Multifunctional self-locking stabilizer for dental use

Abstract

Multifunctional self-locking stabilizer for dental use characterized by the fact that it is essentially made up of an elastic forceps with two arms (2,2') each including: - a grip portion (6,6') stably connected to the grip portion (6', 6) of the other arm (2', 2) and kept at rest elastically distanced from it, - a spreader portion (4,4'), which at rest is kept elastically close to the spreader portion (4', 4) of the other arm (2', 2) and is configured so as to be able to elastically adhere to the alveolar bone (16) and at the same time be able to keep the corresponding mucosal flap, after its detachment, distanced from the bone itself to an extent suitable for exposing it to the operator, - a crossed connection element (12,12') between each grip portion (6,6') and the corresponding spreader portion (4,4'), configured to cause the forced mutual distancing of said spreader portions (4, 4') when said gripping portions (6,6') are forcibly brought closer together.

Description

[0001] MULTIFUNCTIONAL SELF-LOCKING STABILIZER FOR DENTAL USE.

[0002] The present invention concerns a multifunctional self-locking stabilizer for dental use.

[0003] Instruments are known which are used, in particular, in oral osteoalveolar surgery to keep the mucosal flaps stably spread apart for the entire time required by the operator to perform the operation on the alveolar bone, both maxillary and mandibular. They generally include two laminar portions, mounted on the two arms of a tool substantially similar to scissors, which are forced to adhere to the two sides, external and internal, of the dental arch, in which an incision has previously been made along the crest of the gingival mucosa; the subsequent detachment of the two flaps allows the operator to access the underlying bone structure and carry out the required intervention.

[0004] These known instruments have proven to be functionally useful but have the drawback of requiring the constant presence of an assistant, who keeps them in the correct position to allow the operator to access the area without difficulty, in which the operation must be carried out.

[0005] Another drawback of these known instruments consists in the fact that they are generally not reversible, in the sense that they must have a different configuration depending on whether they are to be applied to a right or left arch of the patient and this forces the operator or assistant to have two different types of instruments and make a correct choice of the one required by the arch, to which it must then be applied.

[0006] The aim of the invention is to eliminate this drawback and to be able to carry out operations on the alveolar bone which require keeping the edges of the gingival mucosa stably apart without the necessary presence of an assistant who physically supports the instrument during the operation.

[0007] In particular, the aim of the invention is to propose a stabilizer of the spread flaps of the gingival mucosa, which can maintain its position once applied. Another purpose of the invention is to propose a stabilizer of the spread flaps of the gingival mucosa which is small in size and takes up little space.

[0008] Another purpose of the invention is to propose a stabilizer of the spread flaps of the gingival mucosa which is simple to manufacture and operates safely and reliably.

[0009] Another purpose of the invention is to propose a stabilizer of the spread flaps of the gingival mucosa that is easy to apply.

[0010] Another purpose of the invention is to propose a stabilizer of the spread flaps of the gingival mucosa with a simple shape and easy to be cleaned.

[0011] Another purpose of the invention is to propose a stabilizer of the spread flaps of the gingival mucosa, which thanks to its simplicity of construction and operation, can be made in a single piece both in sterilizable material, and therefore reusable, and in disposable material, and therefore for single use.

[0012] Another purpose of the invention is to propose a stabilizer of the spread flaps of the gingival mucosa which in an alternative solution can be made in several parts, which can be assembled together in various ways to form a versatile instrument in the sense of being able to be varied in its dimensions and more generally in its characteristics, depending on the position and extension of the section of arch to which it must be applied.

[0013] Another purpose of the invention is to propose a stabilizer of the spread flaps of the gingival mucosa which can also be used to stabilize the cottons which are generally applied on the intact mucosa to keep the operating field dry.

[0014] Another purpose of the invention is to propose a stabilizer of the spread edges of the gingival mucosa which can keep the soft tissues (floor of the tongue, tongue, cheeks and lips) apart during the use of instruments, in particular rotary instruments. All these purposes and others that will result from the following description can be achieved, according to the invention, with a multifunctional self-locking stabilizer for dental use as defined in claim 1.

[0015] The present invention is further clarified below in some of its preferred practical embodiments reported for purely illustrative and nonlimiting purposes with reference to the attached drawings, in which: figure 1 shows a perspective view of a stabilizer according to the invention in a first embodiment, figure 2 shows it in a side view, figure 3 shows it in a plane,

[0016] Figure 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a pair of alveolar bones before surgery, figure 5 shows it in the same view as fig. 4 after the incision of the mucosa of the mandibular bone but before the application of the stabilizer according to the invention, figure 6 shows it in the same view as fig. 4 with the stabilizer applied, figure 7 shows it in perspective view in a second embodiment, figure 8 shows it in side view, and figure 9 shows it in a plane .

[0017] As can be seen from figures 1 - 6, in a first embodiment the stabilizer, according to the invention, essentially consists of a type of elastic gripper formed by two arms 2,2', each including a spreader portion 4,4' and a 6.6', which can be defined as grip, as it is the portion of the stabilizer on which the operator must exert a certain pressure with his fingers when applying it to the alveolar bone, before carrying out the surgical operation.

[0018] The spreader portion 4,4' of each arm 2,2' has a preferably straight shape and in turn includes it own spreader portion 8,8' with a smooth external surface and an internal surface which faces towards the portion retractor 8', 8 of the other arm 2', 2, at least partially serrated or wavy and complementary to the serrated or wavy surface of this other arm, so that at rest, when the retractor sections 8,8' are generally close together, their serrated surfaces interpenetrate.

[0019] Each spreader portion 4,4' can be affected by this serrated surface for its entire extension or only in part, especially in the case in which the stabilizer must be used to keep short sections of mucosal flap spaced apart. In this case it is preferable for the serrated portion to extend into a thin straight, non-wavy portion 10,10', which, via a connecting element 12,12', joins the spreader portion 4,4' to the respective grip portion 6, 6'.

[0020] The conformation and arrangement of each connecting element 12,12' is such as to form a type of crossed connection in the sense that the spreading portion 4 of the arm 2, which in fig. 3 is arranged at the bottom, it is connected to the respective socket portion 6, which in the same fig. 3 is arranged above and, vice versa, the spreading portion 4' of the arm 2', which in fig. 3 is arranged above is connected to the respective grip portion 6', which in the same fig. 3 is placed below. Furthermore, it is preferable that the conformation of each connecting element 12, 12' is such as to make the two spreader portions 4,4' move on a plane different from the plane on which the two gripping portions 6,6' move, as can be seen in fig. 2, in which is visible that the two spreading portions 4,4' of the two arms 2,2' are placed at a lower level than the two gripping portions 6,6'.

[0021] The two gripping portions 6,6' of the two arms 2,2' are shaped approximately as an S so as to be joined together at one end and to be spaced apart at the opposite end, which is the end at which they are joined, via the connecting elements 12,12', to the respective spreader portions 4,4' and, thanks to the crossed connection with these, at rest they keep them in a close and preferably close condition (see fig. 1 ).

[0022] The two grip portions 6,6' can be joined together by any means and in particular they can be welded together or they can be obtained from a single metal piece folded in half, so that the two sections of the two portions adjacent to the line of folding are close to each other, while the two opposite ends, to which the two connecting elements 12, 12' are attached, are spaced apart and keep the retractor sections 8,8' of the two arms 2,2' elastically adherent.

[0023] For the use of the stabilizer according to the invention, i.e. for its application to the alveolar bone 16, on which the operation must be carried out, first of all the operator makes an incision 14 on the gingival crest in correspondence with the relevant portion of the alveolar bone 16 (fig. 5).

[0024] Subsequently, after detaching the two mucoperiosteal flaps from the alveolar bone 16, the operator interposes between them the two sections 8,8' of the two retractor portions 4,4', which in this phase are still in contact with each other, and begins to exert a pressure on the two gripping portions 6,6' of the two arms 2,2', thus causing their approaching and the simultaneous mutual distancing of the two spreading portions 4,4'. Then he slides the stabilizer along the alveolar bone 16 so as to progressively detach the soft tissue edges substantially along the entire incised section.

[0025] Once this phase is completed, the operator releases the stabilizer, which by an elastic reaction grips with the two sections 8,8' of its spreading portions 4,4' to the alveolar bone 16, stabilizing its position and at the same time keeping apart the two mucosal flaps, which rest externally on said 8,8' sections.

[0026] At this point the operator can leave the stabilizer, which, thanks also to the wavy conformation of the two sections 8,8' in contact with the alveolar bone 16, engages stably with it and maintains its position firmly without the need to be supported during the intervention (fig. 6).

[0027] The stabilizer now described can advantageously be made of metallic material, which in this case can be subjected to sterilization after each use and is therefore of a multipurpose type. Furthermore, it is foreseen that it can be made of plastic material, and in this case it is of the disposable type.

[0028] The invention provides different types of stabilizers, all based on the same principle but different from each other depending on the length of the retractor sections 8,8' and the situation of the alveolar bone, on which the operation will be performed and therefore to which the stabilizer will need to be applied.

[0029] For example, stabilizers are provided with different degrees of elastic compliance, to be able to be applied to different portions of the patient's alveolar bone, with sufficient strength for the stabilizer to support itself support but unsuitable for creating injuries to the bone itself.

[0030] Furthermore, the variability of interventions on the patient's oral cavity requires that the stabilizer is suitable to be applied both when the arch patient is without teeth and when teeth are present near the area of the intervention.

[0031] In particular, in the case of an arch without teeth, the connecting elements 12,12' between each grip portion 6,6' and the respective spreader portion 4,4' must have a length such as to keep separated the plane of movement of the spreader portion 4.4' from the gripping portions 6.6', just enough so that in working conditions the latter can remain sufficiently distanced from the section of periosteal mucosa not affected by the operation and that the two spreader portions 4.4' can operate at a different level both to be able to perform the retractor function on the two mucosal flaps and to be able to adhere to the alveolar bone during the operation.

[0032] If, however, the portion of the arch in which the operation must be carried out is close to a portion of the arch with teeth, which could interfere with the gripping portions 6,6' of the stabilizer, in this case the connecting elements 12,12 ' between the two grip portions 6.6' and the two spreader portions 4.4' must necessarily be longer in order to maintain said spreader portions at the level suitable for carrying out their function, while the grip portions 6.6' remain above or below the teeth, depending on whether the intervention affects the lower or upper arch respectively.

[0033] Furthermore, it is also envisaged that at least the retractor portions 8,8' of the two spreader portions 4,4' can be slightly curved rather than straight, to better follow the anatomical conformation of the arch involved in the surgical operation. Furthermore, the invention also provides that the stabilizer can have a standard format and configuration, suitable for its use in various situations.

[0034] In a different embodiment, illustrated in figures 7 - 9, the principle on which the invention is based is the same, but the configuration of the stabilizer is different. In particular, the two grip portions 6,6' develop with an arcuate shape on a plane substantially orthogonal to the plane of development of the two retractor sections 8.8', and allow the instrument to be made more compact and such not only as to have reduced dimensions but to be more balanced and to ensure better stability once applied on the area. In this case its dimensions can be a few centimeters and allow the entire stabilizer to be housed inside the patient's oral cavity.

[0035] In both embodiments now described and illustrated, each spreading portion 4,4' is envisaged to be stably connected to the respective gripping portion 6,6' via a connecting element 12,12', and this requires the operator to have several stabilizers of different characteristics and dimensions and are suitable to provide the function required by the particular intervention to be carried out. However, the invention also provides stabilizers, in which each spreader portion 4,4' is made into two separable parts: in particular a first part 8,8' integral with the respective connecting element 12,12', and a second part 18, 18', removably attachable to the first part by interlocking or snapping or by any other removable means of attachment. This allows the operator to have a single instrument, to which retractor portions of different shapes and / or dimensions can be selectively and interchangeably applied, suitable for the different needs imposed by the particular operation to be performed.

[0036] Regardless of the embodiment adopted and the configuration in a single part or in two separable parts, the spreader portion 4,4' of the two arms 2,2' can be flat or more advantageously curved, as can be better observed in fig. 7, in order to spread the two mucosal flaps more apart and to completely free the operating field for the operator. Furthermore in fig 7, and in particular in its enlarged detail, can also be seen the detail of the connection of the second separable and interchangeable parts 18,18' of the spreader portions 4,4', which are connected to the respective first parts 8,8' by interlocking.

[0037] As a result of the above, it is clear that the stabilizer according to the invention achieves all the objectives stated in the various configurations, and in particular:

[0038] - it is self-suporting and does not require the presence of an assistant during the operator's intervention,

[0039] - it is small in size and takes up limited space,

[0040] - it is reversible and can be used interchageably for the upper arch or for the lower arch, and within each arch for its right or left section,

[0041] - it is simple to manufacture and safe and reliable in operation,

[0042] - it is easy to apply,

[0043] - has a simple shape and can be easily cleaned,

[0044] - it can be made of both sterilizable material and of disposable material,

[0045] - it can be made in multiple shapes, suited to the specific needs imposed by the intervention to be carried out and can also be made with separable parts,

[0046] - it can also be used in non-surgical oral practices and in particular keeps the operating field drier and stabilizes the cottons, keeping the soft tissues (floor of the tongue, tongue, cheeks and lips) apart during the use of instruments, in particular rotary instruments.

Claims

C L A I M S1 . Multifunctional self-locking stabilizer for dental use characterized by the fact that it is essentially made up of an elastic forceps with two arms (2,2') each including:- a grip portion (6,6') stably connected to the grip portion (6', 6) of the other arm (2', 2) and kept at rest elastically distanced from it,- a spreader portion (4,4'), which at rest is kept elastically close to the spreader portion (4', 4) of the other arm (2', 2) and is configured so as to be able to elastically adhere to the alveolar bone (16) and at the same time be able to keep the corresponding mucosal flap, after its detachment, distanced from the bone itself to an extent suitable for exposing it to the operator,- a crossed connection element (12,12') between each grip portion (6,6') and the corresponding spreader portion (4,4'), configured to cause the forced mutual distancing of said spreader portions (4, 4') when said gripping portions (6,6') are forcibly brought closer together.

2. Stabilizer according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that said arms (2,2') are configured so that when at rest the respective spreader portions (4,4') are kept elastically in contact with each other.

3. Stabilizer according to one or more of the previous claims characterized by the fact that said arms (2,2') belong to a single monolithic element bent at one end of said grip portions (6,6').

4. Stabilizer according to one or more of the previous claims characterized by the fact that said grip portions (6,6') develop on a plane substantially orthogonal to the development plane of said spreader portions (4,4').

5. Stabilizer according to one or more of the previous claims characterized by being made of metallic material.

6. Stabilizer according to one or more of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that it is made of plastic material .

7. Stabilizer according to one or more of the previous claims characterized by the fact that the spreading portion (4,4') of each arm (2,2')is constituted by a substantially laminar element, the internal surface of which faces towards the spreading portion ( 4',4) of the other arm (2', 2) is corrugated so as to facilitate its adherence to said portion of alveolar bone (16), and whose opposite surface is configured to support said detached mucosal flap from said portion of alveolar bone (16).

8. Stabilizer according to claim 4 characterized in that the internal surface of the plate of each arm (2,2') is corrugated.

9. Stabilizer according to claim 8 characterized by the fact that the undulations present on the internal surface of each arm (2,2') are configured for mutual interpenetration when the respective spreading portions (4,4') of the two arms (2,2 ') are in contact with each other.

10. Stabilizer according to one or more of the previous claims characterized by the fact that said spreading portions (4,4') of said arms (2,2') are straight.11 . Stabilizer according to one or more of claims 1 to 9 characterized by the fact that said retractor portions (4,4') of said arms (2,2') are curved in accordance with the portion of dental arch (16), to which they will have to adhere.

12. Stabilizer according to one or more of the previous claims characterized by the fact that said connecting elements (12,12') are configured so as to maintain the movement plane of said spreading portions (4,4') of said arms (2, 2'), spaced from the plane of movement of said grip portions (6,6') sufficiently to prevent the movement of said grip portions (6,6') from being hindered by the presence of teeth in a part of alveolar bone close to the one in which the operation will be performed.

13. Stabilizer according to one or more of the previous claims characterized by the fact that said gripping portions (6,6') of said arms (2,2') are substantially S-shaped and have one end in mutual contact and the other end constrained to the respective spreading portion (4,4') via said connecting element (12,12'), which is configured in such a way as to keep the movement plane of said gripping portions (6,6') distanced from the plane of movement of the respective retractor portions (4,4')sufficiently to prevent the approaching movement of said gripping portions (6,6') from being hindered by the presence of teeth of a part of alveolar bone close to that, in which said spreader portions (4,4') are intended to operate.

14. Stabilizer according to one or more of the previous claims characterized by the fact that each spreading portion (4,4') is made in two parts (8,8'; 18, 18'), of which a first part (8,8' ) is integral with the respective connecting element (12,12') and a second part ( 18,18') can be removably attached to the first part (8,8').

15. Stabilizer according to claim 14 characterized by the fact that the first part (8,8') of each spreader portion (4,4') can be connected by interlocking to the second part (18,18') of the same spreader portion (4, 4').

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