US 5,782,918 A · 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.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An implant assembly for securing a prosthesis to a bone, comprising:

a. an implant adapted for osseointegration into a bone, having an axial bore and a longitudinal axis;
b. an abutment having a radially resilient inferior end conformingly received within said axial bore, and a central axis;
and
c. means for fixing said abutment within said bore of said implant such that said inferior end is fixed against angular movement and axial displacement within said implant bore upon insertion therein, said fixation means comprising a first surface on an interior surface of said implant bore, a conforming surface feature on an exterior of said inferior end of said abutment cooperatively shaped for engagement with said first feature to prevent relative angular displacement, and wherein said inner surface of said implant bore includes an annular groove and said abutment includes an annular protruding lip engagable with said annular groove to prevent axial relative displacement;
said inferior end includes a frusta-conical portion extending downward from said abutment, said annular protruding lip, and a reduced diameter section connecting said frusta-conical section to said lip.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Implant abutment system

Life of this patent

Implant abutment system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18