University of Connecticut

Other

Martin Allen Freilich

John Robert Kelly

A Jon Goldberg

Douglas J Adams

Jonathan C Meiers

Rebecca Lee Cochrane

Charles J Burstone

Jacqueline P Duncan

Artificial salivary gland devices and assemblies are provided. The present disclosure provides artificial salivary pump/gland devices and assemblies, and related methods of use. One embodiment utilizes the interstitial/marrow fluid reservoir within the underlying mandibular or maxillary bone as a source for replacement saliva. The salivary pump/assembly, which is implantable in the mandibular or maxillary bone as a dental implant and driven by incidental tooth contact and masticatory forces, harvests interstitial/marrow fluid and treats it via semi-permeable membrane technology and soluble particles as a continuously available saliva replacement. Masticatory forces and tooth contact power the pump to both harvest interstitial/marrow fluid and drive flow through a bed of ion-exchange resins and/or soluble particles to adjust fluid chemistry providing a continuously available saliva-like solution. Exemplary devices and assemblies can also be utilized to introduce beneficial bacteria into the oral cavity and/or be utilized as a delivery system for drugs/therapeutic agents.

Artificial salivary gland

A structural/biological implant and method of use. The implant being utilized as a single or multiple staged system that is designed to encourage new alveolar bone growth with or without the need to obtain autologous bone. The implant has an apical portion that is fastened into existing bone, with the remainder of the implant left outside of existing bone. The exposed portion of the implant may have an external shape or configuration with a variety of attached and/or integrally formed mechanical retention and stability elements. Osteotropic/angiotropic material may be associated with the implant to induce and or conduct new bone growth and possible vascularization, thus, rather than fitting the implant into the bone, the bone is grown integratively with the implant.

Structural/biological implant system

An implant system including a substructure, a suprastructure, abutments and an implant. The suprastructure is preferably fabricated of a light polymerized resin material having reinforcements such as fibers or fillers. The suprastructure is fabricated before the substructure. The use of resin materials that exhibit less shrinkage and the fact that the process begins with the suprastructure fabrication prevents distortion of the prosthesis when the suprastructure is bonded to the substructure and placed in the patient's mouth. Additionally, the method involved in making this implant system provides a prosthesis that is available to the patient almost immediately after surgery.

Immediate implant system

A structural/biological implant and method of use. The implant being utilized as a single or multiple staged system that is designed to encourage new alveolar bone growth with or without the need to obtain autologous bone. The implant has an apical portion that is fastened into existing bone, with the remainder of the implant left outside of existing bone. The exposed portion of the implant may have an external shape or configuration with a variety of attached and/or integrally formed mechanical retention and stability elements. Osteotropic/angiotropic material may be associated with the implant to induce and or conduct new bone growth and possible vascularization, thus, rather than fitting the implant into the bone, the bone is grown integratively with the implant. The osteotropic/angiotropic materials may be simultaneously placed with the staged implant to provide consistent stabilization for the materials and to provide an immediately available surface for bone cell adhesion and growth. The invention thus allows implants to be used in location where the volume and/or shape of the bone would not be adequate for existing implant systems.

An implant system may comprise implants, abutments, cylinders and a structural framework with a veneer thereon. A prosthesis comprises the structural framework and veneer. The cylinders are provided with grooves or shelves thereon to retain a structural framework thereon. The structural framework may comprise fiber reinforced composite material which is disposed on and around the cylinders to provide the framework for a prosthesis. Abutments are provided for single or small implant systems wherein the abutments comprise mechanical retentive features such as grooves, holes, nodules or beads thereon for retaining polymeric material thereon.

Implant system

Ready-to-use preshaped, prefabricated cured components and hybrid components are prepared in a variety of shapes and sizes to be used in the fabrication of dental appliances. Preferably the structural components are fabricated of a fiber-reinforced composite material comprising fibers impregnated with a polymeric matrix. The polymeric matrix is partially or fully cured to the point of sufficient hardness to provide a ready-to-use structural component for use in the fabrication of dental appliances such as The component of claim 1 wherein the dental appliance system is selected from the group consisting of orthodontic retainers, bridges, space maintainers, tooth replacement appliances, splints, crowns, partial crowns, dentures, posts, teeth, jackets, inlays, onlays, facings, veneers, facets, implants, cylinders, abutments, pins and connectors. Hybrid components comprise two or more sections whereby at least one section is cured and at least one section is uncured to facilitate indirect and direct application of the component in the fabrication of a dental restoration.

Growing community of inventors

West Hartford, CT, United States of America

Martin Allen Freilich