Patents by Inventor Christopher W. Ford

Christopher W. Ford has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8702424
    Abstract: A dental implant assembly (20) for transferring forces from a tooth replicating device (22) to a bone (24) of a person. The implant (26) has an exterior surface (32) defining an abutment portion (36) for engaging the tooth replicating device (22) to receive the forces and a lower portion (34) axially below the abutment portion (36) for engaging the bone (24). A collar (38) is disposed about and extends radially outwardly from the lower portion (34) for engaging the bone (24) and for transferring the forces from the implant (26) to the bone (24). The implant (26) defines an inner pocket (48) extending along the axis (A), and a rod (50) is disposed in the inner pocket (48) of the implant (26) and extends along the axis (A) between the lower and abutment portions (34, 36) for transferring the forces received by the abutment portion (36) to the collar (38) disposed about the lower portion (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Inventor: Christopher W. Ford
  • Patent number: 8011926
    Abstract: A dental implant assembly (20) including an anchor (26, 126, 226) and a support ring (52, 152, 252) disposed about the anchor (26, 126, 226) and with a ring top end (54, 154, 254) engaging the bottom of the tooth-replicating device (24) to receive an impact force and to transfer the impact force to the bone (22) of a human. The anchor (26, 126, 226) is made of a first material being fracturable in response to a predetermined force and the support ring (52, 152, 252) is made of a second material being fracturable only in response to a force greater than the predetermined force for avoiding fracture of the anchor (26, 126, 226).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher W. Ford, Boney A. Mathew
  • Publication number: 20100266987
    Abstract: A dental implant assembly (20) for transferring forces from a tooth replicating device (22) to a bone (24) of a person. The implant (26) has an exterior surface (32) defining an abutment portion (36) for engaging the tooth replicating device (22) to receive the forces and a lower portion (34) axially below the abutment portion (36) for engaging the bone (24). A collar (38) is disposed about and extends radially outwardly from the lower portion (34) for engaging the bone (24) and for transferring the forces from the implant (26) to the bone (24). The implant (26) defines an inner pocket (48) extending along the axis (A), and a rod (50) is disposed in the inner pocket (48) of the implant (26) and extends along the axis (A) between the lower and abutment portions (34, 36) for transferring the forces received by the abutment portion (36) to the collar (38) disposed about the lower portion (34).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventor: Christopher W. Ford
  • Patent number: 7682152
    Abstract: A dental implant assembly (20) including a core body (40, 140, 240, 340, 440) for engaging a tooth-replicating device (52). The core body (40, 140, 240, 340, 440) is disposed in an anchor body (24, 124, 224, 424), and a screw cap body (58) is disposed about the outer attachment surface (30, 130, 230, 430) of the anchor body (24, 124, 224, 424). The screw cap body (58) engages the bone (22) of a person to support the dental implant assembly (20) and holds the core body (40, 140, 240, 340, 440) and the anchor body (24, 124, 224, 424) together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Inventors: Christopher W. Ford, Boney A. Mathew
  • Publication number: 20090286202
    Abstract: A dental implant assembly (20) comprises an anchor (26, 126, 226) and a support ring (52, 152, 252) disposed about the anchor (26, 126, 226) and with a ring top end (54, 154, 254) engaging the bottom of the tooth-replicating device (24) to receive an impact force and to transfer the impact force to the bone (22) of a human. The anchor (26, 126, 226) is made of a first material being fracturable in response to a predetermined force and the support ring (52, 152, 252) is made of a second material being fracturable only in response to a force greater than the predetermined force for avoiding fracture of the anchor (26, 126, 226).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher W. Ford, Boney A. Mathew
  • Publication number: 20080261177
    Abstract: A dental implant assembly (20) including a core body (40, 140, 240, 340, 440) for engaging a tooth-replicating device (52). The core body (40, 140, 240, 340, 440) is disposed in an anchor body (24, 124, 224, 424), and a screw cap body (58) is disposed about the outer attachment surface (30, 130, 230, 430) of the anchor body (24, 124, 224, 424). The screw cap body (58) engages the bone (22) of a person to support the dental implant assembly (20) and holds the core body (40, 140, 240, 340, 440) and the anchor body (24, 124, 224, 424) together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher W. Ford, Boney A. Mathew
  • Patent number: 6270721
    Abstract: A separator device to separate a plurality of articles in a sterilization chamber has a proximal end, a distal end, and a body portion therebetween. The body portion has a thickness with a plurality of openings therein through which a sterilizing medium circulates. The body portion is interposed between and maintains separation between layers of articles located within the sterilization chamber. The separation maintained between the layers facilitates circulation of the sterilizing medium between the layers and to each of the plurality of articles being sterilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Inventor: Christopher W. Ford
  • Patent number: 5954505
    Abstract: The preferred embodiment consists primarily of an anchor for implantation into the patient's crestal bone or other suitable bony structure, an insert which is flexibly received within the anchor and would be mounted so as to allow modulation of forces being transferred from the insert to the anchor. The insert would also act as a platform for mounting the prosthetic or artificial tooth. The prosthesis allows elastic movement of the artificial tooth along three orthogonal axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Inventor: Christopher W. Ford
  • Patent number: 4776500
    Abstract: A dentifrice dispenser is described which generally comprises a pressurizable container, a predetermined dentifrice composition disposed in the container, a valve controlling the discharge of the dentifrice from the container, and a propellant disposed in the container for causing the discharge of the dentifrice from the container upon actuation of the valve. The dentifrice is preferably a therapeutic toothpaste which includes a predetermined composition of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and salt in amounts which are effective in treating periodontal infections. A removable nozzle for directing the discharge of the therapeutic toothpaste from the container is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Inventor: Christopher W. Ford