US 12156781

US Patent 12156781: Screw-attached pick-up dental coping system and methods

Title: Screw-attached pick-up dental coping system and methods
Current Assignee: Smart Denture Conversions LLC
Inventors: Brandon Dale Kofford, Charles Albert Rudisill
Filing Date: 2024-01-26
Issue Date (Publication Date): 2024-12-03

Abstract:
The patent discloses a temporary alignment system and method for securing a dental coping to an implant abutment using the same threads that will be used for definitive attachment. The temporary fasteners are designed to initially orient and hold a coping against an abutment with a force aligned with the semi-definitive screw's axis. This system allows the aligned coping to be "picked-up" in a closed-tray impression process without needing to unscrew the temporary fastener. Embodiments include threaded posts that release copings from the abutment through axial forces, and some include a threaded post with a separable cap that is picked up with the coping. The patent also describes methods for converting an existing prosthesis for screw attachment to implants in a single visit and for digitally capturing the converted prosthesis.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

Independent Claim 1:
This claim describes a system for aligning a dental implant abutment, a coping, and a separable dental element for definitive screw-attachment. It comprises a temporary alignment fastener, which itself has two main parts:

1. A post: This part has an axis, a first end, and a second end. The first end is threaded so it can be screwed into the implant abutment.
2. A cap: This cap is attached to the second end of the post.

The temporary alignment screw (the combined post and cap) is designed to hold the coping firmly against the implant abutment when the threaded first end of the post is screwed into the abutment. A key feature is that the cap can be separated from the post by applying a release force directed away from the first (threaded) end of the post.

Independent Claim 14:
This claim outlines a system for aligning a separable dental element for installation onto a threaded implant abutment using a definitive screw (which has a head and a threaded shaft). The system includes:

1. A coping: This coping has a distal end shaped to connect with the implant abutment and a proximal end with an opening (aperture) large enough for the shaft of the definitive screw to pass through.
2. A temporary screw: This screw has a distal end portion that engages the threads of the implant abutment. Its proximal end portion includes temporary engagement means designed for attachment next to the proximal end of the coping.

The temporary screw functions to hold the distal end of the coping securely in alignment against the implant abutment when its distal end portion is engaged with the abutment threads. The crucial aspect is that these temporary engagement means release the coping without disengaging the post portion of the temporary screw when a specific axial force is applied in the proximal direction.

Independent Claim 22:
This claim describes an alignment system specifically for converting an existing denture into a screw-attached denture for threaded implant abutments. The system is designed to perform a series of steps:

1. Mounting copings: Pick-up copings are mounted to the implant abutments using temporary fasteners.
2. Adhering copings: The copings are then bonded into pre-formed cavities within the existing denture.
3. Removing the denture: The denture, now with the secured pick-up copings, is pulled away from the implant abutments.
4. Unscrewing fasteners: The threaded portions of the temporary fasteners are unscrewed from the implant abutments.
5. Creating clearance holes: Definitive screw clearance holes are formed in the denture.
6. Mounting the denture: The denture is finally mounted to the implant abutments using definitive screws that engage the same implant abutment threads as the temporary fasteners.

The order of steps 4 (unscrewing the temporary fasteners) and 5 (forming definitive screw clearance holes) can be interchanged.

Uncertainty Note:
The provided search results confirm the patent details and its active legal status, including a PTAB case (PGR2025-00054) filed and instituted. However, the search for "CAFC 2026 dockets" did not yield any specific dockets or litigation outcomes directly pertaining to US12156781 in the year 2026. Therefore, while there is ongoing legal activity (PTAB), specific CAFC dockets for 2026 related to this patent are not authoritatively known from the provided search.