ENDODONTIC SURGERY TISSUE RETRACTOR DEVICE

Described herein is a tissue retractor for use in endodontic procedures. The tissue retractor includes a bite pad having a proximal end and a distal end, a tooth registration block connected to the distal end of the bite pad, an arm having a proximal end and distal end, where the proximal end is connected to the tooth registration block such that the tooth registration block is between the bite pad and the arm, a cheek retractor having a proximal end, a distal end and a length, the length defining a top edge and a bottom edge, where the distal end of the cheek retractor is connected to the distal end of the arm, and at least one cheek catch extending from the top edge of the cheek retractor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dental professionals utilize numerous different devices to retract soft oral tissue around the oral cavity so as to create an enlarged working field around the teeth and dental arches. For example, cheek retractors are used to hold the patient's mouth open so that the dental professional can have easy access to the teeth. However, because patients have different sized mouths, existing cheek retractors are often not a proper fit for certain patients, leading to significant problems with surgical site accessibility and patient discomfort. Further, existing devices are often difficult to insert and remove, and typically require extensive time to implement. In certain instances, these devices can activate patient's pharyngeal reflexes.

Thus, there is a need in the art for improved tissue retractor designs. The present invention satisfies this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Described herein is a tissue retractor for use in endodontic procedures. The tissue retractor includes a bite pad having a proximal end and a distal end, a tooth registration block connected to the distal end of the bite pad, an arm having a proximal end and distal end, where the proximal end is connected to the tooth registration block such that the tooth registration block is between the bite pad and the arm, a cheek retractor having a proximal end, a distal end and a length, the length defining a top edge and a bottom edge, where the distal end of the cheek retractor is connected to the distal end of the arm, and at least one cheek catch extending from the top edge of the cheek retractor. In some embodiments, the retractor includes a jawbone registration element connected to the distal end of the cheek retractor. In some embodiments, the bite pad, arm, cheek retractor and at least one cheek catch are bendable and shape-holding. In some embodiments, the arm has a shoulder region at the proximal end, such that the width of the arm decreases distally across the shoulder region. In some embodiments, the proximal end of the cheek retractor is adjacent but not in contact with the proximal shoulder region of the arm. In some embodiments, the bite pad, arm and cheek retractor have a flat profile in the same plane when unbent. In some embodiments, the tooth registration block protrudes outwardly from the plane of the bite pad, arm and cheek retractor. In some embodiments, the at least one cheek catch extends in the same plane as the cheek retractor when unbent. In some embodiments, the bite pad, tooth registration block, arm and cheek retractor are a single unit. In some embodiments, the bite pad comprises a metal core encapsulated by an exterior shell. In some embodiments, the bite pad comprises at least one frangible tab at the distal end of the bite pad. In some embodiments, the at least one frangible tab comprises a region of reduced thickness of the exterior shell. In some embodiments, the metal core includes a breaking region off-set from the exterior shell region of reduced thickness.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now in detail to the drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate like parts or elements throughout the several views and various embodiments, is an endodontic surgery tissue retractor device.

Referring now toFIGS.1A-1D, an exemplary endodontic surgery tissue retractor or device100is presented. Device100generally includes a body100ahaving a proximal end101and a distal end102. The total length of body100abetween proximal and distal ends101and102may be between 16 cm and 17.5 cm. The body100afurther defines a proximal region103and distal region104, separated by a tooth registration block105. All or a portion of body100amay include a thin central unit150that is fully or partially encapsulated by an exterior shell160. Thin central unit150may be a metal or any other desired material. In some embodiments, central unit150is bendable and shape-holding, such that body100awill remain in any shape bent or folded into. In some embodiments, central unit150is frangible, such that it may be broken or snapped with enough applied force and/or bent or twisted significantly. Exterior shell160may be a rubber, soft or hard plastics, or any other desired material suitable for positioning comfortably in a patient's oral cavity. In some embodiments, exterior shell160should be bendable and flexible, such that body100ais capable of holding any shape it is bent into.

Proximal region103generally includes a bite pad110extending proximally from tooth registration block105. Bite pad110may be any desired width w1and any desired length. In some embodiments, bite pad110may have a width w1between 6 cm and 8 cm. In some embodiments, the length of bite pad110may be between 6 cm and 8 cm. In some embodiments, the length of bite pad110may be a fixed length or an adjustable length. For example, bite pad110may include one or more frangible tabs110a-110ceach separated by one or more break points112a-112c. Frangible tabs110a-cmay each be any length desired.

As shown inFIG.1C, bite pad110may have any thickness th1. Further, break points112a-112ceach represent a section with a reduced thickness th2of bite pad110, thereby forming frangible tabs110a-110cproximal to each break point112a-112c, respectively. In some embodiments, reduced thickness th2may be between 30-50% the thickness of th1. While central unit150generally bends and holds shape along the length of body100aat thickness th1, reduced thickness th2of the exterior shell160permits central unit150and exterior shell160to snap and detach when bent and/or twisted at any of breaking points112a-112c.

In some embodiments, central unit150has one or more breaking points152. Central unit breaking point152may be formed with perforations in central unit150, or alternatively it may be of a reduced thickness compared to the remainder of central unit150. In some embodiments, central unit breaking point152may be aligned with a breaking point112, or it may be off-set from breaking point112. For example, if off-set as shown inFIG.1C, central unit150snaps at breaking point152awhile external shell160snaps at breaking point112a, thereby allowing frangible tab110ato detach from the remainder of bite pad110with a portion of external shell160aoverlapping the new proximal end of central unit150, as shown in FIG.1D. Accordingly, the length of bite pad110may be adjustably shortened by detaching one or more frangible tabs110a-c.

As shown inFIG.1B, tooth registration block105sits between proximal region103and distal region104and includes one or more protrusions105aand/or105bextending outwardly from the front or back surface of device100. Tooth registration block105assists in proper placement of device100in the oral cavity of a subject, as shown inFIGS.2A and2B. Protrusions105aand/or105bmay extend any desired distance from the surface of body100a. In some embodiments, protrusions105aand/or105bmay extend between 0.5 cm and 1 cm. In some embodiments, protrusions105aand/or105bmay be a fixed, single unit with body100a, or they may be separate components that are releasably attached to body100aat one or more locations along the length of body100a.

Distal region104generally includes an arm120and a cheek retractor130. Arm120includes a proximal shoulder region122transitioning from a wider material width w1at the distal side of tooth registration block105to a narrower material width w2as arm120extends distally away from tooth registration block105. In some embodiments and as shown inFIG.1A, arm120has a top edge115and a bottom edge116along its length. As shown, the transition from w1to w2occurs across the shoulder region122. Accordingly, the bottom edge116remains in-line with the bottom edge of tooth registration block105and bite pad110, such that top edge115travels closer to bottom edge116until it again runs parallel to bottom edge116at width w2. In other embodiments, both top and bottom edges115and116travel towards each other until ultimately running parallel at width w2.

The narrower width w2portion of arm120allows for increased flexibility and bending. In some embodiments, arm120is bendable and shape-holding, such that arm120will remain in any shape bent or folded into. In some embodiments, arm120includes central unit150and external shell160as shown and described herein. In some embodiments, width w2may be between 4 mm and 12 mm. In some embodiments, the length of arm120may be between 5.5 cm and 7.5 cm.

At the distal end of arm120is a transition region or hinge124connecting cheek retractor130. Cheek retractor130is adjacent to arm120and extends proximally towards shoulder122of arm120, thereby forming a gap region117between arm120and cheek retractor130. In some embodiments, cheek retractor130may have a width w3, which may be between 1.7 cm and 2.7 cm. In some embodiments, cheek retractor130may have a length of between 5.5 cm and 7.5 cm. In some embodiments, the length of cheek retractor130is equal to or less than the length of arm120. In some embodiments, cheek retractor130is bendable and shape-holding, such that cheek retractor130will remain in any shape bent or folded into. In some embodiments, cheek retractor130includes central unit150and external shell160as shown and described herein. It should be appreciated that only the distal end of cheek retractor130is connected to the distal end of arm120at transition region or hinge124. Thus, the proximal end of cheek retractor130is nested adjacent to, but not in contact with, shoulder region122of arm120and the length of arm120.

Cheek retractor130may further include a jawbone registration element140at the distal end of one or both of cheek retractor130and transition region124of arm120. In some embodiments, jawbone registration element140is rigid and pointed, such that it is configured to engage with the gum, teeth or jawbone of a subject when positioned in the subject's oral cavity. Jawbone registration element140may be composed of metal or any other rigid material suitable for placing is a subject's oral cavity. Jawbone registration element140may include any number of engagement points, and may alternatively include any other shapes or contoured structures that promote an engagement with the subject's gum, teeth or jawbone.

Cheek retractor130may further include one or more cheek catch extensions132extending from the top edge opposite of, or furthest from, arm120. Cheek catch extensions132may extend any desired length from cheek retractor130. In some embodiments, cheek catch extensions132may extend between 1.5 cm and 2.5 cm. In some embodiments, each cheek catch extension132may be a fixed, single unit with cheek retractor130, or they may be separate components that are releasably attached to cheek retractor130at one or more locations along the length of cheek retractor130. In some embodiments, cheek catch extensions132are bendable and shape-holding, such that each cheek catch extension132will remain in any shape bent or folded into. In some embodiments, cheek catch extensions132include central unit150and external shell160as shown and described herein.

In some embodiments and as shown inFIG.1B, device100may have the same thickness th1for each of the bite pad110, arm120and cheek retractor130, such that device100has a generally flat profile other than tooth registration block105when in an unbent configuration. In some embodiments, one or more of the bite pad110, arm120and cheek retractor130may have a thickness that is different from the other components.

In use and as shown inFIGS.2A and2B, device100may be positioned in any number of configurations, depending on the size of the subject's oral cavity and anatomy, and depending on the region any given procedure requires access to. For example, the bite pad is optionally adjusted in length by snapping off one or more frangible tabs, and is positioned between the teeth of the maxillary and mandibular arches. The tooth registration block is positioned such that it is adjacent to the teeth, either on the inside surface of the teeth or the outside surface of the teeth. The arm and cheek retractor are separately bent in a generally C shaped configuration, such that the jawbone registration point engages with the tissue of the jawbone region. The arm and cheek retractor portions are uniquely bendable and moldable independently of each other to promote a more customized opening of the oral cavity space. The cheek catch extensions are subsequently bent upward and outward to contain the lip and cheek of the subject. Accordingly, the device adequately creates and holds an enlarged open area of the oral cavity for a practitioner to access the teeth, gums, jawbone or any other space needed for a given procedure.