Piezosurgery for Osteomyelitis of the Jaws

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for treating osteomyelitis of the jaws are challenging due to difficulties in diagnosis and management, particularly in chronic cases, where existing treatments like antibiotic therapy and surgical tools can lead to complications such as excessive heat production, further trauma, and soft tissue injury.

Innovation Solution

The use of piezosurgery devices for sequestrectomy and decortication, combined with dual antibiotic therapy involving Augmentin and Metronidazole, to effectively remove necrotic bone and improve blood supply, while minimizing trauma and heat generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional surgical tools (burs and drills) are used for cutting and removing necrotic bone, then the necrotic bone can be removed, but excessive heat production and induction of further trauma occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of necrotic bone removalVSAvoidexcessive heat production and trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical surgical tools (burs and drills) with a piezoelectric surgical device that uses ultrasonic vibrations to cut and remove necrotic bone. This substitution eliminates excessive heat production and trauma associated with conventional mechanical cutting, while maintaining effective necrotic bone removal. The piezoelectric device operates at low temperatures and causes minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If conventional surgical tools are used for managing OMJ sites, then necrotic bone can be removed, but injury to the soft tissue surrounding the surgical sites occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of necrotic bone removalVSAvoidinjury to soft tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The piezoelectric surgical device uses ultrasonic vibrations to selectively cut hard bone tissue while leaving soft tissue unaffected. This principle resolves the contradiction by enabling effective necrotic bone removal without injuring surrounding soft tissue, as the ultrasonic energy is selectively absorbed by the hard bone rather than the softer surrounding tissues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If single antibiotic therapy is used, then treatment can be simplified, but microorganisms can develop resistances rendering antibiotics useless

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of treatment protocolVSAvoideffectiveness of antibiotic treatment

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two different antibiotics (Augmentin and Metronidazole) into a dual antibiotic therapy regimen. This merging of multiple treatment agents addresses the contradiction by preventing bacterial resistance development through combined therapy, while maintaining a structured and manageable treatment protocol. The dual antibiotic approach targets different bacterial mechanisms, reducing the likelihood of resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Manufacturing precision

If piezosurgery device is used for cutting and removing necrotic bone, then precision and safety are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of bone cutting and removalVSAvoidcomplexity of surgical device

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The piezoelectric surgical device uses ultrasonic vibrations to achieve precise bone cutting and removal with minimal trauma to surrounding tissues. While the device itself is more complex than conventional tools, the principle of using ultrasonic vibration instead of mechanical cutting provides superior precision and safety, particularly in protecting soft tissue from injury during necrotic bone removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach reduces bacterial levels, achieves higher precision and safety, and promotes optimal healing environments by avoiding coagulative necrosis and promoting osseous healing, as demonstrated by the successful treatment of chronic secondary osteomyelitis of the mandible.

Implementation Method 1

using a piezosurgery device for cutting and removing necrotic bone (sequestrectomy)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Implementation Method 2

creating bleeding spots (decortication)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS20230142943A1Method for treating chronic osteomyelitis of the jaws

Publication Date: 2023.05.11 KUWAIT UNIV

AI summary

A method of treating osteomyelitis of the jaws (OMJ) can include sequestrectomy (removing necrotic bone) using piezoelectric vibrations and decortication (creating bleeding spots) using piezoelectric vibrations. The OMJ can include secondary chronic OMJ caused by previous dental implant placements. The method can further include administering dual antibiotic therapy to the patient. The dual antibiotic therapy can include administering Augmentin and Metronidazole to the patient for a period of about three weeks.