O-RING INSERTION TOOL AND METHOD

Abstract An O-ring insertion tool is disclosed herein which holds and inserts an O-ring into a cap for releasably securing a dental appliance to, for example, a dental attachment assembly secured in the mouth of a patient. The tool comprises a driver (15) having a central portion and at least one end portion (26, 28) with resilient prongs designed to push an O-ring through a bore in a bushing sleeve (16, 18) sized at one end to match the entrance of the cap (12). The bore has a tapered, frustoconical portion that at least extends up to the smaller end of the bore. The opposite end of the bore is of larger diameter matching the uncompressed dimensions of the O-ring. The prongs fit into the larger end of the bore in which the O-ring is positioned and are adapted to engage and advance the O-ring through the bore. The O-ring is uniformly compressed as it advances through the frustoconical portion of the bore, and the compressed O-ring is then pushed out of the second end (52) of the bore and into position in the cap (12). WO 2010/151676 PCT/US2010/039830 >56 52i 60 FIG-12