Abstract: An adjustable mandrel for grasping and supporting a workpiece such as a dental retention device. The mandrel includes a stationary jaw having a body portion with a dependent grasping leg, and a movable jaw also having a body portion with a depending grasping leg. The two grasping legs are arranged to each other. A captured screw member is rotatably secured to the body portion of the stationary jaw with the body portion of the movable jaw threadingly receiving the screw member therethrough. A pair of guide rails maintain a parallel relationship between the stationary and movable jaws. As the screw member is rotated, the movable jaw moves into and out of engagement with the stationary jaw to grasp a workpiece with the grasping legs, where either external or internal surfaces of the workpiece can be grasped.

Abstract: A dental post for securely retaining a dental restoration on a prepared tooth stub. The dental post is formed of an elongated cylindrical pin having a longitudinal axis. Helical grooves are provided about the periphery of the pin for retaining the pin secured within a cement prepared bore within the tooth stub. An outer contour is formed along the longitudinal length of the pin to define annular retaining ledges axially spaced apart along the pin interspersed with inwardly tapered pin sections. The ledges serve to aid in the retention of the pin in the bore and increase the strength of the pin reducing the possibility of pin shear.

Abstract: A protective carrier for a dental model including a tray portion hinged to a cover portion, a recessed cavity being provided in the tray portion to receive the pedestal part of the dental model. An arcuate rib member is removably coupled onto the tray portion and overhangs the cavity of the tray portion to thereby engage a ledge provided on the dental model to securely retain the dental model within the cavity. A recessed chamber is provided in the cover portion to mate with the cavity in the tray portion to define a closed compartment for the dental model.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a continuous length of flexible retaining splints including a plurality of body sections interconnected by eyelet sections. Each body section includes a number of core wires which are wire wrapped by a wrap wire. The eyelet sections include loops formed by at least one of the core wires. The apparatus includes a production zone into which the core wires are extended. Downstream of the production zone, at least one of the core wires is formed into a loop about a pin. The wrap wire is then wire wrapped about the extended core wires in the production zone. After completion of the wire wrapping, the loop is transferred from the downstream location to an upstream location where the loop is retained in place by another pin. This transfer also extends another portion of the core wires into the production zone to be wire wrapped. The process is repeated many times so that the continuous length of flexible retaining splints is formed.

Abstract: A placement assembly which is received in a dental handpiece and is utilized for insertion of a threaded dental pin into a preformed bore in a tooth. The assembly includes an elongated manipulating body portion with the dental pin projecting from an operating end of the body portion. A shank is frangibly coupled to a driving end of the body portion for driving engagement with the dental handpiece to thread the dental pin into the bore. The shank automatically severs from the body portion prior to the final seating of the dental pin in the bore. The body portion is utilized as a hand tool for the final seating of the dental pin in the bore. The body portion is then disengaged from the dental pin to leave the dental pin properly seated in the bore.

Abstract: A bonding dental pin for aiding in the retention of a thin layer of bonding material onto a tooth structure, the bonding dental pin including a lower anchoring portion for securement into the tooth structure. A coaxial cylindrical neck portion of the pin is embedded into the bonding material, and an upper manipulating portion of the pin is available for securing the anchoring portion into the tooth structure. A first stop flange is interposed between the anchoring and neck portions, and a second head portion flange is interposed between the neck and manipulating portions. The confronting surfaces of the flanges are respectively concave to define a pocket therebetween for aiding in maintaining the bonding material around the neck portion.

Abstract: A dental post system for use in the formation and retention of a dental restoration on a tooth stub. The system includes a dental post having an elongated cylindrical pin with a lower anchoring portion which is secured into a prepared bore in the tooth stub, and an upper end portion which projects from the tooth stub and is secured in a metallic core upon which the restoration is fabricated. An interlock arrangement coacts with the upper end portion to provide permanent securement of the metallic core on the cylindrical pin. The interlock arrangement prevents axial lift off of the metallic core from the dental post as well as preventing rotational displacement between the metallic core and the dental post. A core pattern is used to form the metallic core, where the core pattern can be fabricated from a preformed plastic core or can be built up directly onto the upper end portion when the dental post is disposed in the bore of the tooth stub.

Abstract: A contoured dental post for retaining a dental restoration onto a prepared tooth stub, the dental post includes an elongated cylindrical body portion having peripheral grooves for anchoring the body portion within a cement prepared bore in the tooth stub. A pair of radially projecting ribs extends on opposite sides of the body portion, along at least a portion of the length of the body portion. The ribs suitably fit the approximate oval shape of the canal in the tooth stub into which the bore is formed. Preferably, one rib is longer than the other rib. A drill jig is also provided for contouring the canal to receive the dental post. The drill jig includes a stepped head block having a depending shaft extending therefrom for insertion into the bore. A pair of offset apertures is laterally positioned on either side of the shaft and extend through respective stepped portions of the head block and into a portion of the shaft.

Abstract: A dental post for retaining a dental restoration in a secured position on a prepared tooth stub, the dental post including a cylindrical elongated pin having grooves disposed about the periphery thereof, the pin being insertable within a bore provided in the tooth stub. A head portion of the pin projects from the tooth stub to secure the restoration thereon. The head portion includes a substantially conical neck section from which projects a flattened tang. The tang is substantially wider than the diameter of the pin and is angularly oriented with respect to the elongated axis of the pin. The head portion provides improved retention of the superstructure upon the tooth stub and permits orientation of the tang in the same angled direction as the angular orientation of the tooth prosthesis so as to be centrally located within the tooth superstructure for improved retention and strength.

Abstract: A dental die tray assembly for the production of a dental working model for use in producing a prosthetic dental device, the assembly including a die tray body member having upper and lower surfaces, and a peripheral outer wall. A hollow arcuate mold cavity extends entirely through the body member in an outwardly widening direction from the lower surface to the upper surface. The mold cavity is bounded by facing outer and inner walls, with the outer cavity wall being foreshortened by a recessed seat bounding an outer periphery of the mold cavity. Continuous teeth are disposed on the facing cavity walls and extend into the mold cavity. A pair of removable arms are pivotally coupled to respective side portions of the peripheral outer wall of the die tray body member and embrace at least a portion of the body member circumscribing the mold cavity to releasably hold the model in the mold cavity.

Abstract: Articulator (1) for holding dental models with a stationary base (2) for the lower jaw model and an upper part (3) which is attached thereto in such a way that it can be swiveled, for holding the upper jaw model, with mountings (11, 12) in the upper part and the base for the jaw models, the mounting (11) for the upper jaw model being designed in such a way that it can be adjusted at random along three planes perpendicular to each other and can also be locked in any of the positions, and with the mountings (11, 12) being arranged such that the distance between them can be adjusted and locked.

Abstract: An infusion monitor for feeding liquids to patients which is light weight so that it may be easily hung on a liquid dripper and which is provided with means for pre-setting the volume infused and the rate of infusion. Means are also provided for automatically varying the rate of infusion, for automatically cutting-off the infusion and for sounding an alarm to alert an attendant if any variation from pre-set limits occur.

Abstract: A dental tool for wire wrapping a portion of a dental anchor projecting from dentition, the dental tool including an elongated rod with a cylindrical receiving chamber axially extending into the rod from a forward end thereof for receiving the projecting dental anchor therein. An elongated passageway extends through the rod offset from the chamber for receiving a supply of wire therethrough. A manipulating device is coupled to the rear end of the rod for rotation of the tool to thereby helically wrap the wire about the anchor for reinforcing the anchor. The wire can be extended from one dental anchor to an adjacent dental anchor to thereby splint the anchors together.

Abstract: An electrosurgical unit for producing a modulated oscillating signal for coagulation procedures and an unmodulated oscillating signal for cutting procedures. The unit includes a four arm bridge rectifier interconnected directly to the line voltage. A first pair of opposing diagonal terminals on the rectifier is connected directly to the line voltage. A cutting signal is obtained from the other pair of diagonal terminals, and a coagulation signal is obtained across one arm of the bridge rectifier. An oscillator tank coil provides the necessary RF isolation output. A switch selectively interconnects either the coagulation signal output from the bridge rectifier, or the cutting signal output from the bridge rectifier, to the oscillator. The output is taken across the tank circuit from the RF oscillator and applied to a patient through a handpiece. Through the use of high voltage transistors in the circuit, high efficiency is obtained by eliminating the input transformer of the prior art.

Abstract: An infusion monitor for feeding liquids to patients which is light weight so that it may be easily hung on a liquid dripper and which is provided with means for pre-setting the volume infused and the rate of infusion. Means are also provided for automatically varying the rate of infusion, for automatically cutting-off the infusion and for sounding an alarm to alert an attendant if any variation from pre-set limits occur.

Abstract: A dental post for retaining a dental restoration in a secured position on a prepared tooth stub, the dental post including a cylindrical elongated pin having a plurality of spaced apart, individual, external helical flutes longitudinally disposed about the longitudinal axis of the pin. The pin is insertable within a bore provided in the tooth stub with a portion of the pin extending upwardly from the stub to secure the restoration thereon. The flutes functions to, both retain the pin secured within the cement prepared bore, and also provides a vent for the insertion of the pin into the bore.

Abstract: A dental impression tray for forming a dental prosthesis, the dental tray including a trough-like configuration. A valve device is provided for adjustable placement within slots in the outer walls of the tray, the valve device being suitably placed with respect to a mold cavity defined within the tray. The tray is placed over a positive restored model of dental area and a negative impression is formed in the tray. The restored area is then removed from the positive model and the tray is replaced onto the unrestored model. The mold cavity is defined between the negative impression and the unrestored dental model. Casting material is then inserted through the valve device to form a dental prosthesis, which can be used directly as the final prosthesis, or can be used as a model for further forming of the final dental prosthesis.

Abstract: A dental anchor for securing a superstructure to a tooth understructure, the dental anchor having a forward elongated anchoring portion for insertion into a channel extending into the tooth understructure. A coaxial, elongated retaining portion extends from the anchoring portion and has a non-circular cross sectional configuration to provide displacement resistant properties for retaining the superstructure. A depth-limiting portion is integrally disposed between the anchoring portion and the retaining portion for limiting the depth of insertion of the anchoring portion into the channel. The depth-limiting portion has a frustro-conical section which sits into a countersink formed at the upper end of the channel in the tooth understructure. A dental tool is provided to form a limited depth channel simultaneously with a countersink in the tooth understructure for use in conjunction with the dental anchor.

Abstract: An overhandle for enclosing the handle or the shank of a tool, such as a dental tool. The overhandle is formed of two mating semi-cylindrical sections having respective forward end faces which are confrontingly opposed in the opened condition and are in a single plane in the assembled closed condition. Laterally spaced apart hinges interlock the sections at their forward end faces. An elongated channel is respectively formed in each of the sections and extends through the forward end face of the respective section. The channels matingly confront in the assembled closed condition to define an internal chamber with an open forward end so that the chamber receives the end of the tool with the remaining tool portion axially extending through the open forward end. A coupling mechanism is provided for retaining the sections in the assembled closed condition. In modified embodiments, the same overhandle can enclose either the handle of one tool or the shank of another tool.