Variable-constraint guide for dental implant positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional guided surgery systems for dental implantology are expensive, imprecise, and limited in applicability due to the need for specialized components and limited mouth opening, which can lead to overheating and metal particle contamination during procedures.

Innovation Solution

A variable mechanical constraining guide system that allows for precise alignment and guidance of milling cutters using a surgical template with movable guide slides that can be used in limited mouth opening conditions, eliminating the need for expensive dedicated tools and software, and enabling precise drilling without the limitations of traditional bushing systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional bushing systems are used for guiding milling cutters, then the system structure is simple, but the positioning precision deteriorates due to mechanical clearance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide system is divided into two separate components: a fixed guide component attached to the surgical template and a movable guide component attached to the milling cutter. This segmentation eliminates the need for bushings and mechanical clearances, achieving precise positioning without compromising structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having the milling cutter rotate inside a fixed bushing (conventional approach), the invention inverts the guidance mechanism by having the movable guide component slide along the fixed guide component. This reversal eliminates the rotational clearance issue inherent in bushing systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Manufacturing precision

If dedicated surgical components are used for guided implantology, then the positioning precision improves, but the production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The fixed guide component and movable guide component are designed as universal elements that can be used across different surgical scenarios and with various milling cutters. This universality eliminates the need for expensive dedicated components while maintaining positioning precision through the sliding mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide components can be manufactured using 3D printing technology, creating precise copies or replicas of the required geometric structures. This approach significantly reduces production costs compared to traditional manufacturing methods while maintaining the necessary positioning precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If bushings are used to guide milling cutters, then the system is easy to operate, but harmful effects occur due to overheating and metal particle contamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidoverheating and metal particle contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful bushing component is completely extracted from the system and replaced with a sliding guide mechanism. This elimination removes the source of friction, overheating, and metal particle generation, while the system remains easy to operate through the straightforward sliding action of the movable guide component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Manufacturing precision

If conventional guided surgery systems are used, then the positioning precision improves, but the applicability deteriorates in cases of limited mouth opening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidapplicability in limited mouth opening
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The movable guide component is designed to be dynamically adjustable and adaptable to different surgical scenarios, including cases with limited mouth opening. The sliding mechanism allows for flexible positioning and access angles while maintaining positioning precision, making the system versatile for various clinical situations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3716884B1Variable-constraint mechanical guide system for performing guided dental implant procedures
Publication Date: 2022.06.22 TOLEDANO LUCA
  • EP3716884B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5
  • EP3716884B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8
  • EP3716884B1 patent drawingFigure 9

AI summary

A variable mechanical constraining guide system to be used for guiding surgical instruments during dental implantology procedures on dental arches (64), said system comprising : a) a template (65) to be positioned on a dental arch (64), said template comprising at least a first seat (66) for the introduction of a guide means associated with a second seat (67) for the passage of the guided surgical tools; b) a guide rail (60, 84) that can be associated with said seat (66) of said template (65) and comprising a guide groove (63) constituting a sliding seat for the tool guide means; wherein said guide means of the tool comprise a movable slide (68) comprising a portion (69) provided with a hole (91), that can be associated with a tool (72, 75, 90, 104) and an elongated portion (70) that can be connected to said guide rail (60) of said slide, and wherein said hole (91) and said elongated portion (70) of said movable slide (68) are arranged according to an axis which is parallel to the sliding axis of the guide groove (63) of said guide rail (60, 84) in turn parallel to the axis of the bone seat in which the tool is guided, the sliding seat or guide groove (63) of said guide rail (60) being configured to house different conformations of the elongated portion (70) of said movable slide (68), which are variable based on different work requirements.