A controlled-size free soft tissue harvesting device

Abstract

The application discloses a controllable free soft tissue cutting device, a tool holder is fixed to the end of a handle, both ends of a sliding rail are fixed to the tool holder, a sliding block is slidingly assembled on the sliding rail, a clamp is fixed to each sliding block, a blade is fixed to each clamp, and the two blades are arranged in parallel; the cutting edge of the blade is a double-inclined circular arc, a through hole is arranged on the blade face at the blade tip, the bottom of the through hole extends to the blade ridge to form an opening, a blade face groove is arranged on the outer side of the blade and extends to the blade root along the through hole, a clamp groove and a sliding block groove are arranged on the positions where the clamp and the sliding block are aligned with the blade face groove; both ends of a metal wire are installed on the blade faces of the two blades through the opening, the blade and the metal wire form a U-shaped cutting structure, both ends of the metal wire extend upward to the position above the sliding block through the through hole, the blade face groove, the clamp groove and the sliding block groove, and are then inserted into a BOA unit fixed to the top of the sliding rail. The application can cut free soft tissues with uniform thickness and the length and width of which can be accurately controlled.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of oral surgical instruments, and in particular to a size-controllable free soft tissue harvesting device. Background Technology

[0002] Free soft tissue grafts are a common method for treating gingival recession and increasing the width of keratinized gingiva, but there are many technical bottlenecks in the intraoperative graft preparation. In patients with complex maxillary palate anatomy (especially the posterior palate region), steep vaults, or thin mucosa, surgical instruments are difficult to extend fully, which can easily lead to insufficient graft size or marginal tearing.

[0003] Traditional instruments (such as scalpels) cannot precisely control the cutting depth. Cutting too shallowly results in insufficient graft thickness, while cutting too deep damages branches of the greater palatine artery, causing bleeding or postoperative pain. Relying on the surgeon's experience, uneven force during dissection can easily lead to graft perforation or delamination failure (separation of epithelium and connective tissue).

[0004] Traditional methods of obtaining grafts result in inconsistent thickness; grafts that are too thin are prone to necrosis, while grafts that are too thick delay the re-establishment of blood supply to the recipient area. Manual cutting, relying on the surgeon's experience, makes it difficult to ensure uniform tissue thickness, easily leading to perforation or excessive thickness. Furthermore, the width of the soft tissue requires visual control by the surgeon. Therefore, the current problems in obtaining free soft tissue in clinical practice include: (1) poor surgical field of view and high operational difficulty; (2) reliance on the surgeon's experience makes it difficult to guarantee the appropriate width, length, and thickness of the graft, resulting in uneven graft thickness and affecting treatment outcomes; (3) high technical sensitivity, long operation time, high demands on the surgeon, and strong postoperative discomfort for the patient.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for a device that is easy to operate and produces tissues with uniform thickness and controllable width and length to complete the cutting of free soft tissue. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to address the shortcomings of traditional scalpels in obtaining soft tissue of specific dimensions (length, width, and thickness) during surgery, such as uneven cutting thickness and difficulty in precisely controlling length and width, and to provide a free soft tissue cutting device with controllable dimensions.

[0007] The technical solution adopted to achieve the purpose of this invention is:

[0008] A size-controllable free soft tissue harvesting device includes a handle, a blade holder, a slide rail, a slider, a clamp, a blade, a wire, and a BOA unit, wherein:

[0009] The blade holder is fixed to the end of the handle, the two ends of the slide rail are fixed to the blade holder, two sliders are slidably assembled on the slide rail, the position of each slider on the slide rail is fixed by a positioning screw, a clamp is fixed on each slider, each clamp is fixed with a blade, and the two blades are arranged in parallel.

[0010] The blade has a double-beveled arc shape. A through hole is provided on the blade surface at the tip of the blade. The bottom of the through hole extends towards the blade ridge to form an opening. A blade surface groove is provided on the outer side of the blade along the through hole towards the blade root. A clamping groove and a slider groove are provided at positions that are aligned with the blade surface groove.

[0011] The two ends of the metal wire are installed on the cutting surfaces of the two blades through the opening. The blades and the metal wire form a U-shaped cutting structure. The two ends of the metal wire extend upward through the through hole, the cutting surface groove, the clamp groove and the slider groove to pass above the slider and are incorporated into the BOA unit fixed to the top of the slide rail.

[0012] In the above technical solution, the blade edge is straight and has scale values.

[0013] In the above technical solution, the clamp includes an outer block and an inner block fastened by fixing screws, wherein the top of the outer block is fixed to the slider, and the inner surface of the outer block is in contact with and fixed to the outer surface of the blade. The working length of the blade is controlled by adjusting the clamping length of the blade in the clamp.

[0014] In the above technical solution, the inner surfaces of the outer block and the inner block are provided with grooves that match the width of the blade.

[0015] In the above technical solution, the slide rail is provided with scale values, and curved tool holders are fixed at both ends of the slide rail. The two tool holders are bent and joined together and fixed to the end of the handle.

[0016] In the above technical solution, the handle is provided with two rotary joints.

[0017] In the above technical solution, the metal wire is a nickel-titanium alloy wire with a diameter of 0.1-0.3mm, a 316L stainless steel wire with a diameter of 0.1-0.3mm, or a tungsten wire with a diameter of 0.1-0.3mm.

[0018] In the above technical solution, the blade is made of high-carbon stainless steel, ceramic or carbon steel.

[0019] In the above technical solution, the surface of the blade is coated with a PTFE coating.

[0020] In the above technical solution, the forked connection of the tool holder is provided with an elastic buffer structure.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0022] The device of this invention can cut soft tissue with uneven thickness and precise control over length and width; it does not rely on the doctor's experience, has a simple structure, is easy to operate, and is easy to promote and apply. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 The image shown is a front view of the cutting device of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 This is a side view of the cutting device of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 3 This is a top view of the cutting device of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the blade's structure.

[0027] In the diagram: 1-handle, 2-tool holder, 3-slide rail, 4-slider, 5-clamp, 6-blade, 7-wire, 8-BOA unit, 9-perforation, 10-opening, 11-blade face groove, 12-clamp groove, 13-slider groove, 14-fixing screw, 15-rotating joint, 16-positioning screw;

[0028] 5-1-Outer block, 5-2-Inner block;

[0029] 6-1-Blade edge, 6-2-Blade ridge, 6-3-Blade root; Detailed Implementation

[0030] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

[0031] Example 1

[0032] like Figures 1-4 As shown, a size-controllable free soft tissue harvesting device includes a handle 1, a blade holder 2, a slide rail 3, a slider 4, a clamp 5, a blade 6, a metal wire 7, and a BOA unit 8, wherein:

[0033] The blade holder 2 is fixed to the end of the handle 1, the two ends of the slide rail 3 are fixed to the blade holder 2, the two sliders 4 are slidably assembled on the slide rail 3, the position of each slider 4 on the slide rail 3 is fixed by a positioning screw 16, a clamp 5 is fixed on each slider 4, and a blade 6 is fixed on each clamp 5. The two blades 6 are arranged in parallel.

[0034] The blade 6 has a double-beveled arc-shaped cutting edge 6-1 (which balances sharpness and reduces tissue damage, superior to the single beveled edge of a traditional peeler). A through hole 9 is provided on the blade surface at the tip of the blade 6. Preferably, the through hole 9 is an elliptical hole. The bottom of the through hole 9 extends towards the blade ridge 6-2 to form an opening 10. A blade surface groove 11 is provided on the outer side of the blade 6 along the through hole 9 towards the blade root 6-3. A clamping groove 12 and a slider groove 13 are provided on the clamp 5 and the slider 4 at positions aligned with the blade surface groove 11.

[0035] The two ends of the metal wire 7 are installed on the cutting surfaces of the two blades 6 through the opening 10. The blades 6 and the metal wire 7 form a U-shaped cutting structure. The two ends of the metal wire 7 extend upward through the through hole 9, the blade groove 11, the clamp groove 12 and the slider groove 13 to pass above the slider 4 and enter the BOA unit 8 fixed to the top of the slide rail 3.

[0036] The tension of the wire 7 can be adjusted by rotating the BOA unit 8. After the blade 6 is positioned and secured by the clamp 5, tightening the BOA unit 8 will tighten the wire 7. The rotating nut of the BOA unit 8 can be configured as an implant screw, allowing for precise control of the wire 7's tension using an implant repair wrench to ensure it meets cutting requirements. When the blade 6 needs to be replaced, reversing the BOA unit 8 loosens the wire 7, allowing it to be removed from the opening 10 for blade replacement.

[0037] Preferably, the blade 6-2 is straight and has graduated values.

[0038] Preferably, the blade root 6-3 is held and fixed by a clamp 5. The clamp 5 includes an outer block 5-1 and an inner block 5-2 fastened by fixing screws 14. The top of the outer block 5-1 is fixed to the slider 4, and the inner surface of the outer block 5-1 is in contact with and fixed to the outer surface of the blade 6. The working length of the blade 6 is controlled by adjusting the clamping length of the blade 6 within the clamp 5. The inner surfaces of the outer block 5-1 and the inner block 5-2 are provided with grooves matching the width of the blade 6, so that the blade 6 can only move vertically on the clamp 5, ensuring that the two blades 5 are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the soft tissue surface to be cut. The lower surface of the clamp 5 extends outward to stop the movement, and its upward curvature facilitates smoother movement on the soft tissue surface during soft tissue cutting.

[0039] Preferably, the slide rail 3 is provided with scale values. When the slider 4 moves on the slide rail 3, it drives the clamp 5 and the blade 6 to move horizontally. The distance between the two blades 6 (i.e., the width to be cut into soft tissue) is adjusted. After adjusting to a suitable width, it is fixed by the positioning screw 16 on the slider 4. The BOA unit 8 is fixed in the center of the slide rail 3 to facilitate the insertion of the metal wires 7 passing through the sliders 4 on both sides. The two ends of the slide rail 3 are fixed with curved blade holders 2, and the two blade holders 2 are bent and joined together and fixed to the end of the handle 1.

[0040] Preferably, the blade holder 2 has a physiological curvature during its extension and convergence, so that the curvature of the blade holder 2 fits the palate when the device is working. The handle 1 is provided with two rotating joints 15. By adjusting the angle of the two rotating joints 15, the angle between the handle 1 and the blade holder 2 and the working surface can be adjusted to meet the oral cavity operation space requirements.

[0041] When the device cuts, the blade 6 cuts perpendicularly into the soft tissue surface. The clamp 5 stops when its bottom surface touches the soft tissue surface, reaching the cutting depth. Hold the handle 1 to keep the bottom of the clamp 5 in close contact with the soft tissue for horizontal cutting. When the desired length is reached, pull the blade 6 outward, and the metal wire 7 cuts off the cut soft tissue.

[0042] Preferably, the metal wire 7 is made of super-elastic nickel-titanium alloy wire (0.1-0.3 mm in diameter), 316L stainless steel wire (0.1-0.3 mm in diameter), or tungsten wire (0.1-0.3 mm in diameter).

[0043] Preferably, the blade 6 is made of high-carbon stainless steel (such as 420J2 or 440C), ceramic or carbon steel, or has a PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) coating to reduce tissue adhesion.

[0044] Preferably, an elastic buffer structure (such as a silicone pad) can be added to the bifurcated connection of the scalpel holder 2 to avoid vibration caused by the resistance of the gingival tissue during operation.

[0045] Preferably, the handle 1 has a ring-fixing structure at its tail to prevent the instrument from slipping during the operation.

[0046] Preferably, the force application of BOA unit 8 can be designed to match the screws of common implant brands such as Straumann, Nobel, and Astra, so as to facilitate tightening and adjusting the tension of the metal wire 7.

[0047] Example 2

[0048] Obtaining free gingiva with epithelium using the free soft tissue harvesting device described in Example 1 includes the following steps:

[0049] Adjust the length of the blade 6 within the clamp 5 to achieve a working length of 2mm, meaning the length from the wire 7 to the bottom of the clamp 5 is 2mm. Adjust the position of the slider 4 on the slide rail 3 to adjust the distance between the blades 6. The distance between the blades 6 is generally 5-10mm, with a maximum of 15mm. Determine this distance based on surgical needs (e.g., 8mm), which corresponds to the width of the soft tissue to be harvested. After determining the width, fix the slider clamp 4 to the slide rail 3 using the positioning screw 16. Tighten the BOA unit 8 using a torque wrench or machine screwdriver to bring the tension of the wire 7 to 2-5N. Adjust the rotation joint 15 of the handle 1 according to the shape of the patient's maxillary palate vault to make the device fit the donor area more closely, ensuring that the blade 6 is as perpendicular as possible to the surface of the palate.

[0050] The handle 1 is positioned inside the patient's mouth, with the blade 6 perpendicular to the hard palate surface. The soft tissue harvesting area is controlled within a safe range of 3mm from the gingival margin and 5mm from the greater palatine artery. The handle 1 is used to cut perpendicularly into the hard palate soft tissue to a depth of 2mm, with the bottom surface of the slider clamp 5 acting as a stop and start mechanism. After reaching the cutting depth, the handle 1 cuts from back to front, and the blade 6 and the wire 7 form a U-shaped cutting structure, which can produce a soft tissue graft with a depth of 2mm and a width that meets the requirements. After cutting to the required length (e.g., 15mm), the wire 7 is used to detach the graft, completing the harvesting process and obtaining a 15mm (length) * 8mm (width) * 2mm (thickness) free gingival graft.

[0051] Example 3

[0052] The preparation of epithelialized connective tissue grafts using the free soft tissue harvesting device described in Example 1 includes the following steps:

[0053] Adjust the length of the blade 6 within the clamp 5 to make the working length 0.5mm. Adjust the working width (e.g., 8mm), the tension of the wire 7, and the angle of the rotating joint 15 in the same way as in Example 2. Cut into the soft tissue and cut horizontally to the required length of 2mm (e.g., 17mm). Do not sever the 0.5mm thick surface epithelium. After the U-shaped cutting structure retracts to the cutting point, it is removed.

[0054] Adjust the length of the blade 6 within the clamp 5 to a working length of 2mm. Then, cut into the soft tissue of the palate in situ to a depth of 2mm. Cut along the original cutting trajectory to the required length (15mm). Use the metal wire 7 to sever the epithelial connective tissue beneath the epithelium. This will yield a uniform epithelial free connective tissue graft measuring 15mm (length) * 8mm (width) * 1.5mm (thickness).

[0055] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that, for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A size-controllable free soft tissue harvesting device, characterized in that, Includes handle, tool holder, slide rail, slider, clamp, blade, wire, and BOA unit, among which: The blade holder is fixed to the end of the handle, the two ends of the slide rail are fixed to the blade holder, two sliders are slidably assembled on the slide rail, the position of each slider on the slide rail is fixed by a positioning screw, a clamp is fixed on each slider, each clamp is fixed with a blade, and the two blades are arranged in parallel. The blade has a double-beveled arc shape. A through hole is provided on the blade surface at the tip of the blade. The bottom of the through hole extends towards the blade ridge to form an opening. A blade surface groove is provided on the outer side of the blade along the through hole towards the blade root. A clamping groove and a slider groove are provided at positions that are aligned with the blade surface groove. The two ends of the metal wire are installed on the cutting surfaces of the two blades through the opening. The blades and the metal wire form a U-shaped cutting structure. The two ends of the metal wire extend upward through the through hole, the cutting surface groove, the clamp groove and the slider groove to pass through the slider and enter the BOA unit fixed to the top of the slide rail. The tension of the wire is adjusted by rotating the BOA unit; tightening the BOA unit tightens the wire, while rotating the BOA unit in the opposite direction loosens the wire.

2. The size-controllable free soft tissue harvesting device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The blade edge is straight and has graduated values.

3. The size-controllable free soft tissue harvesting device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The clamp includes an outer block and an inner block fastened by fixing screws. The top of the outer block is fixed to the slider, and the inner surface of the outer block is fixed in contact with the outer surface of the blade. The working length of the blade is controlled by adjusting the clamping length of the blade in the clamp.

4. The size-controllable free soft tissue harvesting device as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The inner surfaces of the outer and inner blocks are provided with grooves that match the width of the blade.

5. The size-controllable free soft tissue harvesting device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The slide rail is equipped with scale values, and curved tool holders are fixed at both ends of the slide rail. The two tool holders are bent and joined together and fixed to the end of the handle.

6. The size-controllable free soft tissue harvesting device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The handle is equipped with two rotary joints.

7. The size-controllable free soft tissue harvesting device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The metal wire is a nickel-titanium alloy wire with a diameter of 0.1-0.3 mm, a 316L stainless steel wire with a diameter of 0.1-0.3 mm, or a tungsten wire with a diameter of 0.1-0.3 mm.

8. The size-controllable free soft tissue harvesting device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The blade is made of high-carbon stainless steel, ceramic, or carbon steel.

9. The size-controllable free soft tissue harvesting device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The surface of the blade is coated with a PTFE coating.

10. The size-controllable free soft tissue harvesting device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The forked connection of the tool holder is provided with an elastic buffer structure.

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