Abstract
An adapter for a surgical device which comprises a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis. The adapter comprises a surgical section provided at the second end for connecting to a surgical device, an engagement section provided at the first end adapted to engage an insertion device, and a support section for connecting to a retainer. The surgical section comprises, on a side of the first end, a force or torque transmission means for the surgical device and, on the first end, an attachment element for a removable connection to the implant is placed. The support section comprises an at least partially non-circular shape such that the adapter is removable by rotating the adapter around its longitudinal axis.
Claims
1-43. (canceled)
44. An adapter for a surgical device comprising: a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis comprising: a surgical section provided at the second end for connecting to a surgical device, an engagement section provided at the first end adapted to engage an insertion device, and a support section for connecting to a retainer, the surgical section comprising, on a side of the first end, force or torque transmission means for the surgical device and, on the first end, an attachment element for a removable connection to the implant is placed, wherein the support section comprises an at least partially non-circular shape such that the adapter is removable by rotating the adapter around its longitudinal axis.
45. The adapter according to claim 44, wherein the non-circular shape of the support section is polygonal.
46. The adapter according to claim 44, wherein the support section is arranged in a recess formed on the outer surface of the adapter.
47. The adapter according to claim 44, wherein the attachment element comprises at least two spring elements.
48. The adapter according to claim 47, wherein the at least two spring elements each comprising at least one pre-defined contact section for contact with the surgical device.
49. The adapter according to claim 48, wherein the at least one contact section has a cross-section along the longitudinal axis of the adapter with a round shape.
50. The adapter according to claim 44, wherein the adapter comprises a predefined breaking point between the engagement section and the support section.
51. The adapter according to claim 44, wherein the force or torque transmission means include a spline shaft.
52. The adapter according to claim 44, wherein at least one marking is provided on the side of the first end.
53. The adapter according to claim 44, wherein the engagement section is a spline hub.
54. The adapter according to claim 44, wherein the adapter is formed to include a cavity, which extends along the longitudinal axis, in a cross-section of the force or torque transmission means.
55. The adapter according to claim 53, wherein the at least one marking is a notch or projection, the at least one notch or projection extends along the longitudinal axis of the adapter, and a circumferential position of the at least one marking corresponds to a circumferential position of at least one lobe of the spline shaft.
Description
[0117] Non-limiting embodiments of the invention are described, by way of example only, with respect to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0118] FIG. 1: is a perspective view of a retainer with an implant, an adapter and an insertion device,
[0119] FIG. 2: is a top view of a retainer
[0120] FIG. 3: is a perspective view of a retainer in a first position,
[0121] FIG. 4: is a top view of a retainer in a second position,
[0122] FIG. 5: is a perspective view of a retainer in a third position with a screw driver,
[0123] FIG. 6: is a bottom view of the retainer and a detailed view of holding structures of the retainer,
[0124] FIG. 7: is a perspective view of a retainer with a support structure,
[0125] FIG. 8: is a bottom view of a retainer held in a packaging,
[0126] FIG. 9: is a perspective view of a recess of a packaging,
[0127] FIG. 10: is another perspective view of a retainer held in a packaging,
[0128] FIG. 11a/11b: is a perspective view of an adapter for two embodiments of a surgical device,
[0129] FIG. 12: shows the adapter of FIG. 11a with an implant,
[0130] FIG. 13: shows a side view and a cross section of a support section of an adapter for connection to a retainer,
[0131] FIG. 14: shows a side view of an adapter and an insertion device and a cross section of the connection sections of the adapter and the insertion device,
[0132] FIG. 15: shows a perspective view of an adapter and an insertion device.
[0133] In FIG. 1 a retainer 1 which holds an adapter 3 is shown. The adapter 3 is connected to a dental implant 2. A first support structure 8 holds the adapter 3. The adapter is connectable to an insertion tool 32. The retainer comprises two body parts: A first body part 5 and a second body part 6. The first body part 5 comprises secondary support structures 9 in which a screw 4 can be held. The second body part comprises a round plate 24, which prohibits a removal of the screw 4. The first body part 5 and the second body part 6 may be rotated in relation to each other around a pivot axis 7. A user may actuate the first and second body part in a first way by pressing on a first set of grips 23. The first set of grips 23 are located on first ends 35 of the first body part 5 and the second body part 6. During this rotation the first body part 5 pivots in a direction 39 and the second body part 6 pivots in a direction 38. If a user desires to pivot a first body part 5 and the second body part 6 in a second way then a second set of grips 22 may be pressed. A second set of grips are located at second ends 36 of the first body part 5 and the second body part 6. Hence, the first and second body part may be actuated in a “scissor like manner” with grips on both ends of the “scissor”. The pivoting motion in the second way is limited by a first limiting portion 10. The first limiting portion 10 contacts the adapter 3 which is held by the first body part 5 and thus forms a first limiting stop. The second body part also comprises locking means 11 realized as a bar.
[0134] This bar locks the adapter 3 in the retainer. Then the pivoting motion cannot extend beyond the contact point as long as the adapter 3 is held by the first body part 5. A pivoting motion in the opposite direction is also limited. The first ends 35 of the first body part 5 and the second body part 6 include contact elements 40 (see FIG. 2). If the second or first body part is pivoted in the second way, then the contact elements 40 limit this motion and act as a second limiting stop. Hence, a range is defined within which a pivoting motion can be conducted.
[0135] With reference to FIG. 2 a top view of the retainer is shown. In between the first body part 5 and the second body part 6 a stabilizing structure realized as titanium platelet 12 is shown. The titanium platelet 12 is held by a holding structure 13. There are five holding structures 13 in the form of two slots shown in FIG. 2. Depending on the size of the implant the titanium platelet 12 may be inserted into the suitable holding structure 13. The numbers next to the holding structures indicate the length of the implant. The titanium platelet is a stabilizing structure.
[0136] Further FIG. 2 shows projections 16 on the sides of the first and second ends 35, 36. The protections are designed such that the retainer may stand on them once placed on a flat surface like a table or tray.
[0137] The retainer holds a healing screw 4. This healing screw 4 is held by a secondary support structure 9 of the first body part 5. The second body part 6 includes screw locking means realized as a round plate 24 for the screw 4. In the exemplary embodiments, the first body part 5 includes four secondary support structures 9 for several different sizes of healing screws. During use only one of those holding structures is occupied. The other three remain empty. Hence, one retainer is adjusted to the length of the implant (as described above) and also may hold the suitable healing screw 4. Above the holding structure for the healing screw 4 of the first body part 5 the plate 24 for locking the healing screw 4 in is arranged. In the position shown in FIG. 2 the healing screw is removable from the retainer. In this position holes 42 of the second body part 6 are arranged concentrically with a longitudinal axis of the healing screw. In this position and only in this position the healing screw 4 may be removed.
[0138] FIG. 3 shows the first and second body part 5, 6 in a first position. First and second body part 5, 6 can be brought into three different positions. In the first position the screw 4, adapter 32 and the implant 2 are locked in the device and cannot be removed. This position is utilized for transporting and handling the retainer. Once delivered to a surgeon or dentist, the dentist can bring first and second body part 5, 6 into the second position.
[0139] FIG. 4 shows the first body part 5 and second body part 6 in the second position. As can be seen from FIG. 4 the holes 42 are not concentrically aligned with the longitudinal axis of healing screw 4 or the secondary support structures 9 of the healing screws. Hence, a healing screw 4 may not be removed from the retainer. The healing screw is fixed inside the retainer and thus cannot be lost. However, the adapter 3 and implant 2 are removable from the retainer in the position shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the surgeon can use an insertion tool 32 to remove the adapter 4 and the implant 2 from the retainer and implant the implant 4. After the implantation the surgeon or dentist may need the healing screw 4. To access the healing screw 4 the retainer 1 is brought into the third position shown in FIG. 5.
[0140] FIG. 5 shows a removal of a healing screw 4 with a screw driver 20. If the first body part 5 and a second body part 6 are in the third position (see also FIG. 2) then the healing screw 4 can be attached to a screw driver 20 and the healing screw 4 can be removed from the retainer 1. This position can only be reached if the adapter was previously removed. After removal of the adapter 3 and implant 2, the retainer is pivoted by pressing grips 22 to a third limiting stop. The first and second body part may not pivot past the third limiting stop. The third limiting stop is defined by a second limiting portion 28 of the second body part 6 being in contact with the first body part 5. The third limiting stop also defines the position in which the healing screw 4 is removable from the retainer 1.
[0141] FIG. 6 shows a detailed view of the holding structures 13 for the platelet 12. The holding structures 13 are five pairs of holes. The titanium platelet 12 includes a pair of pins (not shown). This pair of pins is inserted into one of the five pairs of holes.
[0142] Further FIG. 6 discloses engagement means 15. The engagement means 15 comprise grooves 33 and a ledge 34. The grooves 33 are arranged on the second body part 6. Each of these grooves 33 defines one position into which the first and second body parts are movable. The first body part 5 is in contact with the grooves 33 with a groove ledge 34. The groove ledge 34 is part of an elongated bar attached to the first body part and snaps into the grooves 33. Thereby for each of the three grooves a position in held. If user wants to pivot the first and second body part to another position the grips, either grips 23 for a movement in the first way or grips 22 for a movement in a second way are pressed and the groove ledge 34 jumps to another groove 33.
[0143] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the retainer 1 on a side with a first support structure 8. In the first support structure 8 the adapter 3 can be held. The first support structure 8 is a part of the first body part 5. The adapter 3 is held in the noncircular shape 17. The shape 17 has a V-form such that a hexagonal section of the adapter 3 can be placed in the flat faces of the shape 17. Further the support structure includes ledges 18 on both sides of an insertion opening. The ledges 18 fix the adapter on the shape 17. The support structure includes a gap 19. The distance between the ledges 18 is shorter than a diameter of the adapter 3. Hence, the ledges have to be pushed outwardly when the adapter is inserted. The gap 19 provides the first support structure 8 with the necessary flexibility.
[0144] Once the adapter 3 is loaded into the support section 8, then the first and second body part are pivoted by pressing grips 22 (see FIG. 1) in the second way such that adapter locking means 11 are slid such as to close the insertion opening 25. The adapter 3 may not be removed then because adapter locking means 11 consisting of a short bar close the insertion opening 25.
[0145] With reference to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 a packaging 100 for a retainer 1 is described. The packaging 100 includes two parts: a transparent blister (shown) and a removable cover (not shown). The blister has a recess 101. In the recess 101 the retainer 1 is held. The packaging 100 includes two features which prohibit a pivoting motion of the retainer 1. First the recess 101 is formed such that it includes contact areas 103 on the inner surface of the wall of the recess 101. The contact areas 103 prohibit the motion, in which the ends 36 of the retainer depart from each other. The opposite motion is prohibited by the first limiting stop 10 (see FIG. 1. Further the recess 101 includes a bulge 106. The bulge 106 extends between ends 35 and thus the ends 35 may not be moved towards each other by pressing the grips 23.
[0146] When a user desires to remove the retainer 1 from packaging 100, first the removable cover needs to be removed. The removable cover is a peel-off seal. The peel-off grips 108 provide an easy access to the peel-off seal. Afterwards a user may choose either of two options to remove the retainer 1 from the recess 101.
[0147] In the first option the user utilizes an area for withdrawal 105. With reference to FIG. 10 the user holds the retainer on the grip 23 of the second body part 6 on both sides of the wall forming the grip. The recess includes an indentation 110 on the grip 23 of the first body part 5. This indentation 110 prevents a user from using both grips 23 to remove the retainer 1 from the recess. This would be undesired since it could trigger a pivoting motion and thus a release of adapter 3 and implant 2.
[0148] In the second option the user utilizes outer surfaces for gripping 104 (see FIG. 9). The outer surface for gripping 104 is indicated to a user by a pointer 109. The blister is deformable and therefore gripping both outer surfaces 104 at the same time results in clamping the retainer 1 with the contact areas 103. Then a user may flip the packaging to the position shown in FIG. 9 and place the retainer on a flat surface such as a table or tray. Softening the grip will enable the user to then simply take off the blister.
[0149] FIG. 11a shows a schematic view of the adapter 3 in a perspective view. The adapter 3 is intended to connect the implant 2 to the insertion device 32.
[0150] The adapter 3 comprises three sections: a surgical section 203, an engagement section 204 and a support section 205. The surgical section 203 is sized according to the size of the according implant 2. The engagement section 204 on the other hand is standardized to a single size such that a dentist only needs one insertion device 32 with one size for all sizes of implants.
[0151] The surgical section 203 engages the implant 2 and is located on the side of a first end 201 of the adapter 3. The surgical section 203 comprises force transmission means 206. These force transmission means transfer a torque around a longitudinal axis 219 from the adapter 3 to the dental implant 2. The force transmission mean 206 shown in FIG. 11a is a spline shaft 212. Lobes 214 extend from a circular base. The force transmission means 206 are inserted into a spline hub of the dental implant 2. The spline hub is adapted in size to receive the spline shaft 212.
[0152] The surgical section 203 further comprises attachment elements 207. The attachment elements 207 provide a retention force along the longitudinal axis 219 between implant 2 and adapter 3. Hence, the adapter is securely fixed in the implant 2. To remove the adapter 3 from the implant 2 a preset force threshold needs to be overcome. The attachment elements 207 are spring elements 209. The three spring elements 209 seen in FIG. 11a are basically longitudinal bars which extend from the first end 201. These bars may be deflected in a radially inward direction. The resistance to such reflection provides a frictional retention force which prevents an unintended removal of the adapter 3 from the implant 2. Also the retention force enables handling the implant with the adapter. Thus, damage or contamination of the implant can be avoided. The spring elements 209 include each one contact sections 210 pointing in a radially outward direction.
[0153] FIG. 11b shows an adapter 3′ similar to the one shown in FIG. 11a. However, unlike the adapter in FIG. 11a, a cavity realized as bore 227′ extends from the side of the first end 201′. The bore 227′ is drilled concentrically and undercuts the force transmission means 206′ over their entire length along the longitudinal axis 219′. The bore 227′ weakens the resistance of the force transmission means 206′ against torsion and allows a twisting of the force transmission means 206′. The diameter of the bore 227′ is smaller than an inner diameter of an opening of the attachment members. Thus, during production the bore can be drilled without damaging the attachment members.
[0154] As can be seen from FIG. 12, the spring elements 209 engage an inner threading 217 of the implant 2. Ideally the retention force is high enough to allow a stable fixation of the implant 2 and low enough to allow a comfortable removal of the adapter 3 from the implant 2 without any further tools.
[0155] It has been found that the retention force of the spring elements may be too high for a comfortable removal with a single larger contact section. In this case two contact sections instead of one could be provided which are spaced apart according to a pitch of the inner treading 217. Thus, the deflection of the spring elements is reduced and a removal is facilitated while the fixation remains stable.
[0156] With reference to FIGS. 11a and 11b and 13 the support section 205 is described. The support section comprises two shoulders 218. A recess 208 is located in between the two shoulders 218. Along the recess 208 the adapter 3 has a hexagonal shape 216. A cross section (A-A) of the hexagonal shape 216 shows six flat surfaces 219 (see FIG. 13). As shown in FIG. 13 the flat surfaces are connected via round edges 220.
[0157] With reference to FIGS. 11a/11b, 14 and 15 the engagement section 204 is described. The engagement section 204 comprises an opening 221 on the second end 202. A cross-section of this opening is adapted to receive the insertion device 32. The cross-section of the opening 221 is a spline hub 215. The insertion device 32 includes a spline shaft with a corresponding cross-section 224. In between lobes 226 there are depressions 225. The depressions 225 may be connected to a shaft of the insertion 32 device with a conical section 223. The conical section 223 allows a releasable attachment between insertion device 32 and adapter 3.
[0158] The insertion device 32 further includes orientation notches 222. The orientation notches 222 are arranged at the circumferential position of the depressions 225. In addition the adapter 3 also includes elongated notches 213. In order to bring the spline hub of the adapter and the spline shaft of the insertion device 32 in connection, the notches 222 and 213 are aligned. Then the spline shaft can be directly inserted into the spline hub without user having to find a correct orientation by try and error.
[0159] Furthermore FIG. 11a shows a pre-defined breaking point 211 in between support section 205 and engagement section 204. The insertion device 32 transmits a torque to the adapter 3. The adapter transmits this torque via the force transmission means 206 to the implant 2. The implant 2 is thereby screwed into a bone of the jaw. The implant may be inserted into hard cortical bone and thus a high torque may have to be transmitted from the adapter to the implant. However, excessive torque may damage the implant. In order to prohibit such a case the pre-defined breaking point breaks. Thus the transfer of said excessive torque is prevented.
