Abstract:
A retractor for periodontal surgery includes an elongated handle from which extends a first connection portion and a second connection portion, with a blade extending from the second connection portion. The handle and the first connection portion are positioned at a first angle, the first connection portion and the second connection portion are positioned at a second angle. The first and second connection portions are generally co-planar. The blade is obliquely positioned at a third angle relative to the central axis of the second connection portion. The blade may be easily inserted into an incision in a patient&#39;s gum so as to retract the incision.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a retractor for periodontal surgery, and more particularly, to a retractor for periodontal surgery, which may retract an opening in the gums by easily inserting a blade into the opening even in the circumstances including diverse oral cavity shapes or teeth alignments. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Retractors for periodontal surgery are instruments used for periodontal surgery by being inserted into an opening in the gums to lift up or retract the opening. A retractor for periodontal surgery, which is a cylindrical member extending linearly long, generally includes a handle held by a user and a blade connected to at least one of opposite end portions of the handle and inserted into the opening. 
         [0003]    In a retractor for periodontal surgery according to a related art, a connection structure between the blade and the handle generally has a linear shape or a simple hook shape. Accordingly, it is difficult to secure a work space in a mouth during surgery according to the position of an opening in the gums. Furthermore, individual characteristics of patients having diverse oral cavity shapes or teeth alignments may not be sufficiently reflected. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present inventive concept provides a retractor for periodontal surgery, which has an improved structure to retract an opening in the gums by easily inserting a blade into the opening even in the circumstances where there are diverse oral cavity shapes or teeth alignments. 
         [0005]    According to an aspect of the present inventive concept, there is provided a retractor for periodontal surgery, which is used to lift up or retract an opening in a gum by being inserted into the opening, the retractor including a handle having a long extended shape, a first connection portion comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the first connection portion being connected to the handle, a second connection portion comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the second connection portion being connected to the second end portion of the first connection portion, a blade connected to the second end portion of the second connection portion, in which the handle and the first end portion of the first connection portion form a preset first angle, the first end portion of the second connection portion and the second end portion of the first connection portion form a preset second angle, and the first connection portion, the second connection portion, and the handle are located on a same plane. 
         [0006]    The preset first angle may be about 20° to about 40°. 
         [0007]    The preset second angle may be about 60° to about 80°. 
         [0008]    The first connection portion may linearly extend in a lengthwise direction. 
         [0009]    A length of the first connection portion may be about 10 mm to about 12 mm. 
         [0010]    A length of the second connection portion may be about 7 mm to about 9 mm. 
         [0011]    A length of the blade may be about 5 mm to about 7 mm. 
         [0012]    A width of the blade may be about 2.5 mm to about 3.5 mm. 
         [0013]    The blade may be rotated by a preset third angle around a central axis of the second connection portion. 
         [0014]    The third angle may be about 0° to about 10°. 
         [0015]    The second connection portion may include a root portion comprising a first end portion connected to the second end portion of the first connection portion and a second end portion, a middle portion comprising a first end portion connected to the second end portion of the root portion and a second end portion, and an end portion comprising a first end portion connected to the second end portion of the middle portion and a second end portion. 
         [0016]    The second end portion of the root portion and the first end portion of the middle portion may form a preset fourth angle, and the second end portion of the middle portion and the first end portion of the end portion may form a preset fifth angle. 
         [0017]    The second connection portion may have a zigzag shape as the fourth angle is about 10° to about 30° and the fifth angle is about 20° to about 40°. 
         [0018]    An edge of the blade may be circular or oval and the blade may have a scoop shape such that a lengthwise central axis of the blade is bent with a preset radius of curvature. 
         [0019]    An end tip of the blade and the second end portion of the second connection portion may form a preset sixth angle. 
         [0020]    The sixth angle may be about 30° to about 50°. 
         [0021]    According to the present invention, since a retractor for periodontal surgery includes a first connection portion comprising a first end portion connected to the handle, a second connection portion comprising a first end portion connected to the second end portion of the first connection portion, and a blade connected to the second end portion of the second connection portion, in which the handle and the first end portion of the first connection portion form a preset first angle, the first end portion of the second connection portion and the second end portion of the first connection portion form a preset second angle, and the first connection portion, the second connection portion, and the handle are located on a same plane, the blade may be easily inserted into an opening of a gum so as to retract the opening even in the circumstances including diverse oral cavity shapes or teeth alignments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a retractor for periodontal surgery, according to an embodiment. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the retractor for periodontal surgery of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a portion A of the retractor for periodontal surgery of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a portion B of the retractor for periodontal surgery of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the retractor for periodontal surgery of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a portion C of the retractor for periodontal surgery of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of the retractor for periodontal surgery of  FIG. 6  in a direction E. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of a portion D of the retractor for periodontal surgery of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  illustrates a method of retracting an opening formed in an upper-jaw labial surface by using the retractor for periodontal surgery of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  illustrates a state in which a retractor for periodontal surgery is inserted into the opening illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  illustrates a method of retracting an opening formed in an upper-jaw lingual surface by using the retractor for periodontal surgery of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  illustrates a state in which the retractor for periodontal surgery is inserted into the opening illustrated in  FIG. 11 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0034]    Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present inventive concept is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0035]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a retractor for periodontal surgery, according to an embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a front view of the retractor for periodontal surgery of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a portion A of the retractor for periodontal surgery of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a retractor  100  for periodontal surgery according to the present embodiment is an instrument for periodontal surgery used to lift up or retract an incision or opening S of a gum G by being inserted into the opening S and may include a handle  10 , a first connection portion  20 , a second connection portion  30 , and a blade  40 . 
         [0037]    The handle  10  is a cylindrical member linearly extending long along a first central axis C 1  and is formed of a material including at least one of stainless steel, titanium, and titanium nitride, which are of a surgical operation level. 
         [0038]    A grip portion  11  to prevent slipping of a users hand is formed on an outer circumferential surface of opposite end portions of the handle  10 . In the present embodiment, the grip portion  11  includes a plurality of embossing protrusions. 
         [0039]    The first connection portion  20  is a cylindrical portion linearly extending long along a second central axis C 2  and has a first end portion that is connected to the handle  10 . In the present embodiment, a length L 1  of the first connection portion  20  is about 10 mm to about 12 mm. 
         [0040]    The first central axis C 1  of the handle  10  and the first end portion of the first connection portion  20  form a preset first angle α 1 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , and the first angle α 1  has a value of about 20° to about 40°. 
         [0041]    In the present embodiment, the first connection portion  20  is connected to the handle  10  via an extension portion  50  that linearly extends long from each of the opposite end portions of the handle  10  along the first central axis C 1 . 
         [0042]    The extension portion  50  is a portion having a conic shape such that a diameter of the extension portion  50  gradually decreases toward the first connection portion  20 . 
         [0043]    The second connection portion  30  is a cylindrical portion extending long along a third central axis C 3  and has a first end portion that is connected to a second end portion of the first connection portion  20 . In the present embodiment, a length L 2  of the second connection portion  30  is about 7 mm to about 9 mm. 
         [0044]    The second connection portion  30  includes a root portion  31 , a middle portion  32 , and an end portion  33 . 
         [0045]    The root portion  31  is a cylindrical portion linearly extending a preset length along the third central axis C 3  and has a first end portion that is connected to the second end portion of the first connection portion  20 . 
         [0046]    The first end portion of the root portion  31  and the second end portion of the first connection portion  20  form a preset second angle α 2 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , and the second angle α 2  has a value of about 60° to about 80°. 
         [0047]    The middle portion  32  is a cylindrical portion linearly extending a preset length along a fifth central axis C 5  and has a first end portion that is connected to a second end portion of the root portion  31 . 
         [0048]    The second end portion of the root portion  31  and the first end portion of the middle portion  32  form a preset fourth angle α 4 , and the fourth angle α 4  has a value of about 10° to about 30°. 
         [0049]    The end portion  33  is a cylindrical portion linearly extending a preset length along a sixth central axis C 6  and has a first end portion that is connected to a second end portion of the middle portion  32 . 
         [0050]    The second end portion of the middle portion  32  and the first end portion of the end portion  33  form a preset fifth angle α 5 , and the fifth angle α 5  has a value of about 20° to about 40°. 
         [0051]    As a result, the second connection portion  30  has a structure bent in a zigzag shape, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0052]    The blade  40 , which has an edge in a circular or oval shape, is a member having a scoop shape in which a lengthwise central axis (not shown) is bent with a preset radius of curvature, and has a lower end portion that is connected to a second end portion of the end portion  33 . 
         [0053]    Although the lower end portion of the blade  40  is parallel to the second end portion of the end portion  33 , An end tip of an upper end portion of the blade  40  and the second end portion of the end portion  33  form a preset sixth angle α 6 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , and the sixth angle α 6  has a value of about 30° to about 50°. 
         [0054]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a vertical length L 3  of the blade  40  is about 5 mm to about 7 mm, whereas a horizontal width W of the blade  40  is about 2.5 mm to about 3.5 mm. 
         [0055]    The blade  40  is obliquely rotated by a third angle α 3  around the third central axis C 3  the of the second connection portion  30 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , and the third angle α 3  has a value of about 0° to about 10°. 
         [0056]    Each of the blades  40  arranged at the opposite end portions of the handle  10  is obliquely rotated clockwise by the third angle α 3 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 8 . Accordingly, when viewed by an observer located at the back of the sheet, the blade  40  at the right side in  FIG. 8  is in a state of being rotated by the third angle α 3  counterclockwise that is the opposite direction to the blade  40  at the left side. 
         [0057]    In the present embodiment, the first connection portion  20 , the second connection portion  30 , the blade  40 , the extension portion  50 , and the handle  10  are located on one same plane. 
         [0058]    The meaning of the “same plane” includes not only a concept of a mathematically perfect same plane, but also a concept of a substantially almost the same plane. In other words, in the present embodiment, the first central axis C 1  of the handle  10 , the second central axis C 2  of the first connection portion  20 , and the third central axis C 3  of the root portion  31  are located on the same plane according to the concept of a mathematically perfect same plane, whereas the fifth central axis C 5  of the middle portion  32  and the sixth central axis C 6  of the end portion  33  are located on substantially the same plane with respect to the first, second, and third central axes C 1 , C 2 , and C 3 , though they are not located on the same plane according to the concept of a mathematically perfect same plane. 
         [0059]    The values of the lengths L 1 , L 2 , and L 3 , the width W, and the angles α 1 , α 2 , α 3 , α, α 5 , and α 6  are determined through a plurality of clinical tests performed by the present inventor by taking into account the oral cavity shape or teeth alignment state of a typical patient. 
         [0060]    In the following description, an example of a method of using the retractor  100  for periodontal surgery configured as above is described. 
         [0061]    First, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the opening S is formed in an upper-jaw labial surface gum G. As the blade  40  of the retractor  100  for periodontal surgery is inserted into the opening S, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the opening S may be lifted up or retracted by using the retractor  100  for periodontal surgery. In this state, a direction in which a rear surface  42  of the blade  40  faces may be selected as necessary. In the present embodiment, the rear surface  42  of the blade  40  faces a labial surface. 
         [0062]    As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the retractor  100  for periodontal surgery may be used to retract the opening S formed in an upper-jaw lingual surface gum G. The opening S is formed in the upper-jaw lingual surface gum G, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , and the blade  40  of the retractor  100  for periodontal surgery is inserted into the opening S, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . Then, the opening S may be lifted up or retracted by using the retractor  100  for periodontal surgery. In this connection, which of the blades  40  formed at the opposite end portion of the retractor  100  for periodontal surgery is to be used may be determined according to the oral cavity shape or an alignment state of teeth T at a position where the opening S is located. 
         [0063]    The operation method described with reference to  FIGS. 9 to 12  may be easily used for an operation to reconstruct interproximal papilla that is a gum protrusion between the teeth T. 
         [0064]    The retractor  100  for periodontal surgery configured as above may include the first connection portion  20  having the first end portion connected to the handle  10 , the second connection portion  30  having the first end portion connected to the second end portion of the first connection portion  20 , and the blade  40  connected to a second end portion of the second connection portion  30 . The handle  10  and the first end portion of the first connection portion  20  form the preset first angle α 1 . A first end portion of the second connection portion  30  and the second end portion of the first connection portion  20  form the preset second angle α 2 . Since the first connection portion  20 , the second connection portion  30 , and the handle  10  are located on the same plane, the blade  40  may be easily inserted into the opening S of the gum G so as to retract the opening S even in the circumstances including diverse oral cavity shapes or teeth alignments. 
         [0065]    Since, in the retractor  100  for periodontal surgery, the first angle α 1  has a value of about 20° to about 40° and the second angle α 2  has a value of about 60° to about 80°, the blade  40  may be easily inserted into the opening S formed at various positions in the gum G of the upper jaw or lower jaw. 
         [0066]    Furthermore, since, in the retractor  100  for periodontal surgery, the first connection portion  20  linearly extends along a lengthwise direction, the length L 1  of the first connection portion  20  is about 10 mm to about 12 mm, and the length L 2  of the second connection portion  30  is about 7 mm to about 9 mm, the retractor  100  for periodontal surgery has a size suitable for an oral cavity structure of a typical patient. 
         [0067]    Since, in the retractor  100  for periodontal surgery, the length L 3  of the blade  40  is about 5 mm to about 7 mm and the width W of the blade  40  is about 2.5 mm to about 3.5 mm, the blade  40  may be easily inserted into an opening S having a relatively small length. 
         [0068]    Furthermore, since, in the retractor  100  for periodontal surgery, the blade  40  is obliquely rotated by the preset third angle α 3  around the third central axis C 3  of the second connection portion  30 , the blade  40  may be inserted into the opening S formed at various positions while held conveniently without excessive bending of a wrist. 
         [0069]    Since, in the retractor  100  for periodontal surgery, the second connection portion  30  includes the root portion  31  having the first end portion connected to the second end portion of the first connection portion  20 , the middle portion  32  having the first end portion connected to the second end portion of the root portion  31 , and the end portion  33  having the first end portion connected to the second end portion of the middle portion  32 , and the second end portion of the root portion  31  and the first end portion of the middle portion  32  form the preset fourth angle α 4  and the second end portion of the middle portion  32  and the first end portion of the end portion  33  form the preset fifth angle α 5 , the second connection portion  30  having a zigzag bending shape, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , may be formed. When the second connection portion  30  is formed in zigzag, an operation of inserting artificial bone (not shown) into the opening S is made easy and tissues of the gum G that are not used during the operation may be easily protected. 
         [0070]    Furthermore, since, in the retractor  100  for periodontal surgery, an edge of the blade  40  is circular or oval and the blade  40  has a scoop shape such that the lengthwise central axis of the blade  40  is bent with a preset radius of curvature, when artificial bone is inserted into the opening S, the blade  40  may stably hold and fix the artificial bone. 
         [0071]    Although, in the present embodiment, the method of performing an operation on an upper-jaw gum G using the retractor  100  for periodontal surgery is described above, an operation may be performed on a lower-jaw gum G by the same method. 
         [0072]    The one or more embodiments described above are intended to exemplify the main concepts of the present inventive concept, and not limit the present inventive concept. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various substitutions, amendments, or modifications may be made to the one or more embodiments of the present inventive concept without departing from the spirit and scope of the present inventive concept.