SURGICAL GUIDE FOR THE PLACEMENT OF DENTAL IMPLANTS AND TOOL FOR THE ASSEMBLY AND DISASSEMBLY OF THE GUIDE

Abstract

The surgical guide for the placement of dental implants of the invention is intended to guide the surgeon during the drilling of the bone bed of a patient, prior to the placement of an implant within the operation for the replacement of one or various dental pieces, basically comprising a handle having a hole in at least one of its ends and a drill reducer sleeve which is joined to the handle through said hole and having a circular through hole having a constant diameter to allow close-fitting passage of a drill during the drilling operation, a first portion connected to the hole of the handle and a second portion capable of closely fitting by friction to the inner diameter of the guide hole of a surgical template, and wherein, furthermore, a tool used for the assembly and disassembly of the drill reducer sleeve in the handle is described, made up of a stand and a plunger.

Claims

1. A surgical guide for the placement of dental implants, which comprises: a handle having a hole in at least one of its ends, and a drill reducer sleeve joined to the handle through said hole, characterized in that it comprises non-permanent retaining means for the joining between the handle and the drill reducer sleeve, and in that said drill reducer sleeve is disposable and made of a biocompatible and sterilizable plastic material.

2. The surgical guide for the placement of dental implants according to claim 1, wherein the reducer sleeve comprises: a circular through hole having a constant diameter to allow the close-fitting passage of a drill during the drilling operation; a first portion joined to the hole of the handle through non-permanent retaining means; and a second portion which is able to fit to the inner diameter of the guide hole of a surgical template.

3. The surgical guide for the placement of dental implants according to claim 1, wherein the non-permanent retaining means between the sleeve and the hole of the handle fit by means of friction.

4. The surgical guide for the placement of dental implants according to claim 2, wherein the reducer sleeve has a flange serving as a stop for fitting the reducer sleeve with the hole of the handle.

5. The surgical guide for the placement of dental implants according to claim 4, wherein the flange is located between the first portion and the second portion.

6. The surgical guide for the placement of dental implants according to claim 4, wherein the first portion is located between the flange and the second portion.

7. The surgical guide for the placement of dental implants according to claim 2, wherein the first portion of the reducer sleeve has an inverted cone shape to fit by friction.

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. The surgical guide for the placement of dental implants according to claim 1, wherein the ends of the handle will be located on parallel but not coinciding planes.

12. The surgical guide for the placement of dental implants according to claim 1, wherein the drill reducer sleeve is made of biocompatible plastic material.

13. A tool for the assembly and disassembly of a surgical guide as described in claim 1, wherein it comprises: A stand designed to support the handle of the surgical guide prior to the placement or removal of the reducer sleeve; and A plunger with which the reducer sleeve can either be inserted into or removed from the hole of the handle, once said handle of drill guide is placed on the stand.

14. The tool for the assembly and disassembly of a surgical guide according to claim 13, wherein the support comprises: a support surface on which the handle of the surgical guide rests; a rim limiting the support surface such that the handle fits into it thus limiting its movement during assembly and disassembly; a cavity corresponding to the area where the hole of the handle is located and whose depth is such as to allow the housing of the second portion of the reducer sleeve, wherein furthermore the upper edge of said cavity is such that it allows the flange to be supported.

15. The tool for the assembly and disassembly of a surgical guide according to claim 13, wherein the plunger comprises a handgrip from which a rod extends, topped by a pushing and extracting platform at its other end, wherein said pushing and extracting platform has a circular recess to which the flange of the reducer sleeve may be attached for assembly or disassembly thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] As a complement to the description provided herein, and for the purpose of helping to make the characteristics of the disclosure more readily understandable, in accordance with a preferred practical embodiment thereof, said description is accompanied by a set of figures constituting an integral part of the same, which by way of illustration and not limitation represent the following:

[0057] FIG. 1.Shows a perspective view of a possible practical embodiment of the surgical guide of the disclosure.

[0058] FIG. 2a.Shows a perspective view of a possible drill reducer sleeve used in the drill guide shown in FIG. 1.

[0059] FIG. 2b.Shows a perspective view of another possible drill reducer sleeve.

[0060] FIG. 3.Shows an elevation view of the end of the guide shown in FIG. 1 revealing the sleeve, wherein said sleeve is in cross section, and a close-up of the joint of said sleeve with the handle.

[0061] FIG. 4.Shows a perspective view of the joining of several surgical guides as shown in FIG. 1, wherein a close-up of the joining element of said drill guides can also be seen.

[0062] FIG. 5.Shows a perspective view of another possible practical embodiment of the surgical guide of the disclosure.

[0063] FIG. 6.Shows a perspective view of the joining of several drill guides as shown in FIG. 5.

[0064] FIG. 7.Shows a perspective view and a partial cross section of the surgical guide of the disclosure in its operating position on a surgical template in place on the patient.

[0065] FIG. 8.Shows a perspective view similar to that seen in FIG. 7, wherein a drill or drilling bore can also be seen.

[0066] FIG. 9.Shows a perspective view of the two elements which make up the tool used for the assembly and disassembly of the reducer sleeve in the handle of the guide of the present disclosure.

[0067] FIG. 10.Shows a perspective view of the surgical guide and the tool before being coupled together.

[0068] FIG. 11.Shows a perspective view of the surgical guide and the tool once coupled together.

[0069] FIG. 12.Finally, shows a rear elevation view of the previous figure cut away in order to observe the arrangement of all the elements once they have been assembled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0070] As shown in the figures, the surgical guide for the placement of dental implants of the disclosure basically comprises:

[0071] A handle (1), preferably metallic, although any material that can be sterilized would also be valid, which serves as a handle for the surgeon, with at least one hole (2) at one of its ends so that it can be joined to a disposable and not reusable drill reducer sleeve (3), preferably made of plastic material, wherein both elements are joined through non-permanent retaining means.

[0072] This plastic material should have a number of technical features which enable it to withstand the high friction produced by the drill (13), as well as having good chemical resistance, good operating temperature, structural and dimensional stability, good sliding properties and, in general, it should provide an adequate response to the high mechanical stress required, and be biocompatible and sterilizable.

[0073] This requires that the drill reducer sleeve (3) of the disclosure be preferably made of a thermoplastic, such as, for example, a PEEK type biocompatible polyetherketone.

[0074] As stated previously, when using a drill reducer sleeve (3) made of plastic material, a reduction of looseness is achieved since the outer diameter of said sleeve (3) can fit by means of friction to the inner diameter of the guide hole (4) of the surgical template (5) which adapts to the portion of gingiva (6) of the patient, wherein the drilling will take place.

[0075] As seen in the embodiment shown in the figures, particularly FIGS. 2a and 2b, the reducer sleeve (3) is comprised of a cylindrical part having a circular through hole (10) having a constant diameter which allows the close-fitting passage of the drill (13) during the drilling operation, and which also has externally, according to a possible embodiment, a cylindrical configuration, although it is possible that in another embodiment it may have a polygonal section comprised of: [0076] A first portion (7) intended for insertion into the hole (2) of the handle (1) of the drill guide and, therefore, to provide the fitting by friction to the inner diameter of the hole (2) of the handle (1). [0077] More specifically, as shown in detail in FIG. 3, the retaining means between the hole (2) and the reducer sleeve (3) which enable joining by friction, are formed by an inverted cone in the first portion (7), such that the area of greater diameter is higher than the area of smaller diameter, said cone ensuring the retention of the part. [0078] A second portion (8) having a constant diameter such that the fitting is also provided by friction to the inner diameter of the guide hole (4) of the surgical template (5) and having variable height depending on the height of said guide hole (4). [0079] A flange or perimeter rim (9) which serves as a stop for fitting the reducer sleeve (3) to the hole (2) of the handle (1). [0080] According to a first embodiment of the drill reducer sleeve (3) shown in FIG. 2a, the flange (9) is located between the first portion (7) and the second portion (8), such that it will serve as a stop when the reducer sleeve (3) is inserted into the hole (2) of the drill guide from the bottom. Specifically, this assembly can be seen in FIGS. 3 to 8. [0081] According to a second embodiment of the reducer sleeve (3) shown in FIG. 2b, the flange (9) is located above the first portion (7), the bottom portion of the sleeve remaining in the second portion (8), i.e. it is the first portion (7) which is located between the flange (9), which limits it from above, and the second portion (8), limits it from below. In this case, therefore, said flange (9) will serve as a stop when inserting the reducer sleeve (3) into the hole (2) of the drill guide from above.

[0082] Furthermore, as shown in the figures, the handle (1) can have a second hole (2) located at the other end, to allow the surgeon to insert a second reducer sleeve (3) to provide, in the same spoon, two different drill guides which he can alternate at his own discretion and as per the surgery requirements.

[0083] On the other hand, as can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 6, any of the holes (2) can be used to obtain longer surgical guides by simply associating or joining together several handles (1) by means of a connecting element (11) in order to facilitate drilling for the surgeon in those cases where said drilling lies further away than usual, or when there is little space for the hand which is holding the handle (1).

[0084] This connecting element (11), which can be seen especially in FIG. 4, will have a shape such that it allows relative rotation between the two handles (1). For example, as can be seen in said figure, it can have a cylindrical shape with two lowered ends (11) intended to be lodged inside the holes (2) of the handles (1) to be connected, its central portion (11), which has a greater diameter than the lowered ends (11), thus constituting corresponding stops which will support the respective handles (1) and allow them to rotate.

[0085] Said handles (1), can also be completely flat as shown in FIG. 5 or 6 or they can have one of more ledges (12) as can be seen in FIGS. 1, 4, 7 and 8, so that in the latter case, the ends of said handles (1) will be positioned on parallel but not coinciding planes, one above the other. This will allow the surgeon to bridge a difference in level, either by using a single handle (1), i.e. a single surgical guide, or two connected guides as shown in FIG. 4, where the difference in level bridged is greater.

[0086] On the other hand, in FIGS. 9 to 12 a possible practical embodiment of the tool used for the assembly and disassembly of the reducer sleeve (3) in the handle (1) is seen when said sleeve (3) has the configuration shown in FIG. 2b of the present disclosure, which comprises two elements: [0087] A stand (15) to support the handle (1) of the surgical guide prior to the assembly or disassembly of the reducer sleeve (3), wherein said stand (15) comprises: [0088] A support surface (16) on which the handle (1) of the surgical guide rests; [0089] A rim (17) limiting the support surface (16) such that the handle (1) fits into it, thus limiting its movement during assembly and disassembly; [0090] A cavity (18) corresponding to the area where the hole (2) of the handle (1) is located and whose depth is such as to allow the housing of the second portion of the reducer sleeve (3), wherein furthermore the upper edge of said cavity is such that it allows the flange (9) to be supported.

[0091] A plunger (19) comprising a handgrip (20) from which a rod (21) extends, topped by a pushing and extracting platform (22) at its other end, which has a circular recess (23) in which to attach the flange (9) whether for the assembly or the disassembly of the reducer sleeve (3).

[0092] Finally, and as can be seen in FIG. 8, the surgical guide of the disclosure can be used with other elements such as drill stops (14), which limit the length of entry of the drill into the bone bed of the patient, i.e. the drilling depth.