Containers for dental implants

Abstract

Container (1) for a dental implant (10), comprising a receiving body (11) with a first receiving chamber (12) into which the dental implant (10) can be inserted, and comprising a second receiving chamber (13) into which a healing screw (14) can be inserted, wherein a first cover element (15) is provided with which the first receiving chamber (12) can be at least partially closed, and wherein a second cover element (16) is provided with which the second receiving chamber (13) can be at least partially closed and which secures the healing screw (14) in the second receiving chamber (13), wherein the healing screw (14) has a longitudinal axis (17) that coincides with a principal axis (18) of the receiving body (11), characterized in that the second receiving chamber (13) is designed to receive the healing screw (14) such that the healing screw (14) has a longitudinal axis (17) that coincides with a principal axis (18) of the receiving body (11). exhibits axial play (s) to the inside of the second cover element (16).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a container for a dental implant, comprising a receiving body with a first receiving space into which the dental implant can be inserted, and comprising a second receiving space into which a healing screw can be inserted, and wherein a first cover element is provided with which the first receiving space can be at least partially closed and wherein a second cover element is provided with which the second receiving space can be at least partially closed and which secures the healing screw in the second receiving space, wherein the healing screw has a longitudinal axis that coincides with a main axis of the receiving body. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] The term "dental implant" refers to a replacement for a tooth root that is screwed into a patient's jawbone. The dental prosthesis is completed later, after the healing process is complete, with the dental crown and the connecting element, the so-called abutment. Unlike a dental implant, these two components do not require sterile packaging and are therefore easier to handle. During the healing process, a healing screw is screwed into a threaded hole on the top, into which the abutment is then screwed after healing. The dental implant and the healing screw are usually packaged together and therefore preferably housed in a shared container.

[0003] The implantation process itself is discussed in more detail in the following publications, so it will not be discussed here. It should be noted that this involves surgery on open tissue, bone, and vessels, so sterility and extreme cleanliness are required when handling the dental implant at all times. The sterility of the dental implant itself, and therefore also of the container, is ensured by additional aseptic and germ-proof packaging in the form of a blister pack, as long as the blister pack is not opened or the maximum storage period is exceeded.

[0004] Historically, containers are known that consist of a so-called primary part, which has a sterile sealed volume against a secondary part, thus enabling sterile storage of the implant. The secondary part is not sterile and offers only limited protection against environmental influences such as dust and moisture. In the simplest case, this merely forms an outer packaging, which is equivalent to the environment in terms of cleanliness. This is therefore of only minor medical importance and is often either not described in detail or not described in detail in subsequent patents.

[0005] For example, US Pat. No. 5,558,230 A describes an older cylindrical container which, like many other solutions, provides access to an axially removable implant at one end. As with all such solutions, the disadvantage is the risk of inadvertent contact with the implant during removal due to the general uncertainty associated with manual handling. In particular, an angular misalignment between the longitudinal axes of the container and the implant is difficult to avoid, making the risk of inadvertent contact particularly high. This risk increases not only with increasing implant length, but also with its thickness, as the distance from the constant diameter of the inner wall of the primary container decreases.

[0006] WO 02 / 30315 A1 aims to remedy this deficiency by removing the implant in an axial direction. This document also describes the risk of contamination with foreign material and its consequences in detail. The disadvantage of this solution is the need to house the complex mechanism for guiding the implant within the primary container.

[0007] US 8,292,075 B2 describes a container with a rectangular cross-section and a sideways pivoting lid that is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis at the rear end. The implant is clamped to the front of the housing by means of an additional component. The advantage of this solution is that it allows the implant to be removed via the shortest possible upward route, with a greatly reduced risk of contact with the inner wall of the container due to the short path, which is also far away from the interior walls of the container. The disadvantage of this solution is the considerable effort required to create an airtight and germ-tight seal within the interior. According to the document, this should be achieved in a conventional manner, but is not described in detail, and its implementation is left to an experienced specialist. A sterile barrier in the form of a blister pack was not considered.

[0008] A new, advanced generation of containers circumvents this fundamental problem and is disclosed in EP 2 745 800 B1. It differs fundamentally from its predecessors not only in the deviation from the cylindrical shape and the method of attaching the implant. A metallic insert ensures that the implant comes into contact exclusively with metal, specifically titanium. The receiving body is made of a plastic material, and it is important to prevent microparticles from being rubbed off by the plastic, which then adhere to the implant, for example, in the case of sharp edges on the implant.

[0009] US 2007 / 0181446 A1 discloses a container for a dental implant, comprising a receiving body and a receiving space formed therein, into which the dental implant is inserted, and comprising a lid element that is pivotably mounted on the receiving body between a closed position and an open position. The dental implant is clamped between a titanium base plate and an elastic polymer element in the lid, so that the clamping occurs along the longitudinal axis of the dental implant. The lid must therefore be fully opened to remove the dental implant. The elastic element that comes into contact with the dental implant must meet specific material specifications, and it must be ensured that no microparticles that could adhere to the implant can detach from the elastic element. Furthermore, it must be ensured that no particles adhere to the healing screw. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The object of the invention is to improve and further technically simplify a container for a dental implant, so that the container is constructed from as few components as possible and it is reliably avoided that microparticles remain adhering to the implant after the healing screw has been removed from the container.

[0011] This object is achieved by a container according to the preamble of claim 1 with the characterizing features. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0012] The invention includes the technical teaching that the second receiving space for receiving the healing screw is designed such that the healing screw has an axial play in the main axis of the receiving body to the inside of the second cover element.

[0013] The core concept of the invention is a distance between the top of the healing screw and the inside of the second lid element, so that when the lid element is pushed sideways, no plastic material rubs off the top of the healing screw and becomes stuck to it. This is achieved by the axial play, whereby the axial play in the sense of the invention already describes an axial distance between the top of the healing screw and the inside of the second lid element. A stress-free reception of the healing screw in the container can be achieved at least along the main axis, so that contact between the healing screw and the lid element is avoided when the lid element is opened.The container can also be equipped with a lid element that can be slid down from the side of the receiving body. The lateral movement for removing the lid element describes a movement axis that runs perpendicular to the main axis of the container. An operator, i.e., the physician or an assistant, can align the container vertically so that the healing screw is removed vertically upwards, i.e., against gravity.

[0014] In the same way, it can be provided that the receiving space for receiving the dental implant is determined in such a way that the dental implant has an axial play in the main axis of the receiving body to the inside of the cover element.

[0015] This creates a container for a dental implant that consists of a minimal number of individual parts and offers the advantage that not only the implant but also the healing screw can be easily removed when both cover elements are removed one after the other from the receiving body, and it can be ensured that no microparticles from the plastic material of the cover element remain stuck to the dental implant or the healing screw.

[0016] For example, the axial play between the inner side of the respective cover element and the upper side of the dental implant and / or the healing screw can have a value of 0.05 mm to 2 mm, preferably a value of 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm, and particularly preferably a value of 0.2 mm to 1 mm. Particularly preferred would be an axial play of 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm.

[0017] It must be explained that axial and radial play of the dental implant within the receiving basket should not be viewed exclusively in a static, i.e., stationary, state. Rather, there is a dynamic component that should not be underestimated during handling and, above all, transport. This dynamic component arises as a result of external, undefined accelerations applied to the container. The dental implant, in interaction with the spring plate that forms the receiving basket, can form an oscillating spring-mass system. For example, during transport, possibly accompanied by rough handling or vibrations, this can lead to friction between the dental implant and the receiving basket, within which the dental implant may also be pre-tensioned, which is difficult to determine.Above all, however, friction can occur on the inside of the cover, so that according to a further embodiment, the cover element can also have a sheet metal element, in particular titanium sheet, which can be inserted into the inside of the cover element and protects the dental implant against the plastic of the cover element.

[0018] While a certain degree of pre-tensioning of the dental implant in the receiving basket is beneficial to prevent excessive mobility of the dental implant, jamming of the dental implant in the receiving basket should be avoided. This ensures that when the dental implant is removed from the container or from the receiving basket using the operator's insertion key, the operator does not accidentally pull out the entire receiving basket. Therefore, jamming of the dental implant in the receiving basket should not occur without exerting finger pressure on the elastic spring sections of the receiving body. However, a slight radial play is desirable, as otherwise unhindered removal of the dental implant without finger force cannot be guaranteed. In this respect, radial play of the dental implant in the receiving basket should rather be understood as meaning a slight radial pre-tension.

[0019] Particularly advantageously, a receiving basket is inserted into the receiving body, in which the dental implant is accommodated. The receiving body forms a plastic component, for example, manufactured using an injection molding process, whereas the receiving basket that is inserted into the receiving body comprises a metallic material, in particular a titanium material. The receiving basket is designed such that it can accommodate the dental implant in such a way that the dental implant no longer comes into contact with the plastic material of the receiving body. At most, the dental implant can still come into contact with the inside of the cover element, whereby this contact occurs essentially without force, so that no plastic abrasion in the form of microparticles, which would originally originate from the cover element, can cling to the dental implant.

[0020] The receiving basket is designed with an inner receiving space and has a base section and two opposing leg sections, allowing the dental implant to rest on the base section while being held internally between the two leg sections. The dental implant is, for example, essentially cylindrical or truncated cone-shaped and can thus be accommodated between the two leg sections with a slight radial play. The axial play in the main axis, which coincides with the longitudinal axis of the dental implant, is defined between the base section and the inner side of the cover section.

[0021] The second receiving space is designed for the insertion of the healing screw with axial play or for self-retaining insertion. The healing screw can therefore move axially back and forth, or it can be pressed into the second receiving space and slightly clamped there. It is also conceivable that the second receiving space is designed for screwing in the healing screw. The healing screw, which itself is designed with an external thread, can also be screwed into a section in the second receiving space, while no thread has previously been introduced into the wall of the second receiving space. This allows the healing screw to be screwed into the second receiving space in a self-tapping manner.

[0022] If the healing screw is not to be held in a forced position in the second receiving space, it can have axial and / or lateral play, whereby the healing screw is held directly in the plastic of the receiving body. It is also possible for the second receiving space to have an additional metal insert, for example, made of titanium, so that the healing screw also only comes into contact with the metal insert. This metallic lining is also conceivable for the inside of the first and second cover elements.

[0023] The second receiving space may have a front larger diameter and a rear smaller diameter, wherein the front section is defined by the fact that it points towards the exit of the second receiving space and the rear section ends with the bottom side of the second receiving space.

[0024] The first and / or second cover element can be accommodated on the receiving body in a manner that is laterally displaceable relative to the main axis of the receiving body, so that the cover element can be removed from the receiving body by a lateral displacement. For this purpose, retaining grooves can be incorporated into the outer contour of the receiving body, into which the cover element can be inserted laterally. For this purpose, a wraparound portion can be formed on the cover element to create a tongue-and-groove connection, and the cover element can be attached in a self-retaining manner to the first end opening area of ​​the receiving body.

[0025] The receiving body preferably has an elongated shape along the main axis and terminates with a first end opening into which the receiving basket is inserted with a movement along the main axis. The receiving body can be designed such that differently sized receiving baskets can be inserted into the first end opening, whereby the dimensions of the receiving basket can be adapted to the dimensions of the dental implant to be accommodated.

[0026] The receiving body can have a second end opening region for forming the second receiving space in which the healing screw can be received, wherein the second end opening region is formed opposite the first receiving space.

[0027] Furthermore, retaining grooves associated with the cover elements can be incorporated into the outer contour of the receiving body, into which the cover elements can be inserted laterally. The cover elements can be made of a softer plastic than the plastic of the receiving body, thereby creating elasticity in the cover elements, which allows the cover elements to be slid onto the receiving body and then retained.

[0028] Particularly advantageously, the receiving basket can be inserted into the receiving body in such a way that it locks into place and is thus positively positioned within the receiving body along its main axis. This ensures that the receiving basket is not accidentally pulled out of the receiving body when the dental implant is removed, which can happen if the operator strongly compresses the two mutually movable spring sections of the receiving body, causing the dental implant to inadvertently pull the receiving basket out of the receiving body.

[0029] For example, the leg sections of the receiving basket can have retaining tabs at their free ends, into which locking lugs arranged on the receiving body can engage when the receiving basket is inserted into the first end opening area. The retaining tabs can be designed such that they form a positive connection with the locking lugs, so that the receiving basket cannot escape from the receiving body, at least along its main axis. In particular, the retaining tabs can have window-like openings into which the locking lugs can engage.

[0030] The receiving body has two openings at opposite ends, one for the dental implant and the other for the healing screw. The healing screw is not subject to the same sterility requirements, so the healing screw itself can also be screwed into the material of the receiving body to secure it in place. However, it should be avoided that debris from the second cover element adheres to the healing screw. Therefore, contact between the healing screw and the second cover element must be avoided.

[0031] The healing screw can also extend longitudinally along the main axis of the receiving body, so that in order to remove the healing screw, the operator only has to turn the receiving body so that the second end opening area is accessible.

[0032] Typically, the healing screw is removed once the actual dental implant has already been removed from the container.

[0033] Finally, the receiving body can be slit along its main axis using recesses, forming two elastically movable spring sections on the receiving body. The leg sections of the receiving basket can rest on the inside of the spring sections, so that when an external force is applied, for example, between the thumb and index finger of a hand, the spring sections and thus the leg sections can be elastically compressed, clamping the dental implant when compressed. This allows the dental implant to be fixed, for example, to insert the screwing tool into the dental implant, so that the dental implant can then be removed from the receiving body or from the receiving basket using the screwing tool, which is also sterile.

[0034] The base section of the receiving basket can be made narrower than the distance between the inner sides of the spring sections, so that the base section allows for spring travel and does not prevent the two leg sections of the receiving body from being compressed. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0035] Further measures improving the invention are described in more detail below, together with the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the figures. It shows: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a container for dental implants, Fig. 2 a cross-sectional view of the container for dental implants according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a detailed view of the lower, second opening area of ​​the receiving body with a healing screw accommodated therein, showing the invention and Fig. 4 an exploded view of the container for dental implants with a dental implant and a healing screw.

[0036] The Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show, in a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, a container 1, which essentially comprises a receiving body 11, for example made of a plastic material that is processed by injection molding. The receiving body 11 extends along a main axis 18 and has a first receiving space 12 on the upper side and a second receiving space 13 on the lower side, wherein the first upper receiving space 12 is closed with a first cover element 15 and the second lower receiving space 13 is closed with a second cover element 16. A dental implant 10 is received in the upper, first receiving space 11, and a healing screw 14 is received in the lower, second receiving space 13.

[0037] The receiving body 11 is formed with two recesses 22 in the upper section, creating two resilient sections that can be pressed against each other and thus elastically displaced toward each other. A receiving basket 19 is inserted into the receiving body 11 in this upper region of the resilient sections. After inserting the dental implant into the titanium receiving basket 19, this first receiving space 12 of the receiving body 11 is closed with the first cover element 15 to secure the dental implant 10 against falling out.

[0038] The healing screw 14 has been inserted into the second end opening area, in which the second receiving space 13 is formed, on the underside. The healing screw 14 can be screwed or pressed into the material of the receiving body 11 on the inside of the second receiving space 13, and the second receiving space 13 is then also closed with a second cover element 16, so that the healing screw 14 is also prevented from falling out.

[0039] Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional detailed view of the receiving body 11 in the area of ​​the lower second receiving space 13, in which the healing screw 14 is inserted, and the lower second receiving space 13 is closed with the second cover element 16. The healing screw 14 is inserted in the lower, second receiving space 13. In the inner area, the second receiving space 13 has a front, larger diameter D1 and a rear, smaller diameter D2. In the area of ​​the rear, smaller diameter D2, the healing screw 14 can be screwed in, or the healing screw 14 is pressed into this area. It is also conceivable for the healing screw to remain axially movable along its longitudinal axis 17 once it has been inserted into the receiving space 13. The healing screw can thus be received in a forced position, or it is provided that the healing screw remains movable along its longitudinal and / or transverse axis (axially and / or radially).

[0040] The view shows an arrangement of the healing screw 14 in the second receiving space 13 with an axial play s against the inside of the second cover element 16, whereby the healing screw 14 can move slightly in its longitudinal axis 17, wherein the longitudinal axis 17 coincides with the main axis 18 of the receiving body 11.

[0041] If the second cover element 16 is pushed to the right in the plane of the view shown and thus separated from the receiving body 11, the head side of the healing screw 14 cannot come into contact with the inside of the second cover element 16 in such a way that material of the second cover element 16 rubs off and adheres to the healing screw 14, which is achieved by the axial play s. This ensures that even when the healing screw 14 is removed, no microparticles of the plastic material from which the second cover element 16 is formed remain adhered to the healing screw 14 when the cover element 16 is pulled off from the lower end opening area.

[0042] The first as well as the second cover element 15, 16 has a somewhat softer material compared to the receiving body 11 and must be pushed onto the receiving body 11 with a slight force so that the cover elements 15, 16 can hold themselves on the receiving body 11 and can be pushed off the receiving body 11 in the direction of the arrow shown with a minimum force.

[0043] Fig.4 shows an exploded view of the container 1 with a dental implant 10 and a healing screw 14. The receiving body 11 is shown in isolation with the upper, first receiving space 12 for receiving the dental implant 10, so that the receiving basket 19 is also visible, which is inserted into the upper side of the receiving body 11. Furthermore, two cover elements 15 and 16 are shown, with the cover element 16 closing the underside of the receiving body 11 after the healing screw 14 has been inserted into the lower, second receiving space 13 of the receiving body 11.

[0044] The perspective view of the receiving body 11 also shows in an improved manner the recesses 22 which are slit into the receiving body 11 starting from the first end opening area, so that two resilient sections are created on the receiving body 11 which can be elastically compressed, for example, between the thumb and index finger in order to clamp the dental implant 10 between the leg sections 20a of the receiving basket 19.

[0045] The receiving basket 19 has two opposing leg sections that are integrally connected to each other via a common base section 20b. The dental implant 10 can be completely enclosed by the receiving basket 19, which is made of a metal, for example, titanium, and thus kept away from the plastic material of the receiving body 11.

[0046] Retaining grooves 21 are provided beneath the respective collars of the first and second end opening areas, into which grips 23 on the cover elements 15, 16 engage when the cover elements 15, 16 are pushed laterally onto the first and second end opening areas. This holds the cover elements 15, 16 to the receiving body 11. The cover elements 15, 16 are made of a softer, more flexible plastic material than the receiving body 11 and spring back slightly when they are pushed laterally onto the opening areas, which is the basis for the self-retaining effect.

[0047] The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment described above. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable that utilize the solution presented even in fundamentally different embodiments.

[0048] All features and / or advantages arising from the claims, the description or the drawings, including structural details or spatial arrangements, may be essential to the invention both individually and in a wide variety of combinations. List of reference symbols: 1 container 10 Dental implants 11 receiving bodies 12 first recording room 13 second recording room 14 Healing screw 15 first cover element 16 second cover element 17 Longitudinal axis 18 Main axis 19 receiving basket 20a leg section 20b floor section 21 Retaining groove 22 recesses 23 Envelope s axial play D1 anterior larger diameter D2 rear smaller diameter QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 5,558,230 A

[0005] WO 02 / 30315 A1

[0006] US 8,292,075 B2

[0007] EP 2 745 800 B1

[0008] US 2007 / 0181446 A1

[0009]

Claims

[1] Container (1) for a dental implant (10), comprising a receiving body (11) with a first receiving space (12) into which the dental implant (10) can be inserted, and comprising a second receiving space (13) into which a healing screw (14) can be inserted, and wherein a first cover element (15) is provided, with which the first receiving space (12) can be at least partially closed, and wherein a second cover element (16) is provided, with which the second receiving space (13) can be at least partially closed and which secures the healing screw (14) in the second receiving space (13), wherein the healing screw (14) has a longitudinal axis (17) which coincides with a main axis (18) of the receiving body (11), characterized by that the second receiving space (13) for receiving the healing screw (14) is designed such that the healing screw (14) has an axial play (s) in the main axis (18) of the receiving body (11) to the inside of the second cover element (16). [2] Container (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the axial play (s) has a value of 0.05mm to 2mm and / or a value of 0.1mm to 1.5mm and / or a value of 0.2mm to 1mm. [3] Container (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the second receiving space (13) is designed for inserting the healing screw (14) under an axial play (s) or for self-retaining insertion. [4] Container (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the second receiving space (13) is designed for screwing in the healing screw (14). [5] Container (1) Claim 3 or 4, characterized by that the second receiving space (13) has a front larger diameter (D1) and a rear smaller diameter (D2). [6] Container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the first cover element (15) and / or the second cover element (16) is accommodated on the receiving body (11) in a laterally displaceable manner with respect to the main axis (18) of the receiving body (11) and can be removed from the receiving body (11) by a lateral displacement. [7] Container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by in that the receiving body (11) has an elongated shape along the main axis (18) and has a first end opening region for forming the first receiving space (12), into which a receiving basket (19) is inserted with a movement in the main axis (15) and in which the dental implant (10) can be received. [8] Container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the receiving body (11) has a second end-side opening region for forming the second receiving space (13) in which the healing screw (14) can be received, wherein the second end-side opening region is formed opposite the first receiving space (12). [9] Container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that retaining grooves (21) are provided in the outer contour of the receiving body (11), into which the cover element(s) (15, 16) can be inserted laterally. [10] Container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the cover elements (15, 16) are made of a softer plastic than the plastic of the receiving body (11).

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