Did You Know...
...that the video game, Pong, was invented by a guy who graduated at the bottom of his engineering class? Nolan Bushnell spent more time running the games at a local amusement park than he did on his studies at the University of Utah. His dreams of working for Disney's amusement empire were dashed when the company wouldn't hire him. Taking a boring job, Nolan daydreamed about electronic versions of popular games. He invented Pong, the first video game, and went on to found Atari Co.
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8177553 | Dental strip An elongated flexible dental strip includes front and rear surfaces defining a thickness therebetween. The strip also includes first and second edges defining a lateral width therebetween. A first portion of the strip further is spaced from a second portion along th... | 05/15/2012 |
| 7381055 | Dental devices used for filling cavities with composite material A dental device for retaining composite material within a cavity is described. The device provides accurate placement of a retaining matrix band which holds dental composite material in place within the cavity under repair and precludes or prevents migration of the ... | 06/03/2008 |
| 7367802 | Barrier free matrix band with flash guard A dental matrix band (1) having a brace extrusion window (4), a flash guard (14) and guard brace (22) which fold to articulate into a conventional Tofflemire-like matrix band shape. The flash guard (14) is secured by the guard brac... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7322822 | Apparatus and method for removing enamel from a person's tooth According to one embodiment, an apparatus for removing enamel from a person's tooth includes a blade portion and a handle portion. The blade portion includes an abrasive surface adapted to remove enamel from the tooth in response to reciprocating movement of the abr... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7322823 | Dental matrix retainer The invention relates to a dental matrix retainer (1) used as an aid when filling two-surface cavities in the molars. It comprises a matrix holder (3) and a device for tensioning a matrix band (2) placed in the form of a loop (22) around ... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7311521 | Interproximal cavitation detection device and method The present invention is direct to a device and method for diagnosis of enamel cavitation of an interproximal dental surface. And in particular, the invention is directed to a device and method for diagnosing enamel cavitation of an interproximal tooth surface that ... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7293987 | Adjustable bite ramps for deep bite correction and kits incorporating bite ramps An adjustable bite ramp includes a tooth-attachment element and ramp element. The tooth-attachment element is sized and configured for bonding to the lingual surface of a person's tooth, while the ramp element is hingedly or bendably adjustable relative to the tooth... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7288075 | Methods and devices utilizing rheological materials Impression devices are provided for making an impression of a desired feature. The impression devices include: a flexible bladder having a cavity formed therein, the flexible bladder being capable of conforming to the details of the desired feature; a rheological ma... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7284983 | Matrix band retainer A matrix band retainer for dental restoration has a unitary member of a stiff planar spring material. The unitary member has an open ring substantially in a first plane, with the plane of the material of the ring perpendicular to the first plane. A tine at each end ... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7241143 | Preloaded dental dam and method for gingival tissue retraction A method and a device for effecting the cordless retraction of the gingival sulcus tissue that includes a dam shaped to be fitted onto a tooth. The dam having a peripheral wall defining a well. The peripheral wall may be either pervious or impervious to light rays a... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7226287 | Kits comprising a plurality of bite ramps having different angles for orthodontic treatment A bite ramp includes a tooth-attachment element and ramp element. The tooth-attachment element is sized and configured for bonding to the lingual surface of a person's tooth, while the ramp element may be either fixed or else hingedly or bendably adjustable relative... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7214058 | Dental matrix positioned by slidably engaged matrix retainer A device is disclosed for applying and holding a dental matrix strip against the side of a tooth which is to be filled. An embodiment of the device comprises a split ring that slidably receives a matrix. The split ring in this embodiment can have cushions on its end... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7195483 | Method and device for the retraction and hemostasis of tissue during crown and bridge procedures A method and a device for effecting the cordless retraction of the gingival sulcus tissue (21) prior to the taking of an impression of a tooth (20) for making a crown or bridge which is attained by controlling any bleeding in the gingival sulcus area (... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7189075 | Method and device for the retraction and hemostasis of tissue during crown and bridge procedures A method and a device for effecting the cordless retraction of the gingival sulcus tissue prior to the taking of an impression of a tooth for making a crown or bridge which is attained by controlling any bleeding in the gingival sulcus area, and utilizing a dental d... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7175432 | Dental contact matrix limited A dental contact matrix system is described for the placement of dental fillings. The dental contact matrix system includes a matrix, a retainer for placing and retaining the 5 matrix and an elastic wedge. The retainer includes two lugs or tines that fit between two... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7108509 | Device for pushing away a dental element, and method for filling dental elements Device for pushing away an enclosure arranged around a dental element. When filling dental elements, it is important that adjacent dental elements should come into contact with one another at a defined location. To this end, the invention proposes a tool for pushing... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7083412 | Dental tooth spacer assembly An improved dental tooth spacer assembly provides a safe separation of the restoring tooth and the adjacent tooth during dental procedures. The improved dental tooth spacer assembly includes a separating portion made of a durable flexible material, and comprising a ... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7077651 | Dental implement for tooth restorations A dental implement includes a wire member that forms a generally ring-shaped portion and first and second ends, which depend from the ring-shaped portion. The ring-shaped portion lies in a plane, with the first and second ends depending from the generally ring-shape... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7037109 | Inter-proximal contact dental matrix band A thin, flexible, gently angled boomerang shaped matrix band (2) having an extrusion window (6) located within the medial portion of the band's (2) inferior and superior borders. Located inferiorly, a gingival separation notch, (10) is me... | 05/02/2006 |
| 6960082 | Atraumatic approximal space dilator The invention relates to a dental device for dilating interdental spaces. The device comprises two interdental matrices that can be inserted into interdental spaces two retaining arrangements to retain the interdental matrices, and a spacer device for guiding the re... | 11/01/2005 |
| 6890176 | Interproximal matrix with elastomeric wedge A dental apparatus adapted to facilitate formation of a filling in an object tooth and to retain the filling within normal boundaries of the object tooth and generally spaced from an adjacent tooth includes a matrix having a resilient wedge member attached thereto. ... | 05/10/2005 |
| 6749429 | Matrix band for use in dentistry A matrix band with a coating thereon reduces capillary action between a tooth and the matrix band, while at least one aperture in the matrix band assists with removal of the matrix band from the tooth, after the filling is complete. ... | 06/15/2004 |
| 6736639 | Dental insert Tooth inserts are described for use in restoring teeth having a proximal surface requiring restoration and an, intact proximal surface not requiring restoration. A tooth insert according to one disclosed embodiment comprises an elongated band having first and second... | 05/18/2004 |
| 6712608 | Anatomically contoured matrix bands for use in dental restoration procedures The invention comprises an asymmetrically shaped matrix band. The asymmetrical shape of the matrix band provides form for molding a dental filling into a shape that closely approximates the asymmetrical and generally trapezoidal shape of a tooth. The matrix band com... | 03/30/2004 |
| 6619956 | Dental matrix strip An elongated flexible dental matrix strip is disclosed. The strip includes a raised portion extending outward from the surface of the strip. The raised portion tapers towards the distal end of the strip in one embodiment and tapers toward both ends of the... | 09/16/2003 |
| 6509540 | Method of making a tooth spacer A tooth spacer has first and second tooth spacer body portions which each define at least one window therein. Extremely thin film, for example from about 0.0003 to about 0.0006 inch in thickness, is sandwiched between the tooth spacer body portions to for... | 01/21/2003 |
| 6482005 | Method and apparatus for shaping dental filling material A flexible frame supports and at least partially surrounds a thin polymer sheet. The frame and polymer sheet is positioned between a tooth being filled and an adjacent tooth so as to extend partly or completely around the buccal and lingual sides of the t... | 11/19/2002 |
| 6439886 | Inflatable dental device A device having pliable walls is provided for placement in the mouth of a patent to serve, in one manner, as a matrix barrier with walls of the device bearing upon opposed tooth surfaces. An inlet permits inflation of the device, as by a dental syringe, o... | 08/27/2002 |
| 6425760 | Tooth spacer A tooth spacer has first and second tooth spacer body portions which each define at least one window therein. Extremely thin film, for example from about 0.0003 to about 0.0006 inch in thickness, is sandwiched between the tooth spacer body portions to for... | 07/30/2002 |
| 6350122 | Dental matrix with lateral illumination ports A dental matrix for containing a light curable composite restorative inserted in a prepared tooth is provided including a contour portion and flange portions for engaging the tooth and composite restoration. A flange portion is provided with a port positi... | 02/26/2002 |
| 6336810 | Ring for use in preparing teeth for restoration The invention is an open-ended ring used in the preparation of a tooth for a restorative procedure. The ring is used in conjunction with a shield to secure the shield between a tooth to be restored and an adjacent tooth. The result is a close contact bein... | 01/08/2002 |
| 6325625 | Dental separator and matrix stabilizing device A dental separator and matrix stabilizing device (40) for applying pressure against adjacent teeth (68, 70) to temporarily force the teeth apart from one another for dental and orthodontic procedures. The device (40) includes a spring yoke (42), opposing ... | 12/04/2001 |
| 6234793 | Textured dental matrix bands and related methods The present invention relates to a dental matrix band used during tooth restoration procedures. The matrix bands have a smooth interior side which is placed in contact with the tooth requiring restoration. The exterior side a frictional engagement surface... | 05/22/2001 |
| 6231341 | Dental Matrix tensioner A lingual dental matrix tensioner comprising two posts maintained parallel by two parallel rods through the posts at a right angle to the post axes One rod is threaded and has an end knob for adjusting the spacing between the posts, the other rod is a gui... | 05/15/2001 |
| 6220858 | Apparatus for placement of dental fillings An apparatus is described for placement of light curable dental fillings. The apparatus includes a matrix formed of light transparent material and shaped to conform to the natural contour of a tooth in the interproximal zone. The matrix is thinned in its ... | 04/24/2001 |
| 6206697 | Device for the retention and adaptation of a matrix for dental restorations The device for the retention and the adaptation of a matrix to the treated portion of a tooth includes a tightener clamp whose ends are each provided with an adaptation cushion having anchoring elements and adaptation elements, the cushion being destined ... | 03/27/2001 |
| 6142778 | Dental insert Tooth inserts are described for positioning between interproximal surfaces of teeth during a dental procedure. The tooth inserts have thin regions positioned in the interproximal contact area of the teeth.... | 11/07/2000 |
| 6120288 | Device and method for mandibular fixation A device and method for mandibular fixation are disclosed. The bondable bracket brace includes a cloth-like body having a first surface for attachment to a tooth surface and a plurality of attachment points on the cloth-like body. The cloth like body may ... | 09/19/2000 |
| 6079978 | Matrix for dental fillings A dental matrix for filling a lateral tooth cavity has a strip to be placed about a tooth. A wedge for applying pressure to a gap between adjacent teeth is provided. A joint connecting the wedge to the strip is provided. The wedge is moveable from a rest ... | 06/27/2000 |
| 6007334 | Interdental balloon The dental device comprises an elongated inflatable balloon for placement around a matrix band in part surrounding relationship with a decayed tooth. Upon inflation, the balloon evenly applies the matrix band against the tooth.... | 12/28/1999 |
