External drive implantation apparatus for bendable collar implants and method

An external drive apparatus for bendable collar implants includes a male fastener and a female driver. The male fastener is constructed as a rigid and integral unity including an implant screw, a collar, and a male screw-top drive. The female driver supports a female screw-top drive. The female driver is configured for application of an implantation torque to the implant screw via the male screw-top drive which is disposed distally away from the collar.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of medical implants such as orthopedic implants and dental implants, and in particular to bendable-collar dental implants.

BACKGROUND ART

Medical implants such as orthopedic implants and dental implants are well known per se for many years. Various conventionally available dental implants and tools for implantation may be found in catalogs, such as for example, the Noris Medical Dental Implants Product Catalog 2019.

South Korean Patent No. 200373710Y1 to Moon Young Pil of 21 Jan. 2005, and US Patent Application No. 2006275735 to Bulard et al., recite dental implants having a collar, but need different tools for implantation and for bending.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The embodiments of the present invention relate to an external drive implantation apparatus100for bendable collar implants. The embodiments comprise a male fastener29, or one-piece implant29constructed as a rigid and integral unit including an implant screw17, and a collar15. The embodiments further comprise a male screw-top drive27configured for operation in mutual association with a female tool31or female driver31, which supports a female screw-top drive33. The female driver31is configured for application of an implantation torque to the implant screw17via the male screw-top drive27which is disposed distally away from the collar15. Thereby, implantation performed with the external drive apparatus100prevents the application of torque to the collar15and mitigates fracture thereof.

There is also provided a method for constructing an external drive apparatus100for bendable collar implants10comprising a bendable collar15and an implant screw17. A male fastener29, and a female driver31are operative in mutual association for implantation of the implant screw17and for bending the collar15. The female driver31operates for applying an implantation torque to a male screw-top drive27which forms an integral proximal portion of the implant screw17, for averting application of torque to and for mitigating fracture of the bendable collar15.

There is further provided an external drive apparatus100for bendable collar implants comprising a short bendable-collar implant51forming a male fastener29, and a female driver32. The male fastener29supports a bendable collar15, a male screw-top drive27, and an implant screw17for implantation by application of an implantation torque. Thereby, the female driver32is configured to apply the implantation torque onto the male screw-top drive27to prevent transfer of torque to the collar15.

Finally, there is additionally provided a method for constructing an external drive apparatus100for bendable collar implants comprising a short bendable-collar implant51forming a male fastener29, and a female driver31.

Technical Problem

Conventional bendable collar implants10may be described concisely as having mainly four sequential portions shown inFIG.1and including, from proximal PRX to distal DST direction: a male head drive23, an abutment13, a bendable collar15, and an implant screw17. The male fastener29of the present disclosure may include from proximal PRX to distal DST direction: a male head drive23, an abutment13, a bendable collar15, a male screw-top drive27, and an implant screw17, shown aligned along the axis X. This nomenclature for bendable-collar implants10is clearly understood by those skilled in the art and therefore, needs not to be described.

Commonly, for implantation, a female tool engages the male head drive23for torqueing and implanting the bendable collar implant10, and next, use of a common tool, not shown, for bending the bendable collar15into a desired direction.

For the sake of illustration of the problem,FIG.1schematically depicts the main portions of a prior art bendable-collar implant10, without entering into details which are not relevant to the problem at hand. The collar15of the bendable collar implant10first endures the torsion and forces of implantation, and next, the strain and stress of the bending moment which is applied thereto for bending after implantation. To endure forces and moments, the collar15should be as solid as possible, thus of large cross-section for example. However, for ease of bending, the collar15should better be pliant, and thus of relatively small cross-section. These two requirements are rather contradictory. The practical result is that the collar15is the weakest link or portion of the bendable-collar implant10, thus that portion which inherently, is most prone to break, and actually, often breaks.

FIG.1shows a commonly available bendable-collar implant10having a proximal implant male head drive23, which remains ex vivo, and which is used to torque the distal implant screw17in vivo. In the description, the terms proximal PRX, or proximal top, refer to the ex vivo direction, and distal or distal bottom DST, relate to the in vivo direction. The wording proximal and distal are used for the sake of illustration the drawings and does not correspond to the professional nomenclature used by practitioners.

FIG.1illustrates that an implant torque applied to the proximal implant head male drive23, will be transferred to the implant screw17, but simultaneously also via the collar15, which is detrimental thereto. Such a torque may be applied by means of a commonly available female tool, which is not shown, and which may operate in alignment with the axis X of the bendable-collar implant10to engage the male head drive23. Once the bendable-collar implant10is implanted, the bendable collar15may be bent.

In practice, the bendable collar15often breaks just at the intersection of the distal bottom portion of the collar15and of the implant screw17. One reason therefore is known as severe over-torqueing during implantation. Another reason is due to the additional stress caused by the bending moments applied to the already torque-weakened collar15. A further cause is material fatigue which occurs with time as a result of chewing forces. Whatever the reason, the problem remains the same: how to prevent the application of torsion forces on the collar15, thus at the same time how to prevent the collar15from breaking?

Solution to the Problem

The solution calls for the prevention of application of torqueing moments of force on the bendable collar15. A solution is provided by use of an external drive apparatus100which includes both a male fastener29, or one-piece implant29, which is configured for operation in mutual association with a female tool31or female driver31. A male screw-top drive27is integrally added distally to the male fastener29, and the female driver31may support a matching female screw-top drive33. It is by application of an implantation torque directly to and via the male screw-top drive27which prevents torque from the thereto proximal collar15.

The implantation torque is thus applied directly to the male screw-top drive27which is an integral portion of the implant screw17, whereby the implantation torque circumvents the collar15which is proximal to the male screw-top drive27.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The external drive apparatus100prevents the application of torque on the bendable collar15by averting torque therefrom. Thereby, the collar15does not endure torsion stress and strain. However, should fracture of the bendable collar implant10occur at any time during or after implantation, it is the male screw-top drive27which allows the broken bendable-collar implant10to be easily retrieved by use of a commonly available female tool. Thereby, a surgical intervention for retrieval of the broken collar implant10is avoided. Further advantages are described hereinbelow.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

It is noted that the term ‘external drive’ is found on the Internet in “List of Screws” by Wikipedia, and is defined as: “External drives are characterized by a female tool and a male fastener”. In the same manner, the external drive apparatus100includes both a female tool31and a male fastener29, to prevent the application of torqueing moments of force on the collar15.

FIG.2schematically illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the external drive implantation apparatus100for bendable collar dental implants10. The portion2aofFIG.2shows the male fastener29, or one-piece implant29having a bendable collar15, and the portion2bofFIG.2shows a female tool31, or female driver31. The external drive implantation apparatus100shown inFIG.2differs from the embodiment described in relation toFIG.1by the addition of the male screw-top drive27to the male fastener29, and the addition of the female driver31. The portions of the male fastener29may include a male head drive23, an abutment13, a bendable collar15, the added male screw-top drive, and an implant screw17, integrally aligned in sequence along the axis X. It is noted that the exterior dimensions d of the male screw-top drive27are inferior relative to the thereto superior exterior dimensions D of the abutment13.

The male fastener29is constructed as a bendable-collar implant15which is built as a unitary rigid and integral portion of material. Likewise, the female tool31is constructed as a female driver31which too, is built as a unitary rigid and integral portion of material. The external drive apparatus100may be made of the same materials as conventionally available bendable-collar implants, out of metal or of ceramic materials and may be produced by the same conventionally available manufacturing processes including three-dimensional printing, also known as additive manufacturing, which are well known to those skilled in the art.

The female drive tool31, or female driver31, shown in relation to portion2aofFIG.2, may include, from proximal PRX to distal DST direction, a connection piece35, a backbone37, a female head drive39, and the female screw-top driver33, which are shown disposed along the alignment line X1.

The connection piece35may be rotated by hand, or be coupled to a handle, not shown, say for imparting torque to the male fastener29, or for the connection thereto of a tool or a grip of some sort, such as for example a socket tool or a ratcheting socket wrench. The backbone37is the support of both the female screw-top drive33and the female head drive39, and may be configured as a portion of a trough. Both the female screw-top drive33and the female head drive39have a female torque transmission and female engagement geometry which matches the male transmission and female engagement geometry of, respectively, the male screw-top drive27and the male head drive23.

As pointed out hereinabove, due to the fact that the external dimensions of the abutment13exceed the exterior dimensions of the male screw-top drive27, it is not possible to torque the male fastener29by use of a female tool such as a socket tool for example, which is configured to engage the male fastener29by proximal PRX to distal DST direction of motion along the axis of symmetry X. Therefore, the female driver31is configured to engage the male head and screw-top drives, respectively23and27, by lateral engagement motion perpendicular to the axis X. It should also be noted that after implantation, the female driver31may be used to bend the collar15. This means that the implant torqueing tool is also the bending tool, which avoids the need to exchange tools.

FIG.3shows schematically, two exemplary transmission and engagement geometries of the male and female drives, to emphasize that various and different such geometries may be used. For example, two, as shown in portion3aofFIG.3, four, and six, as shown in portion3bofFIG.3, or more flats41may be implemented, and the same is true for multiple other transmission and engagement geometries, not necessarily using flats41. Further, the transmission and engagement geometry of the male and female screw-top drive may be different from the male and female geometry of the head drive.

InFIG.4, the external drive apparatus100is depicted in operative disposition, showing the male fastener29which is received in the female driver31and is partially enveloped thereby. For implantation torqueing of the bendable-collar implant10, the female screw-top drive33has to be engaged with the male screw-top drive27, and the female head drive39has to be engaged with the male head drive23. It may be said that the male fastener29is properly engaged for torque transmission by rotation of the female driver31when the axis X of the bendable-collar implant10is coaxial with the alignment line X1of the female driver31.

In operation, as depicted inFIG.4, the dedicated female tool31and the male fastener29are assembled by driving the dedicated female drive tool31sideways, thus perpendicular to the axis X, until engagement of the female screw-top drive33with the male screw-top drive27. Thereby, rotation of the female screw-top drive33will torque the male screw-top drive27and apply the torque moment directly to the implant screw17. Simultaneously, the female head drive39will rotate the male head drive23, but the torqueing moment will not stress or strain the bendable collar15.

FIG.5schematically illustrates another exemplary embodiment of an external drive apparatus100, which is configured as a short external drive51. The portion5aofFIG.5shows the male fastener29, or one-piece implant29having a bendable collar15, and the portion5bofFIG.5shows a female tool32, or female driver32. The external drive apparatus100shown inFIG.5differs from the embodiment described in relation toFIG.2by the deletion of the male head drive23from the male fastener29, and the deletion of the female head drive39from the female driver31. Thereby, both the male fastener29and the female driver31have a shorter length in comparison with the embodiment described in relation toFIGS.2to4. This is true even though the small male screw-top drive27of minor longitudinal and lateral dimensions relative to the deleted male head drive23has been added to the male fastener29. Similarly, the female driver32too is shorter after deletion of the connection piece35and a proximal portion of the backbone37. Hence, the short bendable-collar implant51is advantageous by having a reduced length, requires less production and inspection processes, and has a reduced weight of material.

The portions of the male fastener29of the short external drive51may include an abutment13, a bendable collar15, a male screw-top drive27, and an implant screw17, aligned in longitudinal sequence disposed along an axis of symmetry X.

It is noted that the exterior dimensions d of the male screw-top drive27are inferior relative to the thereto superior exterior dimensions D of the abutment13. The male fastener29is constructed as a short bendable-collar implant51which is built as a unitary rigid and integral portion of material.

Likewise, the female driver32is constructed as a unitary rigid and integral portion of material. The external drive apparatus100may be made of the same materials as conventionally available bendable-collar implants, out of metal or of ceramic materials and may be produced by the same conventionally available manufacturing processes including three-dimensional printing, also known as additive manufacturing, which are well known to those skilled in the art.

The female driver32, described in relation to portion5aofFIG.5, may include, from proximal PRX to distal DST direction, a connection piece35, a backbone37, and the female screw-top drive33, shown disposed along the alignment line X1. The connection piece35may be rotated by hand, or be coupled to a handle, not shown, say for imparting torque to the male fastener29, or for connection thereto of a tool or of a grip of some sort, such as for example a socket tool or a ratcheting socket wrench. The backbone37is the support of the female screw-top drive33, and may be configured as a portion of a trough. The female screw-top drive33may have a female torque transmission and male engagement geometry which matches the male transmission and engagement geometry of the male screw-top drive27.

As already pointed out hereinabove, due to the fact that the external dimensions of the abutment13exceed the exterior dimensions of the male screw-top drive27, it is not possible to torque the male fastener29by use of a female tool such as a socket tool for example, which is configured to engage the male fastener29by proximal PRX to distal DST direction of motion along the axis of symmetry X. Therefore, the female driver31is configured to engage the screw-top drive23by lateral engagement motion perpendicular to the axis X. It should also be noted that after implantation, the female driver31may be used to bend the collar15. This means that the male fastener29may also serve as the bending tool, which avoids the need to retrieve the female driver31, select a bending tool, and bend the collar15.

InFIG.3, two exemplary transmission and engagement geometries of the male and female drives, respectively29and31, are used to emphasize that various and different geometries are practical. For example, two, as shown in portion3aofFIG.3, four, and six, as shown in portion3bofFIG.3, or more flats41may be implemented, and the same is true for multiple other transmission and engagement geometries, not necessarily using flats41.

InFIG.6, the external drive apparatus100is depicted in operative disposition, showing the male fastener29which is received in the female driver32and is partially enveloped thereby. For implantation torqueing the bendable-collar implant10, the female screw-top drive33has to be engaged with the male screw-top drive27. It may be said that the male fastener29is properly engaged for torque transmission by rotation of the female32, when the axis X of the bendable-collar implant10is coaxial with the alignment line X1of the female driver32.

There has thus been described an external drive apparatus100for bendable collar implants, comprising a male fastener29, or one-piece implant29which is constructed as a rigid and integral unit and includes an implant screw17, a collar15, and a male screw-top drive27. Further comprised are a male fastener29, or one-piece implant29, which is constructed as a rigid and integral unit including an implant screw17, a collar15, and a male screw-top drive27which are configured for operation in mutual association with a female tool31or female driver31, which supports a female screw-top drive33. The female driver31is configured for application of an implantation torque to the implant screw17via the male screw-top drive27which is disposed distally away from the collar15. Thereby, an implantation performed with the external drive apparatus100prevents the application of torque to the collar15, and at least, mitigates fracture thereof.

The collar15is coupled proximally relative to the male screw-top drive27, which is disposed proximal to the implant screw17, and the male screw-top drive27is configured as a proximal and integral portion of the implant screw17. The female driver31is configured to apply an implant torque on the male screw-top drive27to avoid application of torque on the collar15. When an implanted bendable-collar implant10supports a broken collar15, this last one may be retrieved out of implantation by use of a commonly available female dental tool which matches the male screw-top drive27.

The exterior dimensions d of the male screw-top drive27are smaller than exterior dimensions D of an abutment13which is coupled proximally away from the collar15, and the female driver31is configured to support a matching torque-transmitting geometry for application of torque to and for engagement with the male screw-top drive27. The male screw-top drive27has exterior dimensions d which are inferior to the exterior dimensions D of the thereto proximal abutment13, and the female driver31supports a torque-transmitting geometry for torque transmission, which matches the torque transmitting geometry of the male screw-top drive27. The collar15has dimensions which are independent from a measure of the implantation torque. The male screw top drive27and the female screw-top drive33have a mutually matching torque transmission geometry. The female driver31is configured to transfer torque to the male fastener29and to circumvent the application of torque to the collar15.

With one embodiment of the apparatus100, the male fastener29supports a proximal male head drive23, a collar15, which is disposed intermediate the male head drive23and the male screw-top drive27. The female driver31supports a proximal female head drive39and a distal female screw-top drive33, and the male driver29supports a proximal male head drive23and a distal male screw-top drive27. Further, the male head drives, respectively,23and27are operative in mutual association with the female drives, respectively39and33. Thereby, an implantation torque applied by the female driver31to the male fastener29simultaneously engages the male drives with the female drives, whereby torque of the collar15is averted.

There is also provided a method for constructing an external drive apparatus100for bendable collar implants10which include a bendable collar15and an implant screw17. The method comprises providing a male fastener29and a female driver31which are operative in mutual association for implantation of the implant screw17and for bending the collar15. The method further comprises operating the female driver31for applying an implantation torque to a male screw-top drive27which forms a proximal portion which is integral with a proximal portion of the implant screw17, for averting application of torque to and for mitigating fracture of the bendable collar15.

The male screw-top drive27forms a proximal portion of the implant screw17and is integral with the implant screw17. The female driver31applies an implant torque on the implant screw17via the male screw-top drive27to avert the application of torque to the collar15. A commonly available female dental tool which matches the geometry of the male screw-top drive27suffices to retrieve an implanted bendable-collar implant10having a broken collar15.

The exterior dimensions d of the male screw-top drive27may be smaller than the exterior dimensions D of an abutment13which is coupled proximally away from the collar15, and the female driver31may be accordingly configured to support a matching torque-transmitting geometry for application of torque to and for engagement with the male screw-top drive27.

The external drive apparatus100further comprises a short bendable-collar implant51forming a male fastener29, and a female driver32. The male fastener29may support a bendable collar15, a male screw-top drive27, and an implant screw17for implantation by application of an implantation torque, and the female driver32may be configured to apply the implantation torque onto the male screw-top drive27to prevent transfer of torque to the collar15. The male screw-top drive27may be integrated as a proximal portion of the implant screw17. The apparatus100further comprises an abutment13which is disposed proximally away from the collar15which is disposed intermediate the abutment13and the male screw-top drive27. There is further comprised a female screw-top drive33configured to engagingly match a torque transmission geometry of the male screw-top drive27.

The male screw-top drive27may be configured to transfer the implantation torque to the implant screw17, and the implantation torque provided by the female driver32circumvents the collar15. When the collar15of the short bendable-collar implant51is broken after implantation, retrieval of the broken collar15is achieved by commonly available medical tools. Since the male fastener29is void of a male head drive23, the length thereof is reduced relative to the length of an external drive having both a male head drive23. Likewise, since the female driver32is void of a female head drive33, is of reduced length, the length thereof is reduced relative to the length of an external drive having both a female head drive39and a female screw-top drive33. Thereby, the short bendable-collar implant51has a reduced length, a reduced weight, is produced by less production and inspection processes, and has a reduced weight of material. In the same manner, the female driver32is of reduced length by being void of a female head drive39and of a portion of backbone37.

It is noted that after implantation of the implant screw17, the female driver32is appropriately configured to bend the collar15into a desired direction. Finally, it is noted that a method for constructing an external drive apparatus100for bendable collar implants comprising a short bendable-collar implant51forming a male fastener29, and a female driver32, may be achieved.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The external drive apparatus100may find applicability with the dental and/or the medical apparatus industry.