Surgical Template Form-Closure Positioning for Dental Implants

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dental surgical templates face challenges with incorrect positioning due to full contact with the supporting surface, limited operational freedom, and invasive fixation methods, which can lead to instability and complications during dental implant placement.

Innovation Solution

A surgical template with a set of point contacts, such as spherical or conical features, that achieve form-closure or force-closure positioning, ensuring precise and repeatable placement by digitally designing and manufacturing the template to comply with mathematical form-closure conditions, using software to determine optimal contact feature locations and materials like metals for stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If conventional surgical templates use full contact with the supporting surface, then the template provides broad support area, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to deviations in continuous contact areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport areaVSAvoidpositioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The template's contact surface is segmented from continuous full contact into discrete point contacts. The template body is designed with isolated contact points that are spaced apart, transforming the support mechanism from area-based to point-based. This segmentation eliminates the problem of continuous contact deviations while maintaining adequate support through the distributed point contacts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical full-contact support system with a form-closure positioning system. Instead of relying on friction and contact pressure over a large area, the template uses geometric interlocking between discrete contact points and corresponding receptacles in the supporting surface to achieve rigid, error-free positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If conventional templates are held in place by finger pressing, then the template can be easily applied, but surgical complexity increases due to requiring additional assistance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemplate applicationVSAvoidsurgical operation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The template is designed to be self-retaining through form-closure positioning. The geometric interlocking between the template's contact points and the supporting surface automatically secures the template in place without requiring external holding forces. The template's own structure, combined with the supporting surface geometry, creates a self-locking mechanism that eliminates the need for assistant hands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Stability of the object's composition

If conventional templates are fixated using screws or pins, then the template achieves stable positioning, but harmful factors increase due to additional invasive aspects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemplate stabilityVSAvoidinvasive procedures

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces invasive mechanical fastening systems (screws and pins that penetrate bone and soft tissue) with a non-invasive form-closure positioning system. The template achieves stability through geometric interlocking at the interface between the template and supporting surface, eliminating the need for penetrating fixation elements and associated soft tissue damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The fixation function is extracted from the template body itself and relocated to the interface between the template and supporting surface. Instead of the template requiring embedded fasteners, the positioning and retention functions are achieved through the geometric relationship at the contact points, removing the need for invasive fixation elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Strength

If conventional templates have continuous contact with the supporting surface, then the template provides comprehensive support, but reliability decreases due to susceptibility to interfering deformations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemplate support strengthVSAvoidpositioning reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous contact surface is segmented into discrete, isolated point contacts. This segmentation prevents deformation propagation between contact points, as each point contact operates independently. The template body is designed with gaps between contact points, creating isolated support zones that resist interfering deformations from the supporting surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10806542B2Force-closure or form-closure positioning of surgical templates for guided implant dentistry

Publication Date: 2020.10.20 DENTSPLY IMPLANTS NV

AI summary

Surgical templates and methods of manufacture to assist in a surgical procedure such as dental implant placement, where the positioning of the surgical template onto its supporting surface is achieved through using a limited number of contact features that are located such that a force-closure or form closure positioning of the surgical template with respect to the supporting surface is achieved.