Implant torque wrench

A manually operated dental implant torque wrench for screwing dental implant components to an adjustable torque setting, comprising:

• (a) an elongated shaft assembly having a first shaft end and a second shaft end;
• (b) manually operable control means connected to the first shaft end of the elongated shaft assembly for rotating the elongated shaft assembly;
• (c) an angled housing assembly having a passageway extending from a first open end of the angled housing assembly to a second open end of the angled housing assembly, the angled housing assembly having a first portion and a second portion in an angled relationship to the first portion;
• (d) drive means extending within the passageway and operatively connected to the elongated shaft assembly for transferring rotational forces from the elongated shaft assembly to a receptacle end rotatably mounted to the second open end, the receptacle end being adapted for attaching a dental tool thereto;
• and
• (e) means connected to the elongated shaft assembly for disengaging the elongated shaft assembly from rotation of the drive means when rotation of the elongated shaft assembly has reached an adjustable predetermined torque setting, said means being positioned remote from the second open end of the angled housing assembly.

A manually operated dental implant torque wrench comprising in combination:

• (a) an elongated shaft assembly having a first shaft end and a second shaft end, the elongated shaft assembly having a first shaft member and a second shaft member operatively connected to one another;
• (b) manually operable control means connected to the first shaft end of the elongated shaft assembly for rotating the elongated shaft assembly;
• (c) an angled housing assembly having a passageway extending from a first open end of the angled housing assembly to a second open end of the angled housing assembly, the angled housing assembly having a first portion and a second portion in an angled relationship to the first portion, the second portion of the angled housing assembly being sized for placement of a receptacle end in approximate proximity to a rear most portion of a patient's mouth, and means connected to the angled housing assembly for adjustably holding the second portion of the angled housing assembly in varied rotational relationship to the first portion;
• (d) drive means extending within the passageway and operatively connected to the elongated shaft assembly for transferring rotational forces from the elongated shaft assembly to the receptacle end rotatably mounted to the second open end, the receptacle end being adapted for attaching a dental tool thereto;
• and
• (e) adjustable torque limiting means connected to the elongated shaft assembly for disengaging the elongated shaft assembly from rotation of the drive means when rotation of the elongated shaft assembly has reached an adjustable predetermined torque setting, the adjustable torque limiting means being positioned remote from the second open end of the angled housing assembly, the adjustable torque limiting means including a first gear connected in axial alignment to the first shaft member of the elongated shaft assembly, a second gear connected in axial alignment to the second shaft member of the elongated shaft assembly, the first gear and the second gear each having a set of gear teeth matingly engageable with one another, and tension means for holding the first gear and the second gear in mated engagement for rotation with one another up to a predetermined torque setting.