Patents Examined by Michael R Ballinger
  • Patent number: 7654825
    Abstract: A patient-controlled device for inhibiting intraoperative dental pain is disclosed. The device includes a removable tooth clamp, an actuator unit, and a control box. The actuator defines unit includes a vibratory actuator and a coupling device for coupling the vibratory actuator to the tooth clamp. The control box is electrically connected to the vibratory actuator and includes at least one controller. In this regard, the removable tooth clamp is configured to be attached to at least one tooth of a patient, and upon final assembly, the controller initiates oscillation of the tooth clamp via the vibratory actuator and vibrates the tooth/teeth to inhibit intraoperative dental pain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Inventor: Charles D. Ray
  • Patent number: 7648362
    Abstract: A dental restoration is provided which includes a base structure and a pre-fabricated over structure which at least partially covers the base structure. An interconnecting material interconnects hardened bite elements of the over structure with the base structure. In accordance with the method of producing a dental restoration, the interconnecting material applied onto the base structure is hardened fully after the over structure has first been applied onto the still malleable interconnecting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Ivoclar - Vivedent AG
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Foser, Urs Spirig
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7625207
    Abstract: A suction device includes an elongated suction tube having a suction tip at a distal end thereof, and a proximal end that is connectable to a suction source. A collar is slidable along the suction tube from a retracted position to a deployed position. A sleeve is provided having a proximal end fixed relative to the proximal end of the suction tube, and a distal end configured with the collar so as to move therewith and cover the suction tube in the deployed position of the collar. A wiper seal is contained within collar in sliding frictional engagement around the suction tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrienne A. Hershey, Gerry Arambula, Scott M. Teixeira, Mike Sleva
  • Patent number: 7625206
    Abstract: A method of orthodontic treatment includes fastening a first bracket to an inside surface of a first tooth in a patient's mouth, fastening a second bracket to an outside surface of a second tooth, the second tooth being adjacent the first tooth, fastening a third bracket to an outside surface of a third tooth, the third tooth being adjacent the first tooth and generally opposite the second tooth, passing a wire between the first and second teeth, positioning the wire around the first tooth adjacent the inside surface and the first bracket, passing the wire between the first and third teeth, and connecting the wire to the first, second and third brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: Pablo Rojas-Pardini
  • Patent number: 7581951
    Abstract: The invention relates to a treatment element which is used to receive dental hand instruments. Said treatment element comprises a base part (1) which is provided with connections (2; 39) and which is used to accommodate the instruments, and a instrument storage place (5; 15). Said treatment element comprises an exchangeable upper part (4; 12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Lehmann, Peter Frey
  • Patent number: 7556500
    Abstract: Bone-adaptive surface structures are provided for lateral jaw implants. Micromechanical and/or macromechanical surface structures having various body forms are incorporated into selected segments of the surface of a base and of a bar that connects a shaft with the base to accelerate the healing process after the implant is inserted into the jaw bone and to make a critical improvement in holding the implant firmly in place without rotation. A process of manufacturing the surface structures includes forming a macromechanical surface on the implant to increase its surface area; and superimposing micromechanical canals on the macromechanical surface, the canals having a size smaller than the minimum size of the osteons in the bone into which the implant is to be inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Biomed Est.
    Inventor: Stefan Ihde