SYSTEM FOR MODIFYING A HUMAN OR ANIMAL BONE

Abstract

A system (1) for modifying a human or animal bone (2) is intended to reliably enable bone augmentation or bone reduction of the bone (2) to be treated in a particularly simple and, in particular, also particularly well-tolerated manner. For this purpose, according to the invention, a two-dimensionally extended lifting/pressure element (4) for insertion between the periosteum (6) of the bone (2) to be treated and the underlying bone (2) or the overlying connective tissue and a control element (10) associated therewith are provided, the control element (10) being designed to exert a magnetic pressure or tensile force on the lifting/pressure element (4).

Claims

1-5. (canceled)

6. System (1) for modifying a human or animal bone (2), having a lifting/pressure element (4) which is provided for insertion between the periosteum (6) of the bone (2) to be treated and the underlying bone (2) or the overlying connective tissue and which is formed by a plastic matrix in which magnetic or magnetisable particles (22) are embedded, and having a control element (10) associated therewith, the control element (10) being designed to exert on the lifting/pressure element (4) a magnetic pressure or tensile force which is selected in such a way that the resulting bone distraction per day, taking into account the magnetisation of the lifting/pressure element (4), is approximately 0.5 mm.

7. System (1) according to claim 6, the lifting/pressure element (4) of which is permanent or ferromagnetic.

8. System (1) according to claim 6, the lifting/pressure element (4) of which has a substantially constant magnetisation or magnetisability seen over its surface.

9. System (1) according to claim 6, the lifting/pressure element (4) of which has a magnetisation or magnetisability distributed over its surface in the manner of a lattice structure.

Description

[0026] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. Therein show:

[0027] FIG. 1 a system for modifying a human or animal bone,

[0028] FIG. 2 a lifting/pressure element of the system according to FIG. 1 in sectional cross section, and

[0029] FIG. 3 the lifting/pressure element according to FIG. 2 in plan view.

[0030] Identical parts are marked with the same reference signs in all figures.

[0031] The system 1 according to FIG. 1 is designed for the targeted modification of a human or animal bone in a particularly gentle manner that is compatible with the patient. In the embodiment example according to FIG. 1, this is shown for the treatment of the jaw bone 2 of a patient; however, other embodiments, directed at the treatment of other bones 2 of humans or animals, are of course also included in accordance with the invention.

[0032] The system 1 is designed for an operating principle, which is in itself considered to be in accordance with the invention, for achieving a desired bone modification, in which a lifting/pressure element 4 extended over an area is positioned in or on the bone 2 and then subjected to a suitably selected force. In the case of an intended bone augmentation, the lifting/pressure element 4 is positioned between the periosteum or the periosteum 6 and the actual bone 2. In this case, the external force applied to the lifting/pressure element 4 lifts the periosteum 6 away from the actual bone 2, creating a free space between the bone 2 and the periosteum 6. Percytes can migrate into this free space from the vessel walls of the expanded tissue, which subsequently cause new bone formation in the free space created. In the other case, namely when bone resorption is desired, the lifting/pressure element 4 is positioned between the periosteum 6 and the surrounding connective tissue and a force is applied in the direction of the bone 2 so that pressure is exerted on the bone 2. This causes the bone 2 to recede and thus the desired bone resorption.

[0033] To transmit or initiate the intended force to/into the lifting/pressure element 4, a control element 10 is assigned to the latter, which is suitably coupled or can be coupled to the lifting/pressure element 4 on the force side. In this case, since the embodiment example involves the intended treatment of a jaw bone 2 in the context of dental surgery, the control element 10 is designed as a splint which is suitably placed on the gum and fastened at the end to the teeth 12 of the patient. Alternatively, the control element 10 could be positioned outside the patient and attached to the patient's head, for example, by means of a harness system, a suitable facemask, or any other attachment system.

[0034] In the embodiment, magnetic force transmission is provided between the control element 10 and the lift/pressure element 4. The rail forming the control element 10 is suitably equipped to generate a magnetic field in the intended positioning area of the lifting/pressure element 4 at or on the jawbone 2. For this purpose, the control element 10 may comprise a number of suitably selected selectively actuatable electromagnets; in the embodiment example, however, the control element 10 is equipped with a number of permanent magnets. When equipped with electromagnets, the magnetic field in the—area of the positioning of the lifting/pressure element 4 and thus the force acting on the lifting/pressure element 4 and transmitted by it to the periosteum 6 can be suitably adjusted in a particularly simple manner by electrical control of the control element 10 and readjusted as required, i.e., for example, readjusted in accordance with a determined treatment success.

[0035] The system 1, comprising the lifting/pressure element 4 and the associated control element 10, is suitably designed in terms of magnetic coupling and force transmission for the desired creation of the free space between periosteum 6 and bone 2 or between periosteum 6 and connective tissue. For this purpose, the force transmitted magnetically from the control element 10 to the lifting/pressure element should be selected approximately such that per day the resulting bone distraction is approximately 0.5 mm. In the embodiment example, the lifting/pressure element 4 is based on encapsulated or Teflon-sheathed esiens and is thus ferromagnetic. The magnetization or magnetizability of the lifting/pressure element 4 is selected appropriately with regard to the force to be transmitted.

[0036] To carry out the intended treatment, the lifting/pressure element 4 is temporarily implanted between bone 2 and periosteum 6 or between periosteum 6 and connective tissue. With regard to its properties, such as flexibility, thickness, permeability or the like, the lifting/pressure element 4 is designed in such a way that, on the one hand, the desired placement is particularly easy and, on the other hand, adequate permeability enables reanastomosis of the periosteum 6 with vessels in the bone 2.

[0037] In particular, the lifting/pressure element 4 is designed with a particularly low thickness, i.e. as thin as possible. This ensures that during implantation, after exposure of the bone 2 and application of the lifting/pressure element 4, the periosteum 6 and the overlying soft tissue can be closed over the lifting/pressure element 4 without tension. This is important for wound healing. On the other hand, the thickness is also chosen to be sufficiently large so that sufficient mechanical stability is ensured to transmit the intended forces.

[0038] In order to be able to change appropriately during treatment, i.e. from “small to large” in the case of bone augmentation or vice versa in the case of bone resorption, and to adapt to the changing environmental conditions in the course of treatment, the lifting/pressure element 4 is designed to be sufficiently flexible, i.e. changeable in shape. In order to enable equally reliable magnetizability over an extended area, the lifting/pressure element 4, as shown in the enlarged cross-sectional view in FIG. 2, is formed by a base body 20 made of a suitably selected, in particular biocompatible and also sufficiently flexible plastic. The base body 20 thereby forms a plastic matrix in which magnetic or magnetizable particles 22 are embedded. Due to this structure, the particles 22 are completely embedded in the plastic base body 20 in the manner of an—encapsulated design in the sense of particularly good biocompatibility or compatibility. To provide the desired magnetic properties, the particles 22 thereby consist of iron.

[0039] In order to enable a new vessel connection between vessels in the bone 2 and in the periosteum 6 during treatment, i.e. even with the lifting/pressure element 4 implanted,—the lifting/pressure element 4 is perforated and thus designed to be permeable on the surface. This can be seen particularly well in the top view of the lifting/pressure element 4 according to FIG. 3. In order to form the perforation, the base body 20 forming the lifting/pressure element 4 is provided with holes 30, which are kept comparatively large, when viewed from the surface, with the base body 20 forming a kind of grid-net body—between them. Alternatively, smaller holes could of course be provided to form the—desired perforation. In the embodiment example, a perforation to area ratio of about 50% is provided. Moreover, the pore size of the holes 30 forming the perforation, which is defined by the size of the holes 30, is selected small enough to prevent the periosteum 6 from “slipping through” and to achieve uniform elevation of the entire soft tissue.

[0040] Due to the shape of the base body 20 on the one hand and the basic structure as a matrix body with embedded magnetic particles 22 on the other hand, it results for the embodiment example shown that the stroke/pressure element 4 shown has a—magnetization or magnetizability distributed over its surface in the manner of a grid structure.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0041] 1 System [0042] 2 Bone [0043] 4 Lift/pressure element [0044] 6 Periost [0045] 10 Control [0046] 12 Tooth [0047] 20 Base Body [0048] 22 Particle [0049] 30 Hole