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  Dental tool with retentive featureRelated Patent Categories: Dentistry, Apparatus, Hand Manipulatable ImplementDental tool with retentive feature description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20050266379, Dental tool with retentive feature. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/385,803 filed Jun. 4, 2002. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of dental implantogy and, more specifically, to an apparatus for safely and effectively carrying and then driving a dental implant in a prepared surgical site. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In order to install a dental implant into the jawbone of a patient, the gingival tissue is incised and the bone is exposed. A series of drills are then used to form a cylindrical bore (referred as the osteotomy) in the bone. Once the osteotomy is prepared, the distal end of the implant is positioned in the bore, and a powered or manual driving tool is used to rotate and drive the implant into the osteotomy. The driving tool includes an end portion that is configured to matingly engage the end of the implant. [0004] In some instances, a fixture mount is attached to the top of the implant with a retaining screw. The fixture mount serves as an intermediate member between the implant and driving tool. The driving tool directly engages the fixture mount and imparts torque to it to drive the implant. [0005] The connection between the driving tool and the implant or fixture mount has several disadvantages. Often, this connection is not consistent or reliable, and the implant can loosen from the driving tool and fall off. In such a situation, the implant can be ingested or contaminated. [0006] In some instances, a frictional fit holds the driving tool to the implant or fixture mount. The end of the driving tool may be tapered and pressed into a cavity at the coronal end of the implant to hold and drive the implant. This frictional fit, however, may wear with use and does not have even retentive forces. Further, the tight fit between the end of the driving tool and implant can deform and damage the internal cavity of the implant. [0007] If the connection between the driving tool and implant or fixture mount is not consistent and reliable, then other problems may occur as well. For example, the posterior maxilla can have soft bone. If the connection between the driving tool and implant is too strong, then the implant can be moved or otherwise disturbed while the tool disengages from the implant. Such movement can interfere with the proper placement and location of the implant. [0008] It would be advantageous to have dental driving that connected to the implant or fixture mount and eliminated the disadvantages of prior connections. BRIEF SUMMARY OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION [0009] The present invention is directed toward a dental driving tool adapted to engage, carry, and drive a dental implant and dental fixture mount into the jawbone of a patient. The driving tool has a body that extends from a proximal portion to a distal portion. The distal portion has a retention mechanism that includes a housing having a biasing member and locking member located in the housing. Preferably, the housing includes an axial or radial bore that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the body. The biasing member biases the locking member to slideably move in an axial or radial direction in the bore. The locking member may be formed as a ball, pin, cylinder, or the like; and the biasing member may be formed as a spring. [0010] One advantage of the present invention is that the connection between the driving tool and the implant is consistent and reliable. As such, the likelihood that the implant will loosen from the driving tool and fall off is reduced. [0011] The connection between the driving tool and implant is not based on a frictional taper fit but on a retention mechanism having an active or moveable locking member and biasing member. This retention mechanism will not damage the internal cavity of the implant or leave micro-fragments or residuals from the end of the driving tool. [0012] Further, the retention mechanism and corresponding connection with the implant or fixture mount provides consistent tactile feedback while the dental driving tool disengages from the implant. A minimal or predictable amount of force is required to perform this disengagement. As such, any interference with the proper placement and location of the implant is greatly reduced, especially when the implant is placed in soft, cortical bone. [0013] Accordingly, the present invention comprises a combination of features and advantages that overcome various problems, deficiencies, or shortcomings associated with prior devices. The various features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon referring to the accompanying drawings and reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] For a more detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled dental drive tool made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0016] FIG. 2 is a solid view of an unassembled dental drive tool shown in FIG. 1. [0017] FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partial perspective view of the distal end of the drive tool of FIG. 1. [0018] FIG. 4 is a side view of a vial, implant, and drive tool. [0019] FIG. 5 is a partial, cross-sectional of the connection between the distal end of the drive tool and the coronal end of the implant of FIG. 4. Continue reading about Dental tool with retentive feature... Full patent description for Dental tool with retentive feature Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Dental tool with retentive feature patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Dental tool with retentive feature or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Two and three dimensional rubber dams configured for conventional and general field isolation by prior art and novel methods Next Patent Application: Abutment screw with spring-washer Industry Class: Dentistry ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Dental tool with retentive feature patent info. 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