Patents by Inventor Brandon Dale Kofford

Brandon Dale Kofford has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11957538
    Abstract: A temporary alignment system, methods, and accessories for holding a dental coping to an implant abutment using a separable fastener using the same threads in the implant abutment used for definitive attachment are disclosed. The disclosed temporary fasteners initially orient and hold a coping against an implant abutment with a force along the same axis as the semi-definitive screw. The aligned coping can be picked-up in a closed-tray impression process without unscrewing the temporary fastener. Embodiments include threaded posts that release copings from the implant abutment through axial forces. Some embodiments include a threaded post with separable cap that is picked-up with the coping. Methods and accessories for using the separable fastener assembly or portions of it during conversion of an existing prosthesis for screw attachment or fabrication and fitting of a new prosthesis are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Smart Denture Conversions, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon Dale Kofford, Charles Albert Rudisill
  • Patent number: 11937992
    Abstract: A temporary alignment system and method for holding a dental coping to an implant abutment using the same threads in the abutment that are used for definitive attachment are disclosed. The disclosed temporary fasteners initially orient and hold a coping against an abutment with a force along the same axis as the semi-definitive screw. The aligned coping can be picked-up in a closed-tray impression process without unscrewing the temporary fastener. Embodiments include threaded posts that release copings from the abutment through axial forces. Some embodiments include a threaded post with separable cap that is picked-up with the coping. Methods for converting an existing prosthesis for screw attachment to implants in a single visit and digital capture of the converted prosthesis are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Smart Denture Conversions, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon Dale Kofford, Charles Albert Rudisill
  • Publication number: 20240090982
    Abstract: A multi-unit abutment aligning a dental implant and a screw-attached prosthesis with copings is disclosed. The multi-unit abutment has a threaded base post for attachment to the implant and a ball portion. A swivel post into the implant with the multi-unit assembly in a linear configuration. The swivel shell is then positioned and fixed at a desired tilt and azimuthal angle. The swivel shell has a mating surface for a coping. The lock screw remains accessible through an aperture in the coping when the prosthesis is positioned on the implant abutments. Different embodiments are disclosed for capturing the swivel shell on the ball. Methods for improving passive alignment of the prosthesis to the implants are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Brandon Dale Kofford, Charles Albert Rudisill
  • Publication number: 20230200950
    Abstract: A temporary alignment system, methods, and accessories for holding a dental coping to an implant abutment using a separable fastener using the same threads in the implant abutment used for definitive attachment are disclosed. The disclosed temporary fasteners initially orient and hold a coping against an implant abutment with a force along the same axis as the semi-definitive screw. The aligned coping can be picked-up in a closed-tray impression process without unscrewing the temporary fastener. Embodiments include threaded posts that release copings from the implant abutment through axial forces. Some embodiments include a threaded post with separable cap that is picked-up with the coping. Methods and accessories for using the separable fastener assembly or portions of it during conversion of an existing prosthesis for screw attachment or fabrication and fitting of a new prosthesis are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Brandon Dale Kofford, Charles Albert Rudisill
  • Publication number: 20220387144
    Abstract: A multi-unit abutment aligning a dental implant and a screw-attached prosthesis with copings is disclosed. The multi-unit abutment has a threaded base post for attachment to the implant and a ball portion. A swivel shell surrounds the ball and may be fixed in position with a lock screw. A drive feature on the ball allows a tool passing through the lock screw to drive the base post into the implant with the multi-unit assembly in a linear configuration. The swivel shell is then positioned and fixed at a desired tilt and azimuthal angle. The swivel shell has a mating surface for a coping. The lock screw remains accessible through an aperture in the coping when the prosthesis is positioned on the implant abutments. Different embodiments are disclosed for capturing the swivel shell on the ball. Methods for improving passive alignment of the prosthesis to the implants are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Brandon Dale Kofford, Charles Albert Rudisill
  • Publication number: 20220192793
    Abstract: A temporary alignment system and method for holding a dental coping to an implant abutment using the same threads in the abutment that are used for definitive attachment are disclosed. The disclosed temporary fasteners initially orient and hold a coping against an abutment with a force along the same axis as the semi-definitive screw. The aligned coping can be picked-up in a closed-tray impression process without unscrewing the temporary fastener. Embodiments include threaded posts that release copings from the abutment through axial forces. Some embodiments include a threaded post with separable cap that is picked-up with the coping. Methods for converting an existing prosthesis for screw attachment to implants in a single visit and digital capture of the converted prosthesis are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Brandon Dale Kofford, Charles Albert Rudisill
  • Patent number: 11311354
    Abstract: A temporary alignment system and method for holding a dental coping to an implant abutment using the same threads in the abutment that are used for definitive attachment are disclosed. The disclosed temporary fasteners initially orient and hold a coping against an abutment with a force along the same axis as the semi-definitive screw. The aligned coping can be picked-up in a closed-tray impression process without unscrewing the temporary fastener. Embodiments include threaded posts that release copings from the abutment through axial forces. Some embodiments include a threaded post with separable cap that is picked-up with the coping. Methods for converting an existing prosthesis for screw attachment to implants in a single visit and digital capture of the converted prosthesis are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: SMART DENTURE CONVERSIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon Dale Kofford, Charles Albert Rudisill
  • Publication number: 20210275279
    Abstract: Systems and processes are disclosed for providing rapid and accurate dental prosthetic placement on implant abutments with robotic positioning for coping pick-up processing using a provisional fastener. In an embodiment, a dental arch with an open intaglio surface is bonded onto copings that are mounted onto threaded implant abutments with axially separable fasteners through a pick-up process using the same robotic system used to install the implant abutments into bone. The robotic system may apply movement to the prosthesis to aid its removal from abutments after the copings are bonded. The prosthesis with incorporated copings can subsequently be modified for attachment with definitive screws. One embodiment includes a prosthesis with integral robotic attachment features avoiding imaging of fiducial references for proper placement. An embodiment includes temporary arch indexing features between opposing arches to provide proper occlusion during pick-up processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Brandon Dale Kofford, Charles Albert Rudisill
  • Publication number: 20200107914
    Abstract: A temporary alignment system and method for holding a dental coping to an implant abutment using the same threads in the abutment that are used for definitive attachment are disclosed. The disclosed temporary fasteners initially orient and hold a coping against an abutment with a force along the same axis as the semi-definitive screw. The aligned coping can be picked-up in a closed-tray impression process without unscrewing the temporary fastener. Embodiments include threaded posts that release copings from the abutment through axial forces. Some embodiments include a threaded post with separable cap that is picked-up with the coping. Methods for converting an existing prosthesis for screw attachment to implants in a single visit and digital capture of the converted prosthesis are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Brandon Dale Kofford, Charles Albert Rudisill