Patents Examined by Ralph Lewis
  • Patent number: 11331171
    Abstract: A dental implant system including a dental implant (1) and an associated implant analog (50), the implant extending along a longitudinal axis (L1) from an apical end (101) to a coronal end (102) and having an external surface for anchoring and osseointegrating in bone, a coronal end portion (105) having abutment connection geometry for cooperating with an abutment which can be seated in one or more defined positions on the implant, the abutment connection geometry having a coronally facing abutment contact surface (128) which extends around the full circumference of the implant, and in use directly contacts the abutment and provides a stop defining the axial location of the abutment relative to the implant, the coronal end portion further having a coronally facing prosthesis contact surface (129) located radially beyond the abutment contact surface, the prosthesis contact surface being a continuous surface extending around the full circumference of the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Straumann Holding AG
    Inventors: Philippe Kern, Boris Martin, Bruno Zberg, Andreas Gfeller
  • Patent number: 11331170
    Abstract: The invention relates to an abutment (100), in particular for dental interventions in assisted surgery, comprising: —a first element (1), comprising a lower cylindrical element (2) and a semi-spherical element (3) integral above with said cylindrical element (2), divided into a plurality of segments, held together by an outer element (4), in the transition zone between said lower cylindrical element (2) and said semi-spherical element (3) there being provided, internally, a shoulder (7), said semi-spherical element comprising a thread (5), ending at said shoulder (7), in which a centrally perforated screw (6) is coupled, a plurality of steps or protrusions (8) being provided on said lower cylindrical element (2); —a second element (10), comprising a first upper cylindrical element (11), which inserts inside said cylindrical element (2) of said first element (1) and equipped externally with a plurality of steps or protrusions (12), which are able to move vertically with respect to staid plurality of steps or p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Inventors: Francesco Rueca, Giuseppe Luongo
  • Patent number: 11324572
    Abstract: Systems and methods of repositioning teeth, using one or more appliances for installing on a patient's teeth are described. The appliance includes an arch shaped member; a plurality of spring members coupled to or provided on the arch shaped member; and a plurality of securing members for securing to a corresponding plurality of the patient's teeth on a one-to-one basis, the securing members being supported by the arch shaped member. The arch shaped member and the plurality of springs, together, comprise a two dimensional structure having a length dimension and a width dimension with varying widths along the length dimension, that is bent into a three dimensional structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: BRIUS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Seyed Mehdi Roein Peikar, James Sylvester Wratten, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11324573
    Abstract: An orthodontic device can include a bracket configured to support an orthodontic wire. The orthodontic device can include a locking assembly coupled to the bracket and switchable between a plurality of operational modes. The plurality of operational modes can comprise a first sliding mode in which the orthodontic wire is slidable relative to the bracket and a second locked mode in which the orthodontic wire is slidably locked relative to the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: AADvance Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kami Hoss, Steven Howard, Jacob Moebius
  • Patent number: 11317994
    Abstract: Systems and methods of repositioning teeth, using one or more appliances for installing on a patient's teeth are described. The appliance includes an arch shaped member; a plurality of spring members coupled to or provided on the arch shaped member; and a plurality of securing members for securing to a corresponding plurality of the patient's teeth on a one-to-one basis, the securing members being supported by the arch shaped member. The arch shaped member and the plurality of springs, together, comprise a two dimensional structure having a length dimension and a width dimension with varying widths along the length dimension, that is bent into a three dimensional structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: BRIUS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Seyed Mehdi Roein Peikar, James Sylvester Wratten, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11317995
    Abstract: Systems and methods of repositioning teeth, using one or more appliances for installing on a patient's teeth are described. The appliance includes an arch shaped member; a plurality of spring members coupled to or provided on the arch shaped member; and a plurality of securing members for securing to a corresponding plurality of the patient's teeth on a one-to-one basis, the securing members being supported by the arch shaped member. The arch shaped member and the plurality of springs, together, comprise a two dimensional structure having a length dimension and a width dimension with varying widths along the length dimension, that is bent into a three dimensional structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: BRIUS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Seyed Mehdi Roein Peikar, James Sylvester Wratten, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11311360
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for sealing of a circumferentially closed canal. A closure element is secured to one free end of a light guide conducting a laser beam. The light guide with the closure element is introduced into the canal. The closure element is positioned in the region of the canal to be sealed and after positioning of the closure element energy is introduced, so that the closure element melts or softens and remains in this position in the canal and seals it tightly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Ertl, Rolf Diebolder
  • Patent number: 11311353
    Abstract: The invention relates to a superstructure support (20) as part of a prosthetic tooth replacement (1) between an implant body (10) and a superstructure, comprising a hollow implant post (23), a hollow implant pin (50), and an implant flange (31) lying therebetween. The cavity zones (67, 62) of the implant post (23) and of the implant pin (50) transition into each other. The cavity zones have respective center lines (69, 63), which include an angle of 60 to 86 angular degrees. The cavity zone (62) of the implant pin (50) has a screw head seat surface (65) that widens toward the implant flange. At least some areas of the implant flange form a supporting enveloping surface (37), which is oriented toward the implant post (23) and the outer edge (33) of which spans a reference plane (38), which is perpendicularly intersected by the center line (69) of the post-side cavity zone (67). The center lines of the implant post (23) and of the implant pin (50) intersect or cross below the reference plane (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Inventor: Bruno Spindler
  • Patent number: 11311352
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket that forms a slot for receiving an archwire. The slot extends through the orthodontic bracket along an archwire axis. The slot is delimited in directions radially of the archwire axis by a slot base surface, an opposite slot cover surface and two opposite slot side surfaces. Further, the slot has an open side that is provided by a gap within one of the slot side surfaces in a dimension along the archwire axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Andre Golcher, Ralf M. Paehl
  • Patent number: 11304789
    Abstract: An oral cavity treatment device including a power component and a tray component that are detachably coupled together. The power component may include a housing having a cavity and a power source located therein. The tray component may include a tooth receiving channel and may have a first electrode and a second electrode located on opposite sides of the tooth receiving channel. The tray component may be detachably coupled to the power component in: (1) a first configuration whereby the first electrode is operably coupled to a positive terminal of the power source and the second electrode is operably coupled to a negative terminal of the power source; and (2) a second configuration whereby the first electrode is operably coupled to the negative terminal of the power source and the second electrode is operably coupled to the positive terminal of the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Erin Speicher, Leighton Davies-Smith
  • Patent number: 11298212
    Abstract: A set of self-ligating brackets for orthodontics includes brackets having a base and a block arranged on the base. An occlusal wall extends from the block and has at least one occlusal ligature wing. A gingival wall extends from the block and has at least one gingival ligature wing. A slot, which separates the occlusal wall and the gingival wall from one another, has the same minimum clear width for the brackets of the set and extends continuously in a direction from mesial to distal. The slot also has a base area on which an archwire lies during orthodontic treatment. A passage extends in the gingival-occlusal direction through the block and is delimited by a lingually located surface and by a labially located surface. Resilient clips with a labial leg and with a lingual leg are interconnected by an occlusally arranged portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: BERNHARD FOERSTER GMBH
    Inventor: Rolf Foerster
  • Patent number: 11284966
    Abstract: Various embodiments described herein generally relate to apparatuses and methods for performing bone implants such as, but not limited to, dental implants, knee and joint replacements, and various types of bone anchored prosthesis. For a better understanding of how the various apparatus and methods can be used for bone implants, an example will be given herein with respect to dental implants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Stemmed Implant Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. Lococo
  • Patent number: 11273013
    Abstract: An orthodontic post and pin system for secure attachment of a dental appliance to an alignment wire, which also facilitates quick and easy removal and replacement. The system described herein uses a “twist-lock” dental post that is rotated onto, and counter-rotated off of, an alignment wire. The dental post includes structural elements to facilitate the twist-lock functionality, as well as structures for accepting a fastener to secure the alignment wire in place and inhibit unintentional or undesired dislodging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: ORTHO SOLUTIONS, LC
    Inventors: Darren Buddemeyer, Matthew Malabey
  • Patent number: 11259899
    Abstract: An orthodontic device can include a bracket configured to support an orthodontic wire. The orthodontic device can include a locking assembly coupled to the bracket and switchable between a plurality of operational modes. The plurality of operational modes can comprise a first sliding mode in which the orthodontic wire is slidable relative to the bracket and a second locked mode in which the orthodontic wire is slidably locked relative to the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: AADvance Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kami Hoss, Steven Howard, Jacob Moebius
  • Patent number: 11253340
    Abstract: A method of monitoring the degree of fit of an aligner among a series of aligners includes the steps of selecting an aligner in the series of aligners whose fit to a patient's teeth are to be tested to determine its fit with the selected aligner; disposing a nontoxic colored plastic material into the selected aligner; setting the patient's teeth into the selected aligner containing the material; and determining the amount of material disposed onto the interior aligner's surfaces by visual inspection by assessment of the material disposed therein, a good fit being indicated by a minimum of material extruded onto almost all of the interior aligner surfaces and by a light color, and a poor fit being indicated by an excess of material extruded onto one or more locations of the aligner interior surfaces and a dark color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventor: Marc Lemchen
  • Patent number: 11246685
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a connection assembly for attaching a dental component to a dental implant, a dental component for the connection assembly and a method to use the connection assembly. The connection assembly (100; 1100; 2100; 3100) is removably attachable to the dental implant (10; 1010; 2010; 3010), preferably with the dental component (20; 1020; 2020; 3020) attached to the connection assembly, and a dental component is attachable to the connection assembly in a pre-fastened state or a fastened state. The pre-fastened state, when the connection assembly is attached to the dental implant, the connection assembly allows for adjustment of a relative position and/or orientation between the dental component and the dental implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Nobel Biocare Services AG
    Inventors: Thomas Kaup, Jorg Weitzel, Roberto Carretta, Piers Christiansen, Raquel Tschopp
  • Patent number: 11246692
    Abstract: A dental waste containment system having a treatment stage to reduce the contaminant levels of the stored fluid. The treatment stage may include a settling canister disposed before the fluid storage reservoir to remove and contain at least some solid contaminants from the fluid waste before the fluid waste is moved into storage. The system may include a bypass subcircuit to allow fluid waste to selectively bypass the treatment stage. The present invention also provides a method of collecting, containing and transporting dental waste that includes separate containment of solid and fluid dental waste. The method includes at least partial separation and containment of solid contaminants in the treatment stage before the fluid dental waste is moved into separate storage. The accumulated fluid dental waste and accumulated solid waste may be separately collected from the system and separately transported to a remote facility for treatment, reclamation and/or disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Anterior Quest LLC
    Inventors: Dennis G. Jonker, Jr., Daniel H. Holtrop
  • Patent number: 11229503
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an implant surgery guiding method of guiding a position, direction and depth of a fixture to a dentist by real-time images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventors: Do Hyun Kim, Yu Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 11229506
    Abstract: A dental prosthesis system includes at least one first and second dental prosthetic care part (1, 2) made of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2). Each of the two care parts has corner radii (R1, R11, R2, R22, R3, R26, R12, R13), and the corner radii (R1, R11, R2, R22, R3, R26, R12, R13) correspond to one another, wherein the first care part (1) is operatively connected to the second care part (2). At least one of the corner radii (R1, R11, R2, R22, R3) of the first dental prosthetic care part and/or the second dental prosthetic care part (R26, R12, R13) has a value of less than 0.1 mm, and the at least one corner radius (R1, R11, R2, R22, R3, R26, R12, R13) is produced by a material removal process using a laser method and/or by a machining process using a drill or a milling cutter made of full diamond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: DENTALPOINT AG
    Inventors: Philip Bolleter, Pascal Wettstein, Maximilian Warhanek
  • Patent number: 11219510
    Abstract: The disclosure of the present application relates to a healing abutment system and its use. The abutment system can include a base part adapted to be coupled to a dental implant via an abutment screw and a healing cap that can be coupled to the base part by a further screw. The healing cap can include features that can be scanned by an intra-oral scanning system or transferred to a physical impression to convey information regarding the position and orientation of the base part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Nobel Biocare Services AG
    Inventors: Piers Christiansen, Thomas Vizer, Marco Brunner