GUIDE FOR ZYGOMATIC DENTAL IMPLANT DRILLS

Abstract

An apparatus for guiding a zygomatic implant dental drill installed in a dental handpiece includes a collar configured to seat on a neck portion of the dental handpiece, with an offset post extending from the collar. A first extension extends from the offset post parallel to the neck portion, and a second extension extends from the first extension. The second extension is oriented parallel to the zygomatic implant dental drill, extending from the first extension to be co-terminal and off-set from the zygomatic implant dental drill. By observing the travel of the second extension along a patient's face, a dental surgeon can guide the zygomatic implant dental drill inside the patient toward the patient's zygomatic bone.

Claims

1. An apparatus for guiding a zygomatic implant dental drill installed in a dental handpiece, the dental drill having a tip, the apparatus comprising: a collar configured to seat on a neck portion of the dental handpiece, the neck portion located adjacent a drill head of the dental handpiece; an offset post extending from the collar; a first extension extending from the offset post in a direction substantially parallel to the neck portion; a second extension extending from the first extension, the second extension oriented parallel to the zygomatic implant dental drill, the second extension extending from the first extension such that it is co-terminal and off-set from the zygomatic implant dental drill, thereby allowing a user to detect the position of the zygomatic implant dental drill inside a patient by observing the position of the second extension outside the patient.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the neck portion has a reduced circumferential area along its length and the collar includes an opening configured to allow the reduced circumferential area to pass therethrough.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the neck portion has a registration point configured to engage the collar, such that rotational movement of the collar around the neck portion is arrested.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the offset post is substantially perpendicular to the collar.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first extension is substantially perpendicular to the offset post.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a first locking hinge between the first extension and the offset post.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second locking hinge between the second extension and the first extension.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second extension is marked with distance markings configured to match predetermined positions along the zygomatic implant dental drill.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the offset post is a telescoping offset post.

10. An apparatus for guiding a zygomatic implant dental drill installed in a dental handpiece having a drill head, the dental drill having a tip, the apparatus comprising: a collar configured to seat on the dental handpiece aft of the drill head and the zygomatic implant dental drill; an offset post extending from the collar; a first extension extending from the offset post in a direction substantially parallel to the zygomatic implant dental drill; the first extension extending from the offset post such that it is co-terminal and off-set from the zygomatic implant dental drill, thereby allowing a user to detect the position of the zygomatic implant dental drill inside a patient by observing the first extension position outside the patient.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the dental handpiece has a reduced circumferential area along its length and the collar includes an opening configured to allow the reduced circumferential area to pass therethrough.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the dental handpiece has a registration point configured to engage the collar, such that rotational movement of the collar around the dental handpiece is arrested.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the offset post extends substantially perpendicularly from the collar.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first extension extends substantially perpendicularly from the offset post.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a locking hinge between the first extension and the offset post, the locking hinge configured to lock in a plurality of positions.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first extension is marked with distance markings configured to match predetermined positions along the zygomatic implant dental drill.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the offset post is a telescoping offset post.

18. A method of operating a dental handpiece equipped with a zygomatic implant dental drill, the method comprising the steps of: providing a guide having a collar, an offset post extending substantially perpendicularly from the collar, and a guide extension extending substantially perpendicularly from the offset post; configuring the guide such that the guide extension is substantially parallel to the zygomatic implant dental drill, and such that the guide extension extends as far as the zygomatic implant dental drill, while being parallel and offset from the zygomatic implant dental drill; locating a maxillary entry point for a zygomatic implant on a patient; activating the dental handpiece, and inserting the zygomatic implant dental drill into the maxillary entry point; urging the zygomatic implant dental drill from the maxillary implant entry point toward a zygomatic bone of the patient; observing the position of the guide extension as it travels outside the patient parallel to the zygomatic implant dental drill, and using the position of the guide to alter the course of the zygomatic implant drill, thereby avoiding damage to the patient; and withdrawing the zygomatic implant dental drill from the patient once the zygomatic bone is reached.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of providing a locking hinge at a terminal end of the guide extension proximal the collar.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of providing an offset extension between the offset post and the guide extension, the offset extension configured substantially perpendicular to both the offset post and the guide extension.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a properly installed zygomatic dental implant, including a zygomatic fixture anchored in a patient's maxillary bone and zygomatic bone;

[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates an improperly installed zygomatic dental implant, wherein the zygomatic fixture has impinged on the patient's ocular orbit.

[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates a zygomatic drill installed on a first embodiment dental handpiece;

[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates a first side view of a first embodiment zygomatic guide installed on the first embodiment dental handpiece;

[0020] FIG. 5 illustrates a second side view of a first embodiment zygomatic drill installed on the first embodiment dental handpiece; and

[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates a second embodiment zygomatic guide installed on the second embodiment dental handpiece.

[0022] FIG. 7 illustrates the second embodiment zygomatic guide showing a single extension extending from a second offset post.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0023] The following reference numbers are used in the detailed description with reference to FIGS. 1-7:

[0024] 10. zygomatic implant

[0025] 12. conventional implant

[0026] 14. zygomatic fixture

[0027] 16. maxillary bone

[0028] 18. implant site

[0029] 20. zygomatic bone

[0030] 22. zygomatic drill

[0031] 24. maxillary sinus

[0032] 26. ocular orbit

[0033] 28. first embodiment dental handpiece

[0034] 30. drill head

[0035] 32. angled neck

[0036] 34. handle

[0037] 36. tip

[0038] 38. first embodiment zygomatic drill guide

[0039] 40. collar

[0040] 42. offset post

[0041] 44. first extension

[0042] 46. second extension

[0043] 48. opening

[0044] 50. registration point

[0045] 52. second embodiment dental handpiece

[0046] 54. second embodiment zygomatic drill guide

[0047] 56. second collar

[0048] 58. second opening

[0049] 60. second offset post

[0050] 62. single extension

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 1, a properly installed zygomatic implant 10 is shown. Adjacent a conventional implant 12. The zygomatic fixture 14 has been successfully mounted through the patient's maxillary bone 16 at an implant site 18, and terminating in the patient's zygomatic bone 20. As shown in this view, the zygomatic drill 22 (FIGS. 4-6) and following that, the zygomatic fixture 14 have traversed the space between the maxillary bone 16 and the zygomatic bone 20, and entered the zygomatic bone 20 without touching, occluding, or otherwise coming into contact with the patient's maxillary sinus 24 or ocular orbit 26, and the zygomatic fixture 14 is firmly embedded in the zygomatic bone 20. Due to the proximity of the maxillary sinus 24 and ocular orbit 26 to the trajectory of the zygomatic fixture 14 as it travels from the maxillary bone 16 to the zygomatic bone 20, any deviation from there is an elevated chance that the zygomatic drill 22 will create a path impinging on the ocular orbit 26 and/or maxillary sinus 24. Thus, when the zygomatic fixture 14 is installed, it can cause a variety of side effects.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 2, an improperly installed zygomatic implant 10 is shown. In this case, the zygomatic fixture 14 has traversed the space between the maxillary bone 16 at the implant site 18 to the zygomatic bone 20, but due to the path of the zygomatic drill 22, the zygomatic fixture 14 has impacted the ocular orbit 26. In such a case, extraocular muscle damage frequently occurs, and the patient's vision can be severely impaired. Thus, ensuring that the zygomatic drill takes the proper path from the maxillary bone 16 to the zygomatic bone 20 is of paramount importance.

[0054] Referring to FIG. 3, in a primary embodiment, a zygomatic drill 22 is shown installed in a typical dental handpiece 28. The dental handpiece 28 includes a drill head 30 fixed to an angled neck 32 and a handle 34, which is connected to a pneumatic or similar powering apparatus (not shown). Because of the distance between the handle 34 where the dental handpiece 28 is held by a user, and the tip 36 of the zygomatic drill 22, it can be difficult to establish and maintain the proper angle as the zygomatic drill 22 enters the maxillary bone 16. Compounding this problem is the inability to detect precisely the location of the maxillary sinus 24 and ocular orbit 26 during drilling, and the difficulty in bracing a user's hand holding the dental handpiece 28 relative to the patient.

[0055] Referring to FIG. 4, a first embodiment zygomatic drill guide 38 is shown affixed to a dental handpiece 28 bearing a zygomatic drill 22. The zygomatic drill guide 38 includes a collar 40 for securely anchoring the zygomatic drill guide 38 to the angled neck 32 of the dental handpiece 28. The zygomatic drill guide 38 includes a collar 40 for seating on the angled neck 32 of the dental handpiece 28. An offset post 42 extends from the collar 40 laterally angled neck 32. The offset post A first extension 44 extends from the end of the offset post 42 to a position alongside the drill head 30, preferably centered such that the second extension 46 extends alongside the zygomatic drill 22 parallel, and entirely along its length to the tip 36.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 5, the collar 40 preferably includes an opening 48 opposite the offset post 42, thus enabling the zygomatic drill guide 38 to be easily installed on, and removed from the dental handpiece 28. The dental handpiece 28, and optionally the collar 40, preferably includes one or more registration points 48 (FIG. 3) or similar structure for anchoring the zygomatic drill guide 38 relative to the zygomatic drill 22, and thus ensuring that the second extension 46 remains in position relative to the zygomatic drill 22 at all times when in use. In one preferred embodiment, the angled neck 32 is fluted or conical (i.e., has a lesser circumference toward the drill head 30, and a greater circumference toward the handle 34. In such an embodiment, the drill guide 38 is positioned on the angled neck 32 such that the collar 40 may be removed by sliding it toward the drill head 30 until the opening 48 can clear the neck 32.

[0057] With the second extension 46 in a fixed position relative to the zygomatic drill 22, the zygomatic drill 22 can be activated and urged through the maxillary bone 16 at an implant site 18, and the operator can follow the path of the second extension 46 along the outside of a patient's face (not shown) to ensure that the zygomatic drill 22 continues in an accurate path toward and into the zygomatic bone 20, without impacting the ocular orbit 26 or other structures where it may cause harm.

[0058] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a second embodiment dental handpiece 52 is shown. In this embodiment, the handpiece is substantially linear or pen-shaped, and lacks an angled neck 32 (FIGS. 4 and 5). Rather, the drill head 30 occupies a position at the terminal end of the dental handpiece 52. The zygomatic drill 22 is affixed to the head in substantially the same manner as the first embodiment dental handpiece 28. Instead of affixing to the angled neck 32, the second embodiment zygomatic drill guide 54 affixes to the second embodiment dental handpiece 52 at a position on or just below the drill head 30.

[0059] The second embodiment zygomatic drill guide 54 is similar to the first embodiment zygomatic drill guide 28 in that it includes a second collar 56, preferably with a second opening and a second offset post 60. However, since the second collar 56 is located immediately below the zygomatic drill 22, centered on the drill head 30, there is no need for a second extension 46 (FIGS. 4-5). Rather, a single extension 62 is provided, rising the height of the zygomatic drill 22. As shown in FIG. 6, due to the length of the second offset post 60, the single extension 62 can travel along a patient's face as the zygomatic drill 22 enters the maxillary bone 16 at the implant site 18, and travels to the zygomatic bone 20. As shown in FIG. 7, like the first embodiment zygomatic drill guide 38, the single extension 62 of the second embodiment zygomatic drill guide 54 is co-linear with the zygomatic drill 22, enabling a user to accurately gauge the zygomatic drill's position as it travels through a patient's maxillary bone 16 to the zytomatic bone 20 without affecting the ocular orbit 26 or other sensitive structures.

[0060] The foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the present invention have been presented only for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the forms disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Additionally, the above disclosure is not intended to limit the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.