US3690004A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Impression tray and method for making impressions
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-03-08
•
Granted: 1972-09-12
•
Expires: 1991-03-08
Abstract
Abstract An impression tray for the lower mouth of an edentulous patient comprises a downwardly opening arch-shaped trough for holding impression material in contact with the gum tissue overlying the patient''s mandible. The trough has a downwardly extending buccal flange along its outer side, and a downwardly extending lingual retaining wall along its inner side. The lingual retaining wall extends below the bottom edge of the buccal flange continuously for the length of the mylohyoid ridge in the patient''s mandible to hold the floor of the mouth away from the mylohyoid ridge while the impression material covers the gum tissue overlying the ridge. A shelf spans the inside of the lingual retaining wall and projects inwardly toward the patient''s tongue to support the tongue in an elevated position away from the mylohyoid ridge while the impression is taken. A single cast impression of the entire lower mouth is made from a first impression material carried in the impression tray, and a second impression material of a different color disposed in the mucobuccal and mucolabial folds and merged with the first impression material.
Inventors
- 👤 John P Frush
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 08:32
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C9/00; A61C9/0006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
An impression tray to be positioned in the mouth of an edentulous patient for separating the patient''s sublingual gland from the mylohyoid ridge in the gum tissue overlying the mandible to obtain an accurate impression of the patient''s mandible, the impression tray including an elongated, downwardly opening archshaped trough shaped to fit over the mandible of the patient and hold impression material in contact with the gum tissue overlying the mandible, the trough including: a. a downwardly extending buccal flange along its outer side, the buccal flange having an elongated bottom edge; and b. a downwardly extending lingual retaining wall along its inner side, the lingual retaining wall having an outer surface extending below the bottom edge of the buccal flange continuously for the length of the mylohyoid ridge to hold impression material against the ridge, and a bottom edge curved concave upwardly to depress the patient''s mylohyoid muscle away from the mylohyoid ridge and prevent the sublingual and submaxillary glands from interposing themselves between the outer surface of the lingual retaining wall and the mylohyoid ridge, so the floor of the mouth is maintained away from the mylohoid ridge while impression material covers the gum tissue overlying the mandible.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
An impression tray to be positioned in the mouth of an edentulous patient for separating the patient''s sublingual gland from the mylohyoid ridge in the gum tissue overlying the mandible to obtain an accurate impression of the patient''s mandible, the impression tray including an elongated, downwardly opening archshaped trough shaped to fit over the mandible of the patient and hold impression material in contact with the gum tissue overlying the mandible, the trough including: a. a downwardly extending buccal flange along its outer side, the buccal flange having an elongated bottom edge; and b. a downwardly extending lingual retaining wall along its inner side, the lingual retaining wall having an outer surface extending below the bottom edge of the buccal flange continuously for the length of the mylohyoid ridge to hold impression material against the ridge, and a bottom edge curved concave upwardly to depress the patient''s mylohyoid muscle away from the mylohyoid ridge and prevent the sublingual and submaxillary glands from interposing themselves between the outer surface of the lingual retaining wall and the mylohyoid ridge, so the floor of the mouth is maintained away from the mylohoid ridge while impression material covers the gum tissue overlying the mandible.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the lingual retaining wall has an inner surface adjacent to the tongue of the patient; and including an elongated, inwardly projecting shelf formed integrally with an upper portion of the inner surface of the lingual retaining wall, the shelf extending inwardly toward the tongue of the patient for suppoRting the muscles at the base of the tongue so the tongue is maintained in an elevated position remote from the mylohyoid ridge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the trough is a relatively horseshoe-shaped member when viewed from above so as to cover the gum tissue at the front and on both sides of the patient''s lower mouth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the outer surface of the lingual retaining wall on one side of the patient''s mouth is spaced inwardly from the mandible by a distance substantially equal to that on the other side of the mouth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the trough is a relatively horseshoe-shaped member when viewed from above so as to cover the gum tissue at the front and on both sides of the patient''s lower mouth.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
111 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the shelf is continuous for a distance spanning the inside wall of the trough from one side of the petient''s mouth to the other side, and wherein the upper surface of the shelf on one side of the patient''s mouth extends inwardly toward the tongue for a distance substantially equal to the distance of the upper surface on the other side of the mouth, the shelf on each side forming a relatively narrow notch between them to separate the root of the tongue from the body of the tongue and hold the body of the tongue in a position resting on top of the shelf.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 including an elongated handle secured to the trough and extending outwardly from the mouth of the patient, the handle being positioned to cooperate with the shelf to provide additional means for supporting the tongue of the patient in its elevated position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 including indicator means on the upper surface of the handle for maintaining the tongue in a fixed position relative to the trough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the trough has an upwardly curved distal portion spaced above the retromolar pad of the patient.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including a first impression material held by the lower surface of the trough and the outer surface of the lingual retaining wall against the gum tissue overlying the upper surface of the mandible and the mylohyoid ridge, respectively; and a second impression material having a color different from that of the first impression material, the second impression material being disposed within the mucobuccal fold adjacent to the outer periphery of the mandible and merged with the first impression material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 including a first impression material held by the lower surface of the trough and the outer surface of the lingual retaining wall against the gum tissue overlying the upper surface of the mandible and the mylohyoid ridges, respectively; and a second impression material having a color different from that of the first impression material, the second impression material being disposed within the mucobuccal and mucolabial folds spanning the outer periphery of the mandible and merged with the first impression material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
A cast impression of the lower mouth of an edentulous patient comprising a first impression material forming an impression of the gum tissue overlying the upper surface of the mandible, and the tissue overlying the mylohyoid ridge; and a second impression material forming an impression of the mucobuccal fold, the second impression material having a color different from that of the first impression material and being merged with the first impression material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
A cast impression of the lower mouth of an edentulous patient comprising a first impression material forming an impression of the gum tissue overlying the upper surface of the mandible, and the tissue overlying the mylohyoid ridge; and a second impression material forming an impression of the mucobuccal fold, the second impression material having a color different from that of the first impression material and being merged with the first impression material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the first impression material forms an impression of the gum tissue overlying the retromolar pad.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the first impression material forms an impression of the gum tissue overlying the upper surface of the anterior portion of the mandible; and wherein the second impression material forms an impression of the mucolabial fold.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
67 words
A cast impression of the lower mouth of an edentulous patient comprising a first impression material forming an impression of the gum tissue overlying the upper surface of the mandible, and a second impression material forming an impression of the mucobuccal and mucolabial folds, the second impression material having a color different from that of the first impression material and being merged with the first impression material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
67 words
A cast impression of the lower mouth of an edentulous patient comprising a first impression material forming an impression of the gum tissue overlying the upper surface of the mandible, and a second impression material forming an impression of the mucobuccal and mucolabial folds, the second impression material having a color different from that of the first impression material and being merged with the first impression material.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
140 words
The method of forming an accurate primary impression of the lower mouth of an edentulous patient, the method comprising the steps of applying a first impression material to an impression tray, disposing a second impression material of a different color in the mucobuccal fold, depressing the mylohyoid muscle away from the mylohyoid ridge with a portion of the impression tray and maintaining the side of the tongue in a position remote from the mylohyoid ridge with another portion of the impression tray so that the first impression material covers the gum tissue overlying the mylohyoid ridge, and merging the first impression material with the second impression material with the aid of the color difference before the impression material sets so as to cover the gum tissue overlying the upper surface of the mandible and the tissue in the mucobuccal fold.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
140 words
The method of forming an accurate primary impression of the lower mouth of an edentulous patient, the method comprising the steps of applying a first impression material to an impression tray, disposing a second impression material of a different color in the mucobuccal fold, depressing the mylohyoid muscle away from the mylohyoid ridge with a portion of the impression tray and maintaining the side of the tongue in a position remote from the mylohyoid ridge with another portion of the impression tray so that the first impression material covers the gum tissue overlying the mylohyoid ridge, and merging the first impression material with the second impression material with the aid of the color difference before the impression material sets so as to cover the gum tissue overlying the upper surface of the mandible and the tissue in the mucobuccal fold.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method according to claim 16 including the steps of disposing the second impression material in the mucolabial fold, and merging the first impression material with the second impression material in the mucolabial fold with the aid of the color difference before the impression material sets so as to cover the gum tissue overlying the upper surface of the anterior portion of the mandible and the tissue in the mucolabial fold.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1509377A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-12 | 1976-03-13 | 1976-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-12 | 1980-03-13 | 1980-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-12 | 1984-03-13 | 1984-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |