Segmented Dental Implant Abutment for Assisted Surgery Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current dental implant abutments face challenges in aligning virtual models with actual oral anatomy, leading to misalignment and difficulties in prosthetic fitting, requiring high operator expertise and experience.

Innovation Solution

An abutment design featuring a lower cylindrical element with a semi-spherical segment, a ring, and a second semi-spherical element, allowing for adjustable positioning through a threaded screw and steps, ensuring mechanical stability and alignment with dental implants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fixed rigid abutment is used, then structural stability is maintained, but misalignment occurs between virtual model and actual oral anatomy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidalignment adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The abutment is divided into multiple segments: a first element with lower cylindrical element and semi-spherical element, a second element with first upper cylindrical element and lower semi-spherical element, and a third semi-spherical element. These segments can move relative to each other along the longitudinal axis, allowing the abutment to adapt to misalignments between the virtual model and actual oral anatomy while maintaining structural stability through their interconnected design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The abutment transitions from a fixed rigid structure to a dynamic adjustable structure. The elements are designed to move vertically relative to each other along the longitudinal axis, enabling real-time adaptation during prosthetic fitting to compensate for anatomical variations and achieve precise alignment without requiring high operator expertise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If assisted surgery technique is used, then virtual model planning is improved, but misalignment with actual oral apparatus occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevirtual model accuracyVSAvoidprosthetic fitting accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The abutment is pre-designed with multiple elements and adjustment mechanisms based on the virtual model planning. The elements are configured with steps or protrusions that allow predetermined vertical movements, enabling the prosthetic to accommodate anatomical variations that were not fully identifiable in the virtual model, thereby maintaining both virtual model precision and actual fitting accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If operator expertise is increased, then misalignment problems are resolved, but operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprosthetic fitting easeVSAvoidabutment structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The abutment incorporates self-adjusting mechanisms where the multiple elements automatically align themselves during insertion and seating. The vertical movement capability of the elements allows the abutment to self-correct misalignments without requiring complex manual adjustments by the operator, thereby simplifying the fitting process despite the increased structural complexity of having multiple elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3703609B1Abutment for dental implants, particularly for dental interventions in assisted surgery
Publication Date: 2022.06.22 MEGAGEN IMPLANT
  • EP3703609B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

The invention relates to an abutment (100), in particular for dental interventions in assisted surgery, comprising: - a first element (1), comprising a lower cylindrical element (2) and a semi- spherical element (3) integral above with said cylindrical element (2), divided into a plurality of segments, held together by an outer element (4), in the transition zone between said lower cylindrical element (2) and said semi-spherical element (3) there being provided, internally, a shoulder (7), said semi-spherical element comprising a thread (5), ending at said shoulder (7), in which a centrally perforated screw (6) is coupled, a plurality of steps or protrusions (8) being provided on said lower cylindrical element (2); - a second element (10), comprising a first upper cylindrical element (11), which inserts inside said cylindrical element (2) of said first element (1) and equipped externally with a plurality of steps or protrusions (12), which are able to move vertically with respect to staid plurality of steps or protrusions (8) provided on said cylindrical element (2), and a lower semi- spherical element (13); and - a third semi-spherical element (16), divided into a plurality of segments, and ending with coupling means (14) with a dental implant (15).