Palatal Anchor Plate Segmentation for Tissue Compression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current palatal anchor plates cause inflammation and discomfort due to tissue compression and necrosis when fixed to the palate, leading to potential dislocation, as they compress the soft tissues and require invasive procedures.
Innovation Solution
A palatal anchor plate with a base member and symmetrically extending hook portion, featuring three cylindrical protrusions around screw holes arranged in a tripod shape to minimize tissue contact and engagement recesses for traction members, made of pure titanium ASTM F67 Grade 3, allowing for secure fixation without tissue impingement and easy adjustment to the palate's contour.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the anchor plate is fixed to the palate by implanting screws into the palatal bone, then rigid orthodontic anchorage is provided, but necrosis of the mucous membranes and inflammation occur frequently due to compression of soft tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor plate is divided into multiple contact portions that distribute the load across different areas of the palate, reducing compression at any single point. The plate includes a first contact portion at the front end, a second contact portion at the rear end, and a third contact portion at the side, creating a segmented support structure that minimizes tissue damage while maintaining anchorage strength
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the anchor plate are designed with specific contact characteristics tailored to their functional requirements. The first contact portion provides anterior support, the second contact portion provides posterior support, and the third contact portion provides lateral stability. Each contact portion is optimized for its specific location to minimize local tissue compression while contributing to overall anchorage rigidity
2Reliability
If a flap operation is performed to expose the cortical bone for anchor plate fixation, then secure anchorage is achieved, but the procedure becomes complex and invasive
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor plate design incorporates pre-planned contact portions and support structures that are prepared in advance during manufacturing. The plate's geometry is pre-configured to engage with specific anatomical landmarks on the palate surface, eliminating the need for complex surgical exposure procedures. The contact portions are designed to achieve stable fixation through surface-level engagement rather than deep bone exposure
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor plate acts as an intermediary structure that transfers orthodontic forces between the mucous membrane surface and the underlying bone without requiring direct bone exposure. The plate's distributed contact portions create an intermediate load path that distributes forces through the soft tissue to the bone, avoiding the need for flap surgery while maintaining fixation reliability
3Ease of manufacture
If the anchor plate directly contacts the palatal mucosa for fixation, then the procedure is simplified, but tissue necrosis and inflammation cannot be avoided due to compression
Solution Approach 1:
The simplified direct-contact procedure is made compatible with tissue health through segmentation of the contact areas. The anchor plate features multiple discrete contact portions (first at front end, second at rear end, third at side) that distribute compression forces across separate tissue regions, preventing the concentrated compression that causes necrosis while maintaining the simplicity of direct surface fixation
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor plate design adds a dimensional aspect to force distribution by extending contact portions in multiple spatial directions (anterior-posterior axis with first and second contact portions, and lateral dimension with third contact portion). This multi-dimensional contact geometry distributes compressive forces across a larger three-dimensional volume of tissue, reducing pressure intensity at any single point while maintaining straightforward surface-level fixation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a palatal anchor plate, which is fixedly installed to mid-palatal area (the roof of a mouth) and provides a rigid orthodontic anchorage for tooth movement, whereby the palatal anchor plate reduces a counteraction (movement of a tooth that is used as an anchorage), which occurs when a tooth is used as an orthodontic anchorage, and provides a rigid orthodontic anchorage for tooth movement in various directions, which is difficult to obtain when a tooth is used as an orthodontic anchorage.