Abstract: According to one embodiment, a dental implant system for implanting a dental implant in bone tissue using an implant drill driver includes a shank and a drill guide. The shank is removably coupleable to the implant drill driver and includes an internal passage that has a non-round cross-sectional shape. When coupled to the implant drill driver, the shank is rotatable via operation of the implant drill driver. The drill guide pin includes a bone penetrating end portion and a shank engagement portion. The shank engagement portion includes a notched section having a non-round cross-sectional shape corresponding with the non-round cross-sectional shape of the internal passage of the shank. The notched section of the shank engagement portion is insertable within the internal passage of the shank. Moreover, engagement between the notched section and the internal passage facilitates co-rotation of the shank and drill guide pin.

Abstract: According to one representative embodiment, a method for distracting a segment of bone from a source bone includes providing a bone distractor that has a first end portion and a second end portion movable relative to each other. The method further includes coupling the first end portion to the segment of bone and coupling the second end portion to an anchor bone opposing the source bone. Additionally, the method includes actuating the bone distractor to move the first and second end portions closer to each other and pull the segment of bone toward the anchor bone. The method can also include fixing the source bone relative to the anchor bone. Further, the method can include positioning the bone distractor to the sides of the source bone, anchor bone, and a gingival layer covering the bones.

Abstract: According to one representative embodiment, a method for distracting a segment of bone from a source bone includes providing a bone distractor that has a first end portion and a second end portion movable relative to each other. The method further includes coupling the first end portion to the segment of bone and coupling the second end portion to an anchor bone opposing the source bone. Additionally, the method includes actuating the bone distractor to move the first and second end portions closer to each other and pull the segment of bone toward the anchor bone. The method can also include fixing the source bone relative to the anchor bone. Further, the method can include positioning the bone distractor to the sides of the source bone, anchor bone, and a gingival layer covering the bones.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus for installing and removing a fastener includes a handle and a shank coupled to the handle. The shank includes an external periphery, an interior channel, and at least one fastener engagement element at least partially positionable within the interior channel. The apparatus further includes a wire positioned within the interior channel and an actuator coupled to the wire. The actuator is actuatable to move the wire within the interior channel and into contact with the at least one fastener engagement element to move the at least one fastener engagement element into a fastener engagement position. In the fastener engagement position, at least a portion of the at least one fastener engagement element is positioned external to the external periphery of the shank.

Abstract: A utility land anchor for mooring a water craft to a shore or beach or to act as a ground anchor to pull an object, such as an ATV, thereto, that includes a straight shaft that is pointed on one end and is arranged for connecting to a torque producing device, such as a handle or sided driver, on its other end. The shaft includes an auger secured adjacent to the pointed end, and is to loosely fitted into a cylindrical tube wherefrom blades or fins are attached to extend oppositely outwardly from the cylindrical tube sides that are sloped outwardly to facilitate travel into the shore, beach or ground, and a mooring line connector is secured to the cylindrical tube, adjacent to a lower end thereof.

Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments of an apparatus, system, and method for maxillo-mandibular fixation. For example, according to one representative embodiment, an apparatus for maxillo-mandibular fixation includes a plurality of connectors, a fixation belt, and a release. The connectors include one or more anchors configured to attach to bone and a fixation belt attachment. The fixation belt includes a plurality of fasteners each fastener attachable to a fixation belt attachment and a flexible mesh disposed between the plurality of fasteners. The release is disposed on the fixation belt and has an engaged position restricting movement between the plurality of fasteners and a disengaged position allowing movement between the plurality of fasteners.

Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments of a dental prosthesis implant system and associated apparatus and methods that overcome at least some shortcomings of the prior art. According to one representative embodiment, a connector for an implant retained prosthesis includes a first portion securable to a prosthesis and a second portion securable to an implant embeddable within a bone under a gingival layer. The first portion includes a first engagement element. The second portion includes a second engagement element that defines an internal cavity. The first engagement element is positionable within the internal cavity. When the second portion is secured to the implant and the first engagement element is positioned within the internal cavity, at least a portion of the internal cavity and first engagement element is within the gingival layer. In one implementation, the first portion is coupleable to the second portion via a snap-fit connection.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a dental implant system for implanting a dental implant in bone tissue using an implant drill driver includes a shank and a drill guide. The shank is removably coupleable to the implant drill driver and includes an internal passage that has a non-round cross-sectional shape. When coupled to the implant drill driver, the shank is rotatable via operation of the implant drill driver. The drill guide pin includes a bone penetrating end portion and a shank engagement portion. The shank engagement portion includes a notched section having a non-round cross-sectional shape corresponding with the non-round cross-sectional shape of the internal passage of the shank. The notched section of the shank engagement portion is insertable within the internal passage of the shank. Moreover, engagement between the notched section and the internal passage facilitates co-rotation of the shank and drill guide pin.

Abstract: A utility land anchor for mooring a water craft to a shore or beach or to act as a ground anchor to pull an object, such as an ATV, thereto, that includes a straight shaft that is pointed on one end and is arranged for connecting to a torque producing device, such as a handle or sided driver, on its other end. The shaft includes an auger secured adjacent to the pointed end, and is to loosely fitted into a cylindrical tube wherefrom blades or fins are attached to extend oppositely outwardly from the cylindrical tube sides that are sloped outwardly to facilitate travel into the shore, beach or ground, and a mooring line connector is secured to the cylindrical tube, adjacent to a lower end thereof.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a cannulated dental implant system for implanting a dental implant in bone tissue includes a guide splint having at least one guide sleeve defining a guide channel. The system also includes a guide pin with a bone penetrating end portion. The guide pin is extendable through the guide channel and drivable into bone tissue. Further, the system includes a first drill bit with a first outer diameter and an axial channel sized to receive the guide pin. The first drill bit is rotatable about the guide pin to drill a hole into the bone tissue. The hole has a diameter corresponding with the first outer diameter. The system includes a second drill bit with a second outer diameter that is greater than the first outer diameter. The second drill bit further includes an axial channel sized to receive the guide pin. Moreover, the second drill bit is rotatable about the guide pin to enlarge the hole in the bone tissue to correspond with the second outer diameter.

Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments of an apparatus, system, and method for maxillo-mandibular fixation. For example, according to one representative embodiment, an apparatus for maxillo-mandibular fixation includes a plurality of connectors, a fixation belt, and a release. The connectors include one or more anchors configured to attach to bone and a fixation belt attachment. The fixation belt includes a plurality of fasteners each fastener attachable to a fixation belt attachment and a flexible mesh disposed between the plurality of fasteners. The release is disposed on the fixation belt and has an engaged position restricting movement between the plurality of fasteners and a disengaged position allowing movement between the plurality of fasteners.

Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments of a bone distraction osteogenesis system and associated apparatus and methods that overcome at least some shortcomings of the prior art. According to one representative embodiment, a bone distraction system for distracting a portion of bone from a source bone includes a first anchor portion couplable to an anchor bone and a second anchor portion couplable to a distractable bone segment of the source bone. The system includes a distractor coupling the first anchor portion and the second anchor portion. The overall length of the distractor is decreasable to pull the distractable bone segment toward the anchor bone for distracting the bone segment.

Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments of a dental prosthesis implant system and associated apparatus and methods that overcome at least some shortcomings of the prior art. According to one representative embodiment, a connector for an implant retained prosthesis includes a first portion securable to a prosthesis and a second portion securable to an implant embeddable within a bone under a gingival layer. The first portion includes a first engagement element. The second portion includes a second engagement element that defines an internal cavity. The first engagement element is positionable within the internal cavity. When the second portion is secured to the implant and the first engagement element is positioned within the internal cavity, at least a portion of the internal cavity and first engagement element is within the gingival layer. In one implementation, the first portion is coupleable to the second portion via a snap-fit connection.

Abstract: An anchor for mooring a water craft to a shore or beach that included a straight shaft that is pointed on one end and is arranged on connecting to a torque producing device on its other end. The shaft includes an auger fixed thereto adjacent to the pointed end and is to loosely fitted into a cylindrical tube wherefrom fins or blades are attached to extend oppositely outwardly from the cylindrical tube sides that are sloped outwardly from their lower ends to facilitate their travel into the shore or beach. A torque applying handle or driver is provided for attachment to the shaft other end, and a mooring line connector is secured to the cylindrical tube, adjacent to a top end thereof.