Extirpation needle
An extirpation needle is an instrument for the removal ( extirpation ) of the tooth nerve ( pulp ), which is essential for further root canal treatment . These flexible needles are provided with a large number of barbs that make removal possible in the first place. They are available in different ISO sizes. They are often mistakenly called nerve needles.
Edward Maynard (1813–1891), who filed it from watch springs, is considered to be the inventor of the extirpation needle. Stainless steel was used as the material for about a century , recently replaced by the nickel-titanium alloy nitinol .