Hand-held apical locator device

摘要

A hand-held device for locating the apex of a root canal. The hand-held device includes an elongate housing extending between a proximal gripping end and a distal end. The housing may be one-piece or multi-piece. The device includes a display on the housing (e.g., at the proximal gripping end) for indicating a distance between a distal tip of an endodontic file or other instrument inserted within a root canal of a tooth and the apex of the root canal. The device further includes an apex locator electrode extending from a distal end of the housing for contacting an electrically conductive endodontic instrument positioned within a root canal during use. The hand-held device may have a generally pen-shape, tapering towards the distal end where the apex locator electrode is disposed.