Mandibular Analgesia Syringe Guide for Precise Foramen Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mandibular loco-regional analgesia is challenging due to anatomical obstacles like the muscular and bony structures that mask the mandibular foramen, and existing methods fail to account for inter-individual variations in the orientation and dimensions of the mandibular branch, making it difficult for practitioners to accurately target the inferior alveolar nerve.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising an earpiece, a rectilinear element, a curvilinear element, and a gutter-shaped support guides the syringe to project all possible needle axes, allowing the practitioner to choose the highest and most lateral axis to avoid the temporal crest, facilitating access to the mandibular foramen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional bony, dental and muscle landmarks are used for mandibular regional analgesia, then the procedure can be performed with simple tools, but the precision of reaching the mandibular foramen is insufficient due to inter-individual anatomical variations
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance device is segmented into multiple functional components: a curvilinear element with radius equal to the distance from the mandibular foramen minus 1.5cm, a rectilinear element positioned at the anterior edge of the mandibular branch, and a gutter-shaped support that slides along the curvilinear element. Each segment serves a specific function in establishing anatomical landmarks and projecting needle axes, allowing the complex guidance task to be divided into manageable geometric operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The gutter-shaped support acts as an intermediary between the practitioner's syringe and the complex three-dimensional anatomy. It slides along the curvilinear element and provides a guided path that automatically accounts for inter-individual variations in mandibular branch orientation and width, mediating the translation of anatomical landmarks into precise needle insertion axes without requiring the practitioner to mentally calculate complex spatial relationships.
2Reliability
If the needle is directed toward the mandibular foramen using traditional landmarks, then the injection can be performed quickly, but the temporal crest often blocks the needle before reaching the foramen
Solution Approach 1:
The device transitions from traditional two-dimensional surface landmarks to three-dimensional spatial projection. The curvilinear element with its specific radius creates a circular arc that passes through the mandibular foramen, and the gutter-shaped support sliding along this arc projects multiple possible needle axes in three-dimensional space. This allows the practitioner to select the highest and most lateral axis that clears the temporal crest obstacle, adding a dimensional perspective that reveals previously hidden insertion paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs preliminary geometric construction before needle insertion. The rectilinear and curvilinear elements are first positioned against fixed anatomical landmarks (anterior edge of mandibular branch and ear), which automatically determines the sagittal orientation and establishes the circular arc. This preliminary action pre-calculates all valid needle axes, allowing the practitioner to simply select from pre-determined safe paths rather than attempting to navigate obstacles during the actual injection.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed needle insertion path is used, then the procedure is simple to perform, but it cannot account for variations in the sagittal orientation, width, or angle of the mandibular branch
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates adjustable parameters that can be customized for each patient's anatomy. The rectilinear element can be positioned at different locations along the anterior edge of the mandibular branch, and the gutter-shaped support can slide to different positions along the curvilinear element's arc. These parameter changes allow the device to adapt to variations in sagittal orientation, width, and angle of the mandibular branch, with each adjustment automatically recalculating the appropriate needle axes based on the new landmark positions.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for guiding the syringe of a user so as to enable the injection of the analgesic solution of the former as close to the mandibular foramen as possible during local-regional mandibular analgesia. Elements (1), (2), and (3) clamp the mandibular branch between the anterior edge (A) thereof that coincides with the end of element (2) and the posterior edge (P) that coincides with element (1), thereby determining the sagittal orientation thereof. In accordance with the curvature radius of element (4) centred on point O located about 1.5 cm from point P and in the direction of element (5) sliding perpendicularly to the tangents of element (4), all of the axes indicated by element (5) project onto the mandibular foramen point (O). The user places the syringe in the groove of element (5) and slides the former in order to select the axis which is located as high and as much on the side as possible in the oral cavity, and which makes it possible to reach the mandibular foramen (O), so as to prevent any abutment against the temporal crest. The device of the invention is particularly intended for dental surgeons and stomatologists performing regional mandibular analgesia.