Fluted Osteotome for Controlled Dental Implant Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical methods for expanding osteotomies to receive dental implants, such as those using motor-driven bone expanders, lack control over expansion rates and introduce errors due to the fixed linkage of tool rotation and bone expansion, leading to increased procedure time, discomfort, and potential bone fractures.
Innovation Solution
A surgical method employing a tapered osteotome with longitudinally extending burnishing edges that concentrates pushing and rotational forces to incrementally expand the osteotomy, allowing for independent control of expansion rate and reducing trauma by de-linking rotation rate from bone expansion, thereby providing greater control and precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If motor-driven bone expanders are used to expand osteotomies, then the expansion process is more controlled and traumatic, but the fixed linkage of tool rotation and bone expansion rate leads to loss of control and potential bone fractures
Solution Approach 1:
The tool is divided into separate functional components: a rotational driver and a push rod that advances the osteotome. The rotation and axial advancement are decoupled, allowing independent control of each motion. The push rod transmits only axial force while the driver provides rotation, separating the two motions that were previously fixed together in motor-driven expanders.
Solution Approach 2:
A push rod acts as an intermediary between the surgeon's manual pushing action and the osteotome. The push rod transmits the pushing force axially while allowing the osteotome to rotate independently around it. This intermediary component enables independent control of the pushing and rotating actions.
2Productivity
If traditional osteotomes are advanced with impact from a surgical mallet, then the osteotomy is prepared quickly, but the explosive percussive force provides limited control and causes unintentional displacement or fracture of bone
Solution Approach 1:
The osteotome is advanced in a series of controlled rotational pushes rather than continuous percussive impacts. The surgeon rotates the osteotome and pushes it forward incrementally, then repositions and repeats the action. This periodic, controlled motion replaces the explosive single-stroke mallet impact while maintaining efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The mallet-driven percussive mechanical system is replaced with a hand-driven rotational pushing system. The surgeon directly manipulates the osteotome with rotational and axial motions, eliminating the need for external impact tools while providing superior control through direct manual operation.
3Ease of operation
If progressively wider expander devices are manually advanced through multiple successive steps, then the bone expansion is controlled, but the procedure time is increased and patient discomfort is elevated
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational motion and axial pushing motion are merged into a single integrated action. The surgeon simultaneously rotates and pushes the osteotome forward in one continuous motion, rather than performing separate rotational and pushing steps. This combines multiple actions into one efficient operation, reducing procedural time while maintaining control.
Solution Approach 2:
The expansion process becomes continuous rather than discontinuous. The osteotome is advanced in smooth, continuous rotational pushes without interruption or repositioning between steps. This continuous action eliminates idle time between expansion steps while maintaining controlled expansion through the surgeon's manual control.
4Ease of manufacture
If the osteotome working end has a smooth surface, then the tool is easier to manufacture, but the tool slips on the bone surface and fails to concentrate force for effective expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The osteotome working end has different surface qualities in different locations. The outer periphery features transverse flutes that create rough, high-friction surfaces for gripping the bone, while the central portion remains smooth for force transmission. This local differentiation of surface quality provides both gripping ability and manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The transverse flutes create curved, rounded surfaces that conform to the cylindrical bone geometry. The fluted pattern follows the curvature of the osteotome, providing natural gripping surfaces that match the bone's shape while maintaining a simple cylindrical overall form that is easy to manufacture.
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
This method allows for atraumatic, highly controlled, and efficient expansion of osteotomies with reduced patient discomfort and procedural time, minimizing errors and bone trauma, while enabling expansion in previously difficult-to-reach areas.
Implementation Method 1
The enlarging step includes simultaneously rotating and pushing the working end of the tapered osteotome into the osteotomy so that the one or more burnishing edges concentrate the pushing and rotational force through the burnishing edge in outward normal and tangential component forces against the interior surface of the osteotomy to incrementally expand the osteotomy with little to no removal of bone material.
Implementation Method 2
The one or more burnishing edges concentrate the pushing and rotational force through the burnishing edge in outward normal and tangential component forces against the interior surface of the osteotomy
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical method and tool for expanding an initial osteotomy (42) to receive a dental implant (44). An osteotome (22) having a tapered working end (28) is inserted into the initial osteotomy (42). The initial osteotomy (42) is enlarged by simultaneously rotating and pushing the working end (28) of the tapered osteotome (22) into the osteotomy (42). One or more burnishing edges (40) concentrate the pushing and rotational force in outward normal and tangential component forces against the interior surface of the osteotomy (42) to incrementally expand the osteotomy (42) with little to no removal of bone material (46). The inserting and enlarging steps are repeated, as needed, with progressively larger tapered osteotomes (22) until an osteotomy (42) of predetermined size is achieved. Finally, a fixture portion of a dental implant (44) is installed into the expanded osteotomy (42).