Tissue-Borne Stackable Foundation Guide for Controlled Gum Seating
Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental surgical guides fail to effectively account for individual patient's gum tissue thickness, leading to overtightening and potential necrosis of the gum tissue, and require invasive procedures involving gum tissue reflection.
Innovation Solution
A unilateral tissue borne stackable foundation guide with tissue thickness indicators that seats on the patient's gum tissue, preventing overtightening by indicating the correct seating position and allowing for less invasive surgical procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional mechanical torque wrenches are used to seat guide screws, then the guide can be securely fixed to the bone, but the gum tissue becomes overly compressed causing necrosis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary seating indicator mechanism that mediates between the guide screw tightening process and the gum tissue. The seating indicator protrusions engage with the gum tissue at a controlled depth, serving as a mediator that prevents direct excessive compression of the tissue while still allowing adequate guide fixation through the screw mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through the seating indicator mechanism that provides real-time visual and tactile information about the guide's seating depth. When the indicator protrusions contact the gum tissue at the predetermined depth, this feedback signal to the practitioner indicates that the guide is properly seated, preventing further tightening that would cause tissue compression and necrosis.
2Strength
If the guide is seated directly on the patient's bone, then secure fixation is achieved, but the gum tissue must be reflected or cutback adding procedure time and patient risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the guide seating function into two distinct components: (1) the guide body that interfaces with the gum tissue through the seating indicator protrusions, and (2) the fixation mechanism that secures the guide to the bone. This segmentation allows the guide to be seated on the gum tissue at the correct depth without requiring reflection or cutback, while still achieving secure bone fixation through the separate fixation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the seating indicator protrusions at a predetermined depth on the guide body before the surgical procedure. This preliminary configuration allows the guide to be directly seated on the gum tissue at the correct depth during surgery, eliminating the need for time-consuming gum tissue reflection or cutback procedures while ensuring proper fixation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the guide screws are tightened to secure the guide, then the guide is firmly fixed, but the gum tissue blood flow is cut off causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by designing the seating indicator protrusions to engage with the gum tissue at a predetermined safe depth before the guide screws are fully tightened. This preliminary engagement acts as a cushioning mechanism that prevents excessive tightening forces from being transmitted to the gum tissue, thereby preventing blood flow cutoff and tissue damage while still allowing adequate guide stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A tissue borne stackable foundation guide is provided. The foundation guide may include a main body; first connectors formed on and spaced about an outer surface of the main body; one or more ports spaced about the main body and forming a passage therethrough; and protrusions formed on an inner surface of the main body and extending in a generally perpendicular direction therefrom.