Device for regenerating, repairing, and modeling human and animal bone, especially in the jaw area for dental applications
A device for reshaping human or animal bone with bone replacement material includes at least two spaced apart implants and a bar connected to the at least two spaced apart implants and bridging at least one reshaping location. The bar has notches at the longitudinal sides and transverse grooves at the underside. The bar has slotted holes extending in the longitudinal direction of the bar for receiving the implants, respectively, fasteners of the implants.
This is a divisional application of Ser. No. 09/394,135 filed Sep. 10, 1999 and now allowed. Ser. No. 09/394,135 is a CIP application of Ser. No. 09/113,031 filed Jul. 9, 1998.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present inventions relates to a device for reshaping (regenerating, reconstructing, repairing, and modeling) human and animal bones with any type of bone material, for example, synthetic bone material and bone modeling proteins (BMP), especially in the jaw area for dental applications. Accordingly, the device can be used in all areas of a human or animal skeleton, for repairing and modeling bone portions, for example, also complicated fractions with defective bone areas, whereby the device is not limited to a certain bone shape.
The invention is based on the knowledge that the different materials employed for the regeneration of bone material, for example, a patient's own ground bone material and/or, for example Bio-Oss (trademark), is comparatively pressure-sensitive and can thus atrophy or be resorbed during the healing and building phase. Accordingly, in the known regeneration methods, for example, of the human jaw, atrophies and constrictions as well as bone loss cannot be avoided. The desired effect of a regeneration or reconstruction as complete as possible, especially in the vertical dimension, can thus practically not be achieved.
The aforementioned and other known substances which serve for regenerating and reconstructing bone, including bone blocks, are in the following referred to as bone replacement materials.
The invention has the object to avoid the aforementioned disadvantages of atrophy, i.e., constrictions between the implant and all other bone deposits and repair locations as well as respective contour changes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention suggests a device which is characterized by a bending-resistance bar or strip for bridging reshaping locations, i.e., regenerating, repair, and modeling locations, at the bone and which can be supported by two spaced apart implants. This bar or strip receives pressure forces and thus reduces substantially a pressure loading of the bone replacement materials. Furthermore, the bar distributes locally occurring forces onto larger areas in order to thus reduce specific pressure forces. At the same time, the bar also protects and stabilizes the correlated implants. Also, the bar has the advantage to secure and optionally fasten the membranes which are employed during such regeneration processes, for example, for retaining connective tissue. The membranes can be fastened by guiding the membrane across the bar so that the membrane is supported on the bar.
Expediently, the bar has two or more penetrations distributed over its length, for example, in the form of slotted holes, through which fasteners, for example, pins or screws, are guided which are secured or screwed into the implant. The slotted holes have the advantage that the bar can be secured at implants having non-uniform spacing between them.
While known implants for the dental jaw area are provided with roughened surfaces, depressions, or penetrations, the present invention suggests pin-shaped, for example, cylindrical, implants which are polished at their exterior surface and are thus so smooth that in the implanted state they can be rotated, when applying a force, about its longitudinal axis even after having been implanted for an extended time period. Also, it is especially advantageous in this context when the implants are provided with an outer thread. These implants are height-adjustable by rotation and, in the case of bone reconstruction to be carried out step-wise, can be adjusted with respect to their relative vertical position by sequential steps of approximately 4 mm after an initial a build-up phase of approximately nine months. The bar connected thereto is then also raised accordingly.
After regeneration, the implants can be removed or support elements for dental replacements or prostheses (crowns, bridges, etc.) or other utilitarian elements can be provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe object and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention will now be described in detail with the aid of several specific embodiments utilizing
The bar 1, which is manufactured of titanium or any other suitable material, has a substantially flat design of great length extension and, when viewed in cross-section, has centrally arranged penetrations in the form of round holes 2, preferably however slotted holes 3 (see
The bar or strip 1 has at both edges recesses 5 and at the underside it is provided with transverse grooves 6. Such reductions 5, 6 in the cross-sectional shape allow for cutting to length and deformation of the bar 1 which is produced as a member of great length. The transverse grooves 6 allow easy cutting to length of the bar 1 as well as bending of the bar 1 out of the plane of the bar 1 (indicated by arrow B in
The notches 5 and the transverse grooves 6 can also be designed as rated break points so that a required length of the bar 1 can be simply broken off and no cutting tools are required. It is also possible to provide rated break points in addition to the notches 5 and the transverse grooves 6.
The pin-shaped implants are comprised of, for example, titanium or any other suitable material. Within the entire central shaft area an outer thread 7 is provided. Otherwise, they are embodied so as to be very smooth or polished in order to be able to rotate the implant 4 in its operative position, i.e., when implanted about its longitudinal axis so that the implant 4 can be threaded in and out of the bone, as needed. For this purpose, the implant 4 can be designed at the upper end or head portion such that it has a hexagon socket head in order to facilitate rotation. The implant 4 has also a longitudinal receiving bore 8 embodied as a blind bore open at the upper end. The bore 8 is provided for receiving a fastener 10 with lens-shaped head 9, for example, shaped like a screw or pin. The fastener 10, after removal of the bar 1, may optionally provide in the area of the implant 4 a cover for the implant 4, respectively, a closure element.
The diameter of the bores 2, respectively, the width of the slotted holes 3 is designed to match the diameter of the fastener 10, while the diameter of the implant 4 is slightly greater than the aforementioned diameter, respectively, the aforementioned width. Accordingly, the bar 1, after having been cut to length, can be placed according to
As can be seen in
In
When it is assumed that a plurality of implants 4 is arranged in the reconstructed area 14, but without the bar 1 and without the special design of the implants according to
The presence of the bar 1 also allows possibilities for other applications in that a membrane 17, especially for protecting the reconstructed layer 14 and for separating and retaining the connective tissue, can be provided. The membrane 17 covers the bar 1 and can be attached thereto by the lens-shaped head 9 whereby the fasteners 10 penetrate the membrane 17 and clamp the membrane 17 between the bar 1 and the lens-shaped head 9.
After completion of the desired reshaping (regeneration and/or apposition), the membrane 17 and the bar 1 are removed.
It should be noted that the notches 5 must be positioned remote from the slotted holes 3, as can be seen in
It should also be noted that the represented mechanical connection between the bar 1 and the implant 4 is advantageous, that, however, other connecting means can be used. It is important in this context that the implanted bar 1 in the area of its upper side 11 has a curvature, i.e., is rounded and thus prevents perforations of the mucus membranes or other tissues or materials, and thus also of the membrane 17.
It should further be noted that the invention includes such bars 1 which already during manufacture (instead of being produced as a straight endless bar to be cut to length) have been shaped to the typical design of the bone to be treated, for example, for a jaw bone the bar has a substantially U-shaped contour in a top view.
Even though the disclosed invention, respectively, the inventive bar is primarily designed for bone reconstruction or regeneration of the human jaw, it can also be used at any other location within the skeleton of a human or animal, for example, for reshaping and reconstructing fractures.
After treatment the bar 1 is removed. However, it is within the gist of the present invention to leave the bar 1 at the treatment location, if so desired.
The embodiment of
The specification incorporates by reference the disclosure of German priority document 197 29 222.4 of 9 Jul. 1997 and 198 03 628.0 of February 1998.
The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to the specific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but also encompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1-7. (canceled)
8. A device for reshaping human or animal bone with bone replacement material, said device comprising:
- at least two spaced apart implants adapted to be implanted in the bone so as to project by a projecting height from the bone and having a support surface facing away from the bone;
- a bending-resistant bar placed onto said support surfaces to bridge at least one reshaping location filled with bone replacement material during bone regeneration;
- fasteners penetration said bar and engaging said implants to clamp said bar a t said supporting surface of said implants.
9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said bar has at least two penetrations distributed in a longitudinal direction of said bar and wherein said at least two spaced apart implants engage said penetrations.
10. A device according to claim 8, wherein said at least two spaced apart implants consist of titanium.
11. A device according to claim 8, wherein said penetrations are slotted holes extending lengthwise in said longitudinal direction.
12. A device according to claim 8, wherein said bar has a flat cross-section.
13. A device according to claim 8, wherein an upper side of said bar is convex.
14. A device according to claim 8, wherein said bar has areas of reduced cross-sectional size defining bending locations for bending said bar.
15. A device according to claim 14, wherein said bending locations are located at lateral edges of said bar remote from said penetrations or at an underside of said bar.
16. A device according to claim 14, wherein said bending locations are break-off locations.
17. A device according to claim 8, wherein said implants are pin-shaped and have a smooth mantle surface so that said implants are rotatable about a longitudinal axis when implanted.
18. A device according to claim 8, wherein said implants have an outer thread for position-adjustment in the bone.
19. A device according to claim 8, wherein said fasteners are located at a head portion of said implants.
20. A device according to claim 19, wherein said fasteners are nail-shaped or screw-shaped elements and wherein said implants have receiving bores into which said fasteners are inserted.
21. A device according to claim 19, wherein said fasteners secure a membrane on said bar.
22. A device according to claim 8, wherein said implants are adapted to secure dental replacements thereat.
23. A device according to claim 8, wherein said fasteners have a head countersunk into an outer cross-sectional area of said bar.
24. A device according to claim 8, wherein said bar is designed to support a membrane or the periosteum of the bone, wherein the membrane or the periosteum retain the connective tissue and cover the reshaping location.
25. A device according to claim 8, wherein an underside of said bar is concave.
26. A device according to claim 8, wherein said fasteners are adapted to secure permanently or temporarily at least one of a dental prosthesis, a cosmetic device and a reconstructive device positioned external to the skin.
27. A device according to claim 26, wherein said fasteners are screws or pins having longitudinal bores accessible from a head portion of said fasteners.
28. A device according to claim 27, wherein said wherein said longitudinal bores have an inner thread.
29. A device according to claim 27, wherein said longitudinal bores are blind bores.
30. A pin-shaped implant for securing a bar, said implant adapted to be implanted in the bone so as to project by a projecting height from the bone and having a support surface facing away from the bone when said 8implant is implanted, said support surface adapted to support the bar, said implant having a smooth mantle surface so that said implant can be rotated about a longitudinal axis when implanted in order to allow height adjustment of said implant relative to the bone.
31. An implant according to claim 30, wherein said mantle surface has an outer thread for height-adjustment relative to the bone.
32. An implant according to claim 31, comprising a fastener penetrating the bar for fastening the bar to said implant and optionally a membrane placed on the bar.
33. An implant according to claim 32, wherein said fastener is a nail-shaped or screw-shaped element and wherein said implant has a receiving opening into which said fastener is inserted.
34. An implant according to claim 33, wherein said fastener has a head countersunk into an outer cross-sectional area of the bar.
35. An implant according to claim 33, wherein said fastener serves to secure permanently or temporarily at least one of a dental prosthesis, a cosmetic device and a reconstructive device after completion of reshaping.
36. An implant according to claim 33, wherein said fastener is a crew or a pin having a longitudinal bore accessible from a head portion of said fastener.
37. An implant according to claim 36, wherein said longitudinal bore has an inner thread.
38. An implant according to claim 37, wherein said longitudinal bore is a blind bore.
39. An implant according to claim 36 for securing dental replacements thereat.
40. canceled
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 5, 2007
Publication Date: Jun 14, 2007
Inventor: Holger Essiger (Wedemark)
Application Number: 11/702,259
International Classification: A61C 8/00 (20060101);