Parallel Drilling Patents (Class 433/76)
  • Publication number: 20130157219
    Abstract: A dental implant guiding device is applied in guiding the drill of the drilling apparatus in different dimensions. The device includes a guiding module and a guiding seat. The guiding module contains at least one guiding unit where a sleeve with a cavity is disposed. A guiding hole and a guiding slot, where an opening at a fringe of the guiding unit is defined, are disposed at two sides of the sleeve. The guiding seat forms a first hole. At two sides of the first hole, a first guiding shank and a second guiding shank respectively corresponding to the guiding hole and the guiding slot are disposed. The second guiding shank slides into the guiding slot, which allows the first guiding shank inserting into the guiding hole for the drill to position at the center of the cavity of the sleeve, thereby achieving the fast positioning and friction reduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Kai-Szu Lo, Yauchia Liu, Ching-Chieh Huang, Hsien-Nan Kuo
  • Patent number: 8257341
    Abstract: A guide for administering an injection including a guide body contoured for a human mandible; and at least one needle indexing guide on the guide body for the insertion of a needle there through, the guide use to provide a predictable and repeatable way of administering an injection to block a nerve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Inventor: Jack Maurice Fletcher
  • Patent number: 8231386
    Abstract: A tooth implant is done by first fitting to teeth adjacent an edentulous site of a jawbone a temporary bridge and providing in the bridge a guide tube oriented in alignment with a location on the site where an implant pin is to be seated. Then, with the bridge in place and using the tube as a guide, a pilot bore is drilled in the jawbone at the location, and then the implant pin is fitted into the drilled bore and the tube is plugged. The bridge with the plugged tube in place at the site during an osseointegration period after which the bridge is removed and replaced with a prosthesis anchored to the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventor: Paul Hertz
  • Patent number: 8226406
    Abstract: A positioning assist device for drilling multiple dental implant holes is disclosed, which includes a main arm unit and an extension arm unit. The main arm unit has an arm body with two opposing ends, in which a reference shaft is pivoted on a first end, and an extension arm unit is pivoted on a second end via a connecting shaft. A drill-guiding portion having a drill-guiding hole is disposed on an external end portion of the second connecting head. The reference shaft is inserted into a first dental implant hole through an axis hole of the first end. The positions and angles of the drill-guiding hole of the extension arm unit can be adjusted to reach other dental implant holes by pivoting on the reference shaft and the connecting shaft, so as to lead a driller to drill other dental implant holes precisely according to the drill-guiding hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Inventor: Yung-Tang Hung
  • Publication number: 20120183922
    Abstract: A guide block for a dental implant procedure, a guide block assembly, and a dental implant procedural technique using the guide block, which enable a dental implant procedure to be accurately performed by allowing one or more surgical holes to be quickly and accurately bored during a boring process in which the one or more surgical holes are bored in an alveolar bone in a dental implant procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventor: Sang Choon Cho
  • Publication number: 20120045731
    Abstract: A guided pin system (GPS) trephine drill may be used for the placement of a dental implant while simultaneously collecting a substantial volume of autogenous bone that otherwise would have been discarded off during the current method of sequentially enlarging diameter spade drills. A method for preparing a dental implant site may include drilling the site with a pilot drill to a depth about 1 mm deeper than the intended length, in the axial direction, of the implant. The GPS trephine drill may be advanced along a straight axial path created by the pilot drill to a final depth determined by the bottoming out of a protruding pin on the trephine drill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventor: PANKAJ PAL SINGH
  • Patent number: 8087934
    Abstract: An oral implant system and method. The system includes a positioning tool, a transfer band, a transfer screw, and a transfer drill to provide for accurate placement of a dental implant parallel to other implants and or existing teeth and at predetermined depths. A model is made of the patient's maxilla and mandible. The model is marked for implant position, depth and size. Holes are drilled in the model for implant analogs using the positioning tool. The analogs are installed into the model using the positioning tool and a surveyor. Transfer bands are coupled to the analogs and a surgical stent portion is fabricated. The surgical stent is fitted to the patient's occlusion, secured, and then utilized to accurately drill apertures into the patient's maxilla or mandible. The implants are installed into the apertures and the surgical stent is removed. A final restoration is secured to the implants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Immediate Implant Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Gary A. Duncan
  • Publication number: 20110275032
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for placing implants using a surgical template which is made from tomographic cuts in the patient's jawbone. Step drills and calibrating drills, having a single standard diameter for each type of implant, are guided through drill bushings which are inserted into bores in the template in order to produce any drilling sequence corresponding to an implant plan. The penetration depth of the drills is controlled by the height of the bores or by the drill rings. The method limits the required number of drills and implant supports to the longest models only. The inventive method and device are particularly suitable for computer-assisted implantology systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: MATERIALISE N.V.
    Inventors: Philippe TARDIEU, Luc VRIELINCK
  • Patent number: 8038440
    Abstract: Methods for placing and manufacturing a dental superstructure, and methods for placing implants and accessories used thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Materialise Dental N.V.
    Inventors: Bart Filip Jos Swaelens, Luc Vrielinck, Carl Van Lierde
  • Publication number: 20110217668
    Abstract: A positioning assist device for drilling multiple dental implant holes is disclosed, which includes a main arm unit and an extension arm unit. The main arm unit has an arm body with two opposing ends, in which a reference shaft is pivoted on a first end, and an extension arm unit is pivoted on a second end via a connecting shaft. A drill-guiding portion having a drill-guiding hole is disposed on an external end portion of the second connecting head. The reference shaft is inserted into a first dental implant hole through an axle hole of the first end. The positions and angles of the drill-guiding hole of the extension arm unit can be adjusted to reach other dental implant holes by pivoting on the reference shaft and the connecting shaft, so as to lead a driller to drill other dental implant holes precisely according to the drill-guiding hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventor: Yung-Tang HUNG
  • Publication number: 20110151400
    Abstract: A dental bone implant that comprises a first fitted bone graft sized and shaped to fit tightly to a buccal surface of a periodontal alveolar bone around at least one tooth and to reconstruct at least a portion of one or more periodontal bone defect and a second fitted bone graft sized and shaped to fit tightly to a lingual/palatal surface of a periodontal alveolar bone around at least one tooth and to reconstruct at least an additional portion of at least one periodontal bone defect. The portion and the other portion complementary cover the one or more periodontal bone defects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Andy Boiangiu
    Inventors: Andy Boiangiu, Yossi Haran
  • Patent number: 7942668
    Abstract: A drilling assembly is provided for drilling a hole into a zygoma of a patient. The assembly can comprise a template, an extension unit, a drill guide unit, and first and second drills. The template can be configured for orientation within a patient's mouth and can comprise a guide sleeve having a longitudinal axis extending towards the zygoma when fitted on the patient. The extension unit can include a central bore and be slideably received within the guide sleeve. The drill guide unit can also include a central bore of a different diameter than that of the extension unit. The first drill can be slideably received within the central bore of the guide sleeve. The second drill can have an outer diameter different than that of the first drill and can be configured to be slideably received with the central bore of the drill guide unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Nobel Biocare Services AG
    Inventors: Izidor Brajnovic, Andreas Pettersson
  • Publication number: 20110033820
    Abstract: An oral implant system and method. The system comprises a positioning tool, a transfer band, a transfer screw and a transfer drill to provide for accurate placement of a dental implant parallel to other implants and or existing teeth and at predetermined depths. A model is made of the patient's maxilla and mandible. The model is marked for implant position, depth and size. Holes are drilled in the model for implant analogs using the positioning tool. The analogs are installed into the model using the positioning tool and a surveyor. Transfer bands are coupled to the analogs and a surgical stent portion is fabricated. The surgical stent is fitted to the patient's occlusion, secured, and then utilized to accurately drill apertures into the patient's maxilla or mandible. The implants are installed into the apertures and the surgical stent is removed. A final restoration is secured to the implants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: IMMEDIATE IMPLANT TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Gary A. Duncan
  • Patent number: 7845943
    Abstract: An apparatus used in forming a template for locating a dental implant osteotomy in a patient's mandible or maxilla. The apparatus includes a guide post and a sleeve having a longitudinal gap. A dental cast of a patient's mandible or maxilla is formed and a hole is drilled in the dental cast wherein the location and orientation of the hole corresponds to a desired location and orientation of the dental implant osteotomy. The guide post is inserted into the hole and the sleeve is magnetically attached. A molding material is applied to a portion of the dental cast and to a portion of an outer surface of the sleeve to form the template. The template, including the sleeve embedded therein, is removed from the dental cast and is used in the patient's mouth to provide a guide means for drilling the osteotomy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Inventor: Sean W. Meitner
  • Patent number: 7824181
    Abstract: The invention relates to a custom-fit implantable surgical guide (1) and an associated milling tool (4), which is positioned in straddling on the alveolar ridge (7) of a maxillary or mandible arch (2) and comprises at least one drilling barrel (11) for axially guiding said milling tool (4), wherein said barrel (11) is laterally open and at least one part of the internal surface thereof (17) and at least one part of the external surface of the milling tool (4) interact and axially maintain the entire milling tool (4) with respect to the barrel (11). Said invention makes it possible to carry out high precision osteotomies for lateral insertion dental implants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Materialise Dental NV
    Inventor: Laurent Sers
  • Publication number: 20100203468
    Abstract: In a dental hand piece with a direction indication unit in the dental hand piece of the present invention, the front end of a main body is provided with a direction indication unit such as a laser guider in order to generate light beams that are horizontal and vertical respectively from the front end, the horizontal light beam can be aligned with the biting surface of a tooth, while the vertical light beam is for indicating the position of the hole to be drilled on a jawbone, thereby, a dentist can conveniently judge to drill a correct hole that is perpendicular to the biting surface of the tooth for correctly implanting a fixture, thereby to largely increase the rate of success of the operation of tooth implanting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventor: Jennifer CHA
  • Publication number: 20100092912
    Abstract: A guide tube to enable the boring of orifices in the bone portion of the maxilla or jawbone of a patient, including at least a first outer tube segment having a first axial through aperture and at least a second inner tube segment having at least a free end and a second axial through aperture, the second tube segment being inserted inside the first axial through aperture of the first tube segment, and wherein an integrated axial prolongation projects from the free end of the inner tube segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Asbel Rodrigues Machado, Eder Ferreira Rangel, Keuler Ferreira Rangel
  • Patent number: 7682151
    Abstract: The invention discloses an integrated 3 D surgical guide, guide bar, mini-implant system and a procedure to stabilize dental prostheses, based on implanting two parallel mini-implants at a given distance and then joining them by means of a prosthetic bar mounted on them, thus achieving the required strength to mount on the bar a metallic clip that retains a dental prosthesis. The advantage of this integrated system is the stabilization of dental prostheses with high precision and save standardized protocol, lower costs and less trauma for the patient than the traditionally used method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Universidad de Concepcion
    Inventor: Jorge Jofre Araya
  • Publication number: 20100035201
    Abstract: An apparatus for drilling into a patient's jaw, the apparatus comprising: a gel template; a cylinder embedded in the gel template; and a support arranged to fixate the gel template and the therein embedded cylinder in respect to the jaw, wherein the gel template comprises a gel selected to harden responsive of electromagnetic radiation, wherein the cylinder is arranged to allow drilling into the jaw, and wherein the cylinder is positioned within the gel template such as to enable drilling into the jaw through the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Israel Beck, Shabtay Benyamin
  • Patent number: 7632097
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for manufacturing a suprastructure (7) with artificial teeth (8) which is mounted on at least one implant (9,10) that is provided in the cavity of the mouth of a person and that has to be fixed to the bone of the lower jaw or the upper jaw (1), whereby a drill jig (3) is manufactured with at least one opening (4) for performing a boring (5) in the bone for mounting said implant (9,10), with the feature that the position of said opening (4) in the drill jig (3) and the position of the latter is determined in relation to at least one reference organ (2) that is fixed to said bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Dental Vision B.V.B.
    Inventor: René De Clerck
  • Publication number: 20090202959
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a dental implant guide features a drill base operable to be secured inside of a human mouth. A drill guide is adjustably attached to the drill base. The drill guide is operable to guide the path of a drill bit down a drilling axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: The Texas A & M University System
    Inventors: Khaldoun Ajlouni, Raed Ajlouni
  • Patent number: 7572125
    Abstract: A guide device is provided that can interact with a number of sleeves of a tooth template. The guide device can include a handle part, a support part, and a guide part. The handle part can include first and second parts. The first part can be connectable to the second part, and the second part can include a space having a variable size. The variable size of the space can be determined by the position of the first part relative to the second part. The supporting part can be sized and configured to engage the space of the handle for allowing selective positioning of the supporting part relative to the handle part. The guide part can be connectable to the supporting part with the guide part being operative to align a tool for use in the dental treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Nobel Biocare Services AG
    Inventor: Izidor Brajnovic
  • Publication number: 20090181340
    Abstract: A system for insertion of implants, in particular dental implants, comprises a splint, which is provided with a bore and which is designed for positioning the implant onto an area intended for the insertion, in particular a bone, and can be placed on the latter. The system also includes an insertion or screwing tool for the implant, and the splint has a guide surface. The system is to be further designed such that the precise insertion of the implant can be predefined with a high degree of reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Dietrich Wolf, Norbert Bergner
  • Publication number: 20090011382
    Abstract: A surgical drill guide for installing dental implants with predetermined angular alignment and rotational orientation for a dental prosthesis, formed of: a. a base part formed to correspond generally to the shape and contour of a patient's upper or lower mouth, the base part having peripheral edges and having opposite tissue and mouth sides and at least one drill guide hole extending through the base part from the tissue side to the mouth side, each of the drill guide holes having a central axis at a predetermined angular orientation relative to the mouth side and having lateral location relative to the peripheral edges, and b. a set of rotational position indicators on the tissue and mouth sides respectively of the base part for each of the drill guide holes, the rotational position indicators of each set being at the same rotational position about the central axis of the drill guide hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventor: Trevor BAVAR
  • Publication number: 20080241784
    Abstract: Provided is a distance measuring apparatus for dental implant insertion which has a support frame and a guide frame integrally formed to be bent from the upper part of the support frame and having a plurality of guide holes therein for determining drilling points. According to the distance measuring apparatus for dental implant insertion, a proper determination of drilling points becomes possible without a surgical stent and as well the drilling points can be properly changed when an implant cannot be inserted at an originally planned portion due to an alveolus resorption even in the case of using the surgical stent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Yoo-Jin Chung
  • Publication number: 20080220390
    Abstract: A dental tool guide assembly includes a master or fixed sleeve having a central bore and a removable sleeve insert having a central bore which fits into the fixed sleeve. The fixed sleeve and removable sleeve insert each have a cut away side section which are alignable when the removable sleeve insert is inserted into the fixed sleeve. The cutaway side sections allow an upright tool to be brought laterally and radially-inward through the outer fixed sleeve and inner removable sleeve and then vertically downward through the bore of the removable sleeve. This design allows easier access to the osteotomy site without requiring the patient to open their mouth by a painful amount. The design also allows the use of longer drills in smaller mouths. The removable sleeves are preferably provided with a variety of inner bore diameters but all having the same outer diameter which closely correspond to the inner diameter of the bore of the fixed sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventor: Michael Klein
  • Publication number: 20080166681
    Abstract: A template for performing a dental implantation procedure, comprising: a main body adapted to seat on a plurality of oral structures, and at least one mounting point on the main body for mounting at least one drill guide, wherein the main body is provided with exposed implantation spaces where the dental implantation is to be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Tactile Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Uriel Weinstein, Assaf Bernstein, Vered Cohen Sharvit, Michal Shohat, Yuval Yohai, Noa Graf, Ronen Eldar, Tatyana Zaslavsky
  • Publication number: 20080124672
    Abstract: A dental implant drill guide for drilling perpendicular holes of different diameters in a jaw bone for receiving an implant has an elongated guide member with a side for engaging the jaw bone, an opposite side, and a third side also for engaging the jaw bone and an opposite and parallel fourth side. A parallel and spaced apart drill guide holes each of a different diameter extend through the guide member between the first and second sides, and parallel and spaced apart drill guide holes each of a different diameter extend through the guide member between the third and fourth sides. A handle is connected to and extends from the guide member and is of a size to be held be the hand of a practitioner for engaging the guide member against the jaw bone. A second version of the drill guide allows for angled application in posterior edentulous sites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: Harold I. SUSSMAN
  • Patent number: 7163396
    Abstract: An instrument for use in verifying that the distance between two teeth is the minimum adequate distance for the placement of one or two implants. The instrument verifies that marks made with a surgical splint have amongst them the minimum adequate distance, and centers edentulous space for placement of an implant or divides equidistantly the space for the placement of two implants. The instrument has a first rectangular sheet joined to one side of a second, larger rectangular sheet by an extension therebetween. A handle extends from the other side of the second rectangular sheet. The first and second rectangular sheets each have stops that extend from opposing sides of the respective sheets. The stops are adapted to engage teeth for proper positioning of the instrument during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Innovative Implant Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Antonio Jose Gordils Wallis
  • Patent number: 7153132
    Abstract: A stent used to drill a pilot hole for dental implants is the subject of this invention. The stent has a base plate with drill directional cylinders fixed in this base plate. These cylinders are positioned so that they will reach the bone structure of a patient prior to and during the drilling of the pilot hole in the patient's jawbone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Inventor: James L. Tedesco
  • Patent number: 7097451
    Abstract: A surgical template for performing dental implant osteotomies comprises a malleable, resinous, thermoplastic base, at least one non-thermoplastic, rigid drill guide attached to the base, and a securing mechanism between the base and the drill guide. The template may reversibly melt to a malleable state and can be handled by hand without additional tools so as to conform to the adjacent teeth of the edentulous ridge, either directly in the patient's mouth or on a cast model. Dental osteotomies using the template can then be performed. The surgical template may be manufactured of a thermoplastic material having a sharp and low melting point but high rigidity in the solid state at room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Inventor: Brian Tang
  • Patent number: 7086860
    Abstract: The specification and drawing figures describe and show an implant placement system that includes one or more graphic representations of a proposed dental implant site, and a device for determining bone and soft tissue data at the proposed dental implant site (“site”). A model is formed of the site for portraying dental implant site data. A variety of tools are sued to determine the size and angulations of the dental implant. After cutting the model, additional tools are used for drawing a graphic on the model. A pin, formable material and an implant guide are provided to transfer the placement information to the site. A drill is use to form a channel for the implant device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Inventors: Walter F. Schuman, Gordan D. Blacklock
  • Patent number: 7014461
    Abstract: Apparatus for measuring a surface geometry of hard tissue covered by a layer of soft tissue, including a plurality of elements each having a tip adapted to penetrate said soft tissue and not substantially penetrate said hard tissue; a frame supporting movement of said elements, each along a path, such that a plurality of said tips, when positioned along the paths, define a surface; and at least one position sensor which generates a signal indicative of a tip position of at least one of said elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Tactile Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Uriel Weinstein
  • Patent number: 6926525
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dental device and a dental system that functions to assist in placing implants at a predetermined angle, in particular in inserting implants parallel with each other or parallel with a non-implant appliance supported in the mouth, and to a method of installing implants in parallelism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignees: Tandlaegeselskabet V/ Henning Lehmann Bastian
    Inventors: Jørn Rønvig, Henning Lehmann Bastian
  • Patent number: 6913463
    Abstract: An adjustable drilling guide, removably mountable to a patient's teeth, having a guide block with at least one stent for guiding a dental drill is disclosed. In a first embodiment, the guide block has a plurality of guide holes disposed at differing angles which may receive a stent for precise drilling at the selected angle. If minor variations need be made, the stent may be moved to a second or third of the guide holes to adjust the angle. In a second embodiment, three distinct stents are formed directly in the guide block allowing for drilling at up to three different angles. A third embodiment has a stent which is pivotable about a pivot point within the guide block, allowing drilling at any angle within the arc of the pivot. The guide block may be fitted to a model of the patient's teeth prior to installation into the mouth to ensure proper fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Inventor: Gordon D. Blacklock
  • Patent number: 6881059
    Abstract: A device (1) to treat the teeth (2) adjacent to a gap (3) for the purposes of placing a dental bridge (4) that replaces at least one missing tooth has a treatment tool (5) to remove tooth material, in particular a grinding tool. The device (10 has a mounting fixture (6) to fasten to the teeth of the patient that contains an adjustable positioning device (7) to position the treatment tool (5). By means of the positioning device (7), the treatment tool (5) can move back and forth toward the neighboring teeth (2) to make recesses (8) in the sides of the teeth (2) facing the gap (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Inventor: Ulrich Wennemann
  • Patent number: 6869283
    Abstract: An implant hole guide is used in drilling a hole in jaw bone for a dental implant. A bar of the guide has opposite ends and opposite surfaces, one being adapted to engage a jaw bone adjacent the site of a hole to be drilled. A guide bore extends in the bar adjacent one end for guiding the drill. First and second guide posts extend from the opposite surfaces of the bar adjacent the other end. The posts are parallel to the bore and are spaced from the bore by a minimum center-to-center implant distance sufficient to maintain at least 3 mm of jaw bone between adjacent implant receiving holes in the jaw bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Inventor: Harold I. Sussman
  • Patent number: 6869282
    Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus to guide a dental drill to drill a bore into which a dental implant may be inserted at a particular axis. The dentist first takes an impression of a selected patient's dental arch. The cast dental arch is then formed from the impression. A dental professional then determines the desired location of the desired axis. A proxy implant having a proxy axis is placed in the cast dental arch with the proxy axis co-incident with the desired location of the desired axis. A stent is then formed of the tooth crowns from the cast dental arch. The stent has incorporated into it a locating barrel. A drill head with a drill alignment arm is provided to the dentist for fixation to a dental drill hand piece. The kit of parts provided to the dentist includes the stent with its incorporated locating barrel. The drill alignment arm provided to the dentist for attachment to the drill head and a plurality of drills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Inventors: Robert P. Carmichael, George K. B. Sandor
  • Publication number: 20040146830
    Abstract: Apparatus for measuring a surface geometry of hard tissue covered by a layer of soft tissue, including a plurality of elements each having a tip adapted to penetrate said soft tissue and not substantially penetrate said hard tissue; a frame supporting movement of said elements, each along a path, such that a plurality of said tips, when positioned along the paths, define a surface; and at least one position sensor which generates a signal indicative of a tip position of at least one of said elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventor: Uriel Weinstein
  • Publication number: 20040142300
    Abstract: In one aspect, a group of inter-connecting, prefabricated components of various shapes and sizes that can be assembled together to form a framework system directly onto dental implants installed in the patient's mouth is disclosed. In another aspect, a group of prefabricated components to form a drill guide system for drilling a properly spaced and oriented implant hole adjacent to another implant hole or adjacent to a fully-installed implant is disclosed. In yet another aspect, improved procedures for installing permanent, implant-supported dental restorations are disclosed, including an immediate loading procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventor: Ines Monica Aravena
  • Publication number: 20040048225
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for guiding the formation of multiple, parallel holes in bone or implant in the mouth of a patient. A bar is engagable with a pivot and a slidable drill guide moves along the bar. Rotation of the bar about the pivot and radial movement of the drill guide relative to the bar permits selective positioning of the drill guide at different locations. The drill guide directs a drill bit to control hole formation of one or more holes parallel to the original reference. The angle, proximity and location of holes can be controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventor: Gayle J. Fletcher
  • Publication number: 20040013999
    Abstract: An implant hole guide is used in drilling a hole in jaw bone for a dental implant. A bar of the guide has opposite ends and opposite surfaces, one being adapted to engage a jaw bone adjacent the site of a hole to be drilled. A guide bore extends in the bar adjacent one end for guiding the drill. First and second guide posts extend from the opposite surfaces of the bar adjacent the other end. The posts are parallel to the bore and are spaced from the bore by a minimum center-to-center implant distance sufficient to maintain at least 3 mm of jaw bone between adjacent implant receiving holes in the jaw bone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventor: Harold I. Sussman
  • Patent number: 6672870
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting a dental prosthesis to an upper or lower jaw of a patient. The apparatus includes a jig bushing and a base plate. The jig bushing has a plurality of apertures therethrough for guiding the travel of a drill bit for forming bores in the jaw of the patient. The base plate is immovably associated with the jig bushing and is formed to correspond to the shape of the jaw. A drill bit adaptor is provided for drilling bores in the ridge of the patient to an adjustable predetermined depth. The drill bit adaptor includes a plurality of annular recesses along a longitudinal length of the elongate body for receiving an E-ring. The body of the drill bit adaptor can be inserted into an aperture of the jig bushing until the E-ring presses against the jig bushing. Implants can be screwed into bores. Transmucosal adaptors having sloped ends can be added to each implant. Retaining screws can connect the implants with the transmucosal adaptors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: John G. Knapp
  • Patent number: 6626667
    Abstract: A dental implant guide arrangement accurately guides a bur for drilling a pilot or initial hole for a dental implant into the upper or lower jaw bone of an edentulous (toothless) patient. The arrangement includes jaws, pointed projections or other jaw bone ridge engagement structures which engage the ridge area of the upper or lower jaw bone to fix the arrangement in place. A preferably closed cylindrical guide channel is connected to the engagement structure and extends outwardly along and over the jaw bone ridge. The axis of the channel is parallel to an acceptable axis for the pilot or initial hole into the ridge. The bur can be guided along the guide channel for accurately drilling the hole. Another part of the arrangement is used after the initial hole is drilled to accurately space and orient subsequent implant hole in the jaw bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Inventor: Harold I. Sussman
  • Publication number: 20030165791
    Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus to guide a dental drill to drill a bore into which a dental implant may be inserted at a particular axis. The dentist first takes an impression of a selected patient's dental arch. The cast dental arch is then formed from the impression. A dental professional then determines the desired location of the desired axis. A proxy implant having a proxy axis is placed in the cast dental arch with the proxy axis co-incident with the desired location of the desired axis. A stent is then formed of the tooth crowns from the cast dental arch. The stent has incorporated into it a locating barrel. A drill head with a drill alignment arm is provided to the dentist for fixation to a dental drill hand piece. The kit of parts provided to the dentist includes the stent with its incorporated locating barrel. The drill alignment arm provided to the dentist for attachment to the drill head and a plurality of drills.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventors: Robert P. Carmichael, George K.B. Sandor
  • Publication number: 20030157457
    Abstract: An adjustable drilling guide, removably mountable to a patient's teeth, having a guide block with at least one stent for guiding a dental drill is disclosed. In a first embodiment, the guide block has a plurality of guide holes disposed at differing angles which may receive a stent for precise drilling at the selected angle. If minor variations need be made, the stent may be moved to a second or third of the guide holes to adjust the angle. In a second embodiment, three distinct stents are formed directly in the guide block allowing for drilling at up to three different angles. A third embodiment has a stent which is pivotable about a pivot point within the guide block, allowing drilling at any angle within the arc of the pivot. The guide block may be fitted to a model of the patient's teeth prior to installation into the mouth to ensure proper fit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventor: Gordon D. Blacklock
  • Patent number: 6605092
    Abstract: A system and a method for positioning a drill, having a drill bit with a central axis, for drilling a subsequent hole in a bone at a predetermined distance from and in a predetermined orientation in respect to a reference hole, is disclosed. The system comprises a reference insert, configured to be inserted into the reference hole, and adapted to establish a reference guideline, the reference guideline being of the predetermined orientation; and, an alignment mechanism, configured to be attached to the drill, the alignment mechanism adapted to be fixed at the predetermined distance from and parallel to the central axis of the drill bit, the alignment mechanism including an optical device for colinearly aligning an alignment axis of the alignment mechanism with the reference guideline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Inventors: Manfred Grumberg, Zvi Laster
  • Patent number: 6592368
    Abstract: This application relates to a dental apparatus for the initial and subsequent guidance of drills, hypodermic needles, or drug delivery devices into the cortical plate of human mandibular and maxillary bones. The invention comprises a thin platform with one or a plurality of angled or straight preformed perforations serving as entrance ports. Each port is optimally heralded by a radio-opaque marker to enable a view of the tooth root prior to drilling for a superior selection of a nerve deadening site and a whisker tubule visually displaying the drill's angle. The platform can be positioned on either the inner or outer side of the cortical plate, and is optimized for use with a dedicated indexing bite apparatus, a dedicated rubber dam style clamp, or by attachment to a RINN positioner or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Inventor: Arthur K. Weathers, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20030091957
    Abstract: At an initial office visit, the dentist makes an impression of the portion of the mouth in which the tooth is located, with upper and lower occlusal surfaces at or below the gum line. After preparation of a crown, the dentist presses the surface contour tool against the biting surface of the tooth to determine the depth settings for at least one burr in a surface tool that will remove the upper surface of the tooth and create a working surface for the material removal device. The dentist inserts at least one burr with the proper length in this tool so that when the tool is lowered onto the tooth, a flat surface will be created. The flat surface tool and the center hole drilling burr are operated with a device that locks onto the tooth and ensures that the top surface of the tooth will be perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the tooth. The dentist inserts the guide pin of the material removal device in the center hole or onto a disk post and begins to remove material from the side of the tooth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventor: Alfred Harper Ben Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20030064346
    Abstract: A device (1) to treat the teeth (2) adjacent to a gap (3) for the purposes of placing a dental bridge (4) that replaces at least one missing tooth has a treatment tool (5) to remove tooth material, in particular a grinding tool. The device (10 has a mounting fixture (6) to fasten to the teeth of the patient that contains an adjustable positioning device (7) to position the treatment tool (5). By means of the positioning device (7), the treatment tool (5) can move back and forth toward the neighboring teeth (2) to make recesses (8) in the sides of the teeth (2) facing the gap (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventor: Ulrich Wennemann