Abstract:
An ankylos attachment (AA) comprising a transitional adapter at coronal end for serving as an impression coping, temporary/permanent attachment. A threaded retentive shank (TRS) comprises a bolt which is designed to insert through the AA into the dental implant. 
     The new design of the AAC is compelling because it can reduce cost, improve patient comfort and reduce clinical chair time/treatment time. In addition, AAC can be utilized to facilitate CAD/CAM technique which can largely shorten the period of fabrication of dental restoration. As a result, the final restoration can be finished and delivered in a couple of hours comparing to six to twelve weeks when the restoration is done in traditional way.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to (1) an Ankylos Attachment (AA), particularly to the AA having (a) a transitional adapter and (b) an ankylos attachment body with interior (triangular, square, pentagonal or hexagonal) slots for a driver to place a dental implant and the AA simultaneously, (2) a Threaded Retentive Shank (TRS) for making an impression immediately after implant surgery. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Arts 
         [0004]    Traditionally, a dental implant is placed by implant driver. A healing period of four to six months is required for healing and osseointegration. However, the new dental implant protocol can include immediate placement and immediate loading. The treatment can be finished in a very short period of time. Many cases can be finished in a couple of hours, such as teeth in a hour. Therefore, the present invention of AAC is introduced for immediate final impression after dental implant placement to facilitate the making of final restoration. In addition, AAC can be utilized to facilitate a Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technique which can largely shorten the period of fabrication of dental restoration. In other words, the AAC can be scanned by a CAD/CAM scanner. The data can be transferred to a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine. As a result, the final restoration can be finished and delivered in a couple of hours. 
         [0005]    Traditionally, the process takes six to twelve weeks to complete a dental restoration. With the assistance of the present invention and CAD/CAM technique, time and cost of making a final restoration can be reduced dramatically. By utilizing of the AAC, billions of dollars can be saved in dentistry, patient comfort can be gigantically improved and patient satisfaction enhanced. 
         [0006]    The concept of CAD/CAM dentistry differs from conventional dentistry in that the prosthesis is typically bonded in place the same day, whereas conventional dental prosthesis such as crowns have temporaries placed for several weeks or months while a dental laboratory produces the restoration off-site. The patient returns weeks or months later, the temporary is removed, and then the laboratory made crown is then cemented or bonded in place. Because the CAD/CAM restoration can be finished in the same day, dentists are allowed to deliver final restoration in the same day. 
         [0007]    The new design of the AAC is compelling because it can reduce cost, improve patient comfort and reduce clinical chair time/treatment time. The present invention which is a new design can be used as a transitional adapter, impression copping, provisional attachment and/or permanent attachment. In other word, a device can be used for four purposes. This new design includes an AA and a TRS. The TRS can be placed on the top of the newly designed AA to secure the AA immediately after the dental implant placed and impression can be made immediately after the dental implant surgery without waiting period to facilitate an immediate loading of restoration. Patients can receive the benefits of chewing function and esthetics, immediately after the dental implant surgery, without a waiting period of three to six months. 
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0008]    A main object of the present invention is to provide an AA which is cost effective and is less expensive. 
         [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an AA which reduces time of treatment (chair time). 
         [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an AA which reduces waiting period of treatment (three to six months). 
         [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an AA which improves scanning accuracy during application of CAD/CAM technique. 
         [0012]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an AA which can improve clinical convenience. (It is difficult to seat impression copping immediately after the dental implant surgery due to bleeding) 
         [0013]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an AA which can reduce office visits. 
         [0014]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an AA which facilitates/speeds the process of immediate loading for function and esthetic reasons. 
         [0015]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an AA which can increase patient comfort. 
         [0016]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a TRS which can be used in an open-tray technique for making an immediate final impression. 
         [0017]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a TRS which is cost effective and is less expensive. 
         [0018]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a TRS which reduces time of treatment (chair time). 
         [0019]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a TRS which can improve clinical convenience. (It is difficult to seat impression copping immediately after a dental implant surgery due to bleeding) 
         [0020]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a TRS for making an impression immediately after the dental implant surgery. 
         [0021]    Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides an Ankylos Attachment (AA) and a threaded retentive shank (TRS), comprising: 
         [0022]    a transitional adapter serves as an impression coping which consists of; 
         [0023]    two small flat facets of the transitional adapter for providing an anti-rotation feature and increasing scanning accuracy of CAD/CAM technique; 
         [0024]    a circumferential groove of the AA; 
         [0025]    an ankylos attachment body; two lower flat facets of the ankylos attachment body for providing an anti-rotation feature and increasing scanning accuracy of CAD/CAM technique; 
         [0026]    a shoulder of the ankylos attachment body; 
         [0027]    a circumferential curvature of the ankylos attachment body; 
         [0028]    a connector for internally connecting to the dental implant; 
         [0029]    three engaging jaws protruded from the connector for inserting and engaging in the internal channel of the dental implant; 
         [0030]    an interior hexagonal (or triangular, square, pentagonal) slot for receiving a hexagonal (or triangular, square, pentagonal) driver; 
         [0031]    a cylinder head of the TRS; 
         [0032]    a bolt of the TRS; 
         [0033]    an apical end of the TRS for inserting into the AA and the dental implant; securing the AA and the dental implant; 
         [0034]    These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0035]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an ankylos attachment (AA) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the AA according to above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 3  is a section view of the alternative mode of the AA according to above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the threaded retentive shank (TRS) according to above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view illustrating a dental implant, an AA and a TRS for securing the AA with the dental implant according to above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 6  is a connected view illustrating a dental implant, an AA and a TRS for securing the AA with the dental implant according to above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the TRS according to above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0042]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view illustrating a dental implant, an AA and a TRS for securing the AA with the dental implant according to above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0043]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3  of the drawings, an ankylos attachment (AA)  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the AA  10  comprises a transitional adapter  12 , which is a metal collar at a coronal end  11  for receiving a driver, an ankylos attachment body  14  and a connector  15 , which is a cylinder body  153 , for internally connecting to a dental implant  70  through a threaded retentive shank (TRS)  90 . The TRS  90  is used to secure the AA  10  and the dental implant  70  in an open-tray technique for making an immediate final impression. 
         [0044]    The AA  10  is designed to facilitate a Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technique which can largely shorten the period of fabrication of dental restoration. In other words, the structure of the newly designed AA  10  can enhance scanning accuracy of a CAD/CAM scanner. The data can then be transferred to a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine. As a result, comparing to six to twelve weeks to complete a dental restoration in a traditional way, the final restoration can be finished and delivered in a couple of hours. 
         [0045]    The ankylos attachment body  14  is located between transitional adapter  12  at coronal end and the connector  15  at apical end of AA. It comprised a tapered cylinder body  140 , two lower flat facets  141 , a shoulder  142  and a semi-circular tapered shoulder  143 . 
         [0046]    The transitional adapter  12  is a 2.5 to 7.5 mm in length coronal extension/metal collar delineated from the ankylos attachment body  14  separated by a circumferential groove  13 . The transitional adapter  12  is designed to extend the AAC  10  with the addition of the threaded retentive shank (TRS)  90  to serve as an impression coping for open tray technique. The ankylos attachment body  14  can be used as a temporary/permanent attachment after the transitional adapter  12  is removed by a lab disk. The circumferential groove  13  is also designed to serve as an impression coping retentive feature. As illustrated in the cross sectional view of  FIG. 2 , a driven channel  112  of the coronal end  11  of the AA  10  is designed to receive a driver of corresponding shape. 
         [0047]    The transitional adapter  12  has four upper flat facets  121 , located at opposite sides of the transitional adapter  12 , extending between the coronal end  11  and the circumferential groove  13 . The ankylos attachment body  14  has a tapered cylinder body  140  with two lower flat facets  141 , located at opposite sides of the ankylos attachment body  14 , extending between the circumferential groove  13  and the shoulder  142 . The tapered cylinder body has an angle of 3° to 5° to the longitudinal axis of AA. The upper flat facets  121  and the lower flat facets  141  enable the AA  10  to provide an anti-rotation feature for crown restoration. 
         [0048]    The transitional adapter  12  is consisted of an upper portion  123 , a lower portion  124  and a circumferential ditch  122 . The upper portion  123  which is 2 mm to 4 mm in longitudinal length is located adjacent to the coronal end  11 . The lower portion is located between the circumferential groove  13  and the circumferential ditch  122 . The circumferential ditch  122  provides additional retention during impression. 
         [0049]    The circumferential ditch  122  and the circumferential groove  13  not only perform as retentive features during impression, but also facilitate and enhance scanning accuracy while applying CAD/CAM technique by allowing scanning wave pass through both circumferential ditch  122  and the circumferential groove  13  easily. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the AA  10  has a shoulder  142  on the ankylos attachment body  14 . The shoulder  142  is designed to seat the margin of a crown restoration. A circumferential curvature  143  is apically located between shoulder  142  and connector  15 , consisting a semi-circular surface extending inwardly from shoulder  142  to said connector  15 , having an angle of 0° to 15° to the longitudinal axis of AA  10 . 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the connector  15  is a male portion for internally connecting to the dental implant  70 . The connector  15  is designed to be inserted into the dental implant  70  and the connector  15  fits into internal channel  71  of the dental implant  70 . The diameter of the ankylos attachment body  14  and the connector  15  varies according to different sizes of the dental implant  70 . 
         [0052]    The connector  15  has three engaging jaws  152  protruding from the connector  15 . Each of jaw  152  has two stairs  151 . The three jaws  152  of the connector  15  are located between the circumferential curvature  143  and a cylinder body  153  of the connector  15  and are located 120° apart from each other and adapted to engage the internal channel  71  in the dental implant  70 . The jaws  152  are designed to provide anti-rotation and friction to stabilize the AA  10  with the dental implant  70  by inserting into the female slots of the dental implant  70 . When the engaging jaws  152  are inserted and engaged in the internal channel  71  of the dental implant  70 , the position of the AA  10  is secured and the rotation of the AA  10  is prevented. 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 8 , the AA  10  is fastened onto the dental implant  70  through the TRS  90 . The AA has a through hole  16  communicating the internal channel  71  of the dental implant  70 . The through hole  16  comprises an interior thread  161 . The interior thread  161  is designed to allow the apical thread  951  of the TRS  90  to pass through and the apical thread  951  can then engage with the dental implant  70  and secure the AA  10  onto the dental implant  70 . 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  of the drawings, an interior hexagonal (triangular, square or pentagonal) slot  111  located at the internal wall of the AA  10  is designed to receive the hexagonal (triangular, square or pentagonal) driver. The length of the slot  111  can rang from 4.5 mm to 8.5 mm. 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 to 8  of the drawings, the threaded retentive shank (TRS)  90 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is illustrated, wherein the TRS  90  comprises a bolt  94 , which is a cylinder body, an apical end  95  consisting apical thread  951  adjacent to bolt  94  for inserting through the AA  10  into the dental implant  70 , a shank  93  which is a cylinder body and a cylinder head  92  for providing additional retentive feature for the AA  10  to serve as an impression coping. 
         [0056]    After the dental implant  70  is placed, the TRS  90  is used to connect and fasten the AA  10  onto the dental implant  70 . The cylinder head  92  of the TRS  90  remains atop of the driven channel  112  of the AA  10 . 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 to 7 , the cylinder head  92  of the shank  93  comprises a cylinder head  92 , and a hexagonal concavity  91 . The cylinder head  92  comprises a step  921  adjacent to the shank  93  which allows the cylinder head  90  of the TRS  90  sit on the AA  10  and prevents AA  10  from movement of any direction. 
         [0058]    The cylinder head  92  has a cylinder shape and is larger in diameter than the adjacent shank  93 . In other words, there is a step  921  located between the cylinder head  92  and shank  93 . During the utilization of open tray technique, the step can dramatically increase the stability of AA  10 , and cylinder head, which is larger in diameter, makes it more convenient for dentists to locate its position. 
         [0059]    In summary, the ankylos attachment complex  1  (AAC) which includes the ankylos attachment  10  (AA) and threaded retentive shank  90  (TRS) is specifically designed for the purpose of immediate implant placement, immediate impression and to enhance the accuracy of CAM/CAM technique. The new design employs several modern concepts in order not only to enhance the primary stability but also to provide multiple applications of an implant fixture mount. Utilizing the new designed AA  10  coupled with the TRS  90 , the clinician can use closed tray technique or open tray technique to take an immediate final impression right after implant placement. Otherwise clinician can use CAD/CAM technique right after implant placement to scan patient&#39;s mouth and fabricate final restoration with CNC milling machine in which case the definitive prosthesis can be delivered within the same day. Alternatively, an acrylic shell can be fabricated before the surgery and a provisional prosthesis can be fabricated and placed on the modified AA  10  to be used as a temporary abutment at chair side right after the dental implant placement. The AA  10  can also be modified and used as a permanent attachment. 
         [0060]    One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting. 
         [0061]    It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.