Implant Driver Assembly for Planned Depth and Rotation Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current commercialized guided surgery systems for dental implants lack the ability to simultaneously control the vertical position and rotational orientation of implants during placement, as they follow a spiral path determined by the implant's thread engagement with the bone rather than a predetermined virtual plan.

Innovation Solution

An implant driver assembly with patient-specific markers on both the driver and surgical template, allowing for simultaneous control of the implant's depth and rotation, using a smooth bore bushing and retractable thread followers to align with predetermined virtual planning, ensuring accurate placement without damaging the jawbone.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If current commercialized guided surgery systems are used, then the implant can be placed to its predetermined virtually planned vertical position or rotational position, but not both simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplant placement precisionVSAvoidcontrol capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the control of vertical position and rotational position into independent functional components: the surgical template with guiding element controls vertical position, while the implant driver with spiral groove controls rotational position. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in one degree of freedom while maintaining overall precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The implant driver is nested within the guiding element of the surgical template, with the driver's outer surface fitting inside the element's bore. This nesting arrangement allows the rotational control mechanism (spiral groove) to be contained within the vertical control structure, enabling simultaneous control of both vertical and rotational positions without interfering with each other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If the implant follows a spiral path determined by thread engagement with bone, then the implant can be screwed into the bone, but the spiral path cannot be predetermined according to virtual planning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescrewing capabilityVSAvoidspiral path accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The spiral groove acts as an intermediary mechanism between the implant driver and the bone. Instead of the implant thread directly engaging the bone to create the spiral path, the spiral groove on the driver's outer surface first engages with the driver's inner surface, guiding the rotation. This intermediary control allows the spiral path to be predetermined by the groove geometry rather than being determined solely by bone engagement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the critical parameter of spiral path from being determined by implant thread pitch and bone engagement to being determined by the spiral groove geometry on the implant driver. By controlling the groove's pitch and shape, the system can adjust the spiral path parameters to match the predetermined virtual plan while maintaining the screwing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If markers are positioned on both implant driver and surgical template, then simultaneous control of depth and rotation is achieved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition control accuracyVSAvoidsystem structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the positioning and control functions into the existing structural components rather than adding separate marker systems. The markers are integrated directly onto the implant driver and surgical template structures, and the spiral groove itself serves as both the rotational control mechanism and a reference for position verification. This merging reduces overall system complexity while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The implant driver's spiral groove and the markers on both the driver and template work together in a self-verifying system. As the driver is rotated and inserted, the spiral groove automatically controls the rotation while the markers provide visual feedback to confirm that the predetermined path is being followed. This self-service mechanism reduces the need for external monitoring equipment or complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4084731B1Implant driver with simultaneous control of depth and rotation of the implant according to a digital planning
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 DENTSPLY IMPLANTS NV
  • EP4084731B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~2A
  • EP4084731B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4084731B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

An implant driver assembly for placing an implant according to a digital virtually planned implant and implant position in the jaw of a patient, wherein said implant driver assembly comprises at least an implant driver and at least a surgical template, wherein the implant driver having one or more first markers, and being adapted to be aligned with the surgical template, the surgical template having a guiding element and having one or more second markers, so that alignment of one or more first markers on the implant driver when connected to the implant and one or more second markers on the surgical template defines a spiral motion of the implant when it is being inserted in a jaw bone, the implant driver and surgical template also including at least one of the one or more first and at least one of the one or more second markers for indicating the implant driver's rotational or rotationally symmetric position as defined by the digital virtually planned implant position, whereby the guiding element is a bushing with a smooth bore; wherein the one or more first markers comprises a thread in or on an outer surface of the implant driver; wherein the one or more second markers comprises a thread follower for following the thread which is in or on the outer surface of the implant driver; wherein the thread follower comprises one or more pins that is/are removable or retractable from the guiding element of the surgical template.