O-ring insertion tool and method

{
  "publication_number": "US9179989B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "O-ring insertion tool and method",
  "abstract": "An O-ring insertion tool is disclosed herein which holds and inserts an O-ring into a cap for releasably securing a dental appliance to, for example, a dental attachment assembly secured in the mouth of a patient. The tool contains a driver having a central portion and at least one end portion with resilient prongs designed to push an O-ring through a bore in a bushing sleeve sized at one end to match the entrance of the cap. The bore has a tapered, frustoconical portion. The prongs fit into the larger end of the bore in which the O-ring is positioned and engage and advance the O-ring through the bore. The O-ring is uniformly compressed as it advances through the frustoconical portion of the bore, and is then pushed out of the second end of the bore and into position in the cap.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A tool for inserting an O-ring into a dental prosthesis cap comprising: a driver comprising a first driving end portion having an O-ring engaging member extending outwardly from the first driving end portion; and a bushing sleeve having a first end, a second end and a bore extending therethrough from the first end to the second end, said bore having an inner surface, wherein the first end of the bushing sleeve has an annular inner rib extending radially from said inner surface for loading an and retaining the O-ring in the first end of the bushing sleeve, and wherein said inner surface having a first cylindrical portion at the first end and a second tapered portion at the second end; wherein the O-ring engaging member is configured to be inserted into the first end of the bushing sleeve to engage the loaded and retained O-ring which is to be inserted into the dental prosthesis cap, and wherein the O-ring engaging member moves relative to the inner surface of the bore and deforms inwardly as the O-ring engaging member moves in a direction from the first end to the second end of the bushing sleeve.",
    "2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the driver is substantially post-shaped having a first distal end and a second distal end opposite from the first distal end.",
    "3. The tool of claim 2, wherein the first driving end portion is disposed at the first distal end; and wherein the driver further comprises a second driving end portion disposed at the second distal end.",
    "4. The tool of claim 1, wherein the O-ring engaging member has three prongs.",
    "5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the O-ring engaging member has four prongs.",
    "6. The tool of claim 1, wherein the O-ring engaging member has five prongs.",
    "7. The tool of claim 1, wherein the O-ring engaging member has six prongs.",
    "8. The tool of claim 1, wherein the bushing sleeve is formed of a transparent, thermoplastic polymer material.",
    "9. The tool of claim 1, wherein the bushing sleeve has an annular lip extending from the second end of the bushing sleeve, the annular lip having an outer diameter less than an outer diameter of the second end of the bushing sleeve.",
    "10. The tool of claim 1 wherein the second end of the bushing sleeve has a chamfered end.",
    "11. A method of inserting an O-ring into a dental prosthesis cap for securing a dental prosthesis to a dental attachment assembly using the tool of claim 1, comprising the steps of: (a) loading the O-ring into the first cylindrical portion at the first end of the bushing sleeve past the annular inner rib, wherein the O-ring is retained by the annular inner rib at the first end of the bushing sleeve; (b) aligning the O-ring engaging member of the driver with the first cylindrical portion at the first end of the bushing sleeve; (c) inserting the O-ring engaging member of the driver into the first cylindrical portion at the first end of the bushing sleeve such that the O-ring engaging member engages the O-ring; (d) advancing the O-ring through the second tapered portion at the second end of the bushing sleeve where the O-ring is compressed; (e) aligning the second end of the bushing sleeve over the dental prosthesis cap; and (f) ejecting the O-ring from the second end of the bushing sleeve and into the dental prosthesis cap.",
    "12. A method of inserting an O-ring into a cap for securing a dental prosthesis to a dental attachment assembly comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a bushing sleeve having a first end, a second end and a bore extending therethrough from the first end to the second end, wherein the bore has an inner surface having a first cylindrical portion at the first end, a second tapered portion at the second end, and an annular inner rib extending radially therefrom the inner surface at the first end; (b) loading and positioning the O-ring into the first end of the bushing sleeve past the annular inner rib which retains the O-ring in the first end of the bushing sleeve; (c) engaging a driver with the first end of the bushing sleeve, wherein the driver comprises a first driving end portion having an O-ring engaging member extending outwardly from the first driving end portion to engage the O-ring positioned in the first end of the bushing sleeve; (d) advancing the O-ring through the bore from the first end towards the second end with the O-ring engaging member whereby the O-ring is compressed and the O-ring engaging member deforms inwardly as the O-ring engaging member moves in a direction from the first end to the second end of the bushing sleeve; (e) aligning the second end of the bushing sleeve over the cap; and (f) ejecting the O-ring from the second end of the bushing sleeve and into the cap."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "An apparatus and method for inserting an O-ring into a cap for securing a dental appliance, for example, via a dental attachment system, in the mouth of a patient.\n\nVarious systems and methods are known for attaching a dental prosthesis, such as a full or partial denture or the like, in the mouth of a patient. Such systems generally comprise mating male and female parts, one of which is attached to the dental prosthesis and the other to an abutment which is mounted at a selected position in the patient's jaw. The abutment may be attached to a root, an endosseous implant, or an adjacent tooth, or in some cases, may be integrated directly into the jaw bone of the patient.\n\nOne known attachment uses an O-ring or plastic ring member which is inserted and retained in a cap which is secured in a recess in a dental prosthesis. The O-ring engages over a ball at the end of an implant abutment or post to releasably secure the denture in place in a patient's mouth. One example of this type of attachment is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,716,030 of Bulard et al. One problem with this type of attachment is the difficulty associated with the initial placement of the O-ring into the cap and the subsequent replacement of the O-ring when it becomes damaged or worn from repeated removal and re-attachment of the denture. The O-ring has to compress evenly as it is inserted into the cap, but it has the tendency to spring back out if this is not done correctly. The dimensions of the O-ring and cap are such that it is very difficult to insert the O-ring by hand or with tweezers, which is the current method.",
  "cpc": [
    "A61C 13/2656",
    "A61C 13/12",
    "A61C 13/265",
    "A61C 3/00",
    "B25B 27/00",
    "B25B 27/0028"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A61C 13/265",
    "B25B 27/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Zest IP Holdings LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Scott Mullaly"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2010-06-24",
  "publication_date": "2015-11-10",
  "grant_date": "2015-11-10",
  "priority_date": "2009-06-24",
  "application_number": "US-82285210-A",
  "family_id": "42790684",
  "cited_by_count": 6,
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}