Dental Implant Surgery Organizer Case

Abstract

A dental implant organizer case includes a housing with a plurality of compartments selectively arranged therein. Each compartment includes: a respective lid pivotally mounted to the housing to cover the compartment's cavity when closed; means for biasing the lid from the closed to the open position; means to releasably secure the lid in the closed position; means to releasably support dental implant containers within the compartment in an upright position; and a respective tooth number marking to indicate the tooth intended for the implant containers therein. The selectively arranged compartments may form a semi-circular or an in-line arrangement. Two compartment levels may be utilized, with the lower compartments being accessible using a tray being slidable with respect to the housing. Two cases may be secured together to be pivotable between collapsed and extended positions, where the first and second cases store dental implant containers for left-hand and right-hand teeth, respectively.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dental implant organizer case comprising:
 a housing segregated into a plurality of compartments, said plurality of compartments being selectively arranged within said organizer case; each said compartment of said plurality of compartments having a respective opening into a cavity therein, and comprising:
 a cover member, said cover member being pivotally mounted to said housing and configured to cover said respective opening in a closed position; 
 means for biasing said cover from said closed position into an open position; 
 means to releasably secure said cover member in said closed position; 
 means to releasably support one or more dental implant containers within said compartment, in a substantially upright position; and 
 a respective tooth number marking, for use in indicating a tooth number intended for the implant containers stored within said compartment. 
   
     
     
         2 . The dental implant organizer case according to  claim 1 , wherein said selectively arranged plurality of compartments comprises a semi-circular arrangement of compartments. 
     
     
         3 . The dental implant organizer case according to  claim 1 , wherein said selectively arranged plurality of compartments comprises an in-line arrangement of compartments. 
     
     
         4 . The dental implant organizer case according to  claim 1 , wherein said selectively arranged plurality of compartments comprises an upper level of compartments and a lower level of compartments. 
     
     
         5 . The dental implant organizer case according to  claim 4 , wherein said lower level of compartments is formed in a tray, with said tray being slidably received within a portion of said housing. 
     
     
         6 . The dental implant organizer case according to  claim 5 , further comprising a second case constructed the same as said first case, said second case being pivotally mounted to said first case, to be pivotable between a collapsed position, where said first and second cases are parallel but side-by-side, and an extended position, where said first and second cases are parallel but in line. 
     
     
         7 . The dental implant organizer case according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein said plurality of compartments for said first case comprises 7 compartments being numbered from 2-8 for said upper level of compartments therein, and 7 compartments being numbered from 31-25 for said lower level of compartments; and   wherein said plurality of compartments for said second case comprises 7 compartments being numbered from 9-15 for said upper level of compartments, and 7 compartments being numbered from 24-18 for said lower level of compartments.   
     
     
         8 . The dental implant organizer case according to  claim 7 , further comprising means to releasably secure said first and second cases in said collapsed position. 
     
     
         9 . The dental implant organizer case according to  claim 8 , further comprising a handle pivotally secured to each of said first and second cases. 
     
     
         10 . The dental implant organizer case according to  claim 9 , wherein said cover comprises a translucent material. 
     
     
         11 . The dental implant organizer case according to  claim 10 , wherein said plurality of wall are integrally formed with said housing. 
     
     
         12 . The dental implant organizer case according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a second case pivotally mounted to said first case, said second case being constructed the same as said first case; wherein said respective tooth number marking for each said compartment of said first case comprises: a respective upper numbering for each said compartment being numbered from 2-8, and a respective lower numbering for each said compartment being numbered from 31-25; and wherein said respective tooth number marking for each said compartment of said second case comprises: a respective upper numbering for each said compartment being numbered from 9-15, and a respective lower numbering for each said compartment being numbered from 24-18;   a first shield slidably received by said first case, said first shield configured to be upwardly slidable to obscure said upper numbering of said first case, and to be downwardly slidable to obscure said lower numbering; and   a second shield slidably received by said second case, and said second shield configured to be upwardly slidable to obscure said upper numbering of said second case, and to be downwardly slidable to obscure said lower numbering.   
     
     
         13 . The dental implant organizer case according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a respective upper marking of maxilla and a respective lower marking of mandible, on each said first and second cases;   a third shield slidably received by said first case, said third shield configured to be upwardly slidable to obscure said maxilla marking of said first case, and to be downwardly slidable to obscure said mandible marking; and   a fourth shield slidably received by said second case, said fourth shield configured to be upwardly slidable to obscure said maxilla marking of said second case, and to be downwardly slidable to obscure said mandible marking.   
     
     
         14 . A dental implant organizer case, for use during a dental implant surgical procedure performed on the maxilla and/or the mandible of a patient to provide ready access to dental implant containers, said dental implant organizer case comprising:
 a housing; and   a plurality of walls that form a plurality of compartments selectively arranged within said organizer case; each said compartment of said plurality of compartments having a respective opening into a cavity therein, and comprising:
 a cover member, said cover member being pivotally mounted to said housing and configured to cover said respective opening in a closed position; 
 a spring configured to bias said cover from said closed position into an open position; 
 a latch configured to releasably secure said cover member in said closed position: 
 a support member configured to releasably support one or more dental implant containers within said compartment, in a substantially upright position; and 
 a respective tooth number marking, for use in indicating a tooth number intended for the implant containers stored within said compartment. 
   
     
     
         15 . The dental implant organizer case according to  claim 14 , wherein said latch comprises a hook and loop fastening arrangement, wherein a first material comprising a plurality of hooks and a second material comprising a plurality of loops are fixedly secured to said cover member and to said housing. 
     
     
         16 . The dental implant organizer case according to  claim 14 , wherein said latch comprises a snap fastener, said snap fastener comprising a male snap member and a female snap member being fixedly secured to said cover member and to said housing. 
     
     
         17 . The dental implant organizer case according to  claim 14 , wherein said latch comprises a corresponding pair of magnets, a first magnet of said corresponding pair of magnets being fixedly secured to said cover member, and a second magnet of said corresponding pair of magnets being fixedly secured to said housing. 
     
     
         18 . The dental implant organizer case according to  claim 14 , wherein said latch comprises a rocker arm pivotally attached to said housing, and configured to selectively engage and disengage a catch on said cover member. 
     
     
         19 . The dental implant organizer case according to  claim 14 , wherein said support member comprises one or more hollow cylinders extending from a bottom of said compartment. 
     
     
         20 . A dental implant organizer case, for use during a dental implant surgical procedure performed on the maxilla and/or the mandible of a patient to provide ready access to dental implant containers, said dental implant organizer case comprising:
 a housing; and   a plurality of walls that form a plurality of compartments selectively arranged within said organizer case; each said compartment of said plurality of compartments having a respective opening into a cavity therein, and comprising:
 a cover member, said cover member being pivotally mounted to said housing and configured to cover said respective opening in a closed position; 
 means for biasing said cover from said closed position into an open position; 
 a latch configured to releasably secure said cover member in said closed position; 
 means to releasably support one or more dental implant containers within said compartment, in a substantially upright position; and 
 a respective tooth number marking, for use in indicating a tooth number intended for the implant containers stored within said compartment.