Medical implant package

Abstract

A medical implant package including a vial and a cap connected by a hinge. The vial includes a cavity for housing at least a portion of a dental implant. To access the implant, the cap is rotated about the hinge from a closed position to an open position. The cap defines a second cavity, separate from the vial cavity, sized to contain a healing screw. In one embodiment, the cap includes two portions connected by a living hinge which define the second cavity. The two cap portions, when moved relative to each other via the living hinge, permit access to the healing screw. In an alternative embodiment, the cap includes two retention members sized and configured to grip the healing screw. To remove the healing screw from the cap, the two retention members are displaced apart from each other by engaging them with a wedge extending from the vial.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dental implant package having a cap and a vial in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dental implant package of FIG. 1 where the cap has been rotated with respect to the vial via a hinge to an open position;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the dental implant package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a dental implant package having a cap and a vial in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the dental implant package of FIG. 4 where the cap has been rotated with respect to the vial via a hinge to an open position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the dental implant package of FIG. 4 where a compartment within the cap has been rotated with respect to the housing of the cap to an access position;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a dental implant package cap having first and second portions connected via a living hinge in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the cap of FIG. 7 where the second portion has been rotated with respect to the first portion via the living hinge to an access position;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a dental implant package in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a dental implant package in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a dental implant package in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the dental implant package of FIG. 11, an outer package, and a container for housing the dental implant package;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the dental implant package of FIG. 11 positioned within the outer package and container;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a dental implant package in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is an end view of the sleeve of the dental implant package of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view of a dental implant package in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view of a dental implant package having a vial and a sleeve for holding a dental implant in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is an end view of the dental implant package of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is an end view of the dental implant package of FIG. 17 where the sleeve has been rotated with respect to the vial to allow the implant to be removed;

FIG. 20 is an exploded view of a dental implant package in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the dental implant package of FIG. 20.

Claims

1. A dental implant package assembly, comprising: a container having a cavity, said cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a dental implant;a cap fitted to said container, said cap having a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a healing screw, said cap including relatively rotatable first and second portions at least partially defining said cavity, wherein relative rotation of said first and second portions provides access to said cavity.

2. The dental implant package assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second portions are connected via a hinge portion.

3. The dental implant package assembly of claim 1, wherein said second portion includes a drawer rotatably mounted to said cap.

4. The dental implant package assembly of claim 3, wherein one of said first portion and said drawer has a projection and the other of said first portion and said drawer has a recess for receiving said projection, and wherein the engagement of said recess and said projection defines an axis about which said drawer and said cap may relatively rotate.

5. The dental implant package assembly of claim 1, wherein said cap is hingedly mounted to said container.

6. The dental implant package assembly of claim 1, wherein one of said first portion and second portion includes a projection and the other of said first portion and said second portion includes a recess sized and configured for receiving said projection, said projection and said recess providing a releasable snap-fit between said first portion and said second portion.

7. In combination: a dental implant having a first end and a second end; anda dental implant package assembly, comprising: a container having a first contact surface; anda cap having a second contact surface, said cap hingedly mounted to said container, said cap and said container defining a cavity containing said dental implant, said implant held between said first and second contact surfaces, said first end of said dental implant abutting said first contact surface, said second end abutting said second contact surface.

8. The combination of claim 7, further comprising a resilient bearing member positioned in one of said cap and said container, said resilient bearing member comprising one of said first contact surface and said second contact surface.

9. The combination of claim 7, further comprising a resilient bearing member positioned in said cap, said resilient bearing member comprising said second contact surface, said cap further comprising a cavity sized and configured for receiving at least a portion of a healing screw.

10. The combination of claim 7, wherein said cap further comprises a plug defining said second contact surface.

11. The combination of claim 7, further comprising a sleeve inserted into said container, said sleeve defining said first contact surface.

12. The combination of claim 7, wherein one of said first contact surface and said second contact surface includes a recess for receiving one of said first end and said second end of said dental implant, said recess shaped to substantially replicate one of said first and second ends.

13. The combination of claim 7, wherein said dental implant is selected from a group of dental implants having different lengths, and wherein said dental implant package assembly further includes a sleeve selected from a group of interchangeable sleeves respectfully dimensioned for receipt of said plurality of implants.

14. A dental implant package assembly, comprising: a container having a cavity, said cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a dental implant;a sleeve having an aperture for receiving said dental implant and a recess for accommodating an instrument attachable to said implant when said implant is positioned in said sleeve.

15. The dental implant package assembly of claim 14, wherein said sleeve further includes a contact surface for releasably engaging said dental implant.

16. The dental implant package assembly of claim 14, wherein a first end of said dental implant extends above said sleeve when said dental implant is positioned in said sleeve.