Rodo Medical, Inc.

Young Seo

Jong Gil Park

Victor Chechelski

Jianhua Yang

Apparatus and methods for adjustably retaining an oral appliance to an abutment assembly are disclosed. In one variation, a securement apparatus can comprise a sleeve having a sleeve frame and a number of locking flaps. The sleeve can define a lumen therethrough for positioning upon an abutment assembly. The locking flaps can have varying length dimensions and can project radially inward or outward relative to the sleeve frame. The outward flaps can lock against surface features defined along an inner surface of a coping coupled to the oral appliance and the inward flaps can lock against surface features defined along a portion of the abutment assembly. The sleeve can release the oral appliance from the abutment assembly when the locking flaps of the sleeve are actuated by an actuation unit.

Removable and adjustable abutment devices and methods of operation thereof

Dental retention systems which facilitate the adjustment or removal of an oral appliance, e.g., a crown or bridge, from a reconfigurable abutment assembly are described. The adjustable abutment assembly may be secured to an anchoring implant bored into the bones within the mouth. The abutment assembly has a projecting abutment portion with one or more shape memory alloy compression plates or elements extending along the projecting abutment portion. Each of the plates has a length with one or more straightened portions and with at least one curved or arcuate portion. Energy may be applied to the elements such that the arcuate portion self-flattens to allow for the oral appliance to be placed thereupon while removal of the energy allows the elements to reconfigure into its curved configuration thereby locking the oral appliance to the abutment. Removal of the oral appliance may be effected by reapplication of energy to the elements.

Dental retention systems

Root canal abutment devices and methods which facilitate the adjustment or removal of an oral appliance, e.g., a crown or bridge, from a reconfigurable abutment assembly are described. The adjustable abutment assembly may be secured within a pulp chamber of a pre-existing tooth. The abutment assembly has a projecting abutment portion with one or more shape memory alloy sleeves or plates or elements extending along the abutment. Each of the sleeves has a length with at least one curved or arcuate portion. Energy may be applied to the elements such that the arcuate portion flattens to allow for the oral appliance to be placed thereupon while removal of the energy allows the elements to reconfigure into its curved configuration thereby locking the oral appliance to the abutment. Removal of the oral appliance may be effected by reapplication of energy to the elements.

Dental prostheses devices and methods

Abutment devices and methods for natural teeth

Shape memory dental retention systems which facilitate the adjustment or removal of an oral appliance, e.g., a crown or bridge, from a reconfigurable abutment assembly are described. The adjustable abutment assembly may be secured to an anchoring implant bored into the bones within the mouth. The abutment assembly has a projecting abutment portion with one or more shape memory material sleeves or plates or elements extending along the abutment. Each of the sleeves has a length with at least one curved or arcuate portion. Energy may be applied to the elements such that the arcuate portion flattens to allow for the oral appliance to be placed thereupon while removal of the energy allows the elements to reconfigure into its curved configuration thereby locking the oral appliance to the abutment. Removal of the oral appliance may be effected by reapplication of energy to the elements.

Shape memory dental retention systems

Oral appliance activation devices and methods which are used to facilitate the securement, adjustment, or removal of an oral appliance, e.g., a crown or bridge, from a reconfigurable abutment assembly are described. The adjustable abutment assembly may be secured to an anchoring implant bored into the bones within the mouth. The abutment assembly has a projecting abutment portion with one or more shape memory alloy elements extending along the projecting abutment portion. Energy may be applied to the elements via the activation devices directly over or adjacent to the oral appliance to actuate the elements and thereby either secure or loosen the oral appliance relative to the abutment.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Young Seo