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US5996779A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Dental implant package

Assignee: Keystone Dental Inc
•
Filing: 1998-06-19
•
Granted: 1999-12-07
•
Expires: 2018-06-19
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Abstract

Abstract A dental implant package for supplying a dental implant and healing screw without impacting the sterility thereof is disclosed. The package comprises an elongated tubular housing with an open first end and a closed second end for receiving the dental implant and a cap for closing the tubular housing. The cap has a retainer therein for holding a healing screw and is constructed and arranged so that the cap in the fully open position presents the healing screw and dental implant side-by-side.

Inventors

  • 👤 Michael Robert Klardie
  • 👤 Jeremy Matthew Huotari
  • 👤 Jean B. Christensen
  • 👤 Peter Bjork Swenson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 14:22
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C8/00; A61C8/0087; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/918

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim 191 words
A dental implant package for supplying a dental implant and a healing screw at a surgical site when opened, the package comprising: an elongated tubular housing having a first end and a second end, an inner surface and an outer surface, the first end being open and the second end being closed, the elongated tubular housing having a length longer than the dental implant, the housing for receiving at least a portion of the dental implant; and a cap closing the first end of the elongated tubular housing, the cap having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the cap further comprising a retainer for the healing screw, the cap attached to the housing via a connector configured so that when the packages is opened, the healing screw and implant are presented in side-by-side relationship with the dental implant, the cap and elongated tubular housing further constructed and arranged so that the healing screw and dental implant are enclosed within the package when the cap is closed, whereby the implant and healing screw may be removed from the dental implant package without affecting the sterility of the implant and healing screw.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 191 words
A dental implant package for supplying a dental implant and a healing screw at a surgical site when opened, the package comprising: an elongated tubular housing having a first end and a second end, an inner surface and an outer surface, the first end being open and the second end being closed, the elongated tubular housing having a length longer than the dental implant, the housing for receiving at least a portion of the dental implant; and a cap closing the first end of the elongated tubular housing, the cap having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the cap further comprising a retainer for the healing screw, the cap attached to the housing via a connector configured so that when the packages is opened, the healing screw and implant are presented in side-by-side relationship with the dental implant, the cap and elongated tubular housing further constructed and arranged so that the healing screw and dental implant are enclosed within the package when the cap is closed, whereby the implant and healing screw may be removed from the dental implant package without affecting the sterility of the implant and healing screw.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 53 words
The dental implant package of claim 1 further comprising a removable inner sleeve resting within the elongated tubular housing and coaxial with the housing, the sleeve enclosing at least a part of the dental implant when the implant is present in the package, the sleeve having an inner diameter and an outer diameter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 43 words
The dental implant package of claim 2 further comprising one or more sleeve stop surfaces on the inner surface of the housing, the sleeve stop surfaces supporting the inner sleeve and preventing the removable inner sleeve from contacting the bottom of the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 59 words
The dental implant package of claim 2 wherein the inner sleeve has: an annular top and an annular bottom; an inner surface extending between the annular top and the annular bottom; and an outer surface extending between the annular top and the annular bottom, and wherein a portion of the annular top is chamfered inward toward the inner surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 20 words
The dental implant package of claim 4 wherein a portion of the annular bottom is chamfered toward the outer surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
The dental implant package of claim 4 wherein a portion of the annular bottom is chamfered inward toward the inner surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
The dental implant package of claim 6 wherein the inner diameter of the sleeve is constant along the sleeve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 81 words
The dental implant package of claim 4 wherein the sleeve is further comprised of: an upper outer region having a uniform first outer diameter; a lower outer region having a uniform second outer diameter, the second outer diameter smaller than the first outer diameter; and a chamfered outer transition region extending between the first and second regions, the outer surface of the sleeve in the chamfered outer transition region chamfered downward from the upper outer region to the lower outer region.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 19 words
The dental implant package of claim 8 wherein the inner diameter of the sleeve is constant along the sleeve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 42 words
The dental implant package of claim 9, the sleeve having a longitudinal axis therethrough, the longitudinal axis perpendicular to a horizontal reference plane, wherein the outer transition region is chamfered at an angle of about 45° relative to the horizontal reference plane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 54 words
The dental implant package of claim 8 wherein the sleeve is further comprised of: an upper inner region having a uniform first inner diameter; a lower inner region having a uniform second inner diameter, the second inner diameter smaller than the first inner diameter, the lower inner region adjacent to the upper inner region.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 42 words
The dental implant package of claim 8, the sleeve having a longitudinal axis therethrough, the longitudinal axis perpendicular to a horizontal reference plane, wherein the outer transition region is chamfered at an angle of about 45° relative to the horizontal reference plane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 65 words
The dental implant package of claim 1 wherein the housing has an outer surface and the housing further comprises a support surface emanating from the outer surface of the housing, the support surface arranged so as to the provide support for the cap when the cap is fully opened and a downward force is applied to the cap when removing the healing screw contained therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 18 words
The dental implant package of claim 1 wherein the retainer for the healing screw is substantially disk shaped.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 58 words
The dental implant package of claim 1 wherein the cap is tubular and has a first end and a second end, the first end closed by a flat surface and the second end open, the inner tubular surface having a plurality of retainer stop surfaces, the retainer stop surfaces cooperating to retain the retainer for a healing screw.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 34 words
The dental implant package of claim 15 wherein the retainer has a perimeter with notches cut therein so as to cooperate with the retainer stop surfaces on the inner tubular surface of the cap.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 15 words
The dental implant package of claim 15 wherein the cap has four retainer stop surfaces.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 35 words
The dental implant package of claim 1 wherein the retainer for a healing screw is arranged such that a bottom surface of the healing screw retained therein rests against the flat surface of the cap.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 37 words
The dental implant package of claim 1, wherein the retainer has a hole through the center into which the healing screw is inserted, the diameter of the hole arranged so that the healing screw fits snugly therein.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 27 words
The dental implant package of claim 19 wherein the retainer further comprises two perpendicular slots extending through the center of the retainer to grip the healing screw.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 32 words
The dental implant package of claim 1 wherein the connector is a flexible piece of material attached at one end to the cap and attached at the other end to the housing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 56 words
The dental implant package of claim 1 wherein the connector comprises a first hinge element extending from the exterior surface of the cap and a second hinge element extending from the first end of the housing, the first and second hinge element cooperating so as to allow the housing to be opened at the first end.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 20 words
The dental implant package of claim 1 further comprising a base extending from the bottom of the elongated tubular housing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 37 words
The dental implant package of claim 23 wherein the base has a top and a bottom; the base is integral with the elongated tubular housing; and the base is chamfered outward from the top to the bottom.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 21 words
The dental implant package of claim 23 wherein the base is fixedly attached to the bottom of the elongated tubular housing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 15 words
The dental implant package of claim 1 wherein the cap and housing are radiation transmissive.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 23 words
The dental implant package of claim 1 wherein the cap and housing are formed of a material that is resistant to gamma radiation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 16 words
The dental implant package of claim 27 wherein the material is a treated polycarbonate or HDPE.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 22 words
The dental implant package of claim 1 where the cap and housing are formed of a material that is transparent or translucent.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 17 words
The dental implant package of claim 1 wherein the inner sleeve is made of a biocompatible material.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 17 words
The dental implant package of claim 30 wherein the biocompatible material is titanium or an alloy thereof.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 22 words
The dental implant package of claim 30 wherein the inner sleeve is made of substantially the same material as the dental implant.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 18 words
In combination, a dental implant package as in claim 1 with a dental implant and a healing screw.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 14 words
The combination of claim 33 wherein the dental implant package is closed and sterilized.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 35 words
The combination of claim 34 further comprising an enclosure having a recess therein for receiving the dental implant package and a removable cover for covering the recess when the dental implant package is disposed therein.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 141 words
A closed, sterilized dental implant package comprising: an elongated capsule having a first end with an opening therein and a second end which is closed, the elongated capsule receiving at least a portion of the dental implant; a cap for closing the first end of the capsule, the cap connected to the elongated capsule by a connector, the cap and the elongated capsule encompassing the dental implant and healing screw, the cap constructed and arranged to present the healing screw alongside the implant when the cap is fully opened, the cap further comprising a retainer for the healing screw; an optional removable inner sleeve for holding the dental implant, the removable inner sleeve resting in the elongated capsule and supported by one or more optional stop surfaces therein; and an optional base extending from the second end of the elongated capsule.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 141 words
A closed, sterilized dental implant package comprising: an elongated capsule having a first end with an opening therein and a second end which is closed, the elongated capsule receiving at least a portion of the dental implant; a cap for closing the first end of the capsule, the cap connected to the elongated capsule by a connector, the cap and the elongated capsule encompassing the dental implant and healing screw, the cap constructed and arranged to present the healing screw alongside the implant when the cap is fully opened, the cap further comprising a retainer for the healing screw; an optional removable inner sleeve for holding the dental implant, the removable inner sleeve resting in the elongated capsule and supported by one or more optional stop surfaces therein; and an optional base extending from the second end of the elongated capsule.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 2002-12-06 2003-06-07 2003-12-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-12-06 2007-06-07 2007-12-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-12-06 2011-06-07 2011-12-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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