Implant abutment system

Abstract

An implant abutment system uses a combination of an implant anchor, an abutment having a plurality of connection features for connecting to the implant, and a locking pin for locking the abutment into the implant. The implant anchor includes an axial bore on a superior end having inner surface features matching outer surface features of the inferior end of the abutment. The cooperative operation of these features prevents abutment rotation once the abutment is positioned within the implant and also provides indexability for angled abutments. Such anti-rotation features are accomplished with matching splines and flutes machined on the cooperative surfaces between the abutment exterior and the implant bore inner surface. The invention also provides a retention feature for locking the abutment into the implant consisting of a resilient segmented end having a retention surface positioned to match a cooperatively formed surface in the implant bore. Upon full insertion of the abutment into the implant bore, the segmented end snap-fits into the implant bore, thereby mating the retention surfaces. The abutment also has an axial bore which allows a locking pin to be threadedly inserted into the abutment bore. Upon full insertion into the abutment bore, the segmented end radial movement of the segments is prevented, thereby locking the abutment within the implant. The combination of cooperatively mated surface features on the abutment and implant prevents any possibility of axial, lateral, or rotational movement of the abutment relative to the implant, and resists torsional loading and the associated problems of such loading such as increased prosthetic maintenance and catastrophic implant failure.