Growth factor releasing biofunctional dental implant

• US 6,939,135 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2002
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schubert L. Sapian
• Original Assignee: Schubert L. Sapian
• Inventors: Sapian, Schubert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan, Todd E.
• Application Number:
  US10/159,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20030224328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 433/172, 433/173, 433/174
• US Class Current: 433/174
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0006 Periodontal tissue or bone regeneration support means for endoprosthetic bone substitute or bone graft implants A61F2/2846
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0009 Consolidating prostheses or implants, e.g. by means of stabilising pins A61C8/0031 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0033 Expandable implants; Implants with extendable elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/005 Connecting devices for joining an upper structure with an implant member, e.g. spacers
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0054 having a cylindrical implant connecting part
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0057 with elastic means
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0059 with additional friction enhancing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/006 with polygonal positional means, e.g. hexagonal or octagonal
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0065 with expandable or compressible means
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0069 tapered or conical connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0077 with shape following the gingival surface or the bone surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0086 with shock absorbing means

Abstract

A biofunctional dental implant system for affixing a crown to an implant socket that is made in the bone structure within the mouth of a dental patient. A root portion is initially anchored within the implant socket made in the patient'"'"'s bone structure. According to a first embodiment of this invention, the crown is secured to the root portion by a flexible abutment post. According to a second embodiment, the crown is secured to the root portion by a hollow abutment tube. The dental implant system of this invention is capable of increasing bone/implant stabilization and providing a supply path through which to evenly distribute human growth factor to the bone structure surrounding the root portion. The system also enables the crown to have a selectively controllable mobility relative to the root portion that is anchored within the implant socket so as to advantageously function like a natural tooth.

Claims

1. A biofunctional dental implant system for affixing a crown portion to the bone structure in the mouth of a patient, said dental implant system comprising:

a root portion to be implanted below the patient'"'"'s gum line within a socket made in the patient'"'"'s bone structure;

means by which to anchor said root portion within the socket made in the padent'"'"'s bone structure;

a crown portion;

a flexible abutment post having a screw threaded coronal end coupled to said crown portion and an opposite screw threaded apical end coupled to said root portion by which to connect said crown portion to said root portion, said flexible abutment post adapted to bend so that said crown portion is movable relative to said root portion anchored within the socket made in the patient'"'"'s bone structure; and

a screw threaded nut,

said crown portion having a cavity within which to receive the screw threaded coronal end of said flexible abutment post, said screw threaded nut located within said cavity and rotated into mating engagement with said screw threaded coronal end, whereby said crown portion is connected to said root portion by way of said flexible abutment post.

2. The dental implant system recited in claim 1, wherein said root portion includes an implant casing to be received within the socket made in the patient'"'"'s bone structure, said implant casing having a passage running longitudinally therethrough, the screw threaded apical end of said flexible abutment post received within said passage and coupled to said implant casing.

3. The dental implant system recited in claim 2, wherein said means by which to anchor said root portion to the patient'"'"'s bone structure includes a set of threads at the exterior of said implant casing to bite into the patient'"'"'s bone structure when the implant casing of said root portion is received within the socket made in the patient'"'"'s bone structure.

4. The dental implant system recited in claim 2, wherein said implant casing has a set of growth factor parts communicating with said passage running longitudinally therethrough so that a supply of human growth factor can be delivered to the patient'"'"'s bone structure surrounding said implant casing by way of said passage and said set of growth factor ports.

5. The dental implant system recited in claim 2, wherein said passage running longitudinally through said implant casing includes a series of screw threads extending therearound, said screw threaded apical end of said flexible abutment post being rotated into mating engagement with said screw threaded passage when said apical end is received within said passage, whereby said abutment post is connected to said root portion.

6. The dental implant system recited in claim 5, said flexible abutment post also having a working surface located between the screw threaded coronal and apical ends thereof at which to receive a torquing force for causing said screw threaded apical end to be moved through the screw threaded passage running longitudinally through said implant casing so as to connect said abutment post to said root portion.

7. The denial implant system recited in claim 2, wherein the implant casing of said root portion includes an outwardly flared implant cradle at one end thereof, said crown portion being seated upon and movable relative to said root portion along said implant cradle.

8. The dental implant system recited in claim 7, wherein said implant cradle includes an installation opening aligned axially with the passage running longitudinally through said implant casing, said installation opening being sized to receive therewithin a tool for applying a rotational force to said implant casing and thereby rotating said root portion into receipt by the socket made in the patient'"'"'s bone structure.

9. The dental implant system recited in claim 1, further comprising a compressible washer positioned within the cavity of said crown portion for surrounding the threaded coronal end of said flexible abutment post and forming a bull and socket with said crown portion, said compressible washer lying between said threaded nut and said crown portion to apply a pushing force for holding said crown portion against said root portion and thereby controlling the movement of said crown portion relative to Said root portion, said threaded nut being rotated around said coronal end and tightened against said compressible washer for compressing said washer and adjusting the pushing force applied by said washer to said crown portion.

10. A biofunctional dental implant system for affixing a crown portion to the bone structure in the mouth of a patient, said dental implant system comprising:

a root portion to be implanted below the patient'"'"'s gum line within a socket made in the patient'"'"'s bone structure, said root portion having a passage running longitudinally therethrough and screw threads extending around said passage;

means by which to anchor said root portion within the socket made in the patient'"'"'s bone structure;

a crown portion having a central opening formed therein and a screw threaded fastener located within said central opening; and

a flexible abutment post having a screw threaded coronal end mated to said crown portion at the screw threaded fastener located within the central opening thereof and an opposite screw threaded apical end mated to said root portion at the screw threads extending around said passage running longitudinally therethrough whereby said crown portion is connected to said root portion by way of said flexible abutment post, the coronal end of said flexible abutment post adapted to flex so that said crown portion is moveable relative to said root portion.