Patient-Specific Guideway for Mandibular Advancement Splint
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protrusion splints of the second type have limited adjustability, leading to potential damage of the temporomandibular joint apparatus due to the condyle's unfavorable positioning, as they cannot achieve the highest possible degree of protrusion without causing harm, especially during a closed bite.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for producing a protrusion splint where the lower partial rail moves along a guideway determined by patient-specific data, including three-dimensional image data of the temporomandibular joint and movement data, to optimize the therapy position, allowing for adjustable guide means that align with the joint path's curve, enabling maximum protrusion while minimizing jaw opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the guide means are arranged to displace the lower jaw anteriorly when the jaws are moved towards one another, then the greatest degree of protrusion is reached in the closing bite, but the protrusion can only be adjusted to a limited extent and the condyle may come into contact with the fossa causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The guide means are designed with adjustable elements that allow the guideway geometry to be modified based on patient-specific joint paths. This enables dynamic adaptation of the protrusion mechanism to follow the individual condyle-fossa movement trajectory, maximizing protrusion while preventing joint damage through personalized configuration rather than fixed limited adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameters of the guideway geometry to match patient-specific joint path characteristics obtained from imaging data. By adjusting the guideway angle and curvature parameters to correspond to the individual's condyle movement path, the system achieves optimal protrusion degrees that are safe for that specific patient's temporomandibular joint anatomy
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed guideway is used in existing splints, then the device structure is simple, but the protrusion cannot be optimized for individual patient anatomy
Solution Approach 1:
Patient-specific joint path data is obtained in advance through imaging methods (CBCT, MRI, or conventional radiography) before splint fabrication. This preliminary acquisition of anatomical information allows the guideway to be precisely designed and manufactured to match the patient's individual joint mechanics, enabling full adaptability without complicating the actual splint usage or adjustment process
Solution Approach 2:
The guideway geometry is created as a copy or representation of the patient's actual condyle-fossa joint path obtained from imaging data. By replicating the natural joint movement trajectory in the artificial guideway structure, the splint achieves perfect adaptation to individual anatomy while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing through digital modeling and precision fabrication
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3a~3c
Figure 4~5b
AI summary
Method for producing a mandibular advancement splint (10) and mandibular advancement splint comprising an upper part splint for connecting to the upper jaw and a lower part splint for connecting to the lower jaw of a patient, wherein guiding means are provided for mutual guiding of the two part splints during a biting movement, which means guide the lower jaw over a guiding path into a predetermined therapy position, wherein a set of patient-specific data of the jaw joint apparatus (2, 3) is recorded, wherein the guiding path is determined from the patient-specific data and wherein the guiding means are produced corresponding to the guiding path.