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05/10/07 - USPTO Class 433 |  63 views | #20070105068 | Prev - Next | About this Page  433 rss/xml feed  monitor keywords

Combination distraction dental implant and method of use

USPTO Application #: 20070105068
Title: Combination distraction dental implant and method of use
Abstract: A combination dental implant/prosthetic support and distractor for facilitating distraction osteogenesis comprises a basically cylindrical shaft having a set of threads on the outside surface and a smooth, distal tip which bears against the bone of the jaw of the patient. Rotation of the device in the mouth of the patient, after a suitable surgical cut is made, causes the adjacent tissue to move or ride up the screw threads to create space between the cut jaw segment and the balance of the jaw tissue. This space is then filled in by distraction osteogenesis. The implant/distractor is left in-situ, after the distraction is finished, for securement thereto of a dental prosthetic, either a bridge or crown. In an embodiment of the invention, a flat disc is placed in the blind bore drilled into the jaw such that the distal tip of the shaft of the combined implant/distractor, will bear against it. A protective cap and/or collar can be provided, suitable shaped, to protect the shaft/gum line from bacterial attack. Also, the shaft may be provided with an internal passageway and one or more radially extending branches. Growth-enhancing material can be passed through the passageway and branches to promote bone development and recovery. In another embodiment, a coronal member is provided, extra-osseously, to facilitate the distraction osteogenesis process. In one version of the device, fluting is provided to the exterior surface of the shaft so that bone growth is enhanced at that intersection. Also, the shaft can be provided with a flat disc at its head to reduce rocking of the device in the mouth. (end of abstract)



Agent: Kenyon & Kenyon LLP - New York, NY, US
Inventor: Suzanne Stucki-McCormick
USPTO Applicaton #: 20070105068 - Class: 433173000 (USPTO)

Related Patent Categories: Dentistry, Prosthodontics, Holding Or Positioning Denture In Mouth, By Fastening To Jawbone

Combination distraction dental implant and method of use description/claims


The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070105068, Combination distraction dental implant and method of use.

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
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[0001] This invention is a continuation-in-part of my prior patent application Ser. No. 08/886,078 filed Jul. 2, 1997 entitled Combination Distraction Dental Implant and Method of Use. That application which is reproduced in its entirety hereinafter is directed to an in situ combination distraction and dental implant system comprising an apical member having a top surface, a coronal member comprising internal threads and a bottom surface with the bottom surface of the coronal member facing the top surface of the apical member and a rod like connecting distraction member comprising a first set of external threads matingly engageable with the internal threads of the coronal member facilitating mechanical incremental rotation of the connection and distraction member with respect to the coronal member such that incremental rotation of the connecting and distraction member causes the coronal member to vertically separate from the apical member and create a correspondingly sized vertical gap between the top and bottom surfaces for distraction osteogenesis.

[0002] That system creates osteogenesis in the jaw of a dental patient by surgically cutting a section of the jaw so that the cut section attaches to the coronal member, and as the coronal member separates from the apical member, the jaw segment which has been sectioned slowly moves away from the remaining jaw section so that osteogenesis begins to occur filling the gap between the separated tissue members. The movable segmented jaw section generally moves upwardly to raise the bone and gum level line (for the bottom jaw) to enhance the support structure for a dental implant to be placed in the jaw of the dental patient. By allowing the jaw tissue of the jaw segment (which is movable with respect to the remainder of the jaw) to adhere to the coronal member and move the coronal member vertically, not rotationally, with respect to the distraction member, tissue tear between the movable jaw segment and the coronal member is materially eliminated.

[0003] The present invention recognizes that distraction osteogenesis may be generated more simply by merely providing a combination distraction and dental implant system in which the system only comprises a combination dental distraction and implant device which comprises a head and a shaft portion. The shaft, preferably basically cylindrical, comprises a threaded, longitudinal shank section and a smooth-wall distal-end section. The distraction and implant device is engaged in the jaw of the patient in a conventional manner, i.e., by first tapping and screw threading the member into an undercut bore drilled into the jaw. In order to provide distraction osteogenesis, the jaw is surgically cut as described in my prior patent application, and rather than there being separate coronal and apical members, this new invention comprises merely providing a unitary, combination distraction and dental implant device which comprises a head and shaft, with the shaft comprising a threaded, shank section and a smooth, distal wall portion.

[0004] After the jaw is surgically cut as described in my prior application and the combined dental implant/distractor of the present invention is inserted in the jaw in the conventional manner, distraction osteogenesis can be generated. This occurs because the smooth, distal end of the device bears against, for instance, a round section in the bone cut surface or a bottom, round jaw surface (an alternate embodiment provides a base support member, like a disc or washer). Thus, further turning of the combined dental implant/distractor cannot cause it to move further in a vertical direction. Rather, as the device is slowly rotated, jaw tissue in the jaw segment (grown toward and adhered to the distraction device) moves upwardly. In order to provide incremental upward movement for the segmented jaw section, the distraction device is rotated and the tissue which adhered to the distraction device separates therefrom. Because of the threaded surface of the upper shank section of the distraction device and the jaw tissue which bears thereagainst, rotation of the device (blocked from vertical movement) will cause the upper segment of the jaw to climb or glide up the inclined plane of the threads or lift upwardly because of the vertical/lifting pressure of the threads against the contiguous and adjoining jaw section segment.

[0005] In order to enhance the healing process, in quality and time, between the jaw tissue and the combined distraction/implant device, BMP or other bone growth enhancing material can be introduced. The growth enhancing substance can be applied directly through interior channels in the distraction device either by using a syringe placed downwardly in a throughhole to distribute the BMP radially throughout channels in the device or it may be directly applied to the interstices between the jaw tissue and the distraction device itself. By providing such augmenting tissue restorative material such as BMP, the process for causing distraction osteogenesis and bone healing to occur will be materially enhanced in time while reducing the trauma to the jaw tissue which provides bearing surfaces for the distraction device.

[0006] In another embodiment of this invention, a bottom plate or apical member, preferably a small disc, can be inserted in a drilled bore of the jaw prior to insertion of the combined distraction and implant device so as to provide a more effective bearing surface upon which the smooth distal end of the distraction device will rotate and bear. Such an apical member or thin metal plate could be made of a resorbable material such as PGA or PLA so that placement of the unitary implant and distraction device can be a one-time surgical activity in which the distraction device serves not only to create distraction osteogenesis, but it also serves as the support or implant securing mechanism for a later cap or crown (prosthesis).

[0007] The inventor's own prior, referred-to patent application (reproduced hereinafter) describes a system in which the implant is placed in the lower jaw, upper jaw or is placed in a jaw section (in the latter situation, an H cut is provided so to simultaneously allow the upper and lower jaw segments in a single jaw section to move opposite from each other). Distraction osteogenesis occurs because of their adherence of tissue to the apical and coronal members which move away from each other as the threaded distraction member rotates. In the present invention, separate coronal and apical members are no longer required because the distraction member, itself, is provided with threads in the region in which relative tissue movement is required for the sectioned jaw segment--whether two segments move opposite to each other, an upper segment moving upwardly towards the sinus or an upper segment in the lower jaw moves to raise the gum line.

[0008] The dental implant distraction device of this invention is physically identical, in one embodiment, to FIGS. 8A and 8B of my prior patent application. The device comprises a biocompatible material and is sized to be inserted into the jaw of a patient. Thus, for the patent claims directed solely to the new embodiment of the device itself, FIGS. 8A and 8B of my prior application provide support for the claims and the filing date of the earlier application shall apply to claims reading upon the device depicted in FIGS. 8A and 8B.

[0009] This invention is directed to both an apparatus and the method of creating distraction osteogenesis by providing a simple single mechanical unit, a combination dental implant-distraction device which is capable of creating distraction osteogenesis and providing a support for a conventional implant, crown or prosthesis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The numbering of the Figures in this patent application will commence with FIG. 14 as FIGS. 1 through 13 are taken from my prior patent application which is reproduced in its entirety hereinafter and incorporated expressly herein. For purposes of ease of reference:

[0011] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the integral, combination dental implant-distraction device of this invention which is also shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B of the prior application;

[0012] FIG. 15 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 14 showing a base, disc-like member or flat, apical member upon which the smooth-walled and smooth end, distal portion of the dental implant-distraction device bears during its rotation, thereby providing distraction osteogenesis;

[0013] FIGS. 14 and 15 show the position of the dental implant prior to the surgical cut in the bone creating the jaw surgical section segment which moves relative to the remainder of the jaw section; the surgical cuts were described in my prior patent application.

[0014] FIG. 16 is an enlarged, partial, sectional view of the threaded portion of the dental implant-distraction device and the jaw tissue growing proximate thereto, which, in combination allows the jaw segment to be moved upwardly as the distraction device incrementally rotates and the threads of the device provide lifting and inclined support for the jaw tissue thereby moving the jaw tissue upwardly when the device is incrementally rotated;

[0015] FIG. 17 illustrates another embodiment of this invention in which a covering cap for the dental implant-distractor device is provided for improved hygienics. This embodiment shows a combination dental implant-distraction device with a plurality of internal pathways outwardly or radially emanating from a center bore, extending through the dental implant-distraction device to enhance distribution of BMP, introduced through the top bore, which enhances tissue restoration and bone growth; and

[0016] FIG. 18 is an alternative embodiment of this invention in which a center section of the dental implant distraction device is smooth and the longitudinally extended segments are both threaded thereby allowing for concurrent movement of both upper and lower jaw segments with respect to each other by those jaw segments bearing against the upper and lower threaded sections of the dental implant-distraction device. This device could be used to promote, for example, distraction osteogenesis in an upper jaw in two directions, i.e., moving bone growth toward the sinus area and moving the gum line to align with adjacent teeth and gum structure.

[0017] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a final connecting member, consistent with the invention fully disclosed in my prior application; and

[0018] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a combination dental implant and distraction member with a coronal member, extra-osseously located.

Prior Patent application Ser. No. 09/886,078

[0019] The following section repeats and corresponds to the specification (written description and drawings FIGS. 1-13, including the Abstract of the Disclosure) of my prior patent application Ser. No. 08/886,078 filed Jul. 2, 1997. To the extent not exactly repeated herein, it is expressly incorporated herein by reference. Minor changes may have been made for clarity and ease of reading.

[0020] The present invention relates generally to dental implant systems and methods for replacing missing teeth with dental implants, more particularly, to dental implant systems and surgical methods for replacing teeth with dental implants in areas of the mouth that have suffered bone loss and most particularly to combination distraction dental implant devices and methods for replacing missing teeth in areas of the jaw bone having bone loss using a three component combination distraction dental implant device including two cylindrical like components and a connecting third component or an expansion third component to grow new bone and soft tissue by distraction osteogenesis;

[0021] Premature tooth loss can limit a patient's ability to chew and speak clearly. Consequently, patients request tooth replacement. In the past, dentists have been able to replace missing teeth by means of removable prosthesis such as partial or complete dentures. Other prior alternatives included the placement of fixed bridge work cemented to adjacent teeth. These two prior methods served only to fill the void of the edentulous space by replacing the crown of the involved teeth but did not replace the root.

[0022] Recently, the field of dental implantology has come into its own, as the technology for replacement of the root and the crown portion of the missing teeth has evolved. In dental implantology, the root portion of the missing tooth is replaced first, by surgically implanting a cylindrical root form dental implant into the dentoalveolar bone (Stage I). There are a number of U.S. Patents relating to dental implants, including the following: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,489,210; 5,470,230; 5,449,291; 5,334,024; 5,281,140; 5,269,685; 5,259,759; 5,154,612; 5,145,371; 5,125,841; 5,069,622; 5,064,425; 5,051,880; 4,960,381; 4,824,372; 4,798,205; 4,682,951; 4,657,510; 4,552,532 and 4,330,891 the disclosure of each is herein incorporated by reference.

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