Patents Examined by Ralph Lewis
  • Patent number: 11925528
    Abstract: A surgical instrument for use in a sinus lift procedure and methods for performing sinus lift procedures. A surgical instrument includes a shank having a body portion, a first end, an opposite second end, and a neck portion disposed between the body portion and the first end. The shank body portion defines a first longitudinal axis and the neck portion defines a second longitudinal axis. The shank further defines a head coupled with the first end. The head includes a flat proximal surface that extends radially outward of the neck portion and a domed distal surface opposite the first proximal surface. The second longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the proximal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Inventor: Joseph W. Park
  • Patent number: 11925521
    Abstract: A dental bridge system (10) is provided, comprising a superstructure (14) having a teeth-mimicking portion at a distal end thereof, and at least one receiving cavity formed on a proximal side thereof, at least one support arrangement (12) configured for being fixedly secured, at a proximal side thereof, to an alveolar ridge of an individual, and being formed so as to be received, at a distal side thereof, within one of the receiving cavities to facilitate carrying of the superstructure (14), and a buffering arrangement (16) disposed between the superstructure (14) and the support arrangement (12), the buffer arrangement (16) being configured to damp shock impulses between the support arrangement (12) and the superstructure (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: POETYA SOLUTIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Uzi Berger
  • Patent number: 11918429
    Abstract: A water flosser is provided that may include a body, a reservoir, a cap coupled to the body and a tip extending through an opening in the cap. The water flosser may include a latch assembly that selectively retains the tip to the body. In one embodiment, the cap, the tip and the latch assembly are all rotatable as a unit about a defined axis relative to the body. An ejector button may be provided to actuate the latch assembly. In one embodiment, the ejector button extends through an upper surface of the cap. Actuation of the latch assembly may include displacement of the ejector button in a direction that is parallel with a rotational axis of the tip. In some embodiments, the reservoir of a water flosser includes a tapering volumetric section that concentrates a volume of fluid about an inlet of a tube coupled with a pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Bondurant
  • Patent number: 11918426
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dental tool having a shank region, which is formed for coupling to a dental handpiece, and also having a work region, which is connected to the shank region. In this case, the shank region of the dental tool is formed so that there is the possibility of latchable insertion and removal without actuation. In particular, at least the shank region can consist of plastics material. As a result, inter alia facilitated handling of the tool and inexpensive production of the tool are rendered possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: KAVO DENTAL GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Claßen, Markus Haarmann, Bernhard Kuhn
  • Patent number: 11918434
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a dental implant configured to be inserted in a hole in jaw bone and to be at least partially situated in the bone tissue when implanted and includes: a coronal region, an apical region, a longitudinal axis extending from the coronal region of the dental implant to the apical region of the dental implant; an implant surface configured to form an interface between an implant material and the oral environment/surrounding tissue and a surface layer formed on at least part of the implant surface, the surface layer including crystalline titanium oxide in the anatase phase and wherein the surface area roughness Sa and the pore size of the implant surface on which said surface layer is formed increase from the coronal region toward the apical region of the dental implant along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Nobel Biocare Services AG
    Inventors: Marcello Memmolo, Jan Hall, Emmanuel De Haller
  • Patent number: 11911237
    Abstract: A dental aligner apparatus is comprised of a bar, a rotatable end member, a slidable end member, and a spring member. The bar includes a first end member and a second end member. The rotatable end member is disposed at a first end of the bar and coupled to the first end member. The slidable end member is disposed at a second end of the bar and coupled to the second end member. The spring member is disposed between the rotatable end member and the slidable end member and coupled to the first and second end members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Inventors: Carlos F. Navarro, Rocklin Verespej
  • Patent number: 11911238
    Abstract: A dental implant that facilitate insertion and can be used in all bone types. The implant includes a body having a coronal end, and an apical end opposite the coronal end. A tapered region may be adjacent the apical end. On the apical part one or more taps are provided so the tap is cutting when rotating clockwise and counter-clockwise. The implant can have at least one variable profile helical thread that extends along the tapered region. The implant can have also micro-threads below the main threads, a gradual compressing tapered core, a self drilling apical end and a narrow coronal region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Inventor: Ben Zion Karmon
  • Patent number: 11903791
    Abstract: A dental prosthesis having a guide hole formed therein. The guide hole is configured to guide a drilling for a screw, and configured to receive the screw, holding the prosthesis in place when screwed into the bone of a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventor: Italo Lozada
  • Patent number: 11903786
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for handling dental restorations or dental appliances, including a device having an adhesive at one side of a flexible substrate which peels from a strip to connect to a dental appliance, the device further including an abrasive at an opposite side of the substrate, and in further aspects a tab section devoid of adhesive to accommodate easy grasp and lift of the device for removal from the dental appliance, and in further aspects a string attached to the tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventor: Timothy Johnson
  • Patent number: 11903783
    Abstract: A device, method, and system are provided for aiding the whitening of teeth. The device includes a mouthpiece suitable for implementing a dental treatment, wherein the mouthpiece includes one or more stock elastomeric dental cover layers suitable for forming and maintaining a treatment cavity having a vacuum fluid seal, wherein the dental cover layers includes a layer over the upper teeth and surrounding gums and/or a layer over the lower teeth and surrounding gums, wherein each of the layers includes one or more hardened sections for enabling selected/differential collapsibility when exposed to vacuum pressure; and one or more treatment supply layers wherein the treatment supply layer incorporates a heating unit for heating treatment materials and one or more flow channels in fluid communication with the treatment cavity so that the treatment supply layer can deliver and/or remove one or more treatment fluids from the one or more fluid sealed treatment cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: MAVRIK DENTAL SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Daniel Sanders
  • Patent number: 11903784
    Abstract: A handling device for a dental tool having a) a body having an elongated shape configured to receive a prying load from an operator; and b) one or more receptacles through the body configured to retain at least a portion of a dental tool and allow an engagement portion of the dental tool to project therefrom substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the body; wherein the engagement portion is adapted to contact a portion of a dental covering along only one of a facial side or a lingual side of the dental covering and by being wedged between a gum-line and the dental covering; and wherein the one or more receptacles are configured to transfer the prying load from the body to the engagement portion of the dental tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventor: Sami Maassarani
  • Patent number: 11903790
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful to orthodontic appliances. In some embodiments, an orthodontic appliance comprises a main body assembly comprising a base on a first side of the main body assembly configured to be bonded to a patient's tooth, a cavity forming at least a first portion of an archwire slot, and a first mating mechanism, a body subassembly comprising a facial surface that opposes the base, an archwire covering configured to cover at least a portion of the cavity, and a second mating mechanism, wherein the second mating mechanism mates with the first mating mechanism to prevent disassembly of the orthodontic appliance and allow the body subassembly to move from a first position to a second position relative to the main body assembly, wherein when in the second position the archwire covering covers the at least a portion of the archwire slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: BRACES ON DEMAND, INC.
    Inventors: Colin James Corey, Ammar Ahmed Syed, Thomas Patrick Shannon
  • Patent number: 11890152
    Abstract: A dental device is described that comprises a monolithic support structure for use in implant-supported dental restoration applications for partially or fully edentulous patients. The monolithic support structure comprises a unitary support body with one or more teeth projections projecting from the support body, and at least one support region providing a framework for integrating discrete artificial teeth adjacent the teeth projections. An implant-supported dental device is also provided that comprises the monolithic support structure, one or more artificial teeth, and a gingival region comprised of a formable material that secures artificial teeth within the framework of the monolithic support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: James R. Glidewell Dental Ceramics, Inc.
    Inventors: David Morales, Nhung Tieu Truong Campbell
  • Patent number: 11890166
    Abstract: Dental implants, dental abutments, and dental systems are disclosed. A dental implant can include an implant body having a longitudinal axis, a coronal end, and an apical end. An internal bore can be provided within the implant body, and can have a coronal end, adjacent to the coronal end of the implant body, and an apical end. The internal bore can include a first internally facing surface, extending from the coronal end of the internal bore towards the apical end of the internal bore, at least a portion of which tapers inwardly towards the apical end of the internal bore. The internal bore can further include an internally threaded portion positioned between an apical end of the first internally facing surface and the apical end of the internal bore. A dental abutment can be configured to engage with the dental implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Zimmer Dental, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramiro Sanchez, Jeffrey Bassett
  • Patent number: 11877907
    Abstract: An orthodontic appliance is disclosed and which cooperates with both the upper and lower dental arches of a patient and which includes an archwire coupler which is attached to individual archwires that are releasably attached to individual orthodontic brackets on the anterior facing surface of a patient's teeth requiring orthodontic treatment; and a multiple section elongated telescoping assembly which is rotatably and releasably coupled to the archwires attached to the upper and lower dental arches of a patient undergoing treatment, and wherein the multiple section elongated telescoping assembly effects movement of the upper dental arch in a rearward direction, and the lower dental arch in a forward direction when the multiple section elongated telescoping assembly is in a given position along a predetermined course of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventors: Terry G. Dischinger, William M. Dischinger, Steven O. Luse
  • Patent number: 11877908
    Abstract: An abutment screw having a first hardness for use in affixing a dental prosthetic, having a second hardness less than the first hardness, to an abutment that itself is attachable to an implant in the mouth of a patient includes a head and a body. The body includes a smooth shank immediately proximate the head, and a threaded portion with a helical ridge that runs around its body, the helical ridge beginning at a point along the body distal the head portion. The head includes an upper surface, having a drive at a central portion thereof, and an underside surface having a convex radiused curvature extending until it meets the shaft, the convex radiused curvature being configured to conform to a corresponding concave curvature of a receiving portion of the prosthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventor: Jonathan Abenaim
  • Patent number: 11877909
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dental implant set having a fixture for insertion into a bore hole arranged in bone tissue having first indexing means, a dental component having second indexing means and being adaptable to the fixture in an engaged position where the first and second indexing means mate and in an intermediate position where the dental component and the fixture are in contact with each other but the first and the second indexing means do not mate, and a fixation screw being adapted for fixating the dental component to the fixture. The present invention also relates to a method for attaching a dental component to a dental fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA INC
    Inventors: Brita Olsson, Daniel Magnusson
  • Patent number: 11872095
    Abstract: An apparatus for verifying an osteotomy trajectory includes a straight rod portion extending along a first axis in a first direction, a sliding arm slidably coupled to the straight rod portion and configured to slide along a sliding direction on the straight rod portion along the first axis. The sliding arm may include a sliding portion slidably coupled to the straight rod portion to slide along the sliding direction, a pointing portion including a tip protruded along a second axis in a second direction, the second axis being at least substantially parallel to the first axis, and an extending portion having a first side attached to the sliding portion and a second side attached to the pointing portion. The apparatus further includes a fixed arm coupled to the straight rod portion and configured to mount a drill thereon to point the drill along the second axis toward the tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: American Dental Care of Langhorne PC
    Inventors: Simon Oh, German Lee
  • Patent number: 11864974
    Abstract: An orthodontic appliance and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the present technology includes a positioning member configured to position an orthodontic appliance during installation in the patient's mouth. The positioning member may comprise a first portion configured to be coupled to the patient's teeth and a second portion extending away from the first portion. The second portion may be configured to be detachably coupled to the orthodontic appliance. While the positioning member is coupled to the orthodontic appliance, the positioning member is configured to be positioned in the patient's mouth and coupled to the patient's teeth, thereby positioning the orthodontic appliance at a desired location adjacent a patient's oral anatomy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: BRIUS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Seyed Mehdi Roein Peikar, James Sylvester Wratten, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11857390
    Abstract: A dental implant with an implant extension which are formed along a longitudinal axis: the dental implant has an apical end, a coronal end and a section for receiving; securing an abutment; the implant extension is formed in one piece with the implant; extends away from an end face of the apical end along the longitudinal axis, the implant extension having a first section along the longitudinal axis with an annular constriction which is directly connected to the end face of the apical end of the implant; the implant breaks off from the implant extension at the constriction, along the longitudinal axis following the first section, wherein the second section, splined shaft section being further away from the implant than the first section, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, an outer annular groove being designed to hold the implant extension by clamping the groove in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: STRAUMANN HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Marcel Kunz