Dental implant package including a plug

• US 7,770,722 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2008
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Dental Inc. (Zimvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Zimmer Dental Inc. (Zimvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Donahoe, Ryan M., Day, Thomas H., Meyer, Nathan J., Murillo, Fred, Gervais, Christopher M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gehman; Bryon P
• Application Number:
  US12/272,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20090065376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 206/63.5, 206368-369, 433/141, 433172-177
• US Class Current: 206/63.5
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0056 about a lateral axis in the lid plane
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/20 Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0087 Means for sterile storage or manipulation of dental implants

Abstract

A dental implant package for holding a dental implant has a container having a first contact surface, and a cap having a second contact surface. The cap and the container define a cavity configured for holding the dental implant. The first and second contact surfaces are configured for holding the dental implant therebetween. The cap comprises a plug defining the second contact surface.

Claims

1. A dental implant package for holding a dental implant comprising:

a container having a first contact surface;

a cap for defining a second contact surface, said cap and said container defining a main cavity configured for holding the dental implant, said first and second contact surfaces configured for contacting and holding the implant therebetween, said cap having a cap cavity configured for holding a healing component spaced from the dental implant; and

a plug for being inserted at least partially into the cap cavity instead of the healing component and forming the second contact surface.

2. The dental implant package of claim 1 being configured to contact the implant only at the first and second contact surfaces.

3. The dental implant package of claim 1 wherein the plug is a first plug, the dental implant package further comprising a second plug being mounted on the cap instead of the first plug and while the healing component is mounted on the cap, the second plug forming said second contact surface when the second plug is assembled onto the cap.

4. The dental implant package of claim 1 wherein the cap defines a cavity shaped for receiving the healing component in the shape of a threaded healing screw, and wherein the plug is generally screw shaped.

5. The dental implant package of claim 1 wherein the cap further comprises a resilient portion for holding the plug.

6. The dental implant package of claim 5 wherein the resilient portion defines a slot for receiving the plug.

7. The dental implant package of claim 5 wherein said plug comprises a shaft with a widened head defining the second contact surface, and an annular rim extending around the perimeter of the shaft, wherein the head and rim define a gap therebetween for receiving the resilient portion.

8. The dental implant package of claim 1 wherein the cap is configured only to contact the dental implant at the plug.

9. The dental implant package of claim 1 further comprising a sleeve in said container for receiving the implant, said sleeve defining said first contact surface.

10. The dental implant package of claim 1 wherein the plug is a first plug, and the dental implant package further comprising a sleeve in said container for receiving the implant, and a second plug disposed at said sleeve, and wherein the second plug defines the first contact surface.

11. The dental implant package of claim 10 wherein said second plug further comprises a recess, and wherein said recess defines said first contact surface.

12. The dental implant package of claim 10 wherein the sleeve is configured to only contact the implant at the second plug.

13. The dental implant package of claim 1 wherein the cap is further configured to receive a resilient bearing member, said resilient bearing member comprising said second contact surface.

14. In combination:

a dental implant having a first end and a second end; and

a dental implant package assembly, comprising;

a container having a first contact surface,

a cap, said cap and said container defining a first cavity containing said dental implant, said implant held between said first contact surface and a second contact surface, said first end of said dental implant abutting said first contact surface, said second end abutting said second contact surface, said cap defining a second cavity configured for holding a healing component, and

a plug having a first portion for being at least partially inserted into the second cavity instead of the healing component and a widened portion forming the second contact surface.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein the plug is a first plug and the container comprises a second plug, and wherein the dental implant package is configured so that the dental implant package only contacts the implant at the first and second plugs.

16. The combination of claim 14 wherein the implant has a coronal end surface, and a distal end, and wherein the dental implant package only contacts the implant at the coronal end surface and the distal end.

17. The combination of claim 14 wherein the second contact surface is substantially flat and the first contact surface is recessed.

18. The combination of claim 14 further comprising:

an outer vial having a vial cavity configured to receive at least a portion of said dental implant package;

an outer cap removably mounted on the outer vial; and

an outer container having a base portion hingedly connected to a lid portion and being configured to receive the outer vial and outer cap.

19. A dental implant package for holding a dental implant comprising:

a container having a first contact surface;

a cap having a resilient portion and defining a cap cavity for holding a healing component, said cap and said container defining a main cavity configured for holding the dental implant; and

a separate plug at least partially insertable into the cap cavity and forming a second contact surface, said first and second contact surfaces configured for engaging the dental implant therebetween and wherein the resilient portion is configured for securing the plug to the cap.

20. The dental implant package of claim 19 wherein said plug comprises a shaft with a widened head defining the second contact surface, and an annular rim extending around the perimeter of the shaft, wherein the head and rim define a gap therebetween for receiving the resilient portion.