Maxillary Expander With Dental Aligner and Multi-Screw Anchorage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing maxillary expanders either cause undesired tooth movement, stress bone structures, require multiple surgical procedures, or are inefficient in generating orthopedic effects, particularly in skeletally mature individuals, and often necessitate multiple devices for adequate expansion.
Innovation Solution
A maxillary expander device comprising at least two bodies coupled to the maxilla without engaging teeth, using an adjustment mechanism to apply forces for lateral or forward/upward movement, and an aligner to maintain distance, allowing for efficient skeletal expansion and reducing stress on bone and teeth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If force is applied directly to the hard palate using mini screws, then orthopedic expansion effect is improved, but stress on bone structure and screw breakage risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the force application system into multiple independent mini-implants (typically 4-6 screws distributed across the maxilla) rather than relying on a single screw. This segments the total expansion force across multiple attachment points, reducing the stress concentration on any single bone-screw interface and minimizing the risk of screw breakage or bone damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The mini-implants are strategically positioned in specific regions of the maxilla (anterior and posterior to the midline) where the bone quality and density are optimal for anchorage. This local optimization ensures that force is applied at sites with sufficient structural strength to withstand the expansion forces without causing bone damage.
2Device complexity
If only two mini implants are used on each side of the median palatine suture, then device complexity is reduced, but orthopedic expansion efficiency decreases in skeletally mature individuals
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple mini-implants (4-6 total) distributed across the maxilla rather than just two per side. This segmentation allows for better force distribution and improved mechanical leverage, enabling effective skeletal expansion in skeletally mature patients who require greater total force application.
Solution Approach 2:
The mini-implants are positioned in multiple spatial dimensions (anterior-posterior, medial-lateral, and vertical positions) to create optimal force vectors. This three-dimensional distribution of anchorage points enhances the mechanical efficiency of the expansion system, allowing for effective skeletal movement even in mature individuals with denser bone structure.
3Force
If expansion force is applied to teeth through molar bands, then maxillary arch expansion is achieved, but undesired tooth movement and root resorption occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention completely removes the teeth and molar bands from the force transmission system. Instead of applying expansion force through dental anchorage, the system uses mini-implants anchored directly in the maxillary bone to apply force solely to the skeletal structure, thereby eliminating all tooth movement and root resorption side effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The mini-implants serve as an intermediary anchorage system between the expansion screw and the maxillary bone. This intermediary allows force to be applied directly to the skeletal structure without involving the teeth, acting as a mediator that bypasses the dental structures entirely and prevents harmful effects on teeth and periodontal tissues.
4Productivity
If multiple devices are required for adequate expansion in mature individuals, then expansion effectiveness is improved, but number of surgical procedures and patient discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed as a universal system that can effectively treat both pediatric and skeletally mature patients using the same fundamental approach. By incorporating multiple mini-implants and an adjustable screw mechanism, the system can generate sufficient force for skeletal expansion across all age groups, eliminating the need for different device types or multiple sequential procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
All necessary mini-implants are placed during a single initial surgical procedure, establishing complete anchorage before expansion begins. The adjustable screw mechanism is pre-installed and can be activated incrementally over time, allowing the full expansion capability to be achieved without requiring additional surgical interventions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively expands the maxilla with minimal tooth movement and bone stress, reducing the need for multiple surgical procedures and improving orthopedic effects, while minimizing discomfort and inconvenience.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of fasteners configured to fasten the fixed aligner to the pair of bodies via insertion in the plurality of apertures in the pair of bodies and the fixed aligner
Data Source
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AI summary
A medical device and method of expanding the maxilla of a patient via application of intra-orally generated forces and/or applying externally generated protraction forces to the maxilla of the patient is provided. The medical device can embody multiple configurations device that include skeletal anchorage device alone or in combination with a fixed aligner or an adjustable aligner.