Dental Implant Coupling Assembly with Spherical Tab
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental implant coupling systems occupy excessive space in the mouth, cause discomfort due to protruding elements, and face challenges in precise alignment during surgery, leading to potential trauma and premature loss of implants.
Innovation Solution
A coupling assembly featuring a pin with a tab shaped like an equatorial portion of a sphere, which elastically fits into a cavity in a supporting element, reducing space occupation and facilitating stable coupling, along with a bar system for aligning multiple implants, and elastically deformable components for easy installation and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spherical supporting element is used to receive a retention cap, then the coupling is achieved, but the space occupation within the mouth becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting element is designed as a spherical body that elastically accommodates within a recess in the retention cap. The spherical shape provides stable coupling through elastic deformation while the small size minimizes space occupation in the mouth. The sphere's curvature allows it to fit snugly within the recess, achieving reliable coupling without excessive bulk.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting element utilizes elastic deformation properties to change its shape parameters. When inserted into the recess, the spherical body elastically deforms to accommodate the retention cap, then returns to its original shape to provide stable coupling. This elastic parameter change enables compact design while maintaining coupling reliability.
2Reliability
If a spherical supporting element protrudes from the gum, then the coupling structure is formed, but discomfort occurs when contacting the antagonist part
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical supporting element is nested within a recess formed in the retention cap. When the prosthesis is assembled, the sphere is accommodated inside the cap's recess, so that when the prosthesis is in place, the supporting element does not protrude from the gum to cause discomfort. The nesting arrangement allows the coupling structure to function while minimizing exposure.
3Ease of operation
If implants are inserted without precise alignment, then the surgical procedure is simpler, but the prosthesis insertion requires forcing causing trauma to implants
Solution Approach 1:
Alignment features such as guide pins or reference markers are provided on the implants during the surgical procedure. These preliminary alignment aids allow the surgeon to correctly position multiple implants relative to each other before the final prosthesis is attached. By establishing correct alignment early in the procedure, the need for forcing during prosthesis insertion is eliminated, preventing trauma to the implants.
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 solution minimizes space occupation in the mouth, reduces discomfort, ensures precise alignment and stable coupling, and allows for quicker and more reliable dental prosthesis installation with reduced risk of implant loss, while being cost-effective and safe.
Implementation Method 1
a tab (5), which can be accommodated by elastic forcing in a respective cavity (6) formed in the supporting element (4), to produce a stable coupling configuration
Data Source
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AI summary
A coupling assembly, particularly for dental implants, which comprises at least one pin (2), which can be coupled rigidly to a bone portion (A) and the like, and a supporting element (4), which can be associated with a prosthesis (B). The pin (2) has, at its end portion that lies opposite the one designed for connection to the bone portion (A), a protruding tab (5) that can be accommodated by elastic forcing in a respective cavity (6) formed in the supporting element (4) so as to produce a stable coupling configuration between the pin (2) and the supporting element (4). The tab (5) is shaped like a substantially equatorial portion of a sphere and its outer lateral surface is adapted to abut, with at least one of its parts, against the internal side walls of the cavity (6), so as to determine the stable coupling configuration.