Patents by Inventor Franz Sutter

Franz Sutter 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: 6726480
    Abstract: A support for sustaining and/or forming a dental prosthesis, comprises an axle, an anchoring part which can be anchored in a bone or a master model, and a head part which protrudes out of said bone or master mode. The head part has intermediate spaces distributed around the axis, i.e., several first intermediate spaces forming a divided circle, and a second, wider and/or deeper intermediate space. A cap can be fixed to the support. The cap has at least one projecting part for engaging in an intermediate space and, optionally, can be configured for fixing in several different rotational positions or a single rotational position, the support allowing exact positioning. The cap can also be produced without a projecting part of the type mentioned. The same support can be used to form different types of dental prostheses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Straumann Holding AG
    Inventor: Franz Sutter
  • Patent number: 6461160
    Abstract: The device (75) for holding and/or creating a dental prosthesis comprises an implant (1) with an axis (3) and with a metal main body (50) which forms at least a large part of an anchoring part (5) intended to be anchored in a bone (71) and has an axial hole (35). A ceramic body (60) or covering is also connected nonreleasably and directly to the main body (50). A metal metal [sic] bolt (80) which can be secured in the hole (35) of the main body (50) protrudes into a blind hole (91) of a ceramic body (90) which is rigidly and nonreleasably secured on the bolt (80) and covers the end of same directed away from the main body (50), and if necessary can be ground after insertion into the mouth of a patient and permits rapid and simple impression-taking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Inventor: Franz Sutter
  • Patent number: 6386877
    Abstract: The implant (11) has an anchoring part (15) with an axis (13), a generally cylindrical section and a peripheral surface (21). The latter is provided, in the generally cylindrical section, with protuberances (27) which are distributed around the axis (13). At least the majority of these protuberances are elongate and parallel with the axis (13) and have at least one terminal surface which is contiguous with a recess (23) having a base formed by the peripheral surface (21). In this way, the anchoring part (15) can be pushed into a substantially cylindrical hole (2) in a bone (1) such that the implant (11) is immediately anchored in the bone (1) in a stable manner, said implant nevertheless having a high degree of strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Inventor: Franz Sutter
  • Patent number: 6332777
    Abstract: A device for forming a dental prosthesis includes a support and an element which can be attached thereto, such as an impression element. The support has an anchoring part for anchoring in a bone or a master model, a shoulder with an annular shoulder surface, and a head. The impression element has an elastically deformable fixing agent. When the device is assembled, the fixing agent jams and/or latches with the support, either externally on the support, on the side of the shoulder facing the anchoring part, or in an axial hole of the support. The element can be quickly detachably connected to the support by placing it on top of the support, and can be quickly separated from the support by moving the support away. When the device is assembled, the support and the element can lay on top of each other with annular surfaces. The annular surfaces have fully circular outer edges which are visible from the outside in an approximately radial viewing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Franz Sutter
  • Patent number: 6247932
    Abstract: The case (1) comprises a receptacle (41) with two detachably interconnected receptacle parts (42, 43). The receptacle (41) contains a dental implant (11) and a holder (61). The dental implant (11) has an anchoring section (15) designed to be anchored in a bone, i.e., an outside thread, and an outer section (16) indented to jut out from the bone. The holder (61) engages the outer section (16) of the dental implant (11) and detachably secures it using clamping and/or locking means (67). The dental implant (11) and the holder (61) are connected to each other by anti-rotation means (31, 72) preventing rotations around a common axis (13). Once the case has been opened (41), the holder (61) can be gripped manually or using a tool or instrument and the dental implant (11) held by the holder (61) can be inserted into a bone in the mouth of a patient by screwing, pushing or pressing said implant into the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Inventor: Franz Sutter
  • Patent number: 6227859
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dental implant which has an axis and a hole with a positioning section. Said positioning section has projecting parts and intermediate spaces distributed alternately, one after the other, along the periphery. Said intermediate spaces comprise several first intermediate spaces which create a division, and a second, wider intermediate space. A secondary and/or supplementary structural part can be attached in the implant, said part having a connecting section which extends into the hole. Said connecting section can have projecting parts for engaging in the intermediate spaces of the implant, and can be configured in such a way that it can be fixed to the implant in several different rotated positions or a single rotated position. The secondary and/or supplementary structural part can also be produced without projecting parts of the type mentioned, so that it can be screwed into the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Inventor: Franz Sutter
  • Patent number: 6102951
    Abstract: With the invention a mounting system is shown for metallic support shells at implantable joints with pin-like metallic anchoring elements. The anchoring elements have a head which lies on a shoulder of the implant in the axial direction. Between the shoulder and the head there is a circular sealing edge. A contact pressure force is produced on the head by a contact pressure generating screw which is so great that a metallic seal is produced through plastic flow at the scaling edge which is liquid-tight and prevents the intrusion of abraded particles from the inner region of the support shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Sulzer Orthopaedie AG
    Inventors: Franz Sutter, Roland P. Jakob, Michael Adam, Roland Schoch
  • Patent number: 5947733
    Abstract: The connection arrangement between an implant (1) and a straight or angled abutment (800) can be produced using a clamping screw (400) and an expanding ring (500). An inlet (830) is provided in the abutment (800), and near the lower end of the abutment (800) this inlet (830) is widened via a radially encircling groove (835). The expanding ring (500) through which the clamping screw (400) passes is supported in the groove (835), the head (410) of the clamping screw (400) pressing on the expanding ring (500), and its threaded segment (430) engaging in the threaded bore (21) of the implant (1). The clamping screw (400) can be pushed from below into the inlet (830), with the expanding ring (500) pushed on and with the head (410) leading. The implant (1) can have a non-rotationally symmetrical receiving contour on the inner cone, primarily an inner polygon, and the abutment (800) advantageously has a counter-contour complementary to the receiving contour. A special screwdriver is used for screwing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Institut Straumann AG
    Inventors: Franz Sutter, Vincenzo Grande, Roger Tschirky
  • Patent number: 5882200
    Abstract: The significant inventive measure of the arrangement for connecting an implant (1) to the conical secondary part (800) consists in the fact that a radially encircling shoulder part (860) is provided on the conical pillar (830), which shoulder part bears, in the form of an circular ring and partially, on the implant shoulder (14), while the remaining surface on the implant shoulder (14) is covered by the mating shoulder (301) of the impression cap (300) or the crown cap. The shoulder part (860) and the mating shoulders (301) are of complementary configuration to the implant shoulder (14). The connection arrangement can be used in particular in conjunction with a novel plug connection. Further advantages consist in the higher precision in dentistry work which can be achieved without any increased production outlay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Institut Straumann AG
    Inventors: Franz Sutter, Fran.cedilla.is J. Sutter
  • Patent number: 5667384
    Abstract: The device (1) for forming a dental prosthesis has at least one support (3) with a base (4) which in the use of the device (1) is inserted into a jawbone (13) of a patient or into a jaw model. The support (3) has a conical bearing surface (4n) and also a shoulder (7e) which faces the base (4) and for example is formed by a flank of an annular groove (7d). The device (1) has for the or each support (3) a cap (8) which bears with a conical countersurface (8f) on the conical bearing surface (4n) of the support (44) when the device (1) has been assembled. The cap (8) has a hole (8k) with an internal thread (8m) and with an axis (11) which forms an angle with the axis (10) of the two conical surfaces (4n, 8f). A screw (9) screwed into the hole (8k) engages with a tapering end section (9b) on the outer border (7f) of the shoulder (7e) and thus presses the countersurface (8f) against the bearing surface (4n).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Institut Straumann AG
    Inventors: Franz Sutter, Vincenzo Grande, Francis J. Sutter
  • Patent number: 5549704
    Abstract: The universal joint prosthesis has a cap which has an outer shell, an inner shell, a calotte-shaped, smooth outer surface formed by the outer shell and an inner surface formed by the inner shell and having projections distributed along the circumference. At least some projections have undercuts and/or are provided with through holes. The outer material forming the outer shell has, with the same surface characteristics, a smaller coefficient of friction than the inner material forming the inner shell. On the other hand, the inner material permits a firmer bond with a bone than the outer material. The universal joint prosthesis also has perforated sleeves projecting from the cap. The universal joint prothesis can usually be attached firmly to a bone without a binder, the undercuts and/or holes helping to provide a permanent connection between the cap and the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Inventor: Franz Sutter
  • Patent number: 5368483
    Abstract: The device for fixing a dental prosthesis has a base which can be inserted into a jaw bone, an abutment and a shell. The base has a hole with a mouth at its end face, with an internal thread and with an extension and has a conical annular surface enclosing the mouth of the hole. The abutment has a thread part which passes through the shell in the assembled device and is screwed into the internal thread of the base, and an outer part located outside the base and serving for holding a dental prosthesis. In the assembled device, the shell fits into the extension of the hole and rests with a conical outer surface firmly against a conical inner surface of the base. Furthermore, the outer part of the abutment rests with a conical stop surface firmly against the annular surface of the base. In the assembled device, the abutment is connected to the base in a stable manner and covers its end face without leaving gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Institut Straumann AG
    Inventors: Franz Sutter, Ulrich Mundwiler
  • Patent number: 5196016
    Abstract: A means for fastening a capping on bone tissue or the like over an area of original, locally depressed, chipped or fractured tissue to promote the growth of additional tissue is disclosed, comprising generally, a pin which has, at one end, a bead for attachment of a foil and, at the other end, an external thread for threading into the original tissue or bone. Between the bead and the thread is a smooth-walled segment whose diameter is preferably larger than the diameter of the external thread. The method, unlike previous prior art methods, facilitates growing of the bone between two teeth or between teeth and a denture. The method permits, for example, restoring a jawbone to a larger extent than over areas where there were only slight depressions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Institut Straumann AG
    Inventors: Daniel Buser, Franz Sutter, Ulrich Mundwiler
  • Patent number: 5151103
    Abstract: A bone plate for use in osteosynthesis having a plurality of contact elements extending from its lower surface so that contact between plate and bone is reduced to the minimum contact needed during attachment of the plate to a bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Synthes (U.S.A.)
    Inventors: Slobodan Tepic, Stephen Perren, Fritz Straumann, Franz Sutter
  • Patent number: 5078605
    Abstract: The device comprises a tool 21 with a cutting part 23 and a shaft 25. The shaft 25 is provided with an annular catch groove 25d and carries a sleeve 31 which encloses it and comprises a catch projection 31c which engages in the catch groove 25d so as to be detachable, wherein the shaft 25 and the sleeve 31 are rotatable relative to one another. The sleeve 31 is provided with a coolant inlet 31d which opens into an annular duct 41 enclosing the shaft 25 and communicating with a passage 43. This duct 41 is connected with the passage 43 for guiding a coolant, which passage 43 extends through the tool 21 until its cutting part 23 and opens into the surroundings at the free end of the cutting part 23 or in the vicinity of the latter. The sleeve 31 can be secured against axial displacements by means of a catch projection 31c, which is engaged in a catch groove 25d, without separate connection parts and without taking up much axial space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Institut Straumann AG
    Inventors: Franz Sutter, Alexander Frei, Andreas E. Schwammberger
  • Patent number: 5067557
    Abstract: A rotary piston internal combustion engine includes two side parts and a casing cover part with a trochoidal shaped dual-arc casing inner surfacing of a fluid-cooled housing. An eccentric shaft passes axially through the housing. A triangular piston is journalled on an eccentric of the eccentric shaft with three corners of the piston gliding along the casing inner surfacing in a continuous sliding engagement. A belt drive connects the eccentric shaft with a refrigeration compressor of the same type of construction as the internal combustion engine. A fan wheel is arranged and joined by a universal coupling joint as to a telescopic part that is nonrotatable although axially shiftable relative to a mating telescopic part connected with an output shaft of the internal combustion engine connected by a first universal coupling joint and connected by a second universal coupling joint relative to the fan wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: Wankel GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Nuber, Werner Schubert, Wolfgang Sohler, Franz Sutter
  • Patent number: 5053036
    Abstract: A bone plate for use in osteosynthesis having a plurality of contact elements extending from its lower surface so that contact between plate and bone is reduced to the minimum contact needed during attachment of the plate to a bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Synthes (U.S.A.)
    Inventors: Stephan N. Perren, Fritz Straumann, Franz Sutter, Slobodan Tepic
  • Patent number: 4971533
    Abstract: A piston of a rotary piston engine of trochoidal type of construction, which is radially divided and the parts of which are connected shiftable axially against each other via axial guide bolts and among each other engaging against an elastomeric or resiliently deformable sealing ring, whereby the axial seals of the piston in the sidewalls thereof are structurally fixed or stationary sealing strips. The radial edges of these sealing strips coincide or cover themselves with the contours of the piston flanks or sides and they have cuts, notches or depressions in the piston corners for the radial seals of the piston which are in alignment with the grooves thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Wankel GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Sutter, Werner Schubert
  • Patent number: 4553942
    Abstract: An axially extending screw pin to be screwed into a tooth has a threaded part and an engagement part with a slot in one end. The slot extends in the axial direction of the pin toward the threaded part with the axially extending surfaces of the slot converging inwardly toward its base which has a concave, semi-circular surface. The converging sides are convex surfaces defining a quarter arc of a circle. A driven member with an engagement projection at one end shaped complementary to the slot, is disengageably connectible with the screw pin. A gripping member is axially displaceable positioned on the engagement projection end of the driven member. The gripping member is freely rotatable relative to the driven member and has resilient gripping tongues for holding a screw pin relative to the driven member. The driven member is mounted in a drive member so that is can be rotated about its axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Assignee: Institute Straumann AG
    Inventor: Franz Sutter
  • Patent number: 4484570
    Abstract: A plate is provided with clearance holes and fastening screws. Each screw is provided in the region of its head with a clamping part subdivided into tongues by means of slots and provided with an internal opening bounded by a conical surface. To each screw belongs an expander having a conical outer surface. The expander is axially displaceable in relation to the clamping part to force the tongues of the clamping part apart and lock the screw in relation to the plate. A rigid connection between the plate and the screws is thus provided, even if reabsorption of bone material takes place at the bearing surface of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1984
    Assignee: Synthes Ltd.
    Inventors: Franz Sutter, Fritz Straumann, Joram Raveh