Orthodontic implant

p00001Orthodontic Implant

p00002The present invention relates to an orthodontic implant which makes it possible to gradually displace a person's teeth that show an incorrect implantation in an adjusted position by exerting an almost continuous pressure force or tension force on those teeth.

p00003The means used according to the present state of the art to thereby adjust the position of a person's teeth comprise different kinds of braces which can be placed so that they can be disassembled as well as so that they cannot be disassembled in the Mouth of a person. For some people, what is called an outer brace is also required, which exerts an additional force on the person's teeth or on the upper or lower jaw, for example through the neck.

p00004Such braces are particularly unpleasant to wear and do not always make it possible to obtain an accurate reproducible distribution of energy over the teeth or jaw of the person.

p00005US 5853291 discloses an orthodontic implant according to the preamble of claim 1.

p00006The object of the invention is to remedy these disadvantages by proposing an orthodontic implant as specified in claim 1 which makes it possible to change the position of a person's teeth in a simple and precise manner. When an implant according to the invention is used, the use of an outer brace is no longer necessary and remarkably good results are obtained.

p00007WO 02/089682, which is not the prior art under article 54 (2) of the Convention on the granting of European patents, discloses an orthodontic implant with fixation means to be fixed to the jaw bone and an element of assembly to mount orthodontic devices in which the mounting element is attached to the fixing means by means of a joint designed to pierce the gum.

p00008For this purpose, the orthodontic implant according to the invention has fixing means to be fixed to the bone of the upper jaw or lower jaw of a person and additionally comprises a mounting element for mounting the orthodontic devices, in which said element Mounting is attached to the aforementioned fixing means by means of a connecting piece which must extend through the gum that surrounds the corresponding bone.

p00009In practice, said mounting element contains at least one drilled hole which is provided with a thread that cooperates with a stud which makes it possible to fix said devices to the implant.

p00010According to a preferred embodiment of the implant according to the invention, said mounting element has at least one groove in which the corresponding coupling element of said devices will be mounted.

p00011According to a special embodiment of the implant according to the invention, said connecting piece is bent in order to ensure that the longitudinal axis of said groove extends almost parallel to the lateral surfaces of the teeth located in the jaw on which it must be fixed. said implant.

p00012According to an advantageous embodiment of the implant according to the invention, said fixation means are formed by a plate which is provided with one or several grooves through which screws for fixing the implant to the bone of said upper jaw or lower.

p00013Advantageously, the aforementioned mounting element is at least partially spherical.

p00014According to an interesting embodiment of the implant according to the invention, the aforementioned joint piece has a cross section with rounded angles or a circular or elliptical cross section.

p00015Other particularities and advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent from the following description of a few specific embodiments of the implant according to the invention; This description is provided as an example only and does not limit the scope of the claimed protection in any way; The reference numbers used later in this document refer to the attached drawings.

p00016Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the implant according to the invention.

p00017Figure 2 is a schematic side view of a skull where the implant according to the invention is fixed to the upper jaw.

p00018Figure 3 is a schematic bottom view of an upper jaw on which the implant according to the invention is attached.

p00019Figure 4 is a schematic side view of a skull where the implant according to the invention is fixed to the lower jaw.

p00020Figure 5 is a schematic side view of part of an upper jaw provided with the implant according to the invention, with orthodontic devices.

p00021Figure 6 is a schematic side view of part of an upper jaw provided with the implant according to the invention, with different orthodontic devices.

p00022Figure 7 is a schematic side view of part of a lower jaw provided with an orthodontic implant according to the invention.

p00023Figure 8 is a schematic side view of an implant according to an interesting embodiment of the invention.

p00024Figure 9 is a schematic front view of the implant of Figure 8.

p00025Figure 10 is a schematic side view of an implant according to another embodiment of the invention.

p00026Figure 11 is a schematic front view of the implant of Figure 10.

p00027In the different drawings, the same reference numbers refer to identical or analogous elements.

p00028The invention generally relates to an orthodontic implant which makes it possible to attach orthodontic devices, such as fixed braces, to a person's upper or lower jaw bone.

p00029Fixed braces are known as such. With braces of this type, what are called brackets are fixed to the teeth. These brackets are mutually joined through a metal wire which makes it possible to exert an almost continuous force on the brackets so that certain teeth gradually move to an adjusted position.

p00030The implant, according to the invention, is attached to this wire, or to one or several supports, through a coupling element so that it exerts a suitable force in order to adjust the position of the corresponding teeth.

p00031Figure 1 represents a specific embodiment of an orthodontic implant according to the invention. This implant 1 has fixation means 2 to be fixed to the bone of an upper or lower jaw and a mounting element 3 to attach orthodontic devices to the implant 1.

p00032The fixing means 2 and the mounting element 3 are connected to each other through a connecting piece in the form of a rod 4 with a circular cross-section.

p00033This implant 1 is fixed to the bone of the upper jaw of a person 5 by the aforementioned fixation means 2, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

p00034Therefore, the fixing means 2 have a T-shaped osteosynthesis plate with four circular grooves 6, 7, 8 and 9. The corresponding screws 10, 11, 12 and 13 are adjusted through these grooves for fixing of the fixing means 2 tightly to the jaw bone 5.

p00035As clearly shown in Figure 3, the fixing means 2 make it possible to fix the implant 1 to the lower side of the bone that joins the upper jaw 5 to what is called the zygoma. To this end, said osteosynthesis plate is preferably slightly bent.

p00036Said rod 4, which forms the joint between the fixing elements 2 and the mounting element 3, extends through the gum that surrounds the bone of the jaw 5, such that the mounting element 3 is located in the oral cavity between the jaw bone and the cheek. For reasons of clarity, the gum is not represented in the figures.

p00037In order to obtain a tight connection between the rod 4 and the gum and, to ensure that the latter is not irritated by the rod 4, it has a cross section with rounded edges and this section is preferably circular. According to an advantageous embodiment, the rod 4 has a smaller diameter than that of the mounting element 3.

p00038Advantageously, the mounting element 3 is made spherical or drop-shaped at least on one side of the rod 4. Since this results in no sharp edges which could come into contact with the lips, the cheeks or the gum, the formation of wounds is thus avoided. Preferably, without

p00039However, the complete mounting element 3 is made spherical or drop-shaped.

p00040Through this mounting element 3, said orthodontic devices are fixed to the implant. Figure 5 therefore schematically depicts an implant 1 which is connected through a coupling element, in particular a connecting rod 14, to a fixed tie rod containing a series of supports 15 which are each fixed to each other. to a tooth 20 and which are attached to a metal wire 16 in a manner known per se.

p00041The connecting rod 14 is fixed to the mounting element 3 of the implant 1 through one end. For this purpose, the mounting element 3 has a longitudinal, preferably cylindrical groove 17 in which said end is adjusted away from the connecting rod 14.

p00042In order to fix the connecting rod 14 to the mounting element 3, the latter is provided with a cylindrical bore 18 in which a thread is provided which cooperates with a stud 22. The axis 19 of the bore hole 18 extends almost perpendicular to the axis 21 of the groove 17 and intersects with the latter, such that, by means of said stud 22, the connecting rod 14 can be retained in said groove 17.

p00043In order to ensure that the connecting rod 14 cannot rotate relative to its axis, it will preferably have a cross-section in the form of a quadrilateral of right angles. Thus, the stud 22 pushes with its flat end against a lateral surface of the connecting rod 14 which is mounted in the cylindrical groove 17 and is thus tightly retained in the latter.

p00044According to an advantageous embodiment of the implant according to the invention, said rod 4 is bent, so that the axis 21 of said groove 17 extends almost parallel to the lateral surfaces of the teeth 20 located in the jaw on which the implant 1.

p00045Thus, the axis 21 of this slot 17 extends for example at an angle between 60 ° and 150 ° in relation to the fixing means 2.

p00046According to a preferred embodiment of the implant according to the invention, said connecting rod 14 has an eyelet at its remote end which will be fixed in said groove 17, such that the stud 22 located in the drilled hole 18 extends through of this eyelet, as a result of which the connecting rod 14 is fastened tightly to the mounting element 3.

p00047The cross section of the connecting rod 14, as well as that of the groove 17, can have all kinds of shapes and for example they can be circular or hexagonal.

p00048The free end of the connecting rod 14 has a hook 23 through which said metal wire 16 extends. The hook 23 presses against a round disk 24 which is coaxial with said wire 16 and which can be moved according to the longitudinal direction of the last.

p00049In addition, a spiral compression spring 25 is provided which is coaxial with said metal wire 16 as well, and which pushes against said disk 24, on the one hand and against a tubular element 26 of a support 15, on the other side. . In this way, an almost continuous pressure force is exerted through the implant 1 on the corresponding tooth 20, to which the relative support is fixed.

p00050Figure 6 represents another application of the implant according to the invention, in which a tension force is exerted on a tooth 20. A connecting rod 14 is thus fixed in said groove 17 of the mounting element 3. At the free end 27 of this connecting rod 14 a spiral drag spring 28 is fixed which is attached to a tension element 29 cooperating with a support 15 which is fixed to a tooth 20. Thus, through the implant 1 a tension force is exerted on this tooth 20 which ensures that the position of the latter is adjusted gradually.

p00051According to a variant of this embodiment, the spiral spring 28 for example can be attached directly to the mounting element 3 and the use of a connecting rod is not required.

p00052Possibly, the spiral spring 28 can be replaced by another element that exerts a tensile force, such as for example a rubber band.

p00053Naturally, the implant according to the invention is preferably made of a biologically compatible material, such as for example titanium.

p00054In the attached figures, the orthodontic implant 1 is fixed to the jaw near the posterior molars of a person. However, it is also possible to fix it in other places on the jaw bone. For this purpose, the shape of said osteosynthesis plate will possibly have to be adjusted to the bone concerned and it may be necessary to change the length and shape of the aforementioned joint piece correspondingly.

p00055Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the orthodontic implant according to the invention when attached to the lower jaw. In this case, the shape of said osteosynthesis plate is adjusted so that it can be attached to the lower jaw bone where it is to be mounted.

p00056Fig. 7 is a schematic side view of a lower jaw 30 in which the orthodontic implant according to the invention is fixed to the jaw bone in order to raise a molar 31 from the shown fallen position. This implant has fixation means 2 in the form of an osteosynthesis plate with three slots through which one screw 10, 11 and 12 extends each time in order to fix the implant 1 to the lower jaw 30. In addition, a connecting rod 4 extends to a spherical mounting element 3. The latter is represented as a cross section and has a drilled hole 18 that opens inside a cylindrical groove 17 which extends almost through the cross section of said drilled hole 18. In this way, a coupling element can be fixed in the groove 17 through a stud 22 provided in the drilled hole. This coupling element consists of a connecting rod 14 and is mounted in said groove 17 with one remote end, while the other remote end is equipped with a spiral spring 32.

p00057The central axis of the groove of the mounting element 3 preferably extends almost parallel to the fixing means 2 and to the side surfaces of the teeth 20 of the lower jaw 30.

p00058The connecting rod 14 has a flat side at the far end located in the groove 17, whereby the stud 22 pushes against this side, so that the connecting rod 14 is fixed on the mounting element 3. At the end remote located in the groove 17, the connecting rod 14 preferably has four flat sides and, consequently, has a quadrangular cross-section that allows it to be fixed in different positions in the mounting element

p0005914.

p00060The spiral spring 32 is additionally attached to a relatively rigid wire 16 that cooperates with the latter through a support 15 which is fixed to the molar 31 to be raised. Thus, the spiral spring 32 exerts an almost continuous pressure force on the molar 31 and is gradually raised relative to the lower jaw 30.

p00061Figures 8 and 9 schematically represent a very interesting embodiment of the implant according to the invention. This embodiment differs from the other embodiments described above in that the mounting element 3 is cylindrical, so it is coaxial with the rod 4 which is bent at an angle of for example 90 °.

p00062This mounting element 3 has two cylindrical grooves 17 and 33 which extend through the longitudinal axis 34 thereof and which are almost perpendicular to each other. In addition, the mounting element 3 is provided with a threaded drilled hole 18 which is coaxial with the mounting element 3 and which extends between said grooves 17 and 33 and the side surface 35 of the mounting element 3 located opposite said rod 4. Therefore, it is possible to fix orthodontic devices such as a connecting rod, in one of the grooves 17 or 33 by means of a stud which is threaded into the drilled hole 18.

p00063A mounting element of this type 3 makes it possible, among other things, to fix orthodontic devices in different directions, depending on the groove used 17 or 33. Furthermore, this mounting element 3 offers an important advantage because said drilled hole 18 extends substantially through the lateral surfaces of the teeth, after the implant has been fixed the jaw, such that this drilled hole 18 is easily accessible in the oral cavity to thread a stud in it.

p00064Furthermore, the implant according to this embodiment of the invention has fixing means 2 in the form of an osteosynthesis plate with three circular grooves 6, 7 and 8 to fix the implant to the upper or lower jaw of a person by means of screws corresponding.

p00065Advantageously, the fixing means 2 are made of a resorbent material, in particular such as for example a resorbent polymer containing L-lactide, D-lactide and Glycolide in a molecular ratio of 85/5/10, while the mounting element 3 and the rod 4 are made for example of titanium.

p00066This rod 4 is then attached to the fixing means 2 by means of a threaded joint, for example. After the teeth have been placed in an adjusted position, the rod 4 with the mounting element 3 is removed from the fixing means 2, for example by loosening the rod 4 and thereby removed. Therefore it is not necessary to remove the fixing means 2 since they have been completely resorbed after for example one or two years.

p00067In a very advantageous way, apart from the fixing means 2, also the mounting element 3 and the rod 4 are made of a resorbent material.

p00068In another way which is also very advantageous, the fixing means 2, the mounting element 3 and the rod 4 are made of one piece and are made for example of a resorbent material. After the teeth have been placed in an adjusted position, the rod 4 with the mounting element 3 is removed from the fixing means 2, for example by breaking the rod 4 or cutting it, and then removed.

p00069The embodiment of the implant according to the invention, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, differs from the previous embodiment in that the rod 4 is not bent. This rod 4 is manufactured in such a way that it can be folded in the position required by heating, for example. In addition, the circular grooves 6, 7 and 8, which are provided on the osteosynthesis plate 2, extend along the longitudinal axis of the rod 4 which coincides with the rod 34 of the mounting element 3.

p00070It is clear that, according to the invention, the embodiment of the implant as shown in Figures 8 and 9, can also be manufactured with a rod 4 that is not bent, such as in the embodiment of the implant as shown in Figures 10 and 11.

p00071It is also clear that, in order to prevent wounds from forming in the oral cavity, the mounting element 3 has rounded angles.

p00072The placement of the implant according to the invention in the lower or upper jaw only requires a small surgical treatment. A small incision is made in the gum with local anesthesia at the point where the implant has to extend through the gum. Next, the fixing means 2 are fixed to the bone of the underlying jaw and the gum around the joint element is sutured, so that the mounting element 3 protrudes into the oral cavity. The orthodontic devices preferably only attach to this mounting element 3 after the gum has healed and the screws with which the implant has been fixed have been sufficiently intertwined together with the bone.

p00073The invention is not limited in any way to the embodiments described above in this orthodontic implant document according to the invention represented in the attached drawings. On the contrary, various variants are possible within the scope of the present invention, insofar as it refers to the dimensions and shapes of the implant as well as the orthodontic devices fixed thereto.

p00074For example, these orthodontic devices are not limited to brackets 15, metal wire 16, tension element 29 and spiral springs 25, 28 and 32 described above, but also comprise all other normal orthodontic elements. which can be placed in the oral cavity in order to adjust the position of certain teeth.

p00075In addition, the implant can not only be attached to a brace with brackets, but can also work in conjunction with any other type of brace.

p00076Although a mounting element 3 provided with a groove 17 that works together with a stud 22 to fix a connecting rod 14 or other orthodontic devices has been described, various variants are possible. Therefore, the connecting rod 14 for example can be fixed to the mounting element by means of gluing or through a recessed joint.

p00077It is also possible that the mounting element 3 is mounted directly on the metal wire 16, or on the other orthodontic devices, in order to avoid the use of a connecting rod 14.

p00078In certain cases, it may be interesting to provide different grooves 17 in one and in the same mounting element 3 so that different coupling rods 14 can be fixed to one and to the same implant 1.

p00079In addition, the shape of the fixing means 2 is, of course, not limited to an osteosynthesis plate with four grooves, but can have all kinds of shapes and possibly more or less grooves and the corresponding screws. Therefore, the fixing means 2 can be formed for example by a small threaded rod which is threaded directly into the jaw bone.