Dental Implant Abutment with Segmented Design for Adjustability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dental implants face issues such as bacterial bone regression, aesthetic concerns due to exposed titanium, micro-cracks in zirconium oxide implants, and complications during grinding and insertion, which can lead to tissue and bone loss, as well as thermal heating and metal splinter issues.

Innovation Solution

A structural part with a tool holder that transmits forces indirectly to the anchoring part, featuring a predetermined breaking point and fiber-reinforced plastic design, allowing for controlled force transmission and preventing damage to the anchoring part, while being grindable and adaptable for individual adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If zirconium oxide implants are ground down for adjustments, then adaptability is improved, but microcracks occur and reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadjustabilityVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The implant system is divided into two separate components: an anchoring part implanted in the bone and an abutment that can be adjusted. This segmentation allows the abutment to be grindable for adaptability while the anchoring part remains intact and reliable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The abutment serves as an intermediary component between the anchoring part and the crown. It can be ground and adjusted to achieve proper fit, while transferring loads to the non-grindable anchoring part, thus protecting the anchoring part from damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If zirconium oxide implants are ground down, then adaptability is improved, but temperature increases causing cell death

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadjustabilityVSAvoidthermal damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the implant into an anchoring part and an abutment, only the abutment undergoes grinding. This limits heat generation to a small component away from the bone interface, preventing thermal damage to surrounding tissues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If titanium implants are ground down, then adaptability is improved, but metal fragments penetrate gums causing discoloration

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadjustabilityVSAvoidmetal fragmentation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The abutment is made of a composite material (e.g., fiber-reinforced plastic or ceramic) that can be ground without producing harmful metal fragments. This composite material provides both adjustability and eliminates the risk of metal splinter formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Reliability

If one-piece zirconium oxide implants are used, then bacterial bone loss is prevented, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebacterial resistanceVSAvoidintegration accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The implant is segmented into an anchoring part and an abutment. The anchoring part can be manufactured with high precision as a one-piece zirconium oxide component to prevent bacterial bone loss, while the abutment is separately manufactured and adjusted to achieve proper fit without compromising overall manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

5Adaptability or versatility

If two-part implants with gap between anchoring part and abutment are used, then adaptability is improved, but bacterial infestation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadjustabilityVSAvoidbacterial accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The abutment acts as an intermediary that fills and seals the interface between the anchoring part and the crown. It creates a tight connection that eliminates gaps where bacteria could accumulate, while still allowing for adjustments to the abutment itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2734145B1Abutment for an artificial dental prosthesis
Publication Date: 2019.06.12 ZV3 - ZIRCON VISION
  • EP2734145B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2734145B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2734145B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to an abutment provided to allow an associated anchoring part to be introduced into a bone without said anchoring part (30) becoming damaged. A suitable abutment comprises: an abutment upper part (21) arranged along a longitudinal axis (7), and an abutment lower part (23) which, for the purpose of form-fittingly inserting said abutment (20) into an abutment receiving region (26) of an anchoring part (30), has a profile that allows a torque applied to the abutment (20) to be transmitted to the anchoring part (30), said abutment upper part (12) comprising a tool receiving portion (40) for form-fittingly receiving a tool.