Bone-Anchored Midfacial Advancement Brace for Gradual Suture Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical methods for mid-face and maxillofacial advancement, such as double jaw surgery, are limited in their ability to address underdevelopment of the entire mid-face and cranium, often resulting in relapse, neurovascular injuries, and inadequate soft tissue stretching, and existing appliances fail to provide sufficient force without relying on elastics or counter-pressure on anterior structures.

Innovation Solution

A bone-anchored dentofacial orthopedic device that applies controlled, expansive extra-oral force across cranial sutures, allowing for multiple discrete advancements without surgical detachment, using cranial anchorage assemblies and a contoured brace to gradually separate cranial sutures and expand soft tissues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If heavy elastics are used to deliver pulling force against the maxilla, then force can be applied, but the force is insufficient to separate cranial sutures in discrete intervals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepulling forceVSAvoidsuture separation effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the elastic-based mechanical system with a screw-driven ratchet mechanism. The ratchet and pawl system allows unidirectional force application with incremental adjustments, providing reliable suture separation in discrete intervals while eliminating the insufficiency of elastic forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the force delivery parameter from continuous elastic tension to controlled incremental mechanical force through screw rotation. This allows precise control of force magnitude and application timing, enabling discrete interval suture separation that was not achievable with elastics alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Force

If counter-pressure is applied on anterior structures (forehead and chin) to pull against the maxilla, then force can be generated, but these structures are adversely affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecounter-forceVSAvoidpressure on anterior structures

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the counter-pressure application from the anterior structures (forehead and chin) and relocates it to the posterior skull. This eliminates the harmful effects on anterior structures while maintaining the necessary force generation for maxillary advancement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of applying counter-pressure forward on anterior structures, the invention inverts the approach by anchoring to posterior structures and pulling backward, thereby advancing the maxilla indirectly through the ratchet mechanism without compromising anterior facial structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Length of moving object

If surgical resection and advancement of maxilla is performed in one attempt, then advancement can be achieved, but soft tissue stretching limits prevent sufficient advancement distance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadvancement distanceVSAvoidsoft tissue tolerance

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The ratchet mechanism enables periodic, incremental advancement of the maxilla. Each screw rotation provides a small, controlled advancement increment that allows soft tissues to adapt progressively, ultimately achieving greater total advancement distance than a single surgical attempt would permit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The continuous advancement process is segmented into discrete incremental steps through the ratchet mechanism. This segmentation allows the soft tissues to stretch gradually in manageable portions rather than being subjected to the full advancement distance at once, reducing tissue damage risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Shape

If double jaw surgery is performed to advance upper and lower jaw, then jaw positioning is improved, but relapse and neurovascular structure injury risks remain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejaw positionVSAvoidtreatment stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device performs preliminary gradual advancement and suture separation before final jaw positioning surgery. This preliminary action prepares the craniofacial structures in advance, reducing the risk of relapse and neurovascular injury during the subsequent definitive surgical procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12472035B2Orthopedic device for midfacial bone structure advancement

Publication Date: 2025.11.18 LALANI OMAR

AI summary

A dentofacial orthopedic device comprising a brace and a bracket. The brace is configured to be anchored to a skull with cranial anchorage assemblies. The bracket comprises first and second bracket members. The first bracket member comprises a proximal end secured by an adjuster to a receiving member of a clamp mounted to the brace. The second bracket member has a tail end hingedly connected to a distal end of the first bracket member by a joint and an anterior member configured to be rotatably anchored to an anterior portion of the skull by fasteners. The first bracket member is rotatable about the receiving member for a selective locking of the first bracket member at different angular positions relative to the second bracket member with the joint. Actuation of the adjuster causes displacement of the bracket relative to the brace.