APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR IMPLANTING DENTAL IMPLANTS

• US 20160038254A1
• Filed: 06/08/2015
• Published: 02/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vincent Prestipino
• Original Assignee: Vincent Prestipino
• Inventors: PRESTIPINO, Vincent
• Granted Patent: US 9,504,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/084 of implanting tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0022 Self-screwing A61C8/0028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0087 Means for sterile storage or manipulation of dental implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0089 Implanting tools or instruments

Abstract

The invention includes apparatuses and methods for implanting dental implants in a patient'"'"'s mouth that ensure that the implants are in the proper rotational position and depth. In one aspect, the invention includes a surgical guide with a guide tube having an indexing mechanism that mates with a corresponding indexing mechanism on a flange of an implant mount when the mount is used to screw an implant into a patient'"'"'s mouth. This mating signals that the dental implant is in the proper rotational position and depth.

Claims

1. A system for ensuring that a dental implant is screwed in to the proper rotational position and depth when it is implanted into a jawbone of a patient comprising:

an implant mount configured to be removably attached to the dental implant, wherein the implant mount comprises an indexing mechanism; and

a surgical guide comprising at least one guide tube, wherein the guide tube comprises an indexing mechanism;

wherein the indexing mechanism on the implant mount is configured to mate with the indexing mechanism on the guide tube when the implant mount is used to screw the dental implant into a jawbone of a patient.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the indexing mechanism on the implant mount comprises clutch teeth.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the implant mount has a flange comprising a proximal surface, and the clutch teeth are located on the proximal surface of the flange of the implant mount.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the indexing mechanism on the guide tube comprises clutch teeth.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the guide tube has a distal surface, and the clutch teeth are located on the distal surface of the guide tube.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the indexing mechanism on the implant mount and the indexing mechanism on the guide tube are configured so that when they fully mate with one another, the dental implant will be screwed in to the proper rotational position and depth.

7. A device configured to assist with ensuring that a dental implant is screwed in to the proper rotational position and depth when it is implanted into a jawbone of a patient comprising:

an implant mount comprising an indexing mechanism configured to mate with an indexing mechanism on a guide tube included in a surgical guide.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the implant mount has a flange with a proximal surface, and the indexing mechanism on the implant mount is located on the proximal surface of the flange.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein the indexing mechanism on the implant mount comprises clutch teeth.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein the indexing mechanism on the implant mount is configured such that when it fully mates with an indexing mechanism on a guide tube included in a surgical guide, the dental implant will be screwed in to the proper rotational position and depth.

11. A device configured to assist with ensuring that a dental implant is screwed in to the proper rotational position and depth when it is implanted into a jawbone of a patient comprising:

a surgical guide comprising at least one guide tube, wherein the guide tube comprises an indexing mechanism configured to mate with an indexing mechanism on an implant mount.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the guide tube has a distal surface, and the indexing mechanism of the guide tube is located on the distal surface of the guide tube.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein the indexing mechanism on the guide tube comprises clutch teeth.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein the indexing mechanism on the guide tube is configured such that when it fully mates with an indexing mechanism on an indexing mechanism on an implant mount, the dental implant will be screwed in to the proper rotational position and depth.

15. A method of ensuring that a dental implant is screwed in to the proper rotational position and depth when it is implanted into a jawbone of a patient comprising:

placing a surgical guide having a guide tube in a patient'"'"'s mouth so that the guide tube is aligned with a location in the jawbone where a dental implant is to be implanted, wherein the guide tube comprises an indexing mechanism;

removably attaching an implant mount to the dental implant, wherein the implant mount comprises an indexing mechanism;

disposing the attached implant mount and dental implant through the guide tube; and

rotating the attached implant mount and dental implant so as to screw the dental implant into the patient'"'"'s jawbone until the indexing mechanism on the implant mount mates with the indexing mechanism on the guide tube.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the indexing mechanism on the guide tube comprises clutch teeth.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the guide tube has a distal surface, and the clutch teeth are located on the distal surface of the guide tube.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the indexing mechanism on the implant mount comprises clutch teeth.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the implant mount has a flange comprising a proximal surface, and the clutch teeth are located on the proximal surface of the flange of the implant mount.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the indexing mechanism on the implant mount and the indexing mechanism on the guide tube are configured so that when the indexing mechanism on the implant mount fully mates with the indexing mechanism on the guide tube, the dental implant will be screwed in to the proper rotational position and depth.