US4204978A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Tooth crack detector
Assignee: Den Mat Inc
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Filing: 1979-01-29
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Granted: 1980-05-27
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Expires: 1999-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A composition for detecting normally invisible cracks and splits in teeth, both in situ or in vitro. A detector solution contains a dye adapted to selectively stain such cracks and splits, advantageously methyl violet, a small amount of a surfactant, preferably dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, and a small amount of an acid, preferably glacial acetic acid, the remainder essentially water. A kit provides a holder or container and, at least one bottle containing such detector solution and one bottle containing a solvent for removing detector solution after the completion of the test. A preferred kit provides, in addition to the dye-removing solvent, two bottles, one containing solvent and dye, the other one containing solvent, surfactant, and acid, and equal amounts from each of these two bottles are mixed just before use on a patient. A method of selectively staining and detecting normally invisible cracks and splits is also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Ibsen
- 👤 William R. Glace
- 👤 William R. Reed, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:01
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C19/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S252/00; Y10S252/96
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A tooth crack detection composition for detecting ordinarily invisible cracks in a tooth in situ and in vitro, consisting essentially of: a dye chosen from the group consisting of methyl violet, crystal violet, gentian violet, malachite green, erythrosin B, and acid fuchsin, in a solvent consisting essentially of water or a non-toxic organic solvent for such dye, a small but effective amount of from about 0.05% to about 5% by weight of said solution of a non-toxic surfactant to cause the composition to coat the suspected area of a tooth, and a small amount of a non-toxic weak acid to provide a pH of the solution of about 1.0 to 6.5, said dye being present in said solution in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of said solution, sufficient to selectively color said cracks, and from zero to about 10% of a compatible non-toxic thickening agent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
A tooth crack detection composition for detecting ordinarily invisible cracks in a tooth in situ and in vitro, consisting essentially of: a dye chosen from the group consisting of methyl violet, crystal violet, gentian violet, malachite green, erythrosin B, and acid fuchsin, in a solvent consisting essentially of water or a non-toxic organic solvent for such dye, a small but effective amount of from about 0.05% to about 5% by weight of said solution of a non-toxic surfactant to cause the composition to coat the suspected area of a tooth, and a small amount of a non-toxic weak acid to provide a pH of the solution of about 1.0 to 6.5, said dye being present in said solution in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of said solution, sufficient to selectively color said cracks, and from zero to about 10% of a compatible non-toxic thickening agent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
A composition as in claim 1 wherein said dye is methyl violet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
A composition as in claim 2 containing about 0.3% of said dye.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A composition as in claim 1 wherein said surfactant is dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A composition as in claim 1 wherein said surfactant is present in an amount of about 1.25% by weight of said solution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A composition as in claim 1 wherein said solution contains the compatible thickening agent in an amount of about 6% by weight.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein said thickening agent is methyl cellulose.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A composition as in claim 1 wherein said acid is glacial acetic acid in an amount of about 1.25% by weight.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A kit for preparing the tooth crack detection composition of claim 1 comprising two separately stored solutions, one containing the dye, the other containing the acid and surfactants, for mixture just before the time of application to the tooth, thereby prolonging the shelf life of the ingredients.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The kit of claim 9 wherein the amounts of dye, acid, and surfactant in each solution are each double the amount used in the final solution, so that an equal mixture of the two solutions produces the amounts specified for the final solution.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
132 words
A tooth crack detection composition for detecting ordinarily invisible hairline cracks in a tooth in situ and in vitro, consisting essentially of: a dye chosen from the group consisting of methyl violet, crystal violet, gentian violet, malachite green, erythrosin B, and acid fuchsin, in aqueous solution in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of said solution, a small but effective amount of from about 0.5% to about 5% of the weight of said solution of compatible non-toxic surfactant to cause the composition to coat the suspected area of a tooth, and a small amount of a non-toxic weak acid to provide a pH of the solution of 1.0 to 6.5, said dye present in said solution being sufficient to color said cracks selectively and render them visible.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
132 words
A tooth crack detection composition for detecting ordinarily invisible hairline cracks in a tooth in situ and in vitro, consisting essentially of: a dye chosen from the group consisting of methyl violet, crystal violet, gentian violet, malachite green, erythrosin B, and acid fuchsin, in aqueous solution in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of said solution, a small but effective amount of from about 0.5% to about 5% of the weight of said solution of compatible non-toxic surfactant to cause the composition to coat the suspected area of a tooth, and a small amount of a non-toxic weak acid to provide a pH of the solution of 1.0 to 6.5, said dye present in said solution being sufficient to color said cracks selectively and render them visible.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The composition of claim 11 wherein said aqueous solution contains up to 10% by weight thereof of a non-toxic thickening agent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
A composition for detecting ordinarily invisible cracks in teeth in situ and in vitro consisting essentially of a solution of about 0.3% by weight methyl violet, about 1.0% by weight glacial acetic acid and about 1.25% by weight dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, the remainder water.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
A composition for detecting ordinarily invisible cracks in teeth in situ and in vitro consisting essentially of a solution of about 0.3% by weight methyl violet, about 1.0% by weight glacial acetic acid and about 1.25% by weight dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, the remainder water.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
171 words
A kit for preparing a tooth crack detection composition for detecting ordinarily invisible hairline cracks in a tooth in situ and in vitro consisting essentially of: (1) a first solution in a solvent chosen from the groups consisting of water and a mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol in equal parts, of a dye chosen from the group consisting of methyl violet, crystal violet, gentian violet, malachite green, erythrosin B, and acid fuchsin, in an amount from about 0.02% to about 10% by weight of said solution, and (2) a second solution in water of (a) a small but effective amount of from about 1% to about 10% by weight of non-toxic surfactant compatible with the chosen dye, and (b) a small amount of a non-toxic weak acid to provide, when equal amounts of the first and second solution are mixed together, a pH of the mixture of 1.0 to 6.5, said first and second solutions normally being stored separately and mixtures made as occasion demands in the amount then needed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
171 words
A kit for preparing a tooth crack detection composition for detecting ordinarily invisible hairline cracks in a tooth in situ and in vitro consisting essentially of: (1) a first solution in a solvent chosen from the groups consisting of water and a mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol in equal parts, of a dye chosen from the group consisting of methyl violet, crystal violet, gentian violet, malachite green, erythrosin B, and acid fuchsin, in an amount from about 0.02% to about 10% by weight of said solution, and (2) a second solution in water of (a) a small but effective amount of from about 1% to about 10% by weight of non-toxic surfactant compatible with the chosen dye, and (b) a small amount of a non-toxic weak acid to provide, when equal amounts of the first and second solution are mixed together, a pH of the mixture of 1.0 to 6.5, said first and second solutions normally being stored separately and mixtures made as occasion demands in the amount then needed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The kit of claim 14 wherein at least one of said two solutions contains a compatible, non-toxic thickening agent, in an amount giving up to 10% thereof by weight in the equal mixture.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
186 words
A kit for detection or ordinarily invisible cracks in teeth in situ and in vitro comprising: a closable container, provided with a plurality of receptacles, a first bottle disposed within a receptacle and filled with a predetermined amount of a tooth crack detector solution adapted to identify said cracks and to accentuate margins thereof, said solution consisting essentially of a dye taken from the group consisting of methyl violet, crystal violet, gentian violet, malachite green, erythrosin B, and acid fuchsin, and a non-toxic solvent for said dye, said dye being present in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of said solution to selectively stain said cracks, a small amount of from about 0.05% to about 5% by weight of said solution of a compatible, non-toxic surfactant effective to cause said solution to coat a suspected area of said teeth, and a small amount of a non-toxic weak acid to adjust the pH of said solution to between 1.0 and 6.5, and disposed in a second receptacle, a second bottle containing a non-toxic dye-removing solvent for the dye in said first bottle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
186 words
A kit for detection or ordinarily invisible cracks in teeth in situ and in vitro comprising: a closable container, provided with a plurality of receptacles, a first bottle disposed within a receptacle and filled with a predetermined amount of a tooth crack detector solution adapted to identify said cracks and to accentuate margins thereof, said solution consisting essentially of a dye taken from the group consisting of methyl violet, crystal violet, gentian violet, malachite green, erythrosin B, and acid fuchsin, and a non-toxic solvent for said dye, said dye being present in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of said solution to selectively stain said cracks, a small amount of from about 0.05% to about 5% by weight of said solution of a compatible, non-toxic surfactant effective to cause said solution to coat a suspected area of said teeth, and a small amount of a non-toxic weak acid to adjust the pH of said solution to between 1.0 and 6.5, and disposed in a second receptacle, a second bottle containing a non-toxic dye-removing solvent for the dye in said first bottle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
A kit as in claim 16 wherein said surfactant is dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
A kit as in claim 16 wherein said acid is glacial acetic acid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A kit as in claim 16 where said solution contains up to about 10% by weight of a non-toxic thickening agent.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
A kit as in claim 16 wherein said dye-removing solvent comprises substantially the same solvent as that used for the dye.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
A kit as in claim 20 where said dye-removing solvent includes water, acetic acid, and surfactant.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
182 words
A kit for preparing a tooth crack detection composition for detection of ordinarily invisible cracks in teeth in situ and in vitro, comprising: a closable container having two receptacles, a first bottle disposed in one said receptacle and having a drop top and filled with a first solution in a solvent chosen from the group consisting of water and a mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol in equal parts, of a dye chosen from the group consisting of methyl violet, crystal violet, gentian violet, malachite green, erythrosin B, and acid fuchsin, in an amount from about 0.02% to about 10% by weight of said solution, and a second larger bottle disposed in a second said receptacle having a drop top and filled with a second solution in water of a small but effective amount of from about 1% to 10% by weight of non-toxic surfactant compatible with the chosen dye, and a small amount of a non-toxic weak acid to provide, when equal amounts of said first and second solution are mixed together, a pH for the mixture of 1.0 to 6.5.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
182 words
A kit for preparing a tooth crack detection composition for detection of ordinarily invisible cracks in teeth in situ and in vitro, comprising: a closable container having two receptacles, a first bottle disposed in one said receptacle and having a drop top and filled with a first solution in a solvent chosen from the group consisting of water and a mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol in equal parts, of a dye chosen from the group consisting of methyl violet, crystal violet, gentian violet, malachite green, erythrosin B, and acid fuchsin, in an amount from about 0.02% to about 10% by weight of said solution, and a second larger bottle disposed in a second said receptacle having a drop top and filled with a second solution in water of a small but effective amount of from about 1% to 10% by weight of non-toxic surfactant compatible with the chosen dye, and a small amount of a non-toxic weak acid to provide, when equal amounts of said first and second solution are mixed together, a pH for the mixture of 1.0 to 6.5.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The kit of claim 22 in which said surfactant is dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
The kit of claim 22 in which said acid is acetic acid.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-05-27 | 1983-11-26 | 1984-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-05-27 | 1987-11-26 | 1988-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-05-27 | 1991-11-26 | 1992-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |