Abstract:
A two sided ratcheting driving tool. Each side has a rotatable receptacle constrained to rotate in only one direction by interengaging teeth formed in the receptacle and in its housing. A leaf spring urges the receptacle into the engaged position with respect to the housing. In one direction, the receptacle is locked to the housing, and thus drives a tool such as a screw driver blade or a socket. In the other direction, torque causes the receptacle to overcome the spring and disengage from the housing. Thus, conventional, intermittent one way rotation is assured. The receptacle has a square hole formed therein, for receiving a tool. The tool comprises a square block cooperating with the square hole of the receptacle, and has two oppositely oriented blades, sockets, or other tools. Direction of operation is reversed by using a different one of the oppositely oriented tools. No adjustment of a lever is required. The novel wrench is unencumbered by complicated internal parts, but still often reversibility and interchangeability of tools.
Abstract:
An adjustable drilling guide, removably mountable to a patient's teeth, having a guide block with at least one stent for guiding a dental drill is disclosed. In a first embodiment, the guide block has a plurality of guide holes disposed at differing angles which may receive a stent for precise drilling at the selected angle. If minor variations need be made, the stent may be moved to a second or third of the guide holes to adjust the angle. In a second embodiment, three distinct stents are formed directly in the guide block allowing for drilling at up to three different angles. A third embodiment has a stent which is pivotable about a pivot point within the guide block, allowing drilling at any angle within the arc of the pivot. The guide block may be fitted to a model of the patient's teeth prior to installation into the mouth to ensure proper fit.
Abstract:
A one or two sided or headed ratcheting driving wrench. Each side or head has a rotatable tool carrier constrained to rotate in only one direction by interengaging teeth formed in the tool carrier and in its housing. Both sets of teeth may be pointed or rounded. In one direction, torque locks the tool carrier to the housing, and thus drives a tool such as a screw driver blade or a socket. In the other direction, torque causes the tool carrier to disengage from the housing. Thus, intermittent one way rotation is assured. The chamber is slightly elongated, having two rows of teeth, each row separated from the other by stretches of chamber wall lacking teeth. Should the tool carrier back out of contact with one row of teeth, it will shortly engage the second row of teeth, thereby maintaining driven relationship with the working head. The wrench has a bent lever or handle to allow for working in tight quarters. The tool carrier has a square hole formed therein, for receiving a driven tool. The driven tool comprises a square block cooperating with the square hole of the tool carrier, and has two oppositely oriented blades, sockets, or other tool elements. Optionally, the square block is separate from the driven tool, and is employed with a secondary tool. Also optionally, a fastener is formed integrally with the tool carrier. The wrench preferably has provision for limiting torque acting on the driven member.
Abstract:
A novel post and core assembly for the implantation of a dental prosthesis is set forth in the present invention. Comprised of separate post and core elements of a laser weldable material, the assembly allows for an infinite number of precise lengths and angular deviation between the post and core to precisely align a prosthesis with existing teeth/prostheses without delays in fabrication outside of the dentist's office, as is typically required in prior art assemblies. The post and/or core may be cut to the desired length and angle and welded, on site, with a minimal requirement for fabrication equipment.
Abstract:
A novel dental prosthesis abutment and waxing core assembly, in which the abutment has an exterior axis which differs from its longitudinal axis, and the waxing sleeve has both interior and exterior axes which differ from one another and from the exterior axis of the abutment, is disclosed. In the present invention the abutment and waxing sleeve assembly cooperates with a conventional anchor having a socket for receiving the abutment, and also adjusts to correct for angular misalignment of the prosthesis. The divergent axes allow for alignment of the prosthesis within the mouth while requiring less modification of the waxing sleeve by removal of material and/or addition of material to the waxing sleeve and abutment, thereby reducing the labor required in producing the prosthesis using prior art waxing sleeves and abutments.
Abstract:
An open end wrench having two heads each of which provides ratchet action, each of which accepts fasteners of different nominal sizes, and each of which imposes torque on the fastener only on flat facets and not at apices between adjacent facets. Each head has a first jaw bearing a convex interior surface facing the interior surface of a second jaw. The second jaw has plural pairs of intersecting facets where, in a first embodiment, the included angle formed between intersecting facets is greater than ninety degrees and less than one hundred twenty degrees. In another embodiment, the included angle is greater than seventy degrees and less than ninety degrees. Each pair of intersecting facets accommodates a polygonal fastener of one nominal size. The two embodiments are usable with hexagonal and square headed fasteners, respectively.
Abstract:
A threaded implement, such as a dental or medical implant having a receptacle bearing a socket for receiving or securing a threaded shank for engaging material such as bone tissue, the threads bearing longitudinally oriented grooves for opposing spontaneous unthreading over time. Alternatively, the implement could be a general purpose anchor or an industrial fastener wherein resisting unthreading is important. The grooves extend from the lower end of the implant toward the upper portion. In a first embodiment, the grooves are shallow, and in another embodiment, are deep enough to impinge upon the shank. Each groove has a first face disposed perpendicularly or nearly so to the circumferential surface when viewed in side cross section and a second face disposed more closely to parallel to the circumferential surface when viewed in side cross section. The first face is oriented such that it faces away from the direction of advance when the implant is threaded into the bone. In a second embodiment, the grooves are replaced by outward projections which displace bone axially when the implant is being threaded into bone tissue. In other alternative embodiments, the grooves may abut one another, may be spaced apart along the circumferential surface, and may include a third face separating the first and second faces. In further alternative embodiments, the shank is tapered, the receptacle is cylindrical, and the receptacle has a non-cylindrical, plain walled cylindrical, or internally threaded cylindrical recess opening at the upper end of the receptacle.
Abstract:
A drill particularly suited for drilling holes for dental anchors. The drill has a central shaft including a proximal end having conventional connection structure for attachment to a powered rotatable appliance and a distal end bearing a forwardly projecting pin which occupies and is guided within a pilot bore. The pin has a blunt, preferably spherical, enlarged head. The blade is mounted on the central shaft between the proximal and distal ends of the shaft. The blade is preferably annular, having cutting teeth facing the distal end of the shaft. At least one relief communicates between the interior of the annular blade and the exterior thereof.
Abstract:
A healing cap for an anchor of a dental implant anchor. The healing cap has a cylindrical head having an opening at the top side, and two legs projecting downwardly from the head. The opening at the top side has threads for receiving a threaded tool which will subsequently be employed to withdraw the healing cap from the anchor. The legs are separated by a gap enabling the legs to be urged toward one another when the healing cap is inserted into the anchor. The legs are of lesser diameter than that of the cylindrical head, so that the head can seal the opening of the anchor when the healing cap is fully inserted into the anchor. The legs resiliently resist compression from being forced into the opening of the anchor. This arrangement causes frictional engagement with the anchor which secures the healing cap to the anchor. The novel healing cap enables an anchor to be employed which lacks threads for engaging the healing cap, thereby reducing cost of fabricating the anchor.