Watson Guide IP Receives Broader Protection for CHROME GuidedSMILE Stackable System

On February 14, 2023, the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted Watson Guide IP additional protection for its CHROME GuidedSMILE stackable products and methods. 

The issuance of US Patent No. 11,576,755, titled “Fixation Base and Guides for Dental Prosthesis Installation,” expands upon the previously granted US Patent No. 11,173,016 (issued November 16, 2021). This new patent provides broader coverage for the various aspects of the CHROME stackable system.

Designed for All-On-X Style Surgery

The CHROME system by Watson Guide IP caters to dentists seeking predictable guided All-On-X style surgery. This service includes anchored bite verification, anchored bone reduction, anchored site drilling, precise anchored provisionalization, and a method for transferring surgical and restorative information during the final restorative conversion phase. 

Accurately Installing the Fixation Base

The newly issued patent includes independent claims that cover both the method and apparatus involved in utilizing a mouthpiece for the accurate installation of CHROME’s Fixation Base. The Fixation Base plays a crucial role in the CHROME system, and its precise placement is essential for the successful execution of the entire stackable system. By fully protecting this fundamental first step, the patent also safeguards the subsequent steps of the CHROME system from being practiced by others.

In general, the broadest claims of the new patent cover the combination of a mouthpiece, custom-fitted to the patient’s teeth, being removably mounted to the Fixation Base. This mouthpiece and Fixation Base combination is then inserted into the patient’s mouth, ensuring that the mouthpiece is securely seated to the patient’s teeth. 

Once the mouthpiece is fully seated, signifying proper placement of the Fixation Base, the Fixation Base is secured to the patient’s bone tissue. The mouthpiece is subsequently removed, leaving behind the accurately installed Fixation Base. This Fixation Base acts as a bone-reduction guide and mounting jig for the additional guide apparatus used in the CHROME system, including Bone Reduction Guides, Osteotomy Guides, Abutment (Carrier Guide) Guides, as well as the prosthesis and RAPID appliances.

Stringent Vetting Process

It is worth noting that the USPTO is said to have awarded this new patent following a thorough review of the product, which included numerous references submitted through a formal Third Party Submission by industry professionals. This indicates that the newly issued patent has undergone comprehensive vetting by the USPTO during its examination process.

Watson Guide IP currently has additional patent applications pending for various other novel aspects of the CHROME system. It is anticipated that these applications will be issued in the near future, further enhancing the intellectual property protection for the CHROME GuidedSMILE stackable system.