sol-gel processing. The process of preparing chemically bonded sol-gel ceramics comprises phosphating a sol-gel derived oxide or hydrated oxide and polymerizing the phosphated product with heat treatment. Such combined sol-gel/chemical bonding process can be used to fabricate dense, thick ceramics or ceramic coatings for a variety of applications, including high temperature corrosion protection, wear resistance, dielectric properties, non-sticky surfaces, bio-active ceramics, thermal barrier ceramics, non-wetted surfaces, and others.