Patent US2253069A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5941706A
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US
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Variable depth medical drill and method of making the same
Assignee: Altiva Corp
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Filing: 1998-07-09
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Granted: 1999-08-24
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Expires: 2018-07-09
Abstract
Abstract A medical or dental drill bit with one or more colored bands to indicate the drilling depth. The colored bands include groove portions filled with a color material. The invention also relates to a method of making such a drill bit.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert S. Ura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:46
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C3/00; A61C3/02; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/16; A61B90/00; A61B90/03; A61B2090/033; A61B90/06; A61B2090/062
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A medical drill bit comprising: an elongated shaft having a longitudinal axis, a cutting end at one of its ends and a rotation attachment end at its opposite end, said shaft further including a flute area extending from near its cutting end toward said rotation attachment end and a non-flute area extending from near its cutting end toward said rotation attachment end; a plurality of depth indicating colored bands extending circumferentially around said elongated shaft in said non-flute area between said cutting end and said rotation attachment end, said colored bands being distinguishable from the color of said elongated shaft and at least two adjacent bands of said plurality of bands being of contrasting colors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A medical drill bit comprising: an elongated shaft having a longitudinal axis, a cutting end at one of its ends and a rotation attachment end at its opposite end, said shaft further including a flute area extending from near its cutting end toward said rotation attachment end and a non-flute area extending from near its cutting end toward said rotation attachment end; a plurality of depth indicating colored bands extending circumferentially around said elongated shaft in said non-flute area between said cutting end and said rotation attachment end, said colored bands being distinguishable from the color of said elongated shaft and at least two adjacent bands of said plurality of bands being of contrasting colors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The medical drill of claim 1 wherein said flute area is a material removal flute extending from said cutting end toward said rotation end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The medical drill bit of claim 2 wherein said material removal flute includes an axial flute portion extending along said elongated shaft generally parallel to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The medical drill bit of claim 3 including a pair of axial flute portions being generally parallel to one another, generally parallel to said longitudinal axis and positioned on opposite sides of said elongated shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The medical drill bit of claim 3 wherein said cutting end is a twist drill end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The medical drill bit of claim 5 wherein said material removal flute includes a spiral flute portion extending from said cutting end and joining with said axial flute portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The medical drill bit of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of colored bands includes a circumferentially extending groove in said non-flute area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The medical drill bit of claim 7 wherein each of said grooves includes a colored surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The medical drill bit of claim 7 wherein each of said grooves includes a colored material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The medical drill bit of claim 9 including means for retaining said colored material in said grooves.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The medical drill bit of claim 9 wherein said colored material substantially fills said grooves.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The medical drill bit of claim 9 wherein said flute area is substantially free of any colored material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The medical drill bit of claim 1 being a dental drill bit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The medical drill bit of claim 1 wherein said non-flute area comprises at least 50% of the total circumference of said elongated shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
92 words
A medical drill bit comprising: an elongated shaft having a cutting end and an attachment end; a material removal flute extending from said cutting end toward said attachment end wherein said elongated shaft includes a flute area where said material removal flute is present and a non-flute area where said material removal flute is not present; and at least one depth indicating colored band extending circumferentially around a portion of said elongated shaft, said colored band including a circumferentially extending groove in said non-flute area and a color material in said groove.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
92 words
A medical drill bit comprising: an elongated shaft having a cutting end and an attachment end; a material removal flute extending from said cutting end toward said attachment end wherein said elongated shaft includes a flute area where said material removal flute is present and a non-flute area where said material removal flute is not present; and at least one depth indicating colored band extending circumferentially around a portion of said elongated shaft, said colored band including a circumferentially extending groove in said non-flute area and a color material in said groove.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The medical drill bit of claim 15 wherein said flute area is free of any color material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The medical drill bit of claim 15 wherein said non-flute portion comprises at least 50% of the total circumference of said elongated shaft.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The medical drill bit of claim 15 being a dental drill bit.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of making a medical drill bit comprising the steps of: forming an elongated shaft with a cutting end and an attachment end; cutting at least one circumferential groove in said elongated shaft; cutting an axial flute portion in said elongated shaft so that it intersects with said at least one circumferential groove; and filling at least a portion of said groove with colorant material.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of making a medical drill bit comprising the steps of: forming an elongated shaft with a cutting end and an attachment end; cutting at least one circumferential groove in said elongated shaft; cutting an axial flute portion in said elongated shaft so that it intersects with said at least one circumferential groove; and filling at least a portion of said groove with colorant material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 19 including cutting a plurality of circumferential grooves in said elongated shaft.
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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) | 2002-08-23 | 2003-02-22 | 2003-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-23 | 2007-02-22 | 2007-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-23 | 2011-02-22 | 2011-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |