The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a new patent No. 8,221,117 B2 to Biolase's laser endodontic therapy system.
The new patent relates to the ability of the radially fire or side firing endodontic probe to combine multiple wavelengths of Waterlase iPlus and iLase diode laser with biofluids or biopowders comprising one or more biologically-active particles or cleaning agents.
Claims also include minimally invasive access to a surgical site of tissue comprising one or more of a canal, pocket or periodontal pocket.
Biolase chairman and CEO Federico Pignatelli said the company's laser endodontic therapy system has the ability to reduce root canal bacteria levels by 99.7% and treatment time by 10 to 15 minutes.
"Multiple independent studies have shown that improving the effectiveness of cleaning and disinfection at the apex of a root canal double the chance for a successful clinical outcome," Pignatelli added.
"We estimate that in the U.S. alone, the improved clinical outcomes facilitated by Waterlase root canal therapy could save as much as $3.5 billion annually in retreatment expenses for practitioners, insurance providers and patients.
"This new patent reflects the strength of the overall BIOLASE patent portfolio and rewards our commitment to maintain our research and development activities at high levels to keep our technological leadership in both hard tissue and diode lasers and to advance high-tech dentistry as a real and sustainable innovation."