Abstract: In an organ retractor including a shaft defining a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal plane, and at least one organ support assembly operatively coupled to the shaft. The organ support assembly includes a plurality of ribs having a first position, in which each of the plurality of ribs is parallel with one another, and a second position, in which a first rib of the plurality of ribs is transverse with respect to a second rib of the plurality of ribs. The at least one organ support assembly is pivotable from a first orientation, in which each of the plurality of ribs is disposed in the longitudinal plane of the shaft, to a second orientation, in which each of the plurality of ribs is disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal plane of the shaft, and a support extending between and connected to each of the plurality of two ribs.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket has a clip which is curved substantially in U-shape as covering at least one part of an opposite side to a base in an arch wire slot. Catching end portions which are provided at an upper end part of the clip may be caught to enable to creep under a cover portion supported by the bracket main body. The clip is formed at the upper end part thereof with a concave portion as a recess portion which enables to catch a clip release tool for releasing the clip.

Abstract: Methods and instruments for performing surgery in a patient are provided that minimize tissue dissection and retraction to access locations within the patient. One specific application concerns devices, instruments and techniques that provide for selective retraction of tissue, neural elements, organs or other anatomical structures at locations distally of the retractor sleeve providing percutaneous access to the locations.

Abstract: A vaginal speculum having a universal connection between the handle and each of a plurality of blades, for selectively detaching and attaching one or more of the blades at any one of a plurality of angles between the handle axis and the blade axis. Preferably, the vaginal speculum is part of a kit having a plurality of elongated blades adapted to penetrate and fully enter a vagina while providing surgical access, each being interchangeably connectable to the handle, thereby providing a variety of options for blade length, blade width, or blade contour to better fit the vaginal structure of a particular patient. Each blade is made of a rigid or semi-rigid plastic, that is disposable after each use. The handle is preferably made of heavy metal, with a permanent plastic sheath or coating.

Abstract: A dental implant system and method are provided. The dental implant system typically includes a boring device for boring a hole in an alveolar bone and leaving a bridge portion separating the hole from the maxillary sinus cavity. The system may also include a scoring device for scoring the bridge portion, and a lifting device for breaking the bridge portion along the score, and lifting the freed bridge portion a first predetermined distance. The system may further include a membrane separation elevator for separating the sinus membrane from the sinus cavity wall. The system may also include a second lifting device configured to contact the freed bridge portion to further raise the freed bridge portion and sinus membrane together to a second predetermined penetration distance into the sinus cavity.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for quickly arriving at a pre-set-up for the orthodontic treatment of a patient based up on the user specified parameters; and thereafter enabling the user in interactively arriving at a final, desired treatment set-up for the patient. Several sub-operations are disclosed for arriving at the orthodontic pre-set-up. These sub-operations can be arranged in a specific sequence for realizing the orthodontic treatment pre-set-up for a patient. According to another aspect of the invention, a global reference system is disclosed that enables consistent treatment planning. The global reference system prevents unintended tooth displacements caused as side effects to the desired tooth displacements.

Abstract: A disposable cushioned aspirator which forms part of a dental or medical aspirating system. The disposable cushioned aspirator appliance described herein is intended principally to be used in dental and medical procedures where body fluids and rinse water is evacuated from the site of a procedure. An elongate tubular element has a connection end and a patient end. The patient end is exteriorly lined with a layer of soft cushioning material such as a soft thermoplastic elastomers, styrene based polymers, rubber or a porous polymer foam material to define an aspirator tip that protects the soft tissues in and around the mouth of a patient. The soft aspirator tip has external longitudinal pressure relief channels and recessed aspiration openings within the channels for control of aspiration characteristics.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for patients requiring repositioning of misaligned teeth who typically undergo orthodontic treatment to move the teeth into corrected positions. The orthodontic methods typically require lengthy procedures involving the application of light forces to the teeth to effect movement as accomplished by braces or other appliances. The apparatus and method includes the administration of a needle corticotomy to select regions that have been identified as absent any landmarks to avoid. The method is accomplished without the use of freeze-dried and bovine bone and without a mucoperiosteal flap procedure, resulting in low medical risk and providing a simplified and less time consuming procedure as compared to the prior art, and furthermore wherein the method effects a significant reduction in the time required to complete an orthodontic case while also significantly reducing the discomfort and recovery time for the patient.

Abstract: A method to increase the cement retention of a metal dental coping to the structure of a tooth in the preparation of a crown or bridge. The method includes forming a liquid composition of high and low fusing temperature metal particles with at least 50% of the high fusing metal particles having a thin cross-sectional average thickness of less than 5 microns and coating the interior surfaces of the metal coping with the liquid composition to form a thin coating of no greater than 20 microns before the coping is mounted on the tooth structure. The thin coating of liquid composition should then be heat treated at a temperature of between 750° C. and 1050° C. to permit the low-fusing temperature metal particles to fuse but not entirely melt. Following heat treatment a dental cement should be applied to the tooth structure or coping in a conventional manner. Thereafter, the coping is mounted on the tooth structure with the heat treated coating in contact with the dental cement to improve retention.

Abstract: A speculum provides visual access to a body cavity, and such instrument is used by physicians for vaginal examination. The speculum comprises a handle having a frontal portion and a rear portion slidingly secured to the frontal portion. A blade angle positioner is pivotally connected by a pivot connection in a top end portion of the handle rear portion, whereby to angulate a top blade removably secured to a top blade connector anchor at a forward projecting end of the blade angle positioner. The handle frontal portion has a bottom blade connector anchor in a top forward end portion thereof. The top and bottom blades each have a connecting end provided with clamp connectors for removable engagement with a respective one of the top and bottom blade connector anchors.

Abstract: Self-ligating orthodontic bracket which comprises a support body (6) intended to be fixed onto a tooth and provided with a slot (9) for receiving an arch wire (5) capable of imparting a corrective action to the tooth and retaining means (10) able to interfere with the wire (5) so as to lock it inside the slot (9) The retaining means (10) are formed by a pair of lugs (10?) made as one piece with the support body (6) and having a retaining portion (11) which delimits the slot (9) at the top and interferes with the wire (5). The said lugs (10?) are provided with two opposite faces which delimit an opening (21) of a channel (20) for access to the slot (9).

Abstract: An implant system comprising a dental implant, a holding element is provided with non-rotational joint means adapted to avoid relative rotation of the holding element with respect to the implant, and a clamping element adapted to steady retain the holding element close to said implant. The system further comprises release means provided on the clamping element and suitable to interact with release means provided on a separating tool, so that acting on the separating tool the implant can be released from the holding element without transferring damaging forces such as torsional, tensile or compressive forces, to the implant.

Abstract: A surgical retractor is configured to provide surgical access in thoracic surgery, for example through an intercostal incision. The surgical retractor includes at least one inflated or inflatable member to cushion the ribs and surrounding tissue from injury or trauma. In one embodiment, the inflatable member is configured as an inflatable ring with a concave outer surface for engaging and spreading apart two adjacent ribs when the ring is inflated. In another embodiment, the inflatable ring can be combined with a substantially rigid inner ring for supporting and rigidifying the retractor. In yet another embodiment, a plurality of substantially rigid retractor blades is mounted on a spreading track or the like. One or more inflatable members or an inflatable ring are used to cushion the tissue from the rigid retractor blades.

Abstract: A dental articulator includes a lower jaw member, two pillars each extending vertically upwardly from the lower jaw member. The pillars each carry a ball, which correspond to a human mandibular condyle. The articulator further includes an upper jaw member disposed over the lower jaw member and carrying housings each provided on either side of a rear portion of said upper jaw member. Each of the balls is received in one of the housings so that the upper jaw member is vertically pivotable about the balls. Each housing includes a top wall coupled to the upper jaw member so as to be vertically movable relative to the upper jaw member while kept in contact with one of the balls and configured to be fixed to the upper jaw member at any position, and a rear wall coupled to the upper jaw member so as to be movable back and forth while kept in contact with one of the balls and configured to be fixed to the upper jaw member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a supporting device for an interdental cleaning means, of the type comprising a handle and a tightening head for an elongated appendix portion of said cleaning means, said tightening head comprising a central body around which a complementary rotating bush is mounted, and wherein said bush and said central body have a common hole for hosting said appendix portion, which hole is substantially parallel and offset relative to the rotation axis of the bush.

Abstract: A dental suction device includes a hollow tube having both flexibility and shape retainability. The tube has its both ends connected to a connector and is formed with suction holes. The connector can be connected to a vacuum source. A suction force produced by the vacuum source can thus be applied to the suction holes of the tube through a passage formed in the connector. The connector includes a valve for adjusting the degree of opening of the passage formed in the connector and thus the suction force applied to the suction holes. The valve includes a valve body mounted in the connector and a manual lever for controlling the valve body.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for repositioning the teeth of a patient by providing a digital model of each tooth of the patient; determining one or more root parameters from the digital model; and digitally moving one or more tooth models and evaluating a treatment outcome based on one or more root movement clinical constraints.

Abstract: A dental articulator capable of finely adjusting a three-dimensional articulation posture and exerting a secure fastening force by a lever is provided. The dental articulator includes a lower grip plate, a column, an arm, and an upper grip plate, wherein a first ball and a second ball are disposed between the arm and the upper grip plate, and wherein the dental articulator further comprises: a first clamp block having spherical recesses contacting with the first and second balls; a second clamp block having spherical recesses contacting with the first and second balls; a lever disposed on an outer surface of the second clamp block; an engaging bolt passing through the lever and the second clamp block into the first clamp block; and fastening bolts engaged into the lever to shorten a distance between the first and second clamp blocks.

Abstract: An improved device for registration of dental bite provides a possibility to make accurate impression of the patient's dental bite and includes the first portion and second portion. The first portion comprises a first mouth portion and a first handle portion, and the second portion includes a second mouth portion and a second handle portion. Each of the first mouth portion and second mouth portion are generally of half-U-shaped configuration, and in the coupled position form the U-shaped configuration. Also, the device comprises the connector located in the handle portions of the first portion and second portion respectively, and which includes a first connecting portion located on the first handle portion and the second connecting portion located on the second handle portion.

Abstract: An abutment system for a dental implant includes an abutment having a base portion that is engageable with a dental implant and a shoulder disposed about the base portion that includes a hybrid ceramic material. The hybrid ceramic material includes at least 85% porcelain. An opaque can be applied to the exterior surface of the abutment. A pigment can also be added to the hybrid ceramic material so as to match the color of the patient's gum tissue. A method of preparing an abutment system includes the steps of forming a curable hybrid ceramic material into a shoulder about the base portion of an abutment, partially curing the hybrid ceramic material so as to form an initially cured shoulder, shaping the initially cured shoulder to a desired shape so that the shoulder conforms to at least one patient specific criterion, and completely curing the shoulder. A plurality of abutment systems may be assembled into a kit.