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US5718579A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Drill guide kit

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-12-05
•
Granted: 1998-02-17
•
Expires: 2015-12-05
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Abstract

Abstract A method for guiding a surgical drill in a desired direction comprises forming a splint contoured to an area where drilling is desired, disposing a guide means through the splint, aligning the guide means with an alignment means, and disposing the drill through the guide means.

Inventors

  • 👤 Brent D. Kennedy

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 01:43
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C8/00; A61C1/00; A61C1/08; A61C1/082; A61C1/084; A61C19/00; A61C19/04; A61C19/055

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 106 words
A method for guiding a drill in a desired direction in a patient's mouth, comprising: forming a splint contoured to fit the patient's dentition, the splint having a first hole corresponding to an area in the dentition in which drilling is desired; press fitting a first guide means into the first hole; inserting a first alignment means partially inside the first guide means for alignment of the first guide means; rotating the first alignment means such that the first guide means is aligned to guide the drill in a desired direction; removing the first alignment means; and disposing the drill through the aligned first guide means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 106 words
A method for guiding a drill in a desired direction in a patient's mouth, comprising: forming a splint contoured to fit the patient's dentition, the splint having a first hole corresponding to an area in the dentition in which drilling is desired; press fitting a first guide means into the first hole; inserting a first alignment means partially inside the first guide means for alignment of the first guide means; rotating the first alignment means such that the first guide means is aligned to guide the drill in a desired direction; removing the first alignment means; and disposing the drill through the aligned first guide means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the press fitting step comprises press fitting a cylindrical metal sleeve into the first hole.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 42 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the press fitting step further comprises the step of orienting the first guide means such that it is adapted to rest upon a patient's edentulous religion when the split is placed within the patient's mouth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the inserting step comprises inserting a portion of an elongated cylindrical dowel into the first guide means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of deposition a cementitous composition between the first guide means and the splint and allowing the cementitous composition to dry.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein the depositing step occurs after the rotating step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 42 words
A method as in claim 5, further comprising the step of supporting the first alignment means by placing a wax between the first alignment means and the splint to retain the first guide means in proper alignment while the cementitous composition dries.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method as in claim 7, wherein the step of placing said wax between the first alignment means and the splint occurs before the depositing step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 119 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the splint has a second hole corresponding to an area in the dentition in which drilling is desired and further comprising: press fitting a second guide means into the second hole; inserting a second alignment means partially inside the second guide means for alignment of the second guide means; rotating the second alignment means such that the second guide means is aligned to guide the drill in a desired direction; depositing a cementitous composition between the first guide means and the splint and between the second guide means and the splint; allowing the cementitous composition to dry; removing the second alignment means; and disposing the drill through the aligned second guide means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 47 words
A method as in claim 9, further comprising the step of supporting the first and second alignment means by placing a wax between the first and second alignment means to retain the first and second guide means in alignment while the cementitous composition is deposited and dries.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 138 words
A method for guiding a drill in a desired direction in a patient's mouth, comprising: forming a splint contoured to fit the patient's dentition, the splint having a hole corresponding to an area in the dentition in which drilling is desired; placing a cylindrical sleeve having a rough outer surface into the hole such that the sleeve is adapted to rest upon a patient's edentulous region when the splint is placed within the patient's mouth; inserting a neck of a cylindrical dowel inside the sleeve until a shoulder of the dowel interfaces the sleeve; rotating the dowel such that the sleeve is aligned to guide the drill in a desired direction; depositing a cementitous composition between the sleeve and the splint; allowing the cementitous composition to dry; removing the dowel; and disposing the drill through the aligned sleeve.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 138 words
A method for guiding a drill in a desired direction in a patient's mouth, comprising: forming a splint contoured to fit the patient's dentition, the splint having a hole corresponding to an area in the dentition in which drilling is desired; placing a cylindrical sleeve having a rough outer surface into the hole such that the sleeve is adapted to rest upon a patient's edentulous region when the splint is placed within the patient's mouth; inserting a neck of a cylindrical dowel inside the sleeve until a shoulder of the dowel interfaces the sleeve; rotating the dowel such that the sleeve is aligned to guide the drill in a desired direction; depositing a cementitous composition between the sleeve and the splint; allowing the cementitous composition to dry; removing the dowel; and disposing the drill through the aligned sleeve.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 85 words
A method for preparing a splint used in guiding a drill in a desired direction in a patient's mouth, the splint contoured to fit a patient's dentition, comprising: forming a splint by molding a first cementitous composition to the contours of an area where drilling is desired; disposing a guide means through the composition; aligning the guide means with an alignment means; depositing a second cementitous composition between the guide means and the splint; allowing the cementitous compositions to dry; and removing the alignment means.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 85 words
A method for preparing a splint used in guiding a drill in a desired direction in a patient's mouth, the splint contoured to fit a patient's dentition, comprising: forming a splint by molding a first cementitous composition to the contours of an area where drilling is desired; disposing a guide means through the composition; aligning the guide means with an alignment means; depositing a second cementitous composition between the guide means and the splint; allowing the cementitous compositions to dry; and removing the alignment means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 33 words
A method as in claim 12, wherein the splint is formed from a cementitous composition and the guide means is disposed through the cementitous composition before the cementitous composition dries into a splint.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 156 words
A dental kit for guiding a drill in a desired direction through a splint adapted for use in a patient's mouth, the kit comprising: a cementitous composition from which a splint is formed; a plurality of cylindrical sleeves for placement within the splint whereby the drill is guided through at least one of the sleeves; and a plurality of dowels, each dowel having a first portion which will permit a friction fit of the first portion within a sleeve, and each dowel having a second alignment portion which has a length so that when the dowel is inserted into a corresponding sleeve, the alignment portion will extend beyond the sleeve's length by at least several times to permit visual inspection for purposes of axially aligning each dowel with any adjacent dowel and sleeve combination, thereby permitting each sleeve placed within the splint to be axially aligned prior to final cementing of the sleeves within the splint.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 156 words
A dental kit for guiding a drill in a desired direction through a splint adapted for use in a patient's mouth, the kit comprising: a cementitous composition from which a splint is formed; a plurality of cylindrical sleeves for placement within the splint whereby the drill is guided through at least one of the sleeves; and a plurality of dowels, each dowel having a first portion which will permit a friction fit of the first portion within a sleeve, and each dowel having a second alignment portion which has a length so that when the dowel is inserted into a corresponding sleeve, the alignment portion will extend beyond the sleeve's length by at least several times to permit visual inspection for purposes of axially aligning each dowel with any adjacent dowel and sleeve combination, thereby permitting each sleeve placed within the splint to be axially aligned prior to final cementing of the sleeves within the splint.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 48 words
A kit as in claim 14, wherein each dowel is comprised of: a body; a shoulder at one end of the body; and a neck extending from the shoulder; the dowel designed such that the neck slides into the guide means until the shoulder interfaces the guide means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 85 words
A kit as in claim 14 wherein the cementitous composition is comprised of a liquid and a powder component and further comprising: a spatula for mixing the powder and liquid components; a mixing bowl wherein the powder and liquid components are mixed; a dropper for adding the liquid to the powder; a container for containing the liquid; at least one container for containing the powder; a wax for retaining the guide means in alignment while the cementitous composition dries; and at least one drill bit.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3407503A Cited
US4708654A Cited
US5064374A Cited
US5125833A Cited
US5133660A Cited
US5236359A Cited
US5320529A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-02-16 2001-08-18 2002-02-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-02-16 2005-08-18 2006-02-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-02-16 2009-08-18 2010-02-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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