Stephen P Warunek

US Patent:

6786718, Sep 7, 2004

Filed:

Jun 6, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/165011

Inventors:

Mark D. Lauren - Amherst NY
Stephen P. Warunek - Lancaster NY

Assignee:

Great Lakes Orthodontics, Ltd. - Tonawanda NY

International Classification:

A61C 300

US Classification:

433 3, 433141

Abstract:

An adjusting tool and associated method of use for turning orthodontic expansion screws are described. The tool or device consists of a contra-angled molded plastic handle or housing with a rotatable pin at the distal end for inserting into an expansion screw located in a patients mouth. The tool housing is designed to limit the angular rotation of the pin to the arc required for insertion and subsequent activation of the orthodontic screw. When rotated to the position associated with screw activation, the pin is captured and held in place by a locking mechanism which then requires the tool to be disengaged from the screw prior to its removal from the patients mouth. This feature eliminates the possibility of reversing and deactivating the expansion screw by pulling the expansion key straight out of the mouth. A manual release mechanism on the tool frees the pin to allow the pin to be rotated back to the insertion position. A built-in light assists with sighting the end of the wire and the insertion holes in the expansion screw.

US Patent:

51866234, Feb 16, 1993

Filed:

Oct 21, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/781076

Inventors:

Peter R. Breads - Grand Island NY
Gerard P. Abbatte - Buffalo NY
Stephen P. Warunek - West Seneca NY

Assignee:

Great Lakes Orthodontics, Ltd. - Tonawanda NY

International Classification:

A61C 300

US Classification:

433 6

Abstract:

An orthodontic finishing positioner for maloccluded teeth to which are secured coupling members having portions protruding from the sides of the teeth includes a body constructed of an elastomer base material adapted to be operatively positioned about the teeth and coupling members of at least one dental arch of a patient. The positioner body is arcuate in shape and defines a recess for receiving teeth of at least one dental arch wherein the recess includes walls defining teeth-engaging surfaces shaped generally complementary to the surfaces of the teeth of the one dental arch when the teeth therein are positioned in a predetermined or idential orientation. The recess walls further defines a series of indentations disposed across the teeth-engaging surfaces wherein each indentation is shaped to nestingly accept a corresponding coupling member so that when the positioner body is operatively positioned within the patient's mouth and stretched about the teeth of the one dental arch so that the teeth thereof are operatively received by the recess of the arcuate-shaped portion and each coupling member is accepted by a corresponding indentation, the stretched body effectively grasps the teeth and acts against the teeth and the coupling member to bias the teeth of the one arch toward the predetermined orientation. The method of the invention includes the steps involved in constructing the positioner of the invention. Such construction steps include the constructing of an impression-formed model of the teeth and coupling members of the one dental arch, repositioning the teeth-simulating portions of the model to a predetermined orientation and utilizing the model, with its repositioned teeth-simulating portions, as a standard for the formation of the desired positioner.

US Patent:

50591185, Oct 22, 1991

Filed:

Jul 25, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/384979

Inventors:

Peter R. Breads - Grand Island NY
Gerard P. Abbatte - Buffalo NY
Stephen P. Warunek - West Seneca NY

Assignee:

Great Lakes Orthodontics, Ltd. - Tonawanda NY

International Classification:

A61C 300

US Classification:

433 6

Abstract:

An orthodontic finishing positioner for maloccluded teeth to which are secured coupling members having portions protruding from the sides of the teeth includes a body constructed of an elastomer base material adapted to be operatively positioned about the teeth and coupling member of at least one dental arch of a patient. The positioner body is arcuate in shape and defines a recess for receiving teeth of at least one dental arch wherein the recess includes walls defining teeth-engaging surfaces shaped generally complementary to the surfaces of the teeth of the one dental arch when the teeth therein are positioned in a predetermined or ideal orientation. The recess walls further defines a series of indentations disposed across the teeth-engaging surfaces wherein each indentation being shaped to nestingly accept a corresponding coupling member so that when the positioner body is operatively positioned within the patient's mouth and stretched about the teeth of the one dental arch so that the teeth thereof are operatively received by the recess of the arcuate-shaped portion and each coupling member is accepted by a corresponding indentation, the stretched body effectively grasps the teeth and acts against the teeth and the coupling member to bias the teeth of the one arch toward the predetermined orientation. The method of the invention includes the steps involved in constructing the positioner of the invention. Such construction steps include the constructing of an impression-formed model of the teeth and coupling members of the one dental arch, repositioning the teeth-simulating portions of the model to a predetermined orientation and utilizing the model, with its repositioned teeth-simulating portions, as a standard for the formation of the desired positioner.

US Patent:

50550390, Oct 8, 1991

Filed:

Oct 6, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/254216

Inventors:

Gerard P. Abbatte - Buffalo NY
Peter R. Breads - Grand Island NY
Stephen P. Warunek - West Seneca NY
Brian D. Willison - Buffalo NY

Assignee:

Great Lakes Orthodontics, Ltd. - Tonawanda NY

International Classification:

A61C 300

US Classification:

433 24

Abstract:

An orthodontic positioner appliance of elastomer base material is formed directly on the tooth coupling members during fabrication so as to assure accuracy of the appliance and compliance with the exact shape and placement of the members. A construction model is provided of the patient's teeth in a desired orientation, members are attached to the teeth in the model, and the positioner is formed by applying material to the model and directly to the members providing an exact adaptation of the material to the model including the members and providing an exact fit between the material and the members so as to eliminate any void between the members and the material to assure maximum purchase on the teeth but yet be easily removed by the patient. A first form of the positioner is formed by a hand lay-up or other appropriate technique providing a positioner body in the form of strip of silicone elastomer material, the body having a surface facing the teeth and recesses in spaced relation along the strip for snap fitting onto the members, the positioner urging the patient's teeth to an exact fit between the recesses and the members so as to eliminate any void or space between the members and the recesses. A second form of the positioner is formed by molding providing an arcuate body of elastomer material including a trough for receiving teeth, the trough having walls with recesses in spaced relation for fitting onto the members.

US Patent:

51126400, May 12, 1992

Filed:

May 4, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/519165

Inventors:

Stephen P. Warunek - Lancaster NY
Soren E. Sorensen - Williamsville NY

Assignee:

The Research Foundation of State University of New York University at
Buffalo - Buffalo NY

International Classification:

A01N 102

US Classification:

427 2

Abstract:

Organopolysiloxane elastomers comprising copolymers of dimethyl and methylvinyl siloxanes provide improved facial and dental prosthetic materials, and are especially useful in preventing and treating chronic tissue irritation due to hard dental polymers. They are effectively bonded to polymeric and metallic substrates as denture liners, obturators, maxillofacial prosthetic devices and appliances with a group of trifunctional silane coupling agents.

US Patent:

48569917, Aug 15, 1989

Filed:

May 5, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/046087

Inventors:

Peter R. Breads - Grand Island NY
Gerard P. Abbatte - Buffalo NY
Stephen P. Warunek - West Seneca NY

Assignee:

Great Lakes Orthodontics, Ltd. - Tonawanda NY

International Classification:

A61C 700

US Classification:

433 6

Abstract:

An orthodontic finishing positioner for maloccluded teeth to which are secured coupling members having portions protruding from the sides thereof, the positioner comprising an arcuate body of elastomer base material positioned about the teeth and coupling member of at least one dental arch and defining a recess for receiving teeth of at least one dental arch. The recess includes walls defining teeth-engaging surfaces shaped generally complementary to the surfaces of the teeth of the one dental arch when the teeth therein are positioned in a predetermined or ideal orientation. A series of indentations in the walls are disposed across the teeth-engaging surfaces, each indentation being shaped to nestingly accept a corresponding coupling member. When the positioner body is positioned within the patient's mouth and stretched about the teeth of the one dental arch so that the teeth thereof are received by the recess of the arcuate-shaped portion and each coupling member is accepted by a corresponding indentation, the stretched body effectively grasps the teeth and acts against the teeth and the coupling member to bias the teeth of the one arch toward the predetermined orientation. The positioner is constructed by forming a model of the teeth and coupling members of the one dental arch, repositioning the teeth-simulating portions of the model to a predetermined orientation and utilizing the model, with its repositioned teeth-simulating portions, as a standard for the formation of the desired positioner.

US Patent:

50356135, Jul 30, 1991

Filed:

Jul 20, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/075327

Inventors:

Peter R. Breads - Grand Island NY
Gerard P. Abbatte - Buffalo NY
Stephen P. Warunek - West Seneca NY

Assignee:

Great Lakes Orthodontics, Ltd. - Tonawanda NY

International Classification:

A61C 300

US Classification:

433 6

Abstract:

An orthodontic appliance for maloccluded teeth and an associated method of construction utilizes an elastomer base material comprised of a silicone elastomer composition. The elastomer composition, when in an uncured condition, possessses a sufficiently low viscosity so that the positioner can be formed in a low pressure injection molding process and which, when in a cured condition, possessses a relatively high resistance to tear.

US Patent:

52249581, Jul 6, 1993

Filed:

Feb 4, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/830705

Inventors:

Stephen P. Warunek - Lancaster NY
Soren E. Sorensen - Williamsville NY

Assignee:

The Research Foundation of State University of New York - Buffalo NY

International Classification:

A61F 202
A61F 254
A61C 1302

US Classification:

623 11

Abstract:

Organopolysiloxane elastomers comprising copolymers of dimethyl and methylvinyl siloxanes provide improved facial and dental prosthetic materials, and are especially useful in preventing and treating chronic tissue irritation due to hard dental polymers. They are effectively bonded to polymeric and metallic substrates as denture liners, obturators, maxillofacial prosthetic devices and appliances with a group of trifunctional silane coupling agents.