OR MULTIPLE IMPLANTS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of dental implantology, and in particular to components known as transfer elements (or cylinders), otherwise known as transfer or transfert, and in particular to components which can be used for different typologies of prothesis.

PRIOR ART

Components adapted to serve as transfer cylinder are known in the art. More in detail, such elements are made in one piece and have a generally cylindrical shaped body or the like and an insertion head adapted to be inserted into the connection of the dental endosseous implant. Such an insertion head takes different shapes. In particular it takes a shape having generally rotational circular section in case the prothesis is multiple, that is in the event the prothesis realization is provided for replacing several dental elements anchored to several endosseous implants. In case of single prothesis, or rather of realizing a single prothesis having a single tooth or pillar, otherwise known as abutment, the transfer cylinders have a generally polygonal shaped, that is to say anti rotational, head.

As a result two different typologies of transfer cylinders for dental implants are commercially available.

US 2011/0306014 describes an insertion cylinder having one polygonal section insertion head for the use with single protheses. The transfer cylinder herein described can not be therefore used in multiple protheses, where the use of circular section insertion heads is usual.

US 4.758.161 describes a transfer cylinder having a circular section insertion shaft, which can be shortened to modify the prothesis length. In some embodiments the insertion shaft is composed by two portions with both circular section with different diameter, and adapted to couple with relevant anchoring means of the implant having sizes complementary to the portions themselves.

Due to the circular section insertion portion, such a transfer cylinder becomes unsuitable for the use in single protheses, since the circular section insertion portion would not resist to the rotation of the prothesis itself within the seat thereof.

Object of the present invention is to implement a transfer cylinder for dental implants, usable for both single prothesis and multiple prothesis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This and further objects are reached by the present invention by implementing a transfer cylinder, a breaking spanner and a medical kit according to the appended claims.

In particular, according to the present invention, a transfer cylinder for dental implant is realized in one piece, has a body and an insertion portion, and the insertion portion is composed of a first head element joined with the body, and at least one second head element joined sequentially to the first head element. In particular, the at least one second head element is separable from the first head element; in addition the first head element has a circular section, whereas the at least one second head element has a polygonal section, or vice versa.

Therefore the transfer cylinder has sequentially both the typologies of insertion heads, that is to say for single or multiple prothesis, whereby the user, before inserting the component into the implant, can adapt such a component to the situation of use.

The user, before the use, can select whether to keep the head element outside, or else he/ she can remove said outer head element so to use one of the underlying head elements. In particular, in order to carry out such a removal, various methods can be used, for example by cutting, sawing or preferably an appropriately shaped outer spanner or lever is used.

In particular, a breaking spanner, according to an aspect of the present invention, has a grip portion and an engaging portion, adapted to cooperate with an opening of one head portion of the transfer cylinder, so as to cause the parting of the head portion from the body of said transfer cylinder.

According to an aspect of the present invention the transfer cylinder for dental implants is made of metallic material. Said metallic material is preferably titanium or titanium alloy.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more evident from the following description, made for illustration purposes only and without limitation, with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the transfer cylinder for dental implants of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the transfer cylinder for dental implants of figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a view of a spanner for separating the outer head element;

Figures 4a - 4b are sequential views of the steps for separating the outer head element.

Detailed description of the figures

Referring to figures, a transfer cylinder 1 for dental implants, hereinafter simply cylinder 1, is made in one piece and has a body 2 and an insertion portion 3. In particular the insertion portion 3 is composed of a first head element 3a joined with the body 2, and at least one second head element 3b sequentially joined to said first head element 3a. The at least one second head element 3b is separable from said first head element 3 a. The cylinder 1 is generally made of metallic material. In particular recent studies demonstrated the validity of titanium in the field of dental implants, due to its biocompatibility features.

However the implementation of the cylinder 1 in other materials is contemplated and falls within the protection scope of the present invention, and in particular the transfer cylinder according to an aspect of the present invention is made of generic sanitary material.

The body 2 of the cylinder 1 has a section having the two dimensions substantially of the same order of magnitude, whereas the height of said body has a size significantly larger than the section sizes. A characteristic embodiment, shown in figures, for the body 2 of the cylinder 1 is the hollow cylindrical shape.

The body 2 can have a plurality of notches 4, adapted to facilitate the shortening of the cylinder 1 after the insertion into the implant, so to adapt the component itself to the length as required by the case. An alternative embodiment, not shown in figures, provides the body 2 of the cylinder 1 being threaded to facilitate the future insertion into the prothesis structure. Generally the body 2 of the cylinder 1 is adapted to couple with the frame of the future prothesis, according to known methods.

In the embodiment shown in figures, the insertion portion 3 is composed of a first head element 3 a and a second head element 3b. In particular the first head element 3 a is joined with the body 2 of the cylinder 1 and it is shaped for the use in multiple protheses. As above mentioned, the preferential shape of an insertion head for multiple prothesis, that is for prothesis of several teeth, has a genetically circular section. Between the body 2 of the cylinder 1 and the first insertion head 3a a parting plate 5a, adapted to delimit the two said elements, is present.

As visible from the broken line in figure 2, the first insertion head is hollow as well. Sequentially to the first head element 3a, the embodiment shown in figures has a second head element 3b. The second head element 3b is shaped for the use in single protheses, that is for prothesis on one implant. In particular, as above mentioned, the second head element 3b has a generically polygonal section.

The second head element is hollow as well, such that the assembly of the body 2 and the head elements 3 a, 3b is crossed by a through hole, such to allow the insertion through the transfer cylinder 1 of a fastening screw, not shown in figures, securing said transfer cylinder 1 into the connection of the dental implant.

In particular said through hole open onto the second head element at an opening 6.

Between the first head element 3 a and the second head element 3b a parting plate 5b, similar to the above described parting plate 5a, is present.

Various embodiments, not shown in the figures, are possible for the insertion portion

3.

For example the sequence of the head elements can be changed, whereby the head element configured for single protheses is placed outside, whereas the head element for multiple protheses is placed inside. Alternatively a larger number of second insertion heads 3b can be provided, so to fit to the different typologies of implants, increasing the compatibility of the transfer cylinder 1 with respect to the existing implants.

In general a generic transfer cylinder 1 having two or more sequential head elements 3a, 3b falls within the protection scope of the present invention.

Typically, a transfer cylinder 1 according to the present invention is implemented in two steps. Firstly the outer shape is defined by machining a metal bar at a CNC lathe, and then the piece surface is refined by tumbling.

The at least one second head element 3b can be separated from the lower element by various techniques, such as cutting, sawing or by the use of spanners or levers. In particular in figure 3 a breaking spanner 7 adapted to be used with a cylinder 1 according to the present invention is shown, shaped so to allow the user to separate the outer head element from the underlying element. The breaking spanner 7, hereinafter simply spanner 7, is composed of a widened portion with ergonomic shape serving as a grip. In particular, in the embodiment shown, the grip portion 8 has a cylindrical shape, having a dome shaped base 9, so to avoid the presence of sharp corners and make the grip more comfortable for the user. The head portion 10 of the spanner 7 is dome shaped as well, and an engaging portion 11 protrudes therefrom, in the particular embodiment shown composed of a lever element 11 adapted to be inserted into the opening 6 of the second head element 3b.

The method for separating the second head element 3b from the cylinder 1 is shown in figures 4a-4b.

Firstly the breaking spanner 7 is inserted into the transfer cylinder 1 , that is the lever element 11 is introduced into the opening 6 of the second head element 3b, according to the direction Dl indicated by the arrow in figure 4a.

Upon rotation of the spanner 7, according to the arrow D2 in figure 4b, the parting of the second head element 3b from the rest of the cylinder occurs.

In particular the cylinder 1 is preferably provided with a area with reduced thickness placed beneath the parting plate 5b, so to ensure an effective parting of the second head element 3b, still providing a sufficient strength of the transfer cylinder 1, in case of use of the latter in the event of no removal of any head element.

The spanner 7 is made of a material having mechanical characteristics able to allow the parting of the second head element 3b from the cylinder 1 without the occurrence of any deformation of the spanner 7 itself, such that the latter can be used in future with further transfer cylinders 1.

A medical kit according to an aspect of the present invention has a plurality of transfer cylinders 1 and a breaking spanner 7 as above described, and thus provides the user with the necessary for the treatment of different types of dental implants. One or more auxiliary spanner 7 can be provided in the medical kit, to obviate to an undesired damage of the first spanner.