Claims
- 1. An assembly for securing a dental implant assembly within a package, comprising:
a collet having an open end for receiving the dental implant assembly and a distal end, the collet comprising at least one lever arm, which defines at least in part, a mating surface; a member that comprises a complementary mating surface, the member and the collet being moveable with respect to each other such that the mating surfaces interact to selectively compress the open end of the collet about the dental implant assembly; and a spacer configured to position the dental implant assembly within the collet.
- 2. The assembly as in claim 1, wherein assembly includes a lower member, which defines a cavity in which the collet is at least partially positioned.
- 3. The assembly as in claim 2, wherein the member includes a threaded portion configured to engaged a threaded portion on the lower member such that tightening the member onto the lower member compresses the open end of the collet.
- 4. The assembly as in claim 1, wherein the member is a sleeve in which the collet is at least partially positioned.
- 5. The assembly as in claim 4, wherein the collect is coupled to a post with a threaded portion, the assembly comprising a distal member that also includes a threaded portion configured to engage the threaded portion of the collet such that tightening the distal member with respect to the sleeve compresses the open end of the collet.
- 6. The assembly as in claim 4, comprising a spring and a base member, which defines a cavity, the spring being positioned between the sleeve and a lower surface of the base member so as to bias the sleeve away from the lower surface such that the sleeve compresses the open end of the collet.
- 7. The assembly as in claim 1, wherein the dental assembly comprises a dental implant having a collar and the spacer is configured such that the open end of the collet only contacts the collar.
- 8. A dental implant assembly retention system, comprising:
a container for the implant assembly, having at least one open end; and at least one retention surface carried by the container, the retention surface movable between a first position in which it engages a dental implant positioned within the container and a second position in which it is disengaged from the implant, to allow the implant to be removed from the container.
- 9. The dental implant assembly retention system as in claim 8, wherein the retention surface is on a movable lever arm.
- 10. The dental implant assembly retention system as in claim 8, wherein the retention surface provides an interference fit with the implant when the retention surface is in the first position.
- 11. The dental implant assembly retention system as in claim 8, wherein the retention surface provides a friction fit with the implant when the retention surface is in the first position.
- 12. The dental implant assembly retention system as in claim 8, further comprising an actuator for moving the retention surface between the first and second positions.
- 13. The dental implant assembly retention system as in claim 12, wherein the retention surface is moveable in a lateral direction in response to axial movement of the actuator.
- 14. The dental implant assembly retention system as in claim 12, wherein the retention surface is moveable in a lateral direction in response to rotation of the actuator about a longitudinal axis of the implant.
- 15. The dental implant assembly retention system as in claim 8, further comprising a spacer configured to position the implant within the container.
- 16. The dental implant assembly retention system as in claim 8, further comprising a spacer configured position the implant within the container such that the retention surface only contacts a collar portion of the implant.
- 17. A dental implant assembly storage system, comprising:
a sterile vial; a holder for the implant assembly, the holder being positioned within the sterile vial and having a retention surface for engaging the implant assembly and means for moving the retention surface between a first position in which it engages a dental implant and a second position in which it is disengaged from the dental implant, to allow the dental implant to be removed from the holder.
- 18. The dental implant assembly as in claim 17, wherein the sterile vial comprises an upper portion and a lower portion.
- 19. The dental implant assembly as in claim 18, wherein the container is positioned substantially within the lower portion.
- 20. The dental implant assembly as in claim 18, wherein the container is secured within the sterile vial between a spacer positioned in the lower portion of the sterile vial and a retaining member positioned on the upper portion sterile vial.
Priority Information
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of Provisional Application 60/347,729 filed Jan. 11, 2002, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60347729 |
Jan 2002 |
US |