EP-4739250-A1 - DENTAL PACKAGE, AND METHOD OF PROVIDING A DENTAL MATERIAL FROM A PACKAGE

Abstract

A device for providing a dental material, which comprises a compartment formed by first and second interconnected layers, and a well adjacent the compartment in the first layer. The second layer partially overlaps the well. The device includes a compartment for receipt of an applicator and a compliant mechanism in the compartment to articulate the device along a fold line. The device helps the dental material to be used in a convenient manner, and may be relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Inventors

• GYDESEN, HENRY C.
• WANG, YIZHONG
• PEUKER, MARC
• BOEHM, ANDREAS J.
• KNEE, MICHAEL
• PREININGER, MARTIN

Assignees

• Solventum Intellectual Properties Company

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240621

Claims (20)

1. 1. A device for providing a dental material, comprising: a compartment including the dental material and a well adjacent the compartment with an openable seal arranged therebetween, a pocket for receiving an applicator, the pocket including a receptable partially enclosed by a cover, wherein the cover includes at least one compliant mechanism, wherein each compliant mechanism is a hinge, a notch, a pivot, a crease, a score line, a weakened portion, a line of concentrated stress, a frangible portion, a perforation, a bendable element, a thinner portion, a portion with lower modulus of strength, or a predetermined slot, void or gap.
2. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein each compliant mechanism is a notch or crease.
3. 3. The device of claim 1 and including the applicator held within the pocket.
4. 4. The device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the compartment is formed by a first and a second layer that are interconnected, wherein the second layer defines the cover and includes a terminal edge extending over a portion of the well and forming a portion of the pocket.
5. 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the first layer comprises a polymeric layer, a metallic layer, or a combination thereof, and wherein the second layer comprises a polymeric layer, a metallic layer, or a combination thereof.
6. 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the first layer comprises a polymeric layer coextensive with a metallic layer and the second layer comprises polymeric layer coextensive with a metallic layer.
7. 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the metallic layer comprises aluminum.
8. 8. The device of claim 1, wherein a first compliant mechanism of the one or more compliant mechanisms is confined to the cover.
9. 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first compliant mechanism is located on a section of cover coextensive with a portion of the well.
10. 10. The device of any of the previous claims, wherein the compliant mechanism crease is elongate with an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the applicator receptacle.
11. 11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a terminal edge overhanging a portion of the well, and wherein the first compliant mechanism is located parallel to the terminal edge.
12. 12. The device of claim 1, and further comprising a flow channel between the compartment and the well formed when the first seal is opened.
13. 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the first compliant mechanism is located on a section of the cover coextensive with a portion of the flow channel.
14. 14. The device of any of the previous claims, wherein the at least one compliant mechanism includes a first compliant mechanism and a second compliant mechanism, also confined to the pocket cover.
15. 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the second compliant mechanism is located on a section of the cover.
16. 16. The device of claim 15 and further comprising the applicator within the pocket, wherein the second compliant mechanism in the cover forms a protrusion engaging a surface of the applicator.
17. 17. The device of claim 1, wherein the pocket extends along a first longitudinal axis that is generally parallel with a second longitudinal axis of the compartment.
18. 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the openable seal is formed by the interconnected layers which in the area of the seal are adapted to separate upon forcing at least a component of the dental material between the layers.
19. 19. The device of any of the previous claims, containing at least one component of a dental restorative, a dental primer, a dental cavity liner, a dental cement, an endodontic material, a dental varnish, a tooth desensitizer, a tooth coating, an orthodontic adhesive, an orthodontic primer, or an orthodontic cement.
20. 20. Method of providing a dental material comprising the steps of: providing a device comprising; a compartment containing a dental material and a well in fluid communication with the compartment with a first openable seal arranged therebetween, a pocket for receiving an applicator, the pocket including a receptable partially enclosed by a cover, wherein the cover includes at least one compliant mechanism; articulating the device at the compliant mechanism; opening the first openable seal; compressing the compartment to dispense the dental material onto a substrate.

Description

DENTAL PACKAGE, AND METHOD OF PROVIDING A DENTAL MATERIAL FROM A PACKAGE The present disclosure relates to a device for providing a dental material. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a device and a kit that allow storing the dental composition in the device, and providing the dental composition in a convenient way to a user. The disclosure further relates to a method of providing a dental composition from such a device or kit. Background of the disclosure A variety of packages have been proposed over the years for containing and storing liquid and semi-liquid dental components and dental compositions. Examples of commonly used packages include cartridges, syringes or blister packages. Such packages are typically designed to provide a readily dispensable composition, a readily mixable composition, or to provide the components individually for subsequent mixing. There are also a variety of single use packages for providing suitable amounts of composition for a single treatment. For example US 6,105,761 discloses a device for storing and dispensing substances, including a container formed by two sheets that are interconnected by heat sealing. The sheets form a compartment for receiving the liquid and a pocket for receiving a brush. In the area between the compartment and the pocket, the connection between the sheets includes a pre-defined break zone which can be released by pressure exerted on the compartment, to force the liquid from the compartment into the pocket and wet the tip of the brush disposed therein. DE 100 09 622 discloses a device for storing and dispensing substances, including a container formed by two sheets, interconnected by heat sealing and cooperating to form a compartment for receiving the liquid and a pocket for receiving a brush. The device is designed to allow a liquid stored in the compartment to be forced in a pocket and from there onto a film sheet where it can be mixed. EP 2 231 058 features a device for providing a dental material, which comprises a compartment formed by first and second interconnected layers, and a well adjacent the compartment in the first layer. The second layer at least partially overlaps the well. The device further includes a pocket for receipt of an applicator. Examples of certain dental or orthodontic products commercially available for 3M Company based in St. Paul, Minnesota include 3M™ Adper™ Prompt™ L-Pop Adhesive, 3M™ Transbond™ L-Pop Adhesive. 3M™ Clinpro L-pop Blister, 3M™ Unitek™ Transbond™ and Transbond™ Plus Self Etching Primer, 3M™ L-Pop Prime and Bond Adhesive, 3M™ Adper™ L- Pop Easy Bond Self-Etch Adhesive, 3M™ L-Pop Single Bond Universal Adhesive, 3M™ L-Pop Scotchbond™ Universal and Universal™ Plus Adhesive Unit Doses. There is still a desire for packages that can be used to provide dental compositions for different applications. In particular, suitable packages for providing relatively small amounts of a composition are desirable. Moreover, there is a need for packages that can be used in health care fields such as in dentistry, with its associated hygiene requirements. There is also a general need for packages that are relatively inexpensive to manufacture and use. Summary of the disclosure A first aspect of the disclosure is related to a device for providing a dental material. The device comprises: a compartment including the dental material and a well adjacent the compartment with an openable seal arranged therebetween, a pocket for receiving an applicator, the pocket including a receptable partially enclosed by a cover, wherein the cover includes at least one compliant mechanism, wherein each compliant mechanism is a hinge, a notch, a pivot, a crease, a score line, a weakened portion, a line of concentrated stress, a frangible portion, a perforation, a bendable element, a thinner portion, a portion with lower modulus of strength, or a predetermined slot, void or gap. Preferably the openable seal is adapted to form, when opened, a pathway for guiding the material from the compartment into the well. The openable seal is typically formed by interconnected layers which in the area of the seal are adapted to separate upon forcing at least a component of the dental material between the layers. In one embodiment the device comprises an open pocket for receiving an applicator. The applicator may be a brush, a sponge, a spatula, swabs or any other applicator suitable for application of the dental material or a component of the dental material. In a particular embodiment the first and second layers are made of a multilayer film. In certain embodiments, the first and second layers include a polymeric layer and a metallic layer (e.g., aluminum or steel). In other embodiments, the first and second layers are each a polymeric layer. In a particular embodiment the first and second layers are made of a multilayer film having an outer layer of polyethylene. At least one of the first and second layers may comprise a multilayer foil compris