Abstract:
The present invention is a dental implant inserted into the jaw bone for anchoring an artificial tooth in the bone. It has been designed to overcome the difficulties and complexities of prior art implants. The inventive implant consists of three simple components: An elongate body which has an neck portion and a root portion; an abutment which is mounted to the neck portion of the body and which receives the temporary or permanent replacement tooth; and a screw which secures the abutment to the body. The root portion of the body consists of multiple legs and is formed from a shape memory alloy. Use of shape memory alloy allows the root portion to assume a closed, elongate shape at cool temperatures and to assume an open, fanned shape at temperatures typical of the human body. The inventive implant is maintained at cool temperatures until and during insertion into the body allowing an easy and non-traumatic placement of the implant. Once in place, the implant warms to body temperature and self expands to anchor itself within surgical site. A method for using this self-expanding dental implant is also provided.
Abstract:
A ligature for an orthodontic appliance comprising a coil spring hoop of helically wound metal strip or wire or a wave spring hoop of wave wound metal strip or wire, preferably of shape memory metal. Such a metal ligature is simpler and more convenient to use than wire ties and has a life considerably longer than the elastomeric ligatures currently in use; because of this extended life they can be permanently attached to a bracket body to provide a self-ligating bracket. A coil wound ligature has the form of a hoop and is attached to the bracket body via a U-shaped core member threaded through part of the hoop and having its ends fastened to the bracket body. The ligature may have the form of a loop having its ends inserted in respective bores in the bracket body. The ligature may comprise an attachment part by which it is attached to the bracket body and a loop retainer part engageable over a bracket tie wing, the attachment and retainer parts being connected together by two mesially-distally spaced wave wound spring parts.
Abstract:
Thermoplastic molding compositions are made from a mixture of thermoplastic material (for example, polycaprolactone), a free-radically polymerizable resin (for example, a urethane diacrylate oligomer), and free-radical initiator (for example, a visible-light cure photoinitiator). The mixture is solid at 38.degree. C., has a melting or softening point that comfortably can be withstood by oral tissues, and can be imprinted with a heat-stable custom shape memory and semi-thermoplastic properties by shaping the composition to a desired shape and then causing or permitting the resin to undergo polymerization.
Abstract:
A bone anchoring assembly and method for attaching a body part to a patient's bone which includes a bone anchor that is implantable in bone having an opening leading to a cavity formed therein. A coupling member with at least one portion made of a shape memory material having a transformation temperature range. The coupling member is movable through the opening and in and out of the cavity at temperatures below the transformation temperature range. With it in the cavity and at temperatures above the transformation temperature range, the coupling member is locked within the bone anchor. The coupling member is attachable to the body part.
Abstract:
A tooth-fixing member of a shape memory alloy including two pairs of fixing fingers formed on both sides of a band base for engaging teeth, the pair of fixing fingers being processed to open in parent phase and close in martensite phase. Tooth fixing procedure includes the steps of: forming a cavity in each of plural target teeth; inserting each pair of fixing fingers of the tooth-fixing member in martensite phase into the cavity; and heating the tooth-fixing member to the parent phase to open the fixing fingers so as to fix the teeth together. The tooth-fixing member applicable to various dental treatments, which include: fixation of teeth which are loose due to periodontal diseases like pyorrhea alveolaris; fixation of teeth to ensure a space for a tooth to erupt; fixation of a tooth which is extruding abnormally; fixation of a transplanted tooth; and correction of slanting teeth.
Abstract:
A removable orthodontic palatal expansion arch having a generally "M"-shaped configuration, the arch having a center segment composed of a near-stoichiometric alloy of nickel and titanium which possesses memory-retaining characteristics to simultaneously expand the bicuspids and expand, rotate, intrude and/or torque the maxillary molars, and end segments composed of an alloy of stainless steel or another biocompatible material configured for securing the archwire to lingual sheaths attached to molar bands.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an enossal implant, which comprises a primary cylinder (10) with a central longitudenal bore (13) which can be introduced into the jawbone and is anchored therein in positive and/or non-positive manner, as well as a secondary cylinder (100) insertable into the primary cylinder (10) and which has an oscillating rod (211) inserted and held in the longitudenal bore (13) and guide tube (30) of primary cylinder (10), said rod carrying an upper modular tube (220) made from an elastic material arranged at a distance from guide tube (30), accompanied by the formation of an air gap (225) and which is constructed at its free upper end for the connection of the dental prosthesis, whereas its lower end is connected in fixed or detachable manner to the primary cylinder (10), so that an implant is obtained which not only leads to a positive and nonpositive connection to the bone and a load-free stabilization of the primary cylinder (10), but whose oscillating rod (211) absorbs the horizontal, vertical and torsional forces occuring in the mouth and diverts same into the bottom of the implant (FIG. 12).
Abstract:
A removable orthodontic appliance is firmly seated on the teeth on each side at a midregion by clasps which provide a base for a label filament serving as a reference arch, and curved lingual spring filament which urges the teeth against the reference. The lingual filament provides a gentle but constant force over a substantial distance to cause repositioning of selected teeth without the need for frequent readjustments. The mountings for the filaments comprise open loops having filament receiving sleeves at each end by means of which the positions and angles of the filaments may be adjusted but the filaments may be coupled in solely by mechanical means. The lingual filament may comprise a memory alloy having a temperature transition below normal body temperature so that it may initially follow the irregular profile of the teeth and continue to exert pressure over a substantial distance as the teeth are repositioned. A retainer device may use synthetic resin filaments of transparent material to hold the teeth against relapse.
Abstract:
An endosseous implant structure for oral implantology, comprising a planar body portion embedded in an alveolar bone to form an artificial tooth root, at least one neck portion extending from one end of the planar body portion in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the body portion, and at least on head portion extending from one end of the neck portion remote from the body portion and projecting into a oral cavity to form an abutment for an artificial tooth. The planar body portion includes a plurality of leg portions defined by cutouts formed in the body portion. At least the leg portions are made of a metal material exhibiting a thermal shape memory effect of deformation in response to variation in temperature thereof. The leg portions are deformed sidewise and away from the plane of the body portion upon temperature variation after insertion of the body portion into the alveolar bone.