Method and means for affixing a component to a dental implant

Claim 2

A tool for affixing a component to a support having a receiver member adapted to receive an attaching member for affixing said component, said tool forming an assembly comprising a first part for holding said component and a second part for holding said attaching member, and means to fix said parts in a substantially coaxial relation with said second part rotatable within first part, said second part having manipulator means at a first end of said second part, and holder means fixed to said first part and overlying said manipulator means for carrying said assembly and for holding said first part against said support while rotating said second part within said first part with said manipulator means.

Claim 3

A tool according to claim 1 in which said first part is hollow and said second part is fitted rotatably within said first part.

Claim 4

A tool according to claim 1 in which said first part is adapted at second end to detachably engage one end of said component and said second part is adapted at an end remote from said manipulating means to detachably engage one end of said attaching member.

Claim 5

A tool according to claim 1 in which the ends of said two parts at an end of said assembly remote from said manipulating means are adapted to detachably engage respectively one end of said component and one end of said attaching member.

Claim 6

A tool according to claim 1 including retainer means within said first part to keep said second part within said first part.

Claim 7

A tool according to claim 1 including compressible resilient means between said second part and said first part for coupling to said first part in the direction of said axis toward said first end thereof force applied to said second part in the direction of said axis toward said first end thereof.

Claim 8

A tool according to claim 6 in which said resilient means is a spring.

Claim 9

A tool according to claim 7 in which said spring is coiled around said second part.

Claim 10

A tool according to claim 8 in which said first part has a shoulder and said spring is fixed between said shoulder and said manipulating means.

Claim 11

A tool according to claim 8 in which said spring is coiled around said second part within said first part.

Claim 12

A tool according to claim 10 in which said first part has an internal shoulder and said spring is fixed between said shoulder and said manipulating means.

Claim 13

A tool according to claim 1 in which said holder means is a U-shaped member having two substantially parallel arms and a bight portion, the bight portion of which overlies said manipulator, the free ends of said arms being attached to said first part at points which are substantially diametrically opposite each other.

Claim 14

A tool according to claim 12 in which said manipulator fits between said arms.

Claim 15

Carrying and affixing tool means for use to affix a dental component to an artificial root installed in a patient's jawbone which root has an internally-threaded bore opening gingivally, said component having a through-bore for passing a threaded bolt, said bolt being engageable in said threaded bore for affixing said component to said root, said tool means forming an assembly comprising an elongated driver part adapted at a first end for engagement with a head end of said bolt and a hollow holder part adapted at a first end for engagement with said component at a supragingival end thereof, said driver part being rotatable within said holder part for holding said bolt within said through-bore when said component and said bolt are engaged with said tool means, so as to enable driving said bolt into said threaded bore with said driver part while holding said component to said root with said holder part, said driver part having manipulator means remote from said first end and accessible at a second end of said holder part, and holder means fixed to said holder part and overlying said manipulator means for carrying said assembly and for holding said holder part against said root while rotating said driver part within said holder part with said manipulator means.

Claim 16

Carrying and affixing tool means for use to affix a dental component to an artificial root installed in a patient's jawbone which root has an internally-threaded bore opening gingivally, said component having a through-bore for passing a threaded bolt, said bolt being engageable in said threaded bore for affixing said component to said root, said tool means forming an assembly comprising an elongated driver part adapted at a first end for engagement with a head end of said bolt and a hollow holder part adapted at a first end for engagement with said component at a supragingival end thereof, said driver part being rotatable within said holder part for holding said bolt within said through-bore when said component and said bolt are engaged with said tool means, so as to enable driving said bolt into said threaded bore with said driver part while holding said component to said root with said holder part, said driver part having manipulator means remote from said first end and accessible at a second end of said holder part, and holder means fixed to said holder part and overlying said manipulator means for carrying said assembly and for holding said holder part against said root while rotating said driver part within said holder part with said manipulator means.

Claim 17

Tool means according to claim 14 in which said driver part is elongated on an axis.

Claim 18

Tool means according to claim 15 including retainer means to keep said driver part within said holder part.

Claim 19

Tool means according to claim 16 in which said retainer means is a section of reduced cross-section within said holder part.

Claim 20

Tool means according to claim 15 having said manipulator means at the second end of said driver part.

Claim 21

Tool means according to claim 18 including compressible resilient means between said driver part and said holder part for coupling to said holder part in the direction of said axis toward said one end thereof force applied to said driver part in the direction of said axis towards said one end thereof.

Claim 22

Tool means according to claim 19 in which said resilient means is a spring.

Claim 23

Tool means according to claim 20 in which said spring is coiled around said driver part within said holder part.

Claim 24

Tool means according to claim 21 in which holder part has an internal shoulder and said spring is fixed between said shoulder and said manipulator means.

Claim 25

Tool means according to claim 14 in which said holder means is a U-shaped member having two substantially parallel arms and a bight portion, the bight portion of which overlies said manipulator, the free ends of said arms being attached to said first part at points which are substantially diametrically opposite each other.

Claim 26

Tool means according to claim 23 in which said manipulator fits between said arms.

Claim 27

An assembly of a dental component adapted to be affixed to a substructure fixed in a patient's jawbone, an attaching member cooperable with said substructure for affixing said component thereto, and tool means comprising a first part for holding said component and a second part for holding said attaching member, said component being removably engaged endwise with said first part and said attaching member being removably engaged endwise with said second part, said tool means including means to fix said parts in a spatial relation with one part rotatable relative to the other such that if said first part is manipulated to bring said component to said substructure said second part will be disposed to manipulate said attaching member to affix with said component to said substructure, said second part having manipulator means accessible at an end of said first part remote from said component, and holder means fixed to said first part and overlying said manipulator means for carrying said assembly and for holding said first part against said substructure while rotating said second part relative to said first part with said manipulator means.

Claim 28

An assembly of a dental component adapted to be affixed to a substructure fixed in a patient's jawbone, an attaching member cooperable with said substructure for affixing said component thereto, and tool means comprising a first part for holding said component and a second part for holding said attaching member, said component being removably engaged endwise with said first part and said attaching member being removably engaged endwise with said second part, said tool means including means to fix said parts in a spatial relation with one part rotatable relative to the other such that if said first part is manipulated to bring said component to said substructure said second part will be disposed to manipulate said attaching member to affix with said component to said substructure, said second part having manipulator means accessible at an end of said first part remote from said component, and holder means fixed to said first part and overlying said manipulator means for carrying said assembly and for holding said first part against said substructure while rotating said second part relative to said first part with said manipulator means.

Claim 29

An assembly according to claim 25 and a removable enclosure surrounding said assembly.

Claim 30

An assembly and an enclosure according to claim 25 in which said enclosure is a sterile package.

Claim 31

An assembly according to claim 25 in which said holder means is a U-shaped member having two substantially parallel arms and a bight potion, the bight potion of which overlies said manipulator, the free ends of said arms being attached to said first part at points which are substantially diametrically opposite each other.

Claim 32

An assembly according to claim 28 in which said manipulator fits between said arms.