Intermaxillary Fixation Device Using Bone Fasteners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for intermaxillary fixation (IMF) in maxillofacial procedures, such as arch bars and screws, face challenges including discomfort, potential dental injury, and limited stability, especially in conditions with poor dental health or trauma settings.
Innovation Solution
The use of bone fasteners attached to the maxilla or mandible independently, followed by attachment of arch bars, which allows for easier and more accurate placement, reducing the need for circumdental wire ligatures and providing stability along the dental arch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If circumdental wire ligatures are used to secure arch bars, then the arch bars can be firmly fixed to teeth, but the process is time-consuming and causes significant discomfort and potential dental injury
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the fixation system into separate components: bone fasteners are independently secured to the maxilla or mandible bone, and arch bars are separately attached to these fasteners. This segmentation eliminates the need for time-consuming circumdental wire ligatures while maintaining firm fixation strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the arch bar attachment function from the dental structure by using bone fasteners that attach directly to the bone. This removes the harmful circumdental wiring process entirely, reducing placement time and eliminating discomfort and dental injury risks while preserving fixation strength.
2Strength
If circumdental wire ligatures are used to secure arch bars, then the arch bars can be firmly fixed to teeth, but discomfort and potential dental injury increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the arch bar attachment function from the dental structure by using bone fasteners that attach directly to the bone. This removes the harmful circumdental wiring process entirely, eliminating discomfort and dental injury risks while preserving fixation strength through direct bone attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces bone fasteners as an intermediary component between the arch bar and the bone. This mediator allows firm fixation to be achieved without direct contact with and potential injury to the teeth, eliminating the harmful effects of circumdental wiring.
3Productivity
If orthodontic adhesives are used to secure arch bars, then placement may be faster, but they require clean dry fields which are difficult to maintain in trauma settings
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the arch bar attachment function from the dental structure and relocates it to the bone using fasteners. This eliminates the need for orthodontic adhesives and their requirement for clean, dry fields, making the procedure adaptable to trauma settings where such conditions cannot be maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces bone fasteners as an intermediary that provides mechanical attachment independent of adhesive requirements. This mediator enables rapid placement in trauma settings without needing clean, dry fields, combining the speed advantage with adaptability to difficult conditions.
4Ease of operation
If individual screws are used for IMF, then placement is fast and comfortable, but stability along the dental arch is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the advantages of individual screws (fast, easy placement) with the stability of arch bars by attaching arch bars to independently secured bone fasteners. This combination maintains placement ease while providing superior stability along the dental arch.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the fixation system into independently secured bone fasteners that provide stable anchorage points, to which arch bars are then attached. This segmentation allows for easy placement of components while achieving comprehensive arch stability through the distributed fastener system.
5Reliability
If multiple circumdental wire ligatures are used, then arch bars can be securely attached, but the process is time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the fixation system into independently secured bone fasteners, simplifying the attachment process. Each fastener provides reliable anchorage, and the modular design reduces procedural complexity compared to multiple interconnected wire ligatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the attachment function from complex circumdental wiring and relocates it to simple bone fasteners. This maintains attachment reliability through direct bone anchorage while dramatically reducing procedure complexity and time requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for fixating or stabilizing a subject's mandible and maxilla includes providing multiple bone fasteners, providing two arch bars, attaching a first grouping of the bone fasteners to the subject's mandible, then securing the first arch bar to the first grouping of bone fasteners, attaching a second grouping of the bone fasteners to the subject's maxilla, then securing the second arch bar to the second grouping of bone fasteners, and then fastening the first arch bar to the second arch bar.