Abstract: A dental implant that facilitates insertion includes a body having a coronal end and an apical end opposite the coronal end. An implant-prosthetic interface region is provided adjacent the coronal end. A tapered region is adjacent the apical end. A variable profile helical thread extends along the tapered region. The thread becomes broader in the apical-coronal direction and higher in the coronal-apical direction. The threads include an apical side, a coronal side and a lateral edge connecting them. The variable profile thread includes an expanding length of the lateral edge while the distance of the lateral edge from the base is reduced in the direction of the coronal end. The implant also has a gradual compressing tapered core, a self drilling apical end with a spiral tap, and a coronal end with and inverse tapering.

Abstract: Dental implant embodiments comprising one or more non-annular cutaways from a portion of the crown are described. In some embodiments, cutaways, which are implantable beneath the bone line, are orientable during implantation by reference to a dental implant positioning tool to which the dental implant is mated in a known orientation. Mating, in some embodiments, is secured by a detent system which reversibly interlocks the positioning tool and the implant. In some embodiments, a surface of a cutaway is provided with protrusions which stimulate bone regrowth into the volume which the remainder of the cutaway provides.

Abstract: A dental implant including an implant body having a top surface, and at least one non-annular cutaway portion longitudinally extending downwardly from the top surface along one side of the body and outwardly to the periphery, and a method for making the implant. The implant body preferably includes a body portion and a head portion integrally formed with the body portion, the body portion has a periphery and the head portion has a non-circular periphery, and the periphery of the head portion is smaller than the periphery of the body portion.

Abstract: A dental implant including an implant body having a top surface, and at least one non-annular cutaway portion longitudinally extending downwardly from the top surface along one side of the body and outwardly to the periphery, and a method for making the implant. The implant body preferably includes a body portion and a head portion integrally formed with the body portion, the body portion has a periphery and the head portion has a non-circular periphery, and the periphery of the head portion is smaller than the periphery of the body portion.

Abstract: A dental implant that facilitates insertion includes a body having a coronal end and an apical end opposite the coronal end. An implant-prosthetic interface region is provided adjacent the coronal end. A tapered region is adjacent the apical end. A variable profile helical thread extends along the tapered region. The thread becomes broader in the apical-coronal direction and higher in the coronal-apical direction. The threads include an apical side, a coronal side and a lateral edge connecting them. The variable profile thread includes an expanding length of the lateral edge while the distance of the lateral edge from the base is reduced in the direction of the coronal end. The implant also has a gradual compressing tapered core, a self drilling apical end with a spiral tap, and a coronal end with and inverse tapering.

Abstract: Dental implant embodiments comprising one or more non-annular cutaways from a portion of the crown are described. In some embodiments, cutaways, which are implantable beneath the bone line, are orientable during implantation by reference to a dental implant positioning tool to which the dental implant is mated in a known orientation. Mating, in some embodiments, is secured by a detent system which reversibly interlocks the positioning tool and the implant. In some embodiments, a surface of a cutaway is provided with protrusions which stimulate bone regrowth into the volume which the remainder of the cutaway provides.

Abstract: A dental implant that facilitates insertion includes a body having a coronal end and an apical end opposite the coronal end. An implant-prosthetic interface region is provided adjacent the coronal end. A tapered region is adjacent the apical end. A variable profile helical thread extends along the tapered region. The thread becomes broader in the apical-coronal direction and higher in the coronal-apical direction. The threads include an apical side, a coronal side and a lateral edge connecting them. The variable profile thread includes an expanding length of the lateral edge while the distance of the lateral edge from the base is reduced in the direction of the coronal end. The implant also has a gradual compressing tapered core, a self drilling apical end with a spiral tap, and a coronal end with and inverse tapering.

Abstract: A dental implant that facilitates insertion includes a body having a coronal end and an apical end opposite the coronal end. An implant-prosthetic interface region is provided adjacent the coronal end. A tapered region is adjacent the apical end. A variable profile helical thread extends along the tapered region. The thread becomes broader in the apical-coronal direction and higher in the coronal-apical direction. The threads include an apical side, a coronal side and a lateral edge connecting them. The variable profile thread includes an expanding length of the lateral edge while the distance of the lateral edge from the base is reduced in the direction of the coronal end. The implant also has a gradual compressing tapered core, a self drilling apical end with a spiral tap, and a coronal end with and inverse tapering.

Abstract: Various designs of dental orthodontic brackets are described. Some brackets are self-ligating with no moving parts. Some brackets include multiple pathways for wires so an amount and type of force applied by the bracket can be varied without moving the bracket. Optionally, a same bracket is used for an entire orthodontic process.

Abstract: A dental implant that facilitates insertion includes a body having a coronal end and an apical end opposite the coronal end. An implant-prosthetic interface region is provided adjacent the coronal end. A tapered region is adjacent the apical end. A variable profile helical thread extends along the tapered region. The thread becomes broader in the apical-coronal direction and higher in the coronal-apical direction. The threads include an apical side, a coronal side and a lateral edge connecting them. The variable profile thread includes an expanding length of the lateral edge while the distance of the lateral edge from the base is reduced in the direction of the coronal end. The implant also has a gradual compressing tapered core, a self drilling apical end with a spiral tap, and a coronal end with and inverse tapering.

Abstract: A dental implant including an implant body having a top surface, and at least one non-annular cutaway portion longitudinally extending downwardly from the top surface along one side of the body and outwardly to the periphery, and a method for making the implant. The implant body preferably includes a body portion and a head portion integrally formed with the body portion, the body portion has a periphery and the head portion has a non-circular periphery, and the periphery of the head portion is smaller than the periphery of the body portion.

Abstract: A dental implant that facilitates insertion includes a body having a coronal end and an apical end opposite the coronal end. An implant-prosthetic interface region is provided adjacent the coronal end. A tapered region is adjacent the apical end. A variable profile helical thread extends along the tapered region. The thread becomes broader in the apical-coronal direction and higher in the coronal-apical direction. The threads include an apical side, a coronal side and a lateral edge connecting them. The variable profile thread includes an expanding length of the lateral edge while the distance of the lateral edge from the base is reduced in the direction of the coronal end. The implant also has a gradual compressing tapered core, a self drilling apical end with a spiral tap, and a coronal end with and inverse tapering.

Abstract: A dental implant that facilitates insertion includes a body having a coronal end and an apical end opposite the coronal end. An implant-prosthetic interface region is provided adjacent the coronal end. A tapered region is adjacent the apical end. A variable profile helical thread extends along the tapered region. The thread becomes broader in the apical-coronal direction and higher in the coronal-apical direction. The threads include an apical side, a coronal side and a lateral edge connecting them. The variable profile thread includes an expanding length of the lateral edge while the distance of the lateral edge from the base is reduced in the direction of the coronal end. The implant also has a gradual compressing tapered core, a self drilling apical end with a spiral tap, and a coronal end with and inverse tapering.

Abstract: An intravenous (IV) cannula comprising an elongated body including a distal section for insertion into a blood vessel; at least one channel extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal axis of said cannula section, the at least one channel configured to maintain an amount of at least 10% of a blood flow in the blood vessel; and a central lumen configured to allow an IV fluid flow into the blood vessel.

Abstract: Various designs of dental orthodontic brackets are described. Some brackets are self-ligating with no moving parts. Some brackets include multiple pathways for wires so an amount and type of force applied by the bracket can be varied without moving the bracket. Optionally, a same bracket is used for an entire orthodontic process.

Abstract: A dental implant that facilitates insertion includes a body having a coronal end and an apical end opposite the coronal end. An implant-prosthetic interface region is provided adjacent the coronal end. A tapered region is adjacent the apical end. A variable profile helical thread extends along the tapered region. The thread becomes broader in the apical-coronal direction and higher in the coronal-apical direction. The threads include an apical side, a coronal side and a lateral edge connecting them. The variable profile thread includes an expanding length of the lateral edge while the distance of the lateral edge from the base is reduced in the direction of the coronal end. The implant also has a gradual compressing tapered core, a self drilling apical end with a spiral tap, and a coronal end with and inverse tapering.

Abstract: A dental implant that facilitates insertion includes a body having a coronal end and an apical end opposite the coronal end. An implant-prosthetic interface region is provided adjacent the coronal end. A tapered region is adjacent the apical end. A variable profile helical thread extends along the tapered region. The thread becomes broader in the apical-coronal direction and higher in the coronal-apical direction. The threads include an apical side, a coronal side and a lateral edge connecting them. The variable profile thread includes an expanding length of the lateral edge while the distance of the lateral edge from the base is reduced in the direction of the coronal end. The implant also has a gradual compressing tapered core, a self drilling apical end with a spiral tap, and a coronal end with and inverse tapering.

Abstract: A dental implant that facilitates insertion includes a body having a coronal end (44) and an apical end (42) opposite the coronal end (44). An implant-prosthetic interface region (16) is provided adjacent the coronal end (44). A tapered region (22) is adjacent the apical end (42). A variable profile helical thread (41) extends along the tapered region (22). The thread (41) becomes broader in the apical-coronal direction and higher in the coronal-apical direction. The threads (41) include and apical side (A), a coronal side (C) and a lateral edge (T) connecting them. The variable profile thread (41) includes an expanding length of the lateral edge (T) while the distance of the lateral edge (T) from the base is reduced in the direction of the coronal end (44). The implant also has a gradual compressing tapered core (40), a self drilling apical end (42) with a spiral tap, and a coronal end (44) with and inverse tapering.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ultrasonic imaging of a jaw and coupling cushions suited for use in the mouth. The system includes a specially configured ultrasonic probe, a position locator module for defining a probe location and transmitting the definition to a central processing unit (CPU) and the CPU. The CPU is capable of receiving digital data from transducers in the probe and receiving the location of the probe and producing an image of at least a portion of a jaw. The method includes providing the ultrasonic probe, defining its location and communicating the location to a CPU and transmitting an signal from a transducer and receiving at least a portion of the signal at at least one of the transducers. The CPU receives transducer data and a location of the probe and produces an image of the at least a portion of the jaw. An ultrasonic coupling cushion is further disclosed.