Abstract: A stable affixation system for dental implantation includes a fixation tray having, for rapid placement, a housing defining a chamber whose inner surface is configured to house a flowable or malleable material and be placed over one or more teeth during guided dental implantation surgery. A central portion not configured to flex is situated between housing side walls. Each such side wall has an upper side portion and a lower side portion. Without the lock a squeezing force on the upper side portions flexes the lower side portions outward. The lock urges the upper side portions outward so as to flex the lower side portions inward. The lock reduces or eliminates freedom of movement of the tray. The system allows rapid removal and is sturdy enough to withstand forces including from various angles and leverage. The central portion may hold registration elements.

Abstract: A stable affixation system for dental implantation includes a fixation tray having, for rapid placement, a housing defining a chamber whose inner surface is configured to house a flowable or malleable material and be placed over one or more teeth during guided dental implantation surgery. Housing side walls are joined to a cross member that has a flexion region on each side of the housing, each side wall having an upper side portion and a lower side portion. Without the lock a squeezing force on the upper side portions flexes the lower side portions outward. The lock urges the upper side portions outward so as to flex the lower side portions inward, thereby urging the material, once hardened, against the teeth. The lock reduces or eliminates freedom of movement of the tray. The system allows rapid removal and is sturdy enough to withstand forces including from various angles and leverage.

Abstract: A stable affixation system for dental implantation includes a fixation tray having, for rapid placement, a housing defining a chamber whose inner surface is configured to house a flowable or malleable material (configured to harden) and be placed over one or more teeth during guided dental implantation surgery. A mechanism for urging the material against the teeth may comprise side walls having an inwardly directed extra flexible arm extension or an inwardly directed step. A lock mechanism may comprise a wedge positioned over the fixation tray to reduce or eliminate freedom of movement of the tray. For rapid removal, the system may include mechanisms (for example an element rotating inside the tray) for applying force on the tray and material and for ensuring that the material adheres more strongly to the tray than to the teeth. The system is sturdy enough to withstand forces including from various angles and leverage.

Abstract: A method for implanting a tooth implant in an at least partially edentulous patient including the steps of anchoring at least one attachment element in a patient's jaw bone, removeably and replaceably mounting a carrier assembly bearing at least one fiducial marker onto the at least one attachment element in a precisely repeatable position with respect to the patient's jaw bone, employing the carrier assembly for providing registration between the at least one fiducial marker and the patient's jaw bone and implanting the tooth implant by employing a tracking system which uses the registration to guide a drilling assembly.

Abstract: A method for correcting inherent distortions in a CT or MRI imaging process, or distortions arising from excessive patient movement during the scan by means of a registration device inserted into the mouth of the patient at the time the scan is being performed. The registration device incorporates a set of fiducial markers disposed in a predetermined three-dimensional pattern. The exact positions of the fiducial markers are known with respect to each other, thus providing a three-dimensional reference against which the resulting images can be compared. Additionally, a method whereby three-dimensional CT or MRI images taken prior to an operation, are accurately registered and integrated with real-time tracking positional data of the patient's body part and instruments operating thereon. Application is described for the drilling of a patient's jaw for the placement of dental implants.