Method of Preparing Nickel Titanium Alloy for Use in Manufacturing Instruments with Improved Fatigue Resistance
A method of treating Nitinol to train the structure thereof to remain in the martensite state, including the steps of subjecting the Nitinol to a strain and while subjected to the strain, thermally cycling the Nitinol between a cold bath of about 0° C. to 10° C. and a hot bath of about 100° C. to 180° C. for a minimum of about five cycles.
This application is not related to any pending domestic or international patent applications.
REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIXThis application is not referenced in any microfiche appendix.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONI. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related generally to a method of treating a nickel titanium alloy, known as Nitinol, for use in manufacturing instruments having improved resistance to cyclic fatigue failure. As a particular application, the invention is related to preparation of Nitinol wire blanks for use in manufacturing endodontic files having improved resistance to cyclic fatigue failures.
2. Background of the Invention
Many medical applications take advantage of the properties of Nitinol, a nickel and titanium alloy. Nitinol (an acronym for Nickel Titanium Naval Ordinance Laboratory) exhibits several useful properties such as shape memory, by which a Nitinol component returns to a previously memorized shape after being forced into a second shape. Nitinol also exhibits superelasticity, meaning that a Nitinol component may be deformed elastically to a very large extent by strain without reducing its ability to return to the its original shape after the strain has been removed. One drawback of Nitinol, however, is that in certain configurations it is not very resistant to fatigue, i.e. repeated cyclic strains.
The present invention is directed to a method of preparing Nitinol so that it can be used to manufacture instruments that retain the martensitic state at the operating temperature with corresponding greater resistance to cyclic fatigue failure.
The present invention is further directed to a method of forming a dental device comprising the steps of forming the device of Nitinol having an impressed memorized shape, wherein the memorized shape is a shape the element assumes when in an operational configuration. The element is treated so that it is substantially martensite phase stabilized under expected operating conditions.
Nitinol is an alloy which was developed to achieve improved elasticity and other enhanced mechanical properties. Nitinol also possesses shape memory properties that are well suited for medical and dental applications. Elements constructed of Nitinol may be formed in a first “memorized” shape to which they will return after deformation. That is, when such a Nitinol element has been deformed, raising a temperature of the element above a critical temperature causes the element to revert to its memorized shape.
As would be understood by those of skill in the art, Nitinol alloys can exist in one of two different temperature-dependent crystal structures. At lower temperatures, Nitinol is martensitic, meaning that its structure is composed of self-accommodating twins, in a zigzag-like arrangement. Martensite is soft and malleable, and can be easily deformed by de-twinning the structure via application of strain. At higher temperatures, above a critical temperature of the alloy, Nitinol is austenitic. Austenite is a strong and hard phase of the alloy, exhibiting properties similar to those of titanium, and is characterized by a much more regular crystalline lattice structure. Nitinol alloys can also undergo a phase change as a result of the application of a strain. For example, an element in the austenitic phase can be bent so that at high strain locations the alloy becomes martensitic. If the alloy is designed to have an unstable martensite phase at the operating temperature, removal of the strain results in a reverse transformation that straightens the bending.
3. Description of the Prior Art
For background information relating to the subject matter of this invention, reference may be had to the following issued United States patents and publications:
The present invention relates to manufacturing methods of achieving improvements in the fatigue resistance of Nitinol instruments. The methods involve thermal and mechanical rearrangement and stabilization of a cold-working-induced martensite state in Nitinol instruments, such that the Nitinol parts are in a martensitic state thermodynamically at operating temperatures, with the characteristic austenite finish temperature of the Nitinol metal, measured by a differential scanning calorimeter, being above the part's operating temperature and in which the ultimate tensile strength to upper plateau stress ratio in a tensile test is 2.8 or higher. A series of fatigue performance tests have indicated that the improved martensitic Nitinol wire blanks and instruments made therefrom, have useable lives up to seven times longer than the conventional austenitic ones under the same operating conditions.
Fatigue fracture is a common problem in endodontic instruments. Improvements in fatigue resistance of Nitinol is desirable since it provides increased fatigue life and better fatigue life predictability. Existing methods have not adequately addressed the effects of Nitinol processing on fatigue life and fatigue life improvements have been limited to a relatively small range (generally less than 50% improvement). The present invention provides a novel method to increase the useable life of endodontic instruments by as much as seven times.
The starting material for use in the method of this invention is a Nitinol composition consisting of 55.8+/−1.5 wt. % nickel (Ni); 44.2+/−1.5 wt. % titanium (Ti); and trace elements including iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), oxygen (O), hydrogen (H), and/or carbon (C), generally less than 1 wt. % each.
The invention is practiced by starting with Nitinol in an austenitic state. This material is 45+/−5% cold worked (cross-sectional area reduction) at finish diameter followed by final straightening anneal at 500 to 600° C. for 60 to 120 seconds. With the material in the martensitic state it is 35+/−5% cold worked at a finished diameter. It is then subjected to final straightening anneal at 400 to 475° C. for 120 to 300 seconds and then thermal cycled under constraint elongation of 1 to 4% between cold (0 to 10° C.) and hot (100 to 180° C.) for 3 to 5 times.
The resultant material then has a tensile modulus as follows: Austenitic conditions: Average ˜10 Mpsi and Martensitic conditions: Average ˜6 Mpsi (“Mpsi” meaning “million pounds per square inch”).
The material also has the ultimate tensile strength to the upper plateau stress ratio as follows: Austenitic conditions: Average ˜2.5; and Martensitic conditions: Average ˜3.0. The austenite finish temperature as measured by a differential scanning calorimeter is an average ˜15° C. and the martensite finished temperature measured in the same way is an average ˜52° C.
Nitinol wire blanks tested at room temperature in austenitic conditions averaged 83.5 seconds to fracture while, employing the same test procedures, in martensitic conditions the Nitinol wire blanks averaged 562.4 seconds to fracture, thus an approximately 700% improvement.
Endodontic files tested at 37° C. (body temperature) under austenitic conditions averaged 85.7 seconds to fracture while with the same test, under martensitic conditions the files averaged 261 seconds to fracture, thus a greater than 300% improvement.
A more complete understanding of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and claims, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings.
It is to be understood that the invention that is now to be described is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and arrangement of the parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in a variety of ways. The phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and not limitation.
Elements illustrated in the drawings are identified by the following numbers:
The endodontic tool 10 of
It is important to understand that the endodontic file shown in
It has been learned that an ideal material for manufacturing tools requiring flexibility and fatigue resistance is an alloy of nickel and titanium. This alloy is commonly referred to in industry as “Nitinol”. The expression “Nitinol” will be used herein rather than “nickel/titanium alloy”. The preferred composition of Nitinol is about 55.8%, +/−1.5%, by weight of nickel combined with 44.2%, +/−1.5%, by weight of titanium. In addition to these two primary components of the alloy, trace elements including iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), oxygen (O), hydrogen (H), carbon (C) are typically included, the trace elements generally totaling less than about 1% by weight of the finished alloy.
Nitinol as an alloy exists in two naturally occurring forms, that is, in the austenite form and in the martensite form.
The invention is practiced by starting with Nitinol in an austenitic state. This material is 45+/−5% cold worked followed by final straightening anneal at 500 to 600° C. for 60 to 120 seconds. With the material in the martensitic state it is 35+/−5% cold worked at a finished diameter. It is then subjected to final straightening anneal at 400 to 475° C. for 120 to 300 seconds and then thermal cycled under constraint elongation of 1 to 4% between cold (0 to 10° C.) and hot (100 to 180° C.) for 3 to 5 times. The resultant material then has a tensile modulus as follows: Austenitic conditions: Average ˜10 Mpsi and Martensitic conditions: Average ˜6 Mpsi. The material has an ultimate tensile strength as follows: Austenitic conditions: Average ˜2.5; and Martensitic conditions: Average ˜3.0. The austenite finish temperature as measured by a differential scanning calorimeter is an average ˜15° C. and the martensite finished temperature measured in the same way is an average ˜52° C.
As previously stated,
The shape memory and superelasticity properties of Nitinol may be understood in terms of the phase transformations the alloy undergoes under various conditions. As described above, shape memory refers to the ability to restore an originally memorized shape of a deformed Nitinol sample by heating it.
An essential aspect of this invention is a system and method for transforming otherwise austenitic Nitinol, such as can occur in the form of wire, into a semi-stable martensite form. When in such martensite form the alloy can be manufactured into an implement, such as, by example, an endodontic file as illustrated in
From turn wheel 44 wire 30 passes back again through cold water shower 32, over first turn wheel 36, second turn wheel 38, through hot water tank 42, passed third turn wheel 40 and back again over fourth turn wheel 44. Wire 30 repeats this route a plurality of times, and preferably about four (4) or five (5) times. Thus, as shown in
Referring again to
Shape memory and superelasticity of Nitinol are associated with reversible martensitic transformation. This transformation is illustrated in
Again referring to
Nitinol treated according to the principles of this invention remains in the martensitic phase even when raised to a temperature above the otherwise critical operating temperature. Therefore, applying additional strain to the alloy does not tend to result in a phase change. Rather, additional strain simply results in a deformation of the alloy which remains in the martensitic phase. The damaging irreversible strain induced from austenite to martensite phase transformation does not take place, and the life of the Nitinol element is substantially increased. In addition, the alloy in the martensite phase is more soft and malleable than when in the austenite phase. Thus martensitic alloy has reduced incidences of stress concentration thereby contributing to the improved fatigue resistance characteristics of the material.
As described above, the shape memory and superelasticity properties of Nitinol and other similar alloys particularly suit them for use in manufacturing medical and dental instruments. The shape memory is useful as it allows an instrument to convert from a first shape to a memorized deployed configuration after being warmed above a critical operating temperature (e.g. by body heat) while superelasticity is useful to allow the instrument to greatly deform while under severe stress in the body, and still return to its original shape.
Nitinol alloy is generally designed to be in the austenitic phase at its operating temperature (i.e., at body temperature), and to be in the martensitic phase at some lower, relatively easy to maintain temperature. The invention herein teaches a method of training a Nitinol instrument to stay in the martensitic phase at body temperature to thereby achieve substantially improved resistance to cyclic fatigue. Specifically, it is desired to improve the fatigue life of Nitinol alloys under conditions where strains (particularly repeated strains) imparted thereto are sufficient to cause phase transformation from austenite to martensite. In addition, it is desired to reduce the formation of fatigue cracks which tend to initiate at the material's stress concentration locations under bending conditions which may occur in a medical device. This is particularly beneficial in the application of Nitinol in the manufacture of endodontic files.
According to the embodiments of the present invention, Nitinol devices are provided that exhibit an increased resistance to fatigue, while retaining their shape memory and superelastic properties. The Nitinol alloy devices according to the invention have an increased ability to withstand cyclic strains, such as may be experienced, for example, in the use of an endodontist file to clean and shape a tooth root canal. Since the Nitinol devices made according to this invention are treated so they tend to remain in the martensitic phase even when the device is at a temperature above the critical operating temperature, applying additional strain does not tend to result in a phase change. Rather, additional strain simply result in the deformation of the alloy while it remains in the martensitic phase. Damaging irreversible strain induced from austenite to martensite phase transformation do not easily take place with Nitinol treated according to the methods of this invention.
To verify the integrity of the principles of this invention and to authenticate that by practicing the method of treating Nitinol drawn wire, the structure of which has been trained according to the principles of this invention to remain in the martensite state and to thereby achieve improved fatigue resistance, a test stand as exemplified in
Rotatably supported to test machine stand 78 if a wheel 82 that rotates about an axis 84. Extending from the face of wheel 82 are two dowel pins 86A and 86B. The dowel pins are typically about one-fourth inch in diameter.
Wheel 82 rotates in a plane which is parallel to the plane of Nitinol wire 80 and in a manner so that the dowel pins 86A and 86B strike the wire and deflect it each time the wheel rotates. In the test utilizing the test stand of
Using the test stand of
Referring now to
Supported near deflection block 90 is a rotating instrument holder 98 that has a chuck 100 by which the proximal portion of the shaft of an endodontic instrument 102 can be secured.
Positioned adjacent deflection block 90 is a nozzle 104 that is employed to eject a temperature control medium, such as warm water or compressed air 106 onto endodontic instrument 102. The cyclical fatigue test employing the set up as shown in
The tests performed as indicated by
While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification, but is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.
Claims
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12. A flexible instrument comprising an elongated metallic element that is subject to lateral and torsional stress as used and in which the instrument is stabilized in an induced martensitic phase that persists under pre-determined working temperatures and exemplifies substantially improved fatigue resistance.
13. A flexible instrument according to claim 12 wherein said metallic element is formed of a nickel/titanium alloy.
14. A flexible instrument according to claim 13 wherein said nickel/titanium alloy is Nitinol.
15. A flexible instrument according to claim 12 in which the instrument is stabilized by being subjected to thermal cycling a plurality of times between cold and hot baths while under deformation.
16. A flexible instrument according to claim 15 in which the deformation is-provided by strain of between 1% and 10%.
17. A flexible instrument according to claim 15 in which said thermal cycling includes subjecting the instrument to temperature changes between a first temperature of about 0° C. to 10° C. and a second temperature of about 100° C. to 180° C.
18. A flexible instrument comprising:
- an elongated metallic shaft having proximal and distal portions;
- a handle portion of said proximal portion for facilitating mechanical or manual manipulation of said shaft;
- wherein said shaft is formed of a shape memory alloy which has been subjected to thermal cycling while under deformation to induce said shaft to maintain the martensitic phase at a body temperature range in which said shaft demonstrates significantly improved longitudinal and torsional fatigue resistance.
19. A flexible instrument according to claim 18 wherein said metallic shaft is formed of a nickel/titanium alloy.
20. A flexible instrument according to claim 19 wherein said nickel/titanium alloy is Nitinol.
21. A flexible instrument according to claim 18 in which the instrument is stabilized by being subjected to thermal cycling a plurality of times between cold and hot baths while under deformation.
22. A flexible instrument according to claim 18 in which the deformation is provided by strain of between 1% and 10%.
23. A flexible instrument according to claim 21 in which said thermal cycling includes subjecting the instrument to temperature changes between a first temperature of about 0° C. to 10° C. and a second temperature of about 100° C. to 180° C.
24. A medical/dental device for use in the human body, comprising:
- an elongated instrument formed of a binary superelastic metal alloy susceptible of different molecular phases that has been subjected to thermal cycling while under deformation to induce said instrument to maintain a selected phase at body temperatures in which said instrument demonstrates significantly improved longitudinal and torsional fatigue resistance.
25. An elongated instrument according to claim 24 wherein said metal alloy is formed of a nickel/titanium alloy.
26. An elongated instrument according to claim 25 wherein said nickel/titanium alloy is Nitinol.
27. An elongated instrument according to claim 24 in which the instrument is subjected to thermal cycling a plurality of times between cold and hot baths while under deformation.
28. An elongated instrument according to claim 24 in which the deformation is provided by strain of between 1% and 10%.
29. An elongated instrument according to claim 27 in which the instrument is subjected to thermal cycling between a first temperature of about 0° C. to 10° C. and a second temperature of about 100° C. to 180° C.
30. An endodontic instrument that is flexible and resistant to torsional fatigue and that is adapted for use in performing root canal therapy on a tooth, comprising:
- a cylindrical elongate shank composed of an alloy comprising at least about 40% titanium and at least about 50% nickel, said elongate shank further having a proximal end and an opposite distal end so as to define a working length adjacent said distal end;
- at least one ground flute extending helically around said shank working length and defining at least one cutting edge, a helical land positioned between axially adjacent flute segments; and
- said shank being trained to remain in a trained molecular state at body temperature by having been subjected to strain of between about 1% and about 10% while being thermally cycled between hot and cold baths.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 17, 2009
Publication Date: Apr 15, 2010
Inventor: Carl J. Berendt (Afton, OK)
Application Number: 12/640,595
International Classification: A61C 5/02 (20060101); C22F 1/00 (20060101); C22C 19/03 (20060101);