Drill Guide Positioning Ring Axial Coupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current dental implant placement techniques rely heavily on the skill and experience of oral surgeons, often resulting in improper positioning and angle installation, which can affect the longevity and functionality of the implant, as well as the aesthetic outcome of the prosthetic cap.

Innovation Solution

A dental surgical guide with a drill guide positioning ring that temporarily engages drill guides axially, allowing them to rotate freely without disengagement, ensuring precise positioning and alignment of dental implants by coupling them to a template material fitted to the patient's mouth, using retention features like flange elements and snap-fit mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional manual positioning techniques are used, then the implant placement relies on surgeon skill and experience, but this results in improper positioning and angle installation affecting longevity and functionality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplant positioning reliabilityVSAvoidimplant placement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A surgical guide is introduced as an intermediary device between the surgeon and the implant placement process. The guide includes a positioning element with retention features that mechanically couple to the drill guide, providing precise positioning and angular alignment independent of surgeon skill level. This intermediary system ensures consistent, accurate implant placement while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If drill guides are rigidly fixed to prevent rotation, then positioning stability is improved, but the ability to accommodate different drill diameters and perform hands-free operation is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrill guide positioning stabilityVSAvoiddrill guide adjustability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The retention mechanism is segmented into multiple discrete retention features (such as radial protrusions or flange elements) distributed around the circumference of the positioning element. These segmented features engage with corresponding recesses in the drill guide, providing stable axial positioning while allowing controlled rotation. This segmentation enables the system to maintain stability during drilling while permitting rotation for hands-free operation and accommodation of different drill diameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If complex retention mechanisms are used to secure drill guides, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the complexity of device assembly and operation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrill guide positioning accuracyVSAvoidretention mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retention features are designed to automatically engage and secure the drill guide through simple insertion and rotation movements. The positioning element's retention features (such as radial protrusions or flange elements) self-align with corresponding recesses in the drill guide and lock into place through rotational engagement, eliminating the need for complex assembly procedures or additional fastening operations. This self-service mechanism achieves high positioning accuracy while minimizing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3119346B1Positioning and installing surgical drilling devices and related devices and systems
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 GRS GUIDE SYSTEM INC
  • EP3119346B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3119346B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3119346B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

In some aspects, drill guide positioning rings to be coupled to a template material of a surgical guide in a region to be drilled can include one or more retention features to receive one or more of a series of drill guides, where the retention features are configured to temporarily engage, retain, or otherwise secure the drill guide within the drill guide positioning ring, where the temporary engagement axially couples the drill guide along its longitudinal axis with respect to the drill guide positioning ring.