US7104795B2 — Method and device for determining position of den…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 181 words

A dental implant guide for installing a dental implant into a bone, comprising: a probe assembly including at least one pair of a first probe member and a second probe member pivotally mounted about a point of a pivot axis; each of said first and second probe members having a probe end and an indicator end located on opposite sides of the pivot axis, an indicator end point and a probe end point of each probe member are substantially aligned with the point of the pivot axis along a straight line, whereas at least a portion of each probe member is bent, said first and second probe members being configured and dimensioned such that the probe ends of said first and second probe member may straddle the bone at an insertion site at contact points located on opposite sides of the bone, and the indicator ends of said first and second probe members are positioned generally above the insertion site and, when said probe ends straddle the bone, said indicator ends indicate the thickness of the bone at the contact points.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 181 words

A dental implant guide for installing a dental implant into a bone, comprising: a probe assembly including at least one pair of a first probe member and a second probe member pivotally mounted about a point of a pivot axis; each of said first and second probe members having a probe end and an indicator end located on opposite sides of the pivot axis, an indicator end point and a probe end point of each probe member are substantially aligned with the point of the pivot axis along a straight line, whereas at least a portion of each probe member is bent, said first and second probe members being configured and dimensioned such that the probe ends of said first and second probe member may straddle the bone at an insertion site at contact points located on opposite sides of the bone, and the indicator ends of said first and second probe members are positioned generally above the insertion site and, when said probe ends straddle the bone, said indicator ends indicate the thickness of the bone at the contact points.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

The dental implant guide as in claim 1 , wherein the pivot axis passes approximately through the center of the straight line corresponding to each of the probe members.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 47 words

The dental implant guide as in claim 1 , wherein a distance between the indicator end point and the point of the pivot axis is approximately equal to a distance between the probe end point and the point of pivot axis for at least one probe member.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 48 words

The dental implant guide as in claim 1 , wherein, when said probe ends straddle the bone, a distance between the indicator end points of said first and second probe members is less than a distance between the probe end points of said first and second probe members.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 28 words

The dental implant guide as in claim 1 , wherein the shape of said first and second probe members is substantially symmetrical with respect to the pivot axis.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 61 words

The dental implant guide as in claim 1 , wherein when said probe ends straddle the bone, a position and distance between the indicator end points of said first and second probe members is substantially symmetrical with respect to the pivot axis as compared to a position and distance between the probe end points of said first and second probe members.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 30 words

The dental implant guide as in claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member configured to bias the indicator ends of said first and second probe members towards each other.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 22 words

The dental implant guide as in claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second probe members has substantially S-type shape.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

The dental implant guide as in claim 1 , wherein said dental implant guide further includes a simulated tooth that is coupled to said pivot axis.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 27 words

The dental implant guide according to claim 9 , wherein said simulated tooth is configured for adjustment longitudinally, transversely, and angularly, with respect to said pivot axis.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

The dental implant guide according to claim 10 , wherein said simulated tooth is provided with a bore.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 39 words

The dental implant guide according to claim 10 , wherein the dental implant guide further includes an indicator pin coupled to said simulated tooth and configured to indicate the orientation of said simulated tooth with respect to the bone.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 29 words

The dental implant guide as in claim 1 , wherein the probe ends and the indicator ends lie substantially within the same plane as the point of pivot axis.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 187 words

The dental implant guide as in claim 1 , in combination with a second dental implant guide comprising a second probe assembly including at least one pair of a first probe member and a second probe member pivotally mounted about a point of a pivot axis; each of said first and second probe members having a probe end and an indicator end located on opposite sides of the pivot axis, an indicator end point and a probe end point of each probe member are substantially aligned with the point of the pivot axis along a straight line, whereas at least a portion of each probe member is bent, said first and second probe members being configured and dimensioned such that the probe ends of said first and second probe member may straddle the bone at an insertion site at contact points located on opposite sides of the bone, and the indicator ends of said first and second probe members are positioned generally above the insertion site and, when said probe ends straddle the bone, said indicator ends indicate the thickness of the bone at the contact points.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 179 words

A dental accessory for use in aiding a dental practitioner in determining the proper position and angle for a dental implant to be installed in a bone at an insertion site, comprising: a probe assembly including at least one pair of probe members pivotally mounted to each other about a common pivot axis; the probe members of each pair being configured and dimensioned such that one end of the pair of probe members on one side of said pivot axis serves as a probe end in which the probe ends of the pair may be located to straddle said bone at opposed contact points, and the opposite end of the probe members on the opposite side of said pivot axis serves as an indicator end that is automatically located to indicate the thickness of the bone at the opposed contact points, an indicator end point and a probe end point of each probe member are substantially aligned with a point of the pivot axis along a straight line, whereas at least a portion of each probe member is bent.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 179 words

A dental accessory for use in aiding a dental practitioner in determining the proper position and angle for a dental implant to be installed in a bone at an insertion site, comprising: a probe assembly including at least one pair of probe members pivotally mounted to each other about a common pivot axis; the probe members of each pair being configured and dimensioned such that one end of the pair of probe members on one side of said pivot axis serves as a probe end in which the probe ends of the pair may be located to straddle said bone at opposed contact points, and the opposite end of the probe members on the opposite side of said pivot axis serves as an indicator end that is automatically located to indicate the thickness of the bone at the opposed contact points, an indicator end point and a probe end point of each probe member are substantially aligned with a point of the pivot axis along a straight line, whereas at least a portion of each probe member is bent.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 146 words

The dental accessory of claim 15 , further comprising a second pair of probe members, said second pair being configured and dimensioned such that one end of the pair of probe members on one side of said pivot axis serves as a probe end in which the probe ends of the pair may be located to straddle said bone at opposed contact points, and the opposite end of the probe members on the opposite side of said pivot axis serves as an indicator end that is automatically located to indicate the thickness of the bone at the opposed contact points of said probe members, an indicator end point and a probe end point of each probe member of the second pair are substantially aligned with a point of the pivot axis along a straight line, whereas at least a portion of each probe member is bent.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 50 words

The dental accessory according to claim 16 , wherein a distance between the probe end point and the indicator end point of said second pair of probe members is smaller than a distance between the probe end point and the indicator end point of said first pair of probe members.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 28 words

The dental accessory according to claim 15 , wherein said one pair of probe members has a shape that is substantially symmetrical with respect to the pivot axis.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 44 words

The dental accessory according to claim 15 , wherein, when said probe ends straddle the bone, the position and distance between said probe end points is substantially symmetrical with respect to the pivot axis as the position and distance between the indicator end points.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 19 words

The dental accessory according to claim 15 , wherein each of said probe members has a substantially S-type shape.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 28 words

The dental accessory according to claim 15 , wherein said probe ends of said one pair of probe members are biased towards each other by a biasing member.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 21 words

The dental accessory according to claim 15 , wherein said assembly further includes a simulated tooth adjustably coupled to said accessory.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 26 words

The dental accessory according to claim 22 , wherein said simulated tooth is mounted with respect to said pivot axis for adjustment longitudinally, transversely, also angularly.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 26 words

The dental accessory according to claim 22 , wherein said accessory further includes an indicator pin mounted on said simulated tooth to indicate a drill axis.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 178 words

A method of aiding an oral surgeon to determine the optimum position and angle for a dental implant to be installed in a bone, comprising: providing a probe assembly including at least one pair of probe members pivotally mounted to each other about a common pivot axis; the probe members of each pair being configured and dimensioned such that one end of the pair of probe members on one side of said pivot axis serves as a probe end in which probe end points of the pair may be located to straddle said bone at opposed contact points, wherein opposite ends of the pair of probe members serve as indicator ends in which indicator end points are automatically located to indicate the thickness of the bone at the opposed contact points; applying the probe assembly such that the probe ends of the probe assembly straddles the bone at buccal and lingual contact points; and utilizing the indicator end points of the probe assembly to determine the permitted limits for the dental implant to be installed in the bone.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 178 words

A method of aiding an oral surgeon to determine the optimum position and angle for a dental implant to be installed in a bone, comprising: providing a probe assembly including at least one pair of probe members pivotally mounted to each other about a common pivot axis; the probe members of each pair being configured and dimensioned such that one end of the pair of probe members on one side of said pivot axis serves as a probe end in which probe end points of the pair may be located to straddle said bone at opposed contact points, wherein opposite ends of the pair of probe members serve as indicator ends in which indicator end points are automatically located to indicate the thickness of the bone at the opposed contact points; applying the probe assembly such that the probe ends of the probe assembly straddles the bone at buccal and lingual contact points; and utilizing the indicator end points of the probe assembly to determine the permitted limits for the dental implant to be installed in the bone.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 25 , comprising determining that the dental implant would lie outside the permitted limits.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 26 , comprising monitoring a bone graft to the bone to increase the permitted limits of the dental implant.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2009-09-11	2010-03-13	2010-09-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2013-09-11	2014-03-13	2014-09-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2017-09-11	2018-03-13	2018-09-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and device for determining position of dental implants

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