ABUTMENT ARRANGEMENT AND DENTAL RESTORATION KIT

Abstract

An abutment arrangement for connecting a dental restoration, having a post body and a screw element, to a dental implant is disclosed. The post body has an axial passage with a head socket and a press section. The screw element has a head section and a thread section. The screw element may be arranged in the post body passage so that the head section is positioned in the head socket abutting the press section, and the screw element extends through an occlusal aperture. When the screw element is arranged in the post body passage, a first locking section of the screw element is positioned adjacent to a second locking section of a mounting portion of the post body, with the first and second locking sections being configured to plastically deform the screw element and/or the post body such that the post body mounting portion is locked in an expanded position.

Claims

1. An abutment arrangement for connecting a dental restoration to a dental implant, comprising: a post body; and a screw element, wherein the post body has an axial passage extending between an apical aperture and an occlusal aperture, the passage of the post body has a head socket and a press section at an apical end side of the head socket, the screw element comprises a head section and a fastening thread section axially distant from the head section, the screw element is designed to be arranged in the passage of the post body so that the head section is positioned in the head socket abutting the press section, and so that the screw element extends through the occlusal aperture whereby the fastening thread section of the screw element at least partially is positioned out of the post body, the post body has a mounting portion which is flexible between an expanded position and a constricted position, and which has an inner face radially limiting the passage, the screw element has a first locking section and the inner face of the mounting portion has a second locking section, when the screw element is arranged in the passage of the post, the first locking section of the screw element is positioned adjacent to the second locking section of the mounting portion of the post body, and the first locking section of the screw element and the second locking section of the inner face of the mounting portion are configured to plastically deform the screw element, the post body or the screw element and the post body such that the mounting portion of the post body is locked in the expanded position.

2. The abutment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first locking section of the screw element is embodied as a displacing section, wherein the displacing section of the screw element is configured to deform the material of the mounting portion of the post body such that a shape of the inner face of the mounting portion of the post body is changed.

3. The abutment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the inner face of the mounting portion of the post body has a projection configured to be reshaped when being pressed by the first locking section of the screw element.

4. The abutment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first locking section of the screw element is an invading section.

5. The abutment arrangement of claim 4, wherein the invading section of the screw element comprises an invading rib.

6. The abutment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first locking section of the screw element has a projection (3310) configured to be reshaped when being pressed by the second locking section of the inner face of the mounting portion of the post body.

7. The abutment arrangement of claim 6, wherein the projection of the first locking section of the screw element spirally extends along an outer face of the screw element.

8. The abutment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion of the post body comprises flexible lamellas.

9. The abutment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion of the post body is configured for a snap-fit connection to the dental restoration.

10. The abutment arrangement of claim 9, wherein the mounting portion of the post body has a neck section and a bulge section radially protruding the neck section when the mounting portion is in the expanded position.

11. The abutment arrangement of claim 10, wherein the neck section of the mounting portion of the post body is located apically offset of the bulge section of the mounting portion of the post body.

12. The abutment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the post body has an occlusal part having the occlusal aperture of the passage and an apical part having the apical aperture of the passage, the apical part of the post body is made of a first material having a rigidity essentially the same as a rigidity of the dental implant, and the occlusal part of the post body is made of a second material providing flexibility to change between the expanded position and the constricted position and to connect to the dental restoration.

13. The abutment arrangement of claim 12, wherein the first material of the apical part of the post body is titanium and/or the second material of the occlusal part of the post body is PEEK, PMMA, Polycarbonate, Nylon, Silicone or a combination thereof.

14. A dental restoration kit comprising the abutment arrangement of claim 1 and a dental restoration, wherein the dental restoration has a cavity configured to receive the mounting portion of the post body of the abutment arrangement to connect to the abutment arrangement.

15. The dental restoration kit of claim 14, wherein the cavity of the dental restoration comprises a stem section and a cave section radially protruding the stem section.

16. The dental restoration kit of claim 15, wherein the cavity of the dental restoration and the mounting portion of the post body are arranged such that the bulge section of the mounting portion of the post body can pass through the stem section of the cavity of the dental restoration when the mounting portion of the post body is in the constricted position, the neck section of the mounting portion of the post body is located in the stem section of the cavity of the dental restoration when the bulge section of the mounting portion of the post body is received in the cave section of the cavity of the dental restoration, and the bulge section of the mounting portion of the post body cannot pass through the stem section of the cavity of the dental restoration when the mounting portion of the post body is in the expanded position.

17. The dental restoration kit of claim 15, wherein the cave section of the cavity of the dental restoration has an inner shape corresponding to an outer shape of the bulge section of the mounting portion of the post body, and the inner shape of the cave section of the cavity of the dental restoration is smaller than the outer shape of the bulge section of the mounting portion of the post body.

18. The dental restoration kit of claim 14, comprising a dental implant with a socket configured to receive the fastening thread section of the screw element of the abutment arrangement to connect to the abutment arrangement.

19. A method of connecting a dental restoration to a dental implant, comprising: obtaining an abutment arrangement of claim 1; providing the dental restoration with a cavity having an apical opening and an occlusal opening, wherein the cavity is formed to receive the mounting portion of the post body of the abutment arrangement; setting a dental implant into a jaw bone; positioning the post body on the set dental implant; clipping or snap-fitting the dental restoration through the apical opening of the cavity on the post body of the abutment arrangement such that the mounting portion of the post body of the abutment arrangement is received in the cavity of the dental restoration, wherein, while clipping or snap-fitting the dental restoration on the post body of the abutment arrangement, the mounting portion of the post body of the abutment arrangement changes from the constricted position to the expanded position; providing the screw element of the abutment arrangement through the occlusal opening of the cavity of the dental restoration and the passage of the post body of the abutment arrangement; securing the screw element to the dental implant, whereby the head section of the screw element of the abutment arrangement abuts the press section of the passage of the post body of the abutment arrangement such that the post body of the abutment arrangement is pressed to the dental implant, and the first locking section of the screw element of the abutment arrangement and/or the second locking section of the mounting portion of the post body are plastically deformed such that a tight fit is generated which locks the mounting portion of the post body of the abutment arrangement in the expanded position; and closing the occlusal opening of the cavity of the dental restoration.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the passage is closed by a plug being pressed into the occlusal opening after the dental restoration is mounted to the dental implant.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066] The abutment arrangement according to the invention, the dental restoration kit according to the invention and the method according to the invention are described in more detail herein below by way of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0067] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a post body of a first embodiment of an abutment arrangement according to the invention;

[0068] FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of the abutment arrangement of FIG. 1 with the post body and a screw element;

[0069] FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of a first embodiment of a dental restoration kit according to the invention having the abutment arrangement of FIG. 1, a crown and a dental implant, wherein the post body is positioned on the implant and the crown is distant from the post body;

[0070] FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of the dental restoration kit of FIG. 3, while the crown being positioned on the post body, wherein a mounting portion of the post body is in a constricted position;

[0071] FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of the dental restoration kit of FIG. 3, wherein the crown is positioned on the post body and the mounting portion of the post body is in an expanded position;

[0072] FIG. 6 shows a cross sectional view of the dental restoration kit of FIG. 3, while the screw element being placed into the post body, wherein the mounting portion of the post body is in the expanded position;

[0073] FIG. 7 shows a cross sectional view of the dental restoration kit of FIG. 3, wherein the screw element is positioned in the post body and fixed to the dental implant, and the mounting portion of the post body is in the expanded position secured by the screw element;

[0074] FIG. 8 shows a cross sectional view of a second embodiment of a dental restoration kit according to the invention comprising a second embodiment of an abutment arrangement according to the invention, a crown and a dental implant, wherein a post body of the abutment arrangement is positioned on the implant and the crown is distant from the post body;

[0075] FIG. 9 shows a cross sectional view of the dental restoration kit of FIG. 8 with the crown being positioned on the post body;

[0076] FIG. 10 shows a cross sectional view of the dental restoration kit of FIG. 8 with the crown being positioned on the post body and a screw element of the abutment arrangement being loosely set into the post body and the implant;

[0077] FIG. 11 shows a detail of FIG. 10;

[0078] FIG. 12 shows a cross sectional view of the dental restoration kit of FIG. 8 with the crown being positioned on the post body and the screw element of the abutment arrangement being fixedly screwed into the implant;

[0079] FIG. 13 shows a detail of FIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0080] In the following description certain terms are used for reasons of convenience and are not intended to limit the invention. The terms “right”, “left”, “up”, “down”, “under” and “above” refer to directions in the figures. The terminology comprises the explicitly mentioned terms as well as their derivations and terms with a similar meaning. Also, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper”, “proximal”, “distal”, and the like, may be used to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element or feature as illustrated in the figures. These spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different positions and orientations of the devices in use or operation in addition to the position and orientation shown in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be “above” or “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both positions and orientations of above and below. The devices may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Likewise, descriptions of movement along and around various axes include various special device positions and orientations.

[0081] To avoid repetition in the figures and the descriptions of the various aspects and illustrative embodiments, it should be understood that many features are common to many aspects and embodiments. Omission of an aspect from a description or figure does not imply that the aspect is missing from embodiments that incorporate that aspect. Instead, the aspect may have been omitted for clarity and to avoid prolix description. In this context, the following applies to the rest of this description: If, in order to clarify the drawings, a figure contains reference signs which are not explained in the directly associated part of the description, then it is referred to previous or following description sections. Further, for reason of lucidity, if in a drawing not all features of a part are provided with reference signs it is referred to other drawings showing the same part. Like numbers in two or more figures represent the same or similar elements.

[0082] FIG. 1 shows a post body 2 of a first embodiment of an abutment arrangement 1 according to the invention. The post body 2 consists of two pieces, i.e. an upper occlusal part 23 forming a mounting portion of the post body 2 and a lower apical part 22. It further has a central passage 21 with an occlusal aperture 211 and an apical aperture 212. The passage 21 axially extends through the occlusal part 23 and the apical part 22. The occlusal part 23 comprises a ring portion 231 from which six lamellas 232 axially extend in an upward or occlusal direction. The lamellas 232 are regularly distributed around the ring portion 231 and establish a bulge section of the mounting portion or occlusal part 23. Further, the lamellas 232 define an inner face radially limiting the passage 21, as second locking section. In the situation shown in FIG. 1 where no forces act on the post body 2 the mounting portion or occlusal part 23 is in the expanded position. There, the outer surface of the lamellas 232 widens from the ring portion 231 towards the occlusal aperture 211. In other words, along an occlusal direction the outer surfaces of the lamellas 232 are slightly radially or laterally inclined. Thereby, the lamellas 232 define an outer circumference 2321 which increases in diameter 2322 from the ring portion 231 towards the occlusal aperture 211. The outer circumference 2321 is ring-shaped. The ring portion 231 establishes a neck section of the mounting portion or occlusal part 23.

[0083] Below the lamellas 232 four snap-in tongues 233 as a snap-in formation axially extend from the ring portion 231 in a downward direction. Each snap-in tongue 233 has an axial slit dividing the snap-in tongue 233 in two parallel portions. From an outer surface of each snap-in tongue 233 a protrusion laterally extends.

[0084] The occlusal part 23 is made of PEEK. The apical part 22 is made of titanium and comprises a cylinder 221 and an intermediate flange portion 222 extending about the cylinder 221. At an occlusal end region, the cylinder 221 has four snap-in recesses 224 as snap-in formation located in correspondence with the snap-in tongues 233 of the occlusal part 23. Thereby, the snap-in recesses 224 are formed to receive the snap-in tongues 233 when the occlusal part 23 is pressed top down onto the apical part 22. In particular, the two parallel portions of each snap-in tongue 233 are elastically moved towards each other until they are arranged in the respective snap-in recess 224. There, they are moved back in the initial position such that the base part 22 and the expansion part 23 are firmly connected.

[0085] In FIG. 2 the abutment arrangement 1 is shown with its screw element 3 arranged inside the passage 21 of the post body 2. The screw element 3 comprises an upper invading section 33 as first locking section or displacing section near an occlusal end of the screw element 3 axially passing over in a head section 31 and in a lower fastening thread section 32 near an apical end of the screw element 3. The invading section 33 is equipped with a cutting thread 331 as invading rib about its outer surface. The fastening thread section 32 is equipped with a fastening thread 321 about its outer surface. The cutting thread 331 has a cutting thread pitch 3311 and the fastening thread 321 has a fastening thread pitch 3211, wherein the cutting thread pitch 3211 and the fastening thread pitch 3211 are identical. Also the cutting thread 331 and the fastening thread 321 each have one single start and an identical thread angle.

[0086] At its top or occlusal end the screw element 3 comprises a driver recess 332 for accommodating a screw driver. The head section 31 has a conical push portion 311 which axially tapers in a downward direction.

[0087] The screw element 3 is completely screwed into the passage 21 of the post body 2. Thereby, the head 31 of the screw element 3 is positioned in a head socket 213 of the passage 21 and the outer surface of the push portion 311 abuts a correspondingly conical press section 214 of the passage 21. The press section 214 is apically neighbouring the head socket 213. When being screwed into the passage 21, the cutting thread 331 of the invading section 33 of the screw element cuts the material of the inner face of the lamellas 232. In particular, a spiral groove is cut into the inner face of the lamellas 232 in which the cutting thread 331 is arranged. Like this, the lamellas 232 are fixed and the expanded position is locked. In FIG. 2 the mounting portion or occlusal part 23 of the post body 2 is locked in an expanded position by the invading section 33 invading the material of the lamellas 232.

[0088] In FIGS. 3 to 7 a first embodiment of a dental restoration kit having the abutment arrangement 1, a crown 4 as dental restoration and a dental implant 5 is shown in use.

[0089] The crown 4 has a ceramic crown body 42 with a bore 41 as cavity which is open in an upward and a downward direction. The bore 41 is shaped to form, from bottom to top, a conically narrowing apical end section 413, a cylindrical stem section 411, a concave cave section 412 and a cylindrical occlusal end section 414.

[0090] The implant 5 has a top end forming an occlusal end side 51. It further has an upper abutment recess 52 passing over into a lower screw recess 53. The post body 2 is positioned in the abutment recess 52 such that a portion of the cylinder 221 which is below the flange portion 222 lies inside the abutment recess 52. Thereby, the abutment recess 52 is shaped to fit the outer surface of the cylinder 221 such that the post body 2 cannot be rotated with respect to the implant 5. The flange portion 222 of the occlusal part 22 abuts the occlusal end side 51 of the implant 5.

[0091] As indicated by the dotted arrows in FIG. 3, an inner shape of the cave section 412 of the cavity 41 corresponds in form to an outer shape of the lamellas 232 of the post body 2. However, the inner shape of the cave section 412 is slightly smaller than the outer shape of the lamellas 232 when the lamellas 232 are in the expanded position. In particular, a diameter of the cave section 412 is slightly smaller than the diameter 2322 of the outer circumference 2321 of the lamellas 232.

[0092] In FIG. 4, the crown 4 is shown while being set on the post body 2. Introduction of the occlusal end of the post body 2 into the cavity 41 is facilitated by the conical apical end section of the cavity 41. For being located inside the stem section 411, the lamellas 232 are bent inwardly into the passage 21 of the post body 2. Thereby, the outer circumference 2321 defined by the lamellas 232 or its diameter 2322 is reduced. The lamellas 232 are now in a constricted position and can be shifted through the stem section 411.

[0093] FIG. 5 shows the crown 4 being fully set on the post body 2 such that the apical end section 413 of the cavity 41 receives the flange portion 222 of the post body 2. In particular, a bottom surface of the apical end section 413 abuts a top surface of the flange portion 222. The lamellas 232 of the post body 2 are now positioned in the cave section 412 of the cavity 41 of the crown 4 and the crown 4 is snap-fitted on the post body 2. Like this, the crown 4 is connected to the post body 2.

[0094] In FIG. 6, the screw element 3 is introduced through the cavity 41 of the crown 4 and the passage 21 of the post body 2 towards the dental implant 5. Such introduction can be established by a straight top down movement of the screw element until the cutting thread 331 abuts the occlusal end of the lamellas 232 and/or the fastening thread abuts top end of the screw recess 53. Then, the screw element 3 is further advanced by a rotational movement about its axis.

[0095] FIG. 7 shows the screw element 3 fully screwed into the implant 5. Thereby, it can be seen that the cutting thread invades, i.e. cuts, the material of the lamellas 232 and establishes a tight fit with the post body 2. Since the cutting thread 331 and the fastening thread 321 have the same geometric properties as described above, the same rotational movement of the screw element 3 establishes the fastening of the screw element 3 to the implant and the invasion of the material of the lamellas 232. The lamellas 232 are thereby safely locked in their expanded position. Like this, the crown 4 is firmly secured on the post body 2 and simultaneously the post body 2 is firmly mounted to the implant 5. The top end of the cavity 41 of the crown is then closed, e.g., by means of a plug. The crown 4 is now safely connected to the implant 5.

[0096] FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of a dental restoration kit comprising a second embodiment of an abutment arrangement 10 according to the invention, a crown 40 as dental restoration and a dental implant 50. The abutment arrangement 10 has a one piece post body 20 with an upper occlusal portion 230 forming a mounting portion and a lower apical portion 220. It further has a central passage 210 with an occlusal aperture 2110 and an apical aperture 2120. The passage 210 axially extends through the occlusal portion 230 and the apical portion 220. The occlusal portion 230 comprises a frame 2310 with ring segment section and three axial stem sections connecting the ring segment section to the apical portion 220. The ring segment section extends about a little more than three quarters of the complete circumference of the ring. Limited by the ring segment sections two recesses are formed in each of which a lamella 2320 is arranged. The lamellas 2320 axially extend from the apical portion 220 towards the ring segment section of the frame 2310. Each of the lamellas 2320 has a free end and establishes a bulge section of the occlusal or mounting portion 230. In addition the two lamellas 2320 an indexing tongue 2330 axially extends from the apical portion 220 to the occlusal aperture 2110. The indexing tongue 2330 has a bulged outer surface and projects between two stem sections of the frame 2310 into an aperture defined by its ring segment section. The lamellas 2320 and the indexing tongue 2330 define an inner face as second locking section radially limiting the passage 210.

[0097] In the situation shown in FIG. 8, where no forces act on the post body 20, the mounting or occlusal portion 230 is in an expanded position. There, the outer surface of the lamellas 2320 and of the indexing tongue 2330 outwardly project. In other words, along an occlusal direction the outer surfaces of the lamellas 2320 and of the indexing tongue 2330 are slightly radially or laterally inclined. Thereby, the lamellas 232 and the indexing tongue 2330 define an outer circumference which increases in diameter from the apical portion 220 and slightly go back after having a maximum.

[0098] The body portion 20 is made of titanium and comprises a flange portion 2220 between the occlusal portion 230 and the apical portion 220.

[0099] The crown 40 has a ceramic crown body 420 formed in a shape corresponding to a tooth to be replaced. The crown body 420 is equipped with a bore 410 as cavity which is open in an upward and a downward direction. The bore 410 is shaped to form, from bottom to top, a conically narrowing apical end section 4130, a shortened cylindrical stem section 4110, a partially concave and partially cylindrical cave section 4120 and a cylindrical occlusal end section 4140.

[0100] The implant 50 has a top end forming an occlusal end side 510. It further has an upper abutment recess 520 passing over into a lower screw recess 530. The post body 20 is positioned in the abutment recess 520 such that a section of the portion of the body 20, which is below the flange portion 2220, lies inside the abutment recess 520. Thereby, the abutment recess 520 is shaped to fit the outer surface of the body 20 such that it cannot be rotated with respect to the implant 50. For achieving such non-rotatable mounting the outer circumference of the body 20 and the inner circumference of the recess 520 have an non-rotational-symmetric mating geometry. The flange portion 2220 of the body 20 abuts the occlusal end side 510 of the implant 50.

[0101] As indicated by the dotted arrows in FIG. 3, an inner shape of the cave section 4120 of the bore 410 corresponds in form to an outer shape of the lamellas 2320 and the indexing tongue 2330 of the post body 20. However, the inner shape of the cave section 4120 is slightly smaller than the outer shape of the lamellas 2320 and the indexing tongue 2330 when the lamellas 2320 and the indexing tongue 2330 are in the expanded position. In particular, an inner diameter of the cave section 4120 is slightly smaller than a diameter of the outer circumference of the lamellas 2320 and the indexing tongue 2330.

[0102] In FIG. 9, the crown 40 is snap-fitted onto the post body 20 by axially moving the occlusal portion 230 into the cave section 4120. Thereby, the lamellas 2320 and the indexing tongue 2330 are temporarily bent towards each other into a constricted position. In this position the lamellas 2320 and the indexing tongue 2330 can pass the cylindrical stem section 4110 of the bore 410 which has a narrowed diameter compared to the diameter of its cave section 4120. As soon as the lamellas 2320 and the indexing tongue 2330 have passed the stem section they are elastically moving back towards their expanded position. At the end of this snap-fit movement, the lamellas 2320 and indexing tongue 2330 are pressed against the surface of the cave section 4120. In order to ensure that the crown 40 is correctly aligned on the post body 20, the cave section 4120 has an indexing recess for receiving the indexing tongue 2330. Like this, rotation of the crown 40 relative to the post body 20 can be prevented.

[0103] In the snap-fitted position shown in FIG. 9, the post body 20 is not fixed to the implant such that it can be lifted off and separated from it. Also, even though the crown 40 is snap-fitted onto the post body 20 such that it is securely held on the post body 20, it still can be pulled-off from the post body 20 when applying a sufficient pulling force. In particular, for removing the crown 40, an axial pulling force would have to be applied which is sufficient for moving the lamellas 2320 and the indexing tongue 2330 into the constricted position.

[0104] FIGS. 10 to 13 show how the post body is fixed to the implant and, at the same time, the crown 40 is locked on the post body 20. The screw element 30 comprises an upper first locking section 330 near an occlusal end of the screw element 30 axially passing over in a head section 310 and in a lower fastening thread section 320 near an apical end of the screw element 30. The first locking section 330 is equipped with plural protrusions 3310 spirally extending along the outer surface of the first locking section 330.

[0105] The fastening thread section 320 is equipped with a fastening thread 3210 about its outer surface. At its top or occlusal end the screw element 30 comprises a driver recess 3320 for accommodating a screw driver. The head section 310 has a conical push portion 3110 which axially tapers in a downward direction.

[0106] As can be seen in FIG. 10, the screw element 30 is positioned top down into the passage 210 of the post body 20, whereas the fastening thread section 320 of the screw element 30 still is distant disengaged from the screw recess 530 of the implant 50. Whereas in FIG. 10 the first locking section 330 is above the post body 20, FIG. 11 shows the screw element 30 further downwardly moved. Thereby, it can be seen that the ring segment section of the frame 2310 is dimensioned such that the first locking section 330 may pass in an unhindered manner. More specifically, an inner diameter of the ring segment section of the frame 2310 is larger than an outer diameter of the protrusions 3310 of the first locking section 330. In contrast, an inner diameter of the lamellas 2320 and of the indexing tongue 2330 is smaller than the outer diameter of the protrusions 3310 when being snapped-fitted into the cave section 4120. Like this, the first locking section 330 cannot freely pass the lamellas 2320 and the indexing tongue 2330.

[0107] In FIG. 12 the screw element 30 is shown when being screwed into the screw recess 530 of the implant 50. Thereby, the fastening thread 3210 of the screw element 30 engages the screw recess 530 of the implant 50. As can be best seen in FIG. 13, when screwing the screw element 30 by means of the screw driver, the first locking section 330 of the screw element is forced into the inner face of the lamellas 2320 and the indexing tongue 2330 of the post body 20. Thereby, the protrusions 3310 are plastically deformed such that the first locking section 330 safely locks the lamellas 2320 and the indexing tongue 2330 in the expanded position. In other words, like this the lamellas 2320 and indexing tongue 2330 are fixed, and the expanded position of the post body 20 is locked.

[0108] This description and the accompanying drawings that illustrate aspects and embodiments of the present invention should not be taken as limiting—the claims defining the protected invention. In other words, while the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. Various mechanical, compositional, structural, electrical, and operational changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this description and the claims. In some instances, well-known circuits, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention. Thus, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope and spirit of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above and below.

[0109] The disclosure also covers all further features shown in the Figs. individually although they may not have been described in the afore or following description. Also, single alternatives of the embodiments described in the figures and the description and single alternatives of features thereof can be disclaimed from the subject matter of the invention or from disclosed subject matter. The disclosure comprises subject matter consisting of the features defined in the claims or the exemplary embodiments as well as subject matter comprising said features.

[0110] Furthermore, in the claims the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single unit or step may fulfil the functions of several features recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. The terms “essentially”, “about”, “approximately” and the like in connection with an attribute or a value particularly also define exactly the attribute or exactly the value, respectively. The term “about” in the context of a given numerate value or range refers to a value or range that is, e.g., within 20%, within 10%, within 5%, or within 2% of the given value or range. Components described as coupled or connected may be electrically or mechanically directly coupled, or they may be indirectly coupled via one or more intermediate components. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.