Covering device for covering lips and corners of the mouth

Abstract

This invention relates to a covering device (100) for covering a patient's lips and corners of the mouth during treatment, comprising an elastic lip tension element (101), an elastic vestibular tension element (103), and a film member (105) having a surface (107) made of polyolefin and connecting the respective tension elements.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a covering device for covering a patient's lips and corners of the mouth during treatment, and a method of manufacturing the covering device.

Background Art

[0002] In the dental treatment process, an intraoral scanner is frequently used. Digital impression taking is performed quickly and is more comfortable for the patient compared to using trays and impression materials. During scanning, good access to the oral cavity is necessary to be able to guide the intraoral scanner so that the area around the dentition can be visualized and to ensure the management of moisture and saliva.

[0003] In this case, the use of a lip-cheek retractor is an effective auxiliary means. A rigid lip-cheek retractor acts to open the mouth wide, but generally is uncomfortable to wear, generates pressure points, and causes contact with the intraoral scanner.

[0004] On the other hand, a flexible lip-cheek retractor gently opens the patient's oral cavity. The lip-cheek retractor has the function of annularly separating and holding the lips and buccal mucosa from the front teeth to the most posterior molars with low pressure, thereby greatly expanding the working area for the dentist. In particular, during surgery, an easily accessible and highly visible working area is essential. The lip-cheek retractor is elastic in all three dimensions and is manufactured from a non-latex material and is disposable. Its elasticity enables unrestricted and complete opening and closing of the mouth and lateral movement of the jaw.

[0005] However, the intraoral scanner does not slide smoothly on rubbery material components and may partially stagnate (stick-slip phenomenon). When the intraoral scanner stagnates on the lip-cheek retainer, the flow of motion is interrupted. This makes recording the intraoral scan difficult. In addition, the user's attention is diverted from the actual intraoral scan. Greater force is applied to move the intraoral scanner head again. This often leads to irregular movement, and therefore uneven distribution of data density on the tooth surface. Furthermore, poor sliding can also lead to the lip-cheek retainer being pulled out of the mouth and falling. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a dental covering device that facilitates intraoral scanning using an intraoral scanner. Furthermore, the object of the present invention is to provide a covering device having bactericidal properties suitable for reducing the risk of infection in a simple manner during oral surgery. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The aforementioned technical problems are solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Technically preferred embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the detailed description of the invention, and the accompanying drawings.

[0008] According to a first embodiment, the technical problem is solved by a covering device for covering the patient's lips and corners of the mouth during treatment, comprising: an elastic lip tension element; an elastic vestibule tension element; and a film member having a surface made of polyolefin and connecting the respective tension elements. This covering device achieves the technical advantage of being able to guide the intraoral scanner around the dentition with uniform speed and force.

[0009] In a technically preferred embodiment of the coating apparatus, the film member is manufactured from polyolefin. This achieves technical advantages, such as simplification of the manufacturing process of the film member.

[0010] In another embodiment of a technically preferred coating apparatus, the polyolefin comprises polyethylene (PE). It is preferable that the polyolefin is manufactured entirely from polyethylene (PE). It is particularly preferable that the polyolefin is manufactured from linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). LLDPE provides chemical durability, good impact resistance at low temperatures, and low density (0.85 g / cm³). 3 or 0.95 g / cm³ 3 Excellent processing characteristics and good compression deformation characteristics are achieved. In addition, a technical advantage is achieved in that the film material can be sterilized very well by radiation such as beta rays, gamma rays, or X-rays, or by using ethylene oxide (EtO).

[0011] In another technically preferred embodiment of the coating apparatus, the elastic lip tensile elements and / or elastic vestibule tensile elements are provided with surfaces made of polyolefin. This achieves a technical advantage, for example, that the sliding properties of the coating apparatus are further improved.

[0012] In another embodiment of a technically preferred coating apparatus, the elastic lip tensile element and / or elastic vestibule tensile element are manufactured from polyolefin. This achieves the technical advantage of simplifying the manufacture of the elastic lip tensile element and / or elastic vestibule tensile element, for example.

[0013] In another technically suitable embodiment of the covering device, the film member has a thickness of 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm. This achieves a technical advantage, for example, that the film member possesses highly suitable properties. The thinner the film member, the more comfortable, flexible, and easily adjustable it becomes in the patient's oral cavity. The thicker the film member, the more suitable it becomes for scanning.

[0014] In another technically suitable embodiment of the covering device, the film member has a Shore hardness of 5A to 70D, more preferably 10A to 65D, 10A to 30A, or 30A to 65D. This achieves, for example, the technical advantage that the film member has good flexibility and durability. In the 10A to 30A range, the technical advantage that the covering device is relatively flexible and consequently provides improved wearing comfort. The more flexible the material, the simpler and easier it is to introduce the covering device into the patient's oral cavity. In the 30A to 65D range, the covering device becomes relatively rigid, and therefore allows for easier scanning of the oral cavity with an intraoral scanner.

[0015] In another embodiment of a technically suitable coating apparatus, the film member is formed without the use of plasticizers or phthalates. This achieves the technical advantage that, for example, these substances do not diffuse from the film member.

[0016] In another embodiment of a technically preferred coating apparatus, the polyolefin is 0.85 g / cm³ 3 or 0.95 g / cm³ 3 It has a density of . This achieves a technical advantage, for example, that a highly suitable and highly sliding polyolefin can be used.

[0017] In another technically suitable embodiment of the coating apparatus, the film member is transparent. The film member is manufactured, for example, from a transparent polyolefin. This achieves the technical advantage of being able to observe, for example, the condition of the coated lips during use of the coating apparatus.

[0018] According to a second embodiment, the aforementioned technical problem is solved by a method for manufacturing a covering device for covering a patient's lips and corners of the mouth during treatment, wherein a polyolefin for a film member between a lip tension element and a vestibular tension element is injection-molded in an injection mold. This achieves the same technical advantages as the covering device according to the first embodiment described above.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of this method, the polyolefin contains an antimicrobial additive. The antimicrobial additive can be formed from silver ions. Thereby, for example, a technical advantage is achieved in that a film member of a coating device is injection-molded from a polyolefin having antimicrobial properties.

[0020] According to a third aspect, the above technical problem is solved by a method for sterilizing a coating device according to the first aspect, which includes a step of irradiating the coating device with ionizing radiation. Thereby, a technical advantage is achieved in that microorganisms or bacteria on the film member can be eliminated. Therefore, linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) is particularly suitable.

[0021] Examples of the present invention will be clarified by the accompanying drawings and the detailed description described below.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] [Figure 1] It is an explanatory drawing showing a coating device for covering a patient's lips and corners of the mouth during treatment.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] In FIG. 1, a coating device 100 for covering a patient's lips and corners of the mouth during treatment is shown. Thereby, hygienic access to the patient's mouth during treatment becomes possible. The lips and corners of the mouth are covered by the coating device 100.

[0024] The coating device 100 includes an elastic lip tension element 101, an elastic vestibular tension element 103, and a film member 105 that connects the respective tension elements 101 and 103. The lip tension element 101 is formed as a tension ring and is pulled outside the mouth. The vestibular tension element 103 is also formed as a tension ring and is pulled inside the mouth. The lip tension element 101 and / or the vestibular tension element 103 can be formed in a circular, elliptical, or other circumferential shape.

[0025] The covering device 100 provides unique flexibility, elasticity, and a comfortable wearing feeling. In addition, the covering device 100 facilitates the patient's mouth opening maintenance. The covering device 100 enables uniform fixation of the lips and cheeks, a freely accessible and highly visible treatment area, and effective and rapid relative drying.

[0026] The constituent members of the covering device 100, namely the lip tension element 101 and the vestibular tension element 103, can be manufactured by an injection molding method from a sterilizable synthetic resin, preferably a polyolefin, particularly preferably polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE). However, the lip tension element 101 and the vestibular tension element 103 can also have a surface made of polyolefin.

[0027] The film member 105 between the lip tension element 101 and the vestibular tension element 103 forms a covering means and extends along the edge of the mouth opening. Thereby, hygienic access to the opening can be achieved. The film member 105 has a surface 107 made of polyolefin or is completely formed from polyolefin.

[0028] In a highly preferred embodiment, the lip tension element 101 and the vestibular tension element 103 are formed from polypropylene, and the film member 105 is formed from LLDPE.

[0029] Polyolefin is a polymer produced by chain polymerization from alkenes such as ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, or isobutene. The general composition is (CH2CHR) n where R is an alkyl group or a hydrogen atom. Polyolefin is a saturated hydrocarbon and is characterized by low density, good chemical durability, low water absorption, and good electrical insulation. Polyolefin is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic resin and is easy to process and can be manufactured at low cost. The density of polyolefin is, for example, 0.85 g / cm 3 to 3Polyolefins include, for example, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). In these cases, the main reason for the difference in density is the degree of branching of the molecular chains. The higher the degree of branching, the lower the density of polyethylene. HDPE has a high density because it has only weakly branched polymer chains. In contrast, LDPE has a low density because it has a high degree of branching.

[0030] The film member 105 or surface 107 may also contain a polymer mixture with another polyolefin. The polymer mixture can be a mixture of two polyolefins selected from the group consisting of, for example, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The polyolefins can be present in any mixing ratio, preferably 1% by weight to 99% by weight or 99% by weight to 1% by weight.

[0031] The film member 105 or surface 107 may contain a thermoplastic polyolefin or a polymer mixture having a thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO). The polymer mixture may contain a thermoplastic polyolefin and additionally polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and / or linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). Generally, the polymer mixture may be a mixture of polyolefin and one or more elastomer components. In addition, the polyolefin or polymer mixture may be plasticizer-free.

[0032] Due to the low friction between the polyolefin film member 105 and the surrounding dental arch, the intraoral scanner can be guided at a constant speed around the dental arch.

[0033] Polyolefins possess extremely excellent processing properties. Furthermore, polyolefins are suitable for overmolding and co-extrusion molding within injection molds.

[0034] The thickness of the film member 105 is 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm. The Shore hardness of the film member 105 is 5A to 70D, preferably 10A to 65D. It has sterilization properties, and the quality of the sterilization treatment is equally good across all defined Shore hardness ranges. Depending on the layer thickness, the rigidity of the film member 105 is reached, leading to increased holding power. A significant reduction in stick-slip effect is achieved by the polyolefin film member 105. The better sliding properties of the softer component surface 107 reduce the stick-slip effect, resulting in less adhesion on the film member 105 when using work tools.

[0035] The film member 105 can be formed from pure polyolefin without phthalates or plasticizers, and therefore no diffusion of plasticizers occurs. The film member 105 can be transparent. The film member 105 made of polyolefin has good chemical durability, high impact resistance at low temperatures, and good compressive deformation properties. Sterilization can be carried out by ethylene oxide (EtO), beta rays, or gamma rays. The radiation causes the destruction of macromolecules such as DNA, RNA, and functional proteins. This ensures that viruses and microorganisms lose their ability to replicate and die.

[0036] The film member 105 can also be manufactured from a polyolefin containing antimicrobial additives. For example, a masterbatch containing antimicrobial and antimicrobial resin additives can be added to the LLDPE raw material pellets. This prevents the growth of microorganisms and bacteria on the film member 105. The antimicrobial additives can be incorporated into the amorphous regions of the polymer molecular structure in the form of resin condensates.

[0037] In addition to or as a substitute for the selective antimicrobial additive, the film member 105 according to the present invention may also be produced from a polyolefin having one or more other additives. Such additives include, for example, pigments, colorants, antioxidants, stabilizers, or processing aids.

[0038] In the manufacturing method of the coating device 100, for example, in the first step, polyolefin is injection-molded in an injection mold using an injection molding method. Alternatively, another resin material may be injected into the injection mold to form, for example, a lip tensile element 101 or a vestibule tensile element 103. Subsequently, in the second step, the coating device 100 is removed from the injection mold.

[0039] All features described and illustrated in relation to individual embodiments of the present invention can be applied to the present invention in various combinations, thereby achieving effective advantages simultaneously.

[0040] All method steps can be performed using apparatus suitable for carrying out each method step. All functions performed by the feature in question can be method steps in this method.

[0041] The scope of protection of this invention is defined by the appended claims and is not limited by the features described or illustrated in this description. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0042] 100 Coating device 101 Lip tension element 103 Vestibular tensile element 105 Film component 107 Surface

Claims

1. Elastic lip tensioning element (101), Elastic vestibular tensile element (103), It comprises a film member (105) having a surface (107) made of polyolefin that connects each of the aforementioned tensile elements. A covering device (100) for covering the patient's lips and corners of the mouth during treatment.

2. The coating apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein the film member (105) is manufactured from polyolefin.

3. The coating apparatus (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the polyolefin comprises linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE).

4. A coating device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the elastic lip tensile element (101) and / or elastic vestibule tensile element (103) have a surface (107) made of polyolefin.

5. The coating apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the elastic lip tensile element (101) and / or elastic vestibular tensile element (103) are made from polyolefin.

6. A coating device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the film member (105) has a thickness of 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm.

7. A coating device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the film member (105) has a Shore hardness of 5A to 70D, more preferably 10A to 65D, 10A to 30A, or 30A to 65D.

8. The coating apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the film member (105) is formed without using a plasticizer or phthalate.

9. Polyolefin: 0.85 g / cm³ ３ or 0.95 g / cm³ ３ A coating apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, having a density of the above.

10. A covering device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the film member (105) is transparent.

11. A method for manufacturing a covering device (100) for covering a patient's lips and corners of the mouth during treatment, comprising injection molding a polyolefin for a film member (105) between a lip tension element (101) and a vestibular tension element (103) in an injection mold.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the polyolefin contains an antimicrobial additive.

13. A method for sterilizing a coating device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising the step of irradiating the coating device (100) with ionizing radiation.

14. Application of the covering device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 to the oral cavity of a patient during an intraoral scan.

15. Application of the covering device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 to the oral cavity of a patient during oral surgery.

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