Abstract:
In one aspect, an apparatus for correcting osseous development deficiencies at orbital level in persons includes a halo-like structure for fixing to a cranium, a union plate between the halo-like structure and the distractor, and the orbital distractor itself, which is supported by the halo-like structure and fixed to the orbit.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is the National Stage of International Application No. PCT/CR2008/000001, filed on Feb. 6, 2008, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to correction processes of osseous development anomalies, more specifically, with regards to malformations that develop or bring about a deficiency in the ocular orbit development. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Today a significant number of patients with congenital or acquired defects in the ocular globe are treated successfully with ocular prostheses adaptation, achieving the stimulation necessary for the proper development of the orbit bone component. Opposing to this, there is a group of patients where this adaptation cannot be made due to the lack of space resulting from development deficiency, and, up to date, there is no other alternative effective treatment method. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present disclosure is focused on an apparatus that, after being implanted surgically, enables the stimulation of the orbit&#39;s progressive development in posteroanterior, superoinferior and lateral direction. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  shows a halo-like structure for fixing to the cranium. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  shows a portion of the halo-like structure of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  shows a bridge-shaped plate. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  shows a union plate. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  shows an orbital distractor. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    This disclosure relates to a novel apparatus for persons presenting with a significant degree of deficiency in terms of orbit bone development. This novel apparatus is produced from titanium and comprises three devices, i.e. a halo-like structure for fixing to the cranium, a plate for connecting between the devices, and a device carried by the halo-like structure mentioned previously. The novel apparatus is secured to the orbit in order to bring about expansion. Said device is known as a distractor. 
         [0011]    In some implementations, the apparatus is comprised of the following components in its manufacturing process. One component is a three-quarters circle titanium ring  1 . a  that is fixed to the cranium and serves as a supporting means for the orbit distractor. The latter is formed by two semicircles, one of them being the mirror image of the other. The front section of the semicircle is flat and rectangular. In the frontmost section of said flat area there are five holes in superoinferior direction  1 . b —equidistant from each other—which enable the passing of the fixing bars  4 . c  of the stabilizing plate. Further, the halo-like structure in the front face has five threaded equidistant holes  2 . a  from front to back, matching with the five superoinferior holes. In the posterior half of the flat section there are two holes in the lateral side along its entire length, where two titanium circular bars (horizontally)  1 . c  can be inserted, separated from each other, in order to enable the lateral movement of said two semicircles. Each semicircle can be maintained in its final specific position by means of a fastening screw mounted on a washer that secures those bars, preventing the ring from moving. 
         [0012]    The posterior section of the halo-like structure—in its inferior side—has a bridge-shaped plate  3 . a , with upward convexity, which can be moved backwards by a screw  3 . b  activated in its posterior section for fitting in the cranium. The bridge-shaped plate has a channel or rail in its superior section that enables its better displacement. A screw in the superior section  3 . b  is used to fix the plate in the final specific section. Mounted on a washer, the screw can pass through the oval hole of the titanium ring in its superoposterior section, which, then, is introduced directly in a screw hole of the same size within the plate. In that way, the bridge-shaped plate is fixed and cannot move from the desired position. This bridge-shaped plate is detachable and will have 12 circular threaded holes  3 . c  for inserting the screws that can be mounted on the cranium as a supporting means for the whole apparatus. The holes and screws are of the same size. The screw is an Allen screw. 
         [0013]    The union plate  4 . a  is a device that joins the halo-like structure or titanium ring with the distractor. This union plate is provided with two parallel holes  4 . c  equidistant from the edges and that go through the plate completely. Perpendicular to these holes, there is a threaded hole  4 . b  that penetrates in up to the tunnel formed by the hole in its journey. This hole has an Allen screw for fixing the union bars between the plate and the fastening halo-like structure. In its widest side it has a threaded ring  4 . d , which enables the insertion of the threaded section of the outer cylinder of the distractor. This distractor is comprised of a stem with a proximal outer threading  5 . a  presenting four equidistant grooves in the opposing end of the threading section. Distally to these grooves, the stem has four holes where 4 cylinders  5 . b  are placed to enable the displacement of the wheel axles; in that way, they can be opened and closed until they can converge with each other—movement that can be achieved by means of 4 connectors  5 . d  sliding through the grooves with longitudinal movements. These connectors are connected to the wheel axles allowing them to move transversally through the little cylinders, which have a small groove, partially longitudinal, that allows the 4 booms to displace and, thus, achieving a continuous adjustment movement of the wheels. This movement can be regulated by means of a threaded axle, which slides interiorly across the main cylinder by means of a gear system that limits the movement of the wheels at 0.25 mm per round applied to the internal stem. The latter has a handle  5 . e  with a graphic corresponding to the wheels&#39; opening in millimetres. 
         [0014]    The wheels are four bracket plates  5 . c  with distal and horizontal perforation. The proximal and vertical section is perforated to be joined by using a screw to the wheel axles. 
         [0015]    The system movement from back to front can be achieved by gearing the threaded section of the main axle with the inner thread of the plate hole we have described above.