Patents Examined by Mirayda Aponte
  • Patent number: 11666420
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a dental prosthetic, a metallic insert, and a plastic cap member. The insert is configured to be bonded in an interior of the dental prosthetic. The insert defines a passageway. The of the insert is configured to receive a screw. The cap member is configured to be interposed between the insert and the interior of the dental prosthetic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: NATIONAL DENTEX, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel R. Llop
  • Patent number: 11660168
    Abstract: A dental implant adapted for implanting within a jaw bone, the implant comprising a horizontally-oriented body having a length extending in the mesial-distal direction of the jaw bone, the body having a threaded cavity dimensioned for receiving a prosthetic abutment, and wherein the cavity comprises an opening that is located wholly within a buccolingual width of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: The University of Melbourne
    Inventors: Efthimios Gazelakis, Joseph Palamara, Roy Judge
  • Patent number: 11622839
    Abstract: A dental implant and final prosthetic placement system for small-diameter implants (and method for using the system) in which a final prosthetic is digitally designed and created, and is itself used as the drill guide to place the implants. The final prosthetic is held in the predetermined proper drilling position by a stent, such as an occlusal guard. The combination of final prosthetic (with holes through which the small-diameter implants are drilled to secure it) and the stent encasing the final prosthetic, is itself the drill guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventor: Paul Hertz
  • Patent number: 11612456
    Abstract: Protrusions or holes with jagged edges formed on the lingual side of invisible aligner trays are provided. The protrusions or holes irritate the tongue causing it to retract away from the incisors thus eliminating intruding force otherwise exerted by the tongue. A clear corrugated material is provided which is suited for making the aligner trays having the protrusions which otherwise would be difficult with standard thick material used. The lingual side protrusions are added by computer to the impressions taken from a patient's teeth such that the protrusions are formed on the dental model used to make the aligner trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Spartan Orthodontics Inc.
    Inventor: John Voudouris
  • Patent number: 11612451
    Abstract: Example dental scanning methods for analyzing jaws of a patient involve taking multiple scans of the jaws, and/or models thereof, and then shifting the image of one scan to match that of another. In some examples, fiducial markers are attached to the patient's jaws beforehand to accurately identify and track the relative position of the jaws. The methods provide a way for creating a precise image of an upper jaw and a lower jaw in their proper bite registration, even though the resulting image may show an insufficient number of teeth to readily do so. The final, properly shifted image serves as a virtual 3D jaw model that can be manipulated and analyzed to aid in various orthodontic and other dental treatments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventors: Patrick C. Bell, Leo J. Malin, Thomas J. Arendt
  • Patent number: 11612453
    Abstract: A dental implant guiding tool set and a dental implant guiding sleeve thereof are disclosed. The dental implant guiding tool set includes a handpiece, a dental implant guiding sleeve and a tooth mold fastening device. The dental implant guiding sleeve includes a handpiece head guiding hole disposed axially and corresponding to a shape of the handpiece head of the handpiece, a lateral opening disposed on a side of the handpiece head guiding hole and corresponding to a connection handle of the handpiece. The dental implant guiding sleeve can directly guide the handpiece head of the handpiece, to prevent the dental implant guiding sleeve from directly contacting the drill bit mounted on the handpiece. Therefore, a conventional drill bit can be directly used for a guiding dental implant operation, and the minimal required operation space of the dental implant guiding tool set can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: JOY INTERNATIONAL CO.
    Inventor: Ping-Cheng Lee
  • Patent number: 11596504
    Abstract: A dental attachment assembly is provided, including an abutment member and a male member. The abutment member may include an outer locating surface portion having at least two axially spaced retention portions having two generally rounded, annular projections. The male member for engagement over the outer locating surface of the abutment member may include an upper end and a continuous, unbroken skirt having a rounded, convex outer surface. The male member may be constructed from a rigid material and have at least two axially spaced, snap engaging formations on the inner surface of the skirt for snap engagement with the respective retention portions of the abutment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: ZEST IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Tom Stratton, Steven Pelote, Maxwell McKinnon, Eller Torres
  • Patent number: 11589963
    Abstract: Methods for generating and providing a full arch prosthesis from a pre-existing prosthesis are presented, starting from the pre-existing prosthesis. This prosthesis is removed from the mouth, scanned, and replaced within the mouth. An intermediate prosthesis is generated from the scan, and modified to match a final physiological target configuration of the patient's mouth. The intermediate prosthesis is used to generate a final virtual representation of the target configuration, from which final virtual representation the final working prosthesis is fabricated. The intermediate prosthesis is mounted in the patient's mouth in sections, for desirable repositioning, sections then being bonded together. Copings can be digitally subtracted to enable press fit new copings to be installed. Alternatively, the intermediate prosthesis can include integrated false copings. The intermediate prosthesis is scanned to generate a final digital model or virtual representation of the desired final prosthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: WATSON GUIDE IP LLC
    Inventor: Jason Watson
  • Patent number: 11589971
    Abstract: The specification discloses a dental curing light including 1) a light engine, 2) a coaxially aligned, camera-based viewing system, and 3) a control system providing a variety of safety features and simplified, operator-friendly operation. The camera's field of view (FOV) is coaxial with the centerline of the curing beam of the light engine. The curing light includes a multi-planar dichroic mirror (MDM) providing viewing and light beam direction aligned with the target. The MDM provide multiple images to the camera from different angles. The camera provides real-time measurement of light intensity reflected back from the targeted surface. Using the multiple image portions reflected by the multi-planar dichroic mirror, the control system computes the distance between the curing light and the target. The reflected intensity and the calculated distance enable the control system to compute a light engine irradiance to achieve a desired irradiance at the targeted surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Garrison Dental Solutions, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Steven H. Peterson, Mark A. Cargill
  • Patent number: 11583371
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for dental implant and restorative services. By locating the key functions at one physical location, dental implant services are efficiently provided to patients. These functions include a treatment coordinator, a direct marketer, a restorative doctor/prosthodontist, a surgeon, an imaging area, and a dental laboratory, Further, services for dentate patients are improved by utilizing advanced dental implant methods and systems. These methods and systems include both model-based services and CT (computed tomography) guided surgery services. Using these services, improved surgical guides for dental implants are constructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Alliance Capital Management
    Inventor: David A Salmassy
  • Patent number: 11583369
    Abstract: An implant and abutment tooth assembly includes an implant, a rotatable connector, a screw bolt, and a photocurable resin capsule. The implant includes a threaded section and a rotatable adjustment seat, wherein the rotatable adjustment seat has an upper connection portion. The upper connection portion has a groove, two spherical portions, and a receiving trench. The rotatable connector includes a spherical rotation face, two end faces, an abutment, an internal screwing section, and a stepped notch. The screw bolt includes an external screwing section, a rotary head, and a force segment. The external screwing section is screwed with the internal screwing section of the rotatable connector, and the rotary head is movably received in the stepped notch of the rotatable connector. The photocurable resin capsule includes 0.1 g to 0.8 g of light-cured resin and is accommodated in the receiving trench of the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventor: Kuan-Lin Wu
  • Patent number: 11576756
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for extracting a broken fragment of a dental abutment screw from a dental implant. One such system includes an extractor tool having a tubular outer body and a conductor positioned within the tubular outer body, and an applicator that receives and end of the extractor tool and also includes a heating element that converts electrical energy into heat that is conducted to the extractor tool to melt a thermoplastic adhesive in a cavity at the distal end of the extractor tool, such that the melted thermoplastic adhesive can conform to and engage with a broken fragment of a dental abutment screw within a dental implant when the adhesive cools. The extractor tool can then be rotated to unscrew the broken fragment from the dental implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Steve J. Kukunas, Ashley Smoots, Hannah M. Smith, Paul Kukunas, Fanying Sun, Tyler Hughes
  • Patent number: 11576755
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for installing a multi-tooth dental prosthesis in one session are shown and described. A first tool attaches to the jawbone, and serves as a foundation for subsequently used guides. Existing teeth and dental fixtures are removed, and the bone tissue is removed to accommodate the prosthesis. Subsequently, a drill guide is used to drill implant holes. An abutment guide is then used to place abutments. Copings are then installed. Next, the prosthesis may be installed and cemented to the copings. A resinous filler material may be applied to fill gaps and holes in and between the copings and the prosthesis, and is sanded smooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Watson Guide IP LLC
    Inventor: Jason Watson
  • Patent number: 11571281
    Abstract: An apparatus may include an elongated hollow body with a plurality of skirts on one end of the elongated hollow body. An exterior of the elongated hollow body may have a plurality of fins. At least some of the plurality of fins may have a different diameter and/or placement along a length of the elongated hollow body. The elongated hollow body may be configured to receive a screw. The screw may be configured to expand the plurality of skirts upon insertion into an interior of the elongated hollow body. The plurality of fins may be configured to secure the apparatus when the apparatus is placed within a bore. The plurality of fins may secure the apparatus at least by engaging the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Inventor: Sargon Lazarof
  • Patent number: 11553993
    Abstract: Highly self-tapping dental implant system with hybrid cone type connection and interlocking rails, which allows high insertion (or removal) torque and double parallel cone locking between the implant, prosthetic abutment and internal screw, even in its 3.0 mm diameter embodiment, and gives the whole system high primary and secondary stability, optimal watertightness thanks to the double cone sealing, as well as predictable long-term fixation of the dental prosthesis on the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Inventor: Julian Cuesta Garcia
  • Patent number: 11553991
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides high strength, self-ligating appliances with orthodontically desirable dimensions. The appliances of the present disclosure incorporate a door slidably engaged to a channel in the body; one that can be opened or closed depending on the equilibrium position of an integral protrusion on the door. Cooperating grooves and rails on the body and the door can guide the door between the open and closed positions, and mitigate against unintentional detachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Ming-Lai Lai
  • Patent number: 11540901
    Abstract: A bone foundation guide system having a bone foundation guide with a foundation guide body forming an open surgical space connecting a top of the bone foundation guide body with a bottom of the bone foundation guide body, the bottom contoured to removably affix the bone foundation guide body to the bone of a dental implant surgical site, the body further contoured to guide the cutting of bone from a dental implant surgical site and supporting a dental implant surgical guide; the dental implant surgical guide contoured to removably mate to the bone foundation guide body; wherein a combination of the bone foundation guide and the dental implant surgical guide forms a double open-ended placement channel that passes through a plurality of guiding cylinders held in tandem alignment to aid in the placement of a dental implant that is anchored in a site remote from the mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: NATIONAL DENTEX, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel R. Llop, Armand C. Jusuf, Ryan A. Spanke, Charles T. Fanlo
  • Patent number: 11534268
    Abstract: A series of appliances including a first appliance and a second appliance. The first appliance can be configured to receive at least one tooth of a first jaw and have a first number of bite adjustment structures extending from the lingual surface of the first appliance. The first number of bite adjustment structures can have a first shape and location specific to a first stage of the treatment plan. The second appliance can be configured to receive at least one tooth of the second jaw, have a second number of bite adjustment structures extending from the second appliance and be designed to make contact with the first number of bite adjustment structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Huizhong Li, Crystal Tjhia, Eric Yau, Rohit Tanugula, Jun Sato
  • Patent number: 11517399
    Abstract: A dental isolation system includes a dental tool that has a handle portion at a proximal end, a tip portion at an opposite, distal end, and a body portion extending between the handle portion and the tip portion. The handle portion has handles and finger apertures so that a dentist can manipulate the distal end. The tip portion is inserted into an O-ring of a dental dam and, when actuated by a dentist, the tip portion forms a quadrant, allowing the stretched O-ring to easily fit over a tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventor: Spencer Torgerson
  • Patent number: 11514199
    Abstract: System and method for developing a treatment plan for achieving a treatment goal including creating a virtual model of a dental patient's dentition; transforming the virtual model of the dentition using virtual prosthodontics to facilitate achievement of the treatment goal; transforming the virtual model of the dentition using virtual orthodontics to facilitate achievement of the treatment goal; iterating on the transforming steps until substantially achieving the treatment goal; and generating an orthodontic treatment plan and a prosthodontic treatment plan based upon the substantially achieved treatment goal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Kuo, Jihua Cheng, Vadim Matov, Juan Carlos Alvarez, Ali Kakavand