Abstract: A surgical tool for preparing a surgical sinus-lift osteotomy has a defined thread geometry in series with an osteotome tip to cut, crack and push bone from the sinus floor upward into the sinus cavity in a tactual, gentle and controlled motion. The apical osteotome tip is driven into a pre-drilled pilot osteotomy after the cutting threads are engaged and rotated until the sinus floor is cracked free. Once the bony sinus floor is cracked free, a fluid passageway can be pressurized with a sterile fluid at a defined pressure to release and push the sinus membrane upward into the sinus cavity to create a desired apical cavity for grafting while minimizing the risk of compromising or tearing the sinus membrane.

Abstract: A mechanism for separating the driver tip (28) of a driver tool (27) from an orthodontic bone screw (25) is shown. The mechanism includes a driver sleeve (36) formed with a female thread (38) that is threaded onto a male threaded portion (39) of the driver tool adjacent to the driver tip with the sleeve adapted to engage and push-off the head of the bone screw when rotated sufficiently.

Abstract: An endosseous dental implant system has an externally threaded root-formed base 2 with self-tapping flutes 5 formed into apical threads of the root-formed base for easy insertion and immediate locking in an osteotomy. The coronal portion of the base has either a male or a female self-locking tapered friction held post that includes an apical anti-rotational polygon 7, 23 to lock a prosthetic attachment to the base once attached.

Abstract: A maxillofacial anchoring and distraction system having an internally threaded anchoring or distraction fixture (12) and a selected length jack screw (14) for placement in an osteotomy. To minimize required bone height, a cut-away bone screw (16) or a solid mesh tip (17) is provided for insertion in bone in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the anchoring and jack screws. A flat surface portion (16c, 17a) serves as a reaction surface for the distal end of the jack screw. In a second embodiment a sealing screw (24) is used with distraction fixture (20) modified to include a sealing surface. After completion of distraction the sealing screw is used to seal off the distraction fixture for conversion into an implant suitable for receiving conventional prosthetic components.

Abstract: A maxillofacial anchoring and distraction system having an internally threaded anchoring or distraction fixture (12) and a selected length jack screw (14) for placement in an osteotomy. To minimize required bone height, a cut-away bone screw (16) or a solid mesh tip (17) is provided for insertion in bone in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the anchoring and jack screws. A flat surface portion (16c, 17a) serves as a reaction surface for the distal end of the jack screw. In a second embodiment a sealing screw (24) is used with distraction fixture (20) modified to include a sealing surface. After completion of distraction the sealing screw is used to seal off the distraction fixture for conversion into an implant suitable for receiving conventional prosthetic components.

Abstract: An endosseous dental implant system has an externally threaded root-formed base (2) with self-tapping flutes (5) formed into apical threads of the root-formed base for easy insertion and immediate locking in an osteotomy. The coronal portion of the base has either a male or a female self-locking tapered friction held post that includes an apical anti-rotational polygon (7,23) to lock the coronal attachment to the base once attached. The implant incorporates an esthetic biological gingival profile (10,11,31,32) to enhance inter-proximal bone attachment to the root-formed implant, which supports the surrounding papilla.

Abstract: A combined internal polygonal and locking drive tool (10,10′) used to engage a mating external implant mounting and drive fixture (12). The locking drive has an internal tapered locking drive section (10b) which is longitudinally in series with an internal polygonal section (10d) and has its largest diameter slightly larger than the smallest diameter of the internal polygonal portion. The combined delivery and drive tool can be incorporated with an external hand drive or power drill drive surface configuration.

Abstract: A self-drilling and tapping multi-drive bone screw (10) for rigid fixation of craniomaxillofacial tissue grafts and bone plates has a tip (12a) which incorporates a defined twist drill shaft with a sharp cutting point tip (12b) to easily pierce and drill a pilot hole and prepare for the insertion of self-tapping screw threads (12c). A cylindrical dome shaped head (14) for rigid fixation of craniomaxillofacial tissue grafts and geometrically sized bone plates is formed on the screw distal to the drilling and tapping features. A spline feature (14e) is incorporated into the cylindrically dome shaped head for easy pickup, assembly and insertion of the bone screw with a corresponding spline driver tool (20). The spline driver feature also allows the bone screw (10) to be driven with either a standard square or cross blade driver tool.

Abstract: A self-drilling and tapping multi-drive bone screw (10) for rigid fixation of craniomaxillofacial tissue grafts and bone plates has a tip (12a) which incorporates a defined twist drill shaft with a sharp cutting point tip (12b) to easily pierce and drill a pilot hole and prepare for the insertion of self-tapping screw threads (12c). A cylindrical dome shaped head (14) for rigid fixation of craniomaxillofacial tissue grafts and geometrically sized bone plates is formed on the screw distal to the drilling and tapping features. A spline feature (14e) is incorporated into the cylindrically dome shaped head for easy pickup, assembly and insertion of the bone screw with a corresponding spline driver tool (20). The spline driver feature also allows the bone screw (10) to be driven with either a standard square or cross blade driver tool.

Abstract: A dental torque ratchet head and driver handle (8) is formed with a chamber (12a) between first (30) and second (32) pivotably mounted handle members which receives a plastic insert (14) formed in a configuration selected so that the insert fractures at a selected torque to thereby ensure the application of a precalibrated level or torque to an abutment or prosthetic screw of an implant. A solid metal insert (14') can be used to convert the tool to a straight ratchet tool.

Abstract: A helical threaded bone tap (10,10',10") for preparing a surgical osteotomy with a defined thread configuration to allow for the insertion of a screw design implant. Incorporated into the tap are four cutting flutes (22) equally spaced, radially, to each other which allow for the removal of bone chips formed during the cutting of the thread. To better assist in this process, cutting flutes (22) are formed with a helical twist to draw the chips outward as the as the osteotomy is being tapped. Distal to the helical threaded bone tap (18) is a driving head having a polygonal configuration (26) and/or a latch type configuration (32) to allow these taps to be driven, respectively, by hand with a ratchet or by using a surgical drilling unit.

Abstract: A maxillofacial anchoring and distracting system (10) is shown for lengthening the alveolar and small craniofacial skeletal bones by distraction osteogenesis. The distraction system includes a base plug (12), an internally and externally threaded anchoring screw body (14), a distraction jack screw (16) and healing screw (18). The base plug is press-fit into an osteotomy and acts as a baseplate to resist and transfer force received from the distraction jack screw to the subperiosteal corticotomy callus. The application of distraction force to the subperiosteal corticotomy via the distraction jack screw is resisted coronally by the anchoring screw body. Once the desired monofocal distraction osteogenesis has been completed, the maxillofacial anchoring and distraction system can be removed and easily replaced with an optimal length endosseous dental implant.

Abstract: A self-locking cylindrical drive (10,10') to deliver and assemble internally hexed prosthetic components such as screws and abutments into place is shown. The head (14) of the tool engages and locks with the flat side surfaces of the internally hexed prosthetic component. The tool (10,10') allows for extra-oral assembly of a component with the tool to minimize any risk of a component falling off or being lost in a patient's mouth during delivery of the component. Final seating of the component is then accomplished using a conventional hexagonal drive tool with appropriate delivery torque. The tool is formed into both a standard hand driven wrench (10) and contra-angle drill (10').