Patent Publication Number: US-2022218446-A1

Title: Surgical connector for dental fixture

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The inventive concept relates to a surgical connector for a dental fixture, and more particularly, to a surgical connector for a dental fixture that is capable of placing a fixture in an alveolar bone by easily picking up the fixture from a fixture storing ample where the fixture is stored. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     An implant originally means a substitute used to restore lost human tissues. In a dental field, however, the implant refers to a series of procedures to transplant an artificial tooth. 
     To replace a lost dental root, the implant is a series of dental procedures to restore the function of a tooth by placing a fixture, which is a dental root formed of titanium and having no rejection to a human body, in an alveolar bone where a tooth is lost, and then fixing an artificial tooth thereto. 
     In the case of a general prosthesis or denture, surrounding teeth or bones may be damaged as time passes. In contrast, since the implant does not harm the surrounding tooth tissues, provides the same function and shape as a natural tooth, and has no tooth decay, the implant may be used semi-permanently. 
     In an artificial tooth surgery (referred to as an implant or an implant surgery), a implantation hole is formed by using a drill, which varies according to the type of a fixture, the fixture is placed in the alveolar bone and has osseointegration with the bone, and an abutment is coupled to the fixture and then crowned with a final prosthesis. 
     The dental implant may facilitate restoration of a single missing tooth, enhance the function of a denture for partially toothless and fully toothless patients, improve an aesthetic aspect of dental prosthesis restoration, and furthermore distribute excessive stress applied to surrounding support bone tissues and stabilize a row of teeth. 
     The dental implant may generally include a fixture placed as an artificial tooth root, an abutment coupled to the fixture, an abutment screw to fix the abutment to the fixture, and an artificial tooth coupled to the abutment. Before the abutment is coupled to the fixture, that is, during a period of osseointegration of the fixture to the alveolar bone, the abutment is coupled to the fixture and a coupling state is maintained. 
     The fixture, which is one of components of a dental implant, is a portion placed in a drill hole formed in the alveolar bone by using a drill and functions as an artificial tooth root. A screw portion is spirally provided on the outer circumference of the fixture for the firm fixing of the fixture and the alveolar bone. 
     Furthermore, an abutment insertion hole in which the abutment is inserted is provided in an upper end portion of the fixture by being received in the lengthwise direction thereof. 
     The inner wall of the abutment insertion hole has a shape matching to the outer wall of abutment and has a polygonal shape to prevent a relative rotation with respect to the fixture of the abutment. 
     Meanwhile, the fixture is stored by being kept in a fixture storing ample. During an implant operation, a dentist picks up a fixture stored in a storing ample by using a dental fixture operation connector. 
     A dental fixture operation connector according to the related art has a head portion having an outer wall in a polygonal shape. In the dental fixture operation connector according to the related art, as the head portion having a polygonal shape is inserted into the abutment insertion hole of the fixture, the fixture is picked out of the ample through the insertion coupling between the head portion and the abutment insertion hole. 
     However, according to the related art, as the outer wall of the head portion of the dental fixture operation connector and the inner wall of the insertion hole each have the polygonal shape as described above, when the head portion is inserted into the insertion hole, if the direction is not correct, the head portion is not easily inserted into the insertion hole, and thus the picking-up of a fixture becomes inconvenient. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT 
     Technical Problem 
     The inventive concept provides a dental fixture operation connector by which a fixture stored in a fixture storing ample may be quickly and conveniently picked up from the ample to be placed in an alveolar bone. 
     Solution to Problem 
     According to an aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a dental fixture operation connector including a connector body portion, a connector head portion connected to the connector body portion and inserted into an insertion hole formed in an upper end area of a fixture, and an entrance guide portion provided in the connector head portion and guiding entrance of the connector head portion when the connector head portion is inserted into the insertion hole. 
     An inner wall of the insertion hole may have a polygonal shape, and a polygonal side wall portion having a polygonal shape may be provided on an outer wall of the connector head portion to fit to a shape of the inner wall of the insertion hole. 
     The entrance guide portion may be connected to the polygonal side wall portion and disposed below the polygonal side wall portion. 
     The entrance guide portion may include a guide groove that is formed on an outer wall of the connector head portion by being recessed in a direction along a virtual center axis line of the connector head portion. 
     The guide groove may be connected to two side wall edges that are arranged to neighbor each other among a plurality of side wall edges provided on the polygonal side wall portion. 
     The guide groove may be provided in an inclined shape such that a height gradually increases from one side wall edge toward the other side wall edge disposed neighboring to the one side wall edge. 
     The guide groove may include a plurality of guide grooves that are arranged spaced apart from each other. 
     The entrance guide portion may further include an initial entrance guiding tip head portion that is provided in the connector head portion, connected to the entrance guide portion, and guides initial entrance into the insertion hole of the connector head portion. 
     The initial entrance guiding tip head portion may be disposed below the guide groove and may have a convex shape such that an outer diameter of a section thereof decreases in a direction away from the guide groove. 
     The dental fixture operation connector may further include an elastic pressing body that is provided in the connector head portion, is inserted into an accommodation groove disposed above the entrance guide portion, and elastically presses an inner wall of the insertion hole. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     According to the inventive concept, when the connector head portion is inserted into the insertion hole provided in the fixture, as the entrance guide portion for guiding the entrance of the connector head portion is provided, the connector head portion may be fast and conveniently inserted into the insertion hole, and accordingly the fixture accommodated in the fixture storing ample may be easily picked up out of the ample. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a placement process of a fixture of a dental implant using a dental fixture operation connector according to a first embodiment of the present inventive concept. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the fixture of the dental implant of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front side view of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a section taken along a line A-A of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the inside of the fixture of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a dental fixture operation connector that picks up the fixture of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a connector head portion of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an elastic pressing body that is inserted into an accommodation groove of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is an operation state view illustrating a state in which the connector head portion of  FIG. 7  is inserted into the fixture. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a dental fixture operation connector according to the second embodiment of the present inventive concept. 
     
    
    
     MODE OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT 
     The attached drawings for illustrating exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept are referred to in order to gain a sufficient understanding of the inventive concept and the merits thereof. 
     Hereinafter, the inventive concept will be described in detail by explaining exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept with reference to the attached drawings. In the following description, when detailed descriptions about related well-known functions or structures are determined to make the gist of the disclosure unclear, the detailed descriptions will be omitted herein. 
       FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a placement process of a fixture of a dental implant using a dental fixture operation connector according to a first embodiment of the present inventive concept.  FIG. 2  illustrates the fixture of the dental implant of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a front side view of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4  illustrates a section taken along a line A-A of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 5  illustrates the inside of the fixture of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 6  illustrates a dental fixture operation connector that picks up the fixture of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 7  illustrates a connector head portion of  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 8  is a bottom view of  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 9  illustrates an elastic pressing body that is inserted into an accommodation groove of  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 10  is an operation state view illustrating a state in which the connector head portion of  FIG. 7  is inserted into the fixture. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a large number of teeth  1  are arranged in a gum  3 . The teeth  1  are primary digestive system that crushes food into pieces and sends them to stomach, and normally include about 28 teeth which may vary person to person. 
     When any one of the teeth  1  is lost (the posterior is lost), the lost one of the teeth  1  may deteriorate aesthetics and considerably inconvenience chewing food. 
     Accordingly, a fixture  100  is placed in the gum  3  of the lost one of the teeth  1  as a means for replacing a tooth root  2  of the teeth  1 . Although it is not illustrated in detail in  FIG. 1 , the fixture  100  is placed in an alveolar bone (not shown) in the gum  3 , and a drill work for placement of the fixture  100  is performed before the placement. In other words, a drill hole G is processed at a certain position of the alveolar bone. 
     The fixture  100  may be manufactured of titanium Ti or a Ti alloy that has no rejection to the human body. 
     For reference, the fixture  100  of the present embodiment that is to be described below may be one used during the initial implant operation or an emergent one used for failure of an operation, which may be directly placed in an alveolar bone (not shown) without supplement of a certain bone substitute material to a damaged area. 
     An abutment insertion hole H 1  (see  FIG. 5 ) into which an abutment (not shown) is inserted is provided in an upper end portion of the fixture  100  by being recessed in the lengthwise direction. 
     In detail, in the structure of the fixture  100  according to the present embodiment, the fixture  100  according to the present embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 10 , may include an abutment rotation prevention portion  110  that prevents a relative rotation with respect to the fixture  100  of the abutment, a tool coupling portion  120  disposed adjacent to the abutment rotation prevention portion  110  in an upper area of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110 , a taper portion  130  disposed in an upper area of the tool coupling portion  120 , an abutment support portion  140  disposed in a lower area of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110 , and a screw fastening portion  150  disposed in the lower area of the abutment support portion  140 . 
     The abutment rotation prevention portion  110  is provided in a shape such that an inner wall  111  that forms the abutment insertion hole H 1  has a shape to fit to an outer wall of the abutment. The abutment rotation prevention portion  110  prevents the abutment inserted into the abutment insertion hole H 1  from rotation with respect to the fixture  100 . 
     The inner wall  111  of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110  is provided in a polygonal shape along a circumferential direction of the fixture  100 . In the present embodiment, the inner wall  111  of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110 , as illustrated in detail in  FIG. 4 , is provided in an octagonal shape along the circumferential direction of the fixture  100 . 
     As the inner wall  111  of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110  is provided in an octagonal shape, the length of one side forming an octagon is less than the length of one side in a conventional hexagonal shape, and accordingly a space between the inner wall  111  of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110  and the outer wall of the abutment is further reduced, thereby preventing the shaking of the abutment coupled to the fixture  100 . 
     The tool coupling portion  120  is connected to the abutment rotation prevention portion  110  and is disposed adjacent to the abutment rotation prevention portion  110  in the upper area of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110 . 
     Meanwhile, the above-described fixture  100  is kept by being stored in a storing ample before an implant operation. During the implant operation, the fixture  100  stored in the storing ample is picked out of the storing ample by using a dental fixture operation connector  200  according to the present embodiment. 
     The dental fixture operation connector  200  according to the present embodiment may include, as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 to 10 , a connector body portion  210 , a connector head portion  220  connected to the connector body portion  210  and inserted into the abutment insertion hole H 1  formed in an upper end area of the fixture  100 , an entrance guide portion  230  provided in the connector head portion  220  and guiding entrance of the connector head portion  220  when the connector head portion  220  is inserted into the abutment insertion hole H 1 , and an elastic pressing body  250  provided in the connector head portion  220  and inserted into an accommodation groove  240  provided in an upper portion of the entrance guide portion  230  to elastically press an inner wall of the abutment insertion hole H 1 . 
     The connector body portion  210  according to the present embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , is provided in a shape of a bar for chucking having a long length. A handpiece (not shown) may be connected to the connector body portion  210  of the present embodiment. The handpiece supplies a rotational force to the dental fixture operation connector  200  so that the fixture  100  picked up by the dental fixture operation connector  200  may be placed in an alveolar bone (not shown) of a patient. 
     The connector head portion  220  is connected to the connector body portion  210 . The connector head portion  220  is inserted into the abutment insertion hole H 1  formed in the upper end area of the fixture  100 . 
     In the present embodiment, a polygonal side wall portion  221  is provided on an outer wall of the connector head portion  220  to be octagonal to fit to the shape of the inner wall  111  of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110  that forms the inner wall of the abutment insertion hole H 1 . 
     The polygonal side wall portion  221  closely contact the inner wall  111  of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110  to prevent the fixture  100  from being detached from the dental fixture operation connector  200  in the pick-up process of the fixture  100 . 
     As described above, as the inner wall  111  of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110  and the polygonal side wall portion  221  of the connector head portion  220  are provided in an octagonal shape, when the connector head portion  220  is inserted into the abutment insertion hole H 1 , if the direction is not accurate, the insertion of the connector head portion  220  is not easy so that use of the dental fixture operation connector  200  may be inconvenient. 
     To remove inconvenience of the use, the dental fixture operation connector  200  according to the present embodiment is provided with the entrance guide portion  230  that enables the connector head portion  220  to be easily inserted into the abutment insertion hole H 1  even when the direction is not accurate during the insertion of the connector head portion  220  into the abutment insertion hole H 1 . 
     The entrance guide portion  230  is provided in the connector head portion  220 . When the connector head portion  220  is inserted into the abutment insertion hole H 1 , the entrance guide portion  230  guides the entrance of the connector head portion  220  so that the polygonal side wall portion  221  of the connector head portion  220  fits to the shape of the inner wall  111  of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110 . 
     To this end, in the present embodiment, the entrance guide portion  230 , as illustrated in detail in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , is connected to the polygonal side wall portion  221  and disposed below the polygonal side wall portion  221 . 
     As such, as the entrance guide portion  230  according to the present embodiment is connected to the polygonal side wall portion  221  and disposed below the polygonal side wall portion  221 , when the connector head portion  220  is inserted into the abutment insertion hole H 1 , the initial entrance of the connector head portion  220  may be guided such that the polygonal side wall portion  221  of the connector head portion  220  fits to the shape of the inner wall  111  of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110 . 
     The entrance guide portion  230 , as illustrated in detail in  FIGS. 6 to 10 , may include a guide groove  231  formed on the outer wall of the connector head portion  220  by being recessed in a direction along the virtual center axis line of the connector head portion  220 , and an initial entrance guiding tip head portion  233  provided in the connector head portion  220 , connected to the entrance guide portion  230 , and guiding initial entrance of the connector head portion  220  into. 
     The guide groove  231  is recessed in the outer wall of the connector head portion  220  in the direction along the virtual center axis line of the connector head portion  220 . The guide groove  231 , as illustrated in detail in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , is connected to two side wall edges (SE) arranged neighboring each other among the eight side wall edges SE provided in the polygonal side wall portion  221 . 
     In the present embodiment, the guide groove  231  is provided to be connected to the two side wall edges SE arranged neighboring each other among the eight side wall edges SE provided in the polygonal side wall portion  221 . In contrast, the guide groove  231  may be provided to be connected to only one side wall edge SE among the side wall edges SE provided in the polygonal side wall portion  221 , or may be provided to be connected to none of the side wall edges SE. 
     Furthermore, the guide groove  231  according to the present embodiment, as illustrated in detail in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , has a shape inclined to have a height gradually increasing from a side wall edge SE at one side to another side wall edge SE at the other side disposed neighboring the wall edge SE at one side. 
     As such, as the guide groove  231  according to the present embodiment is inclined in an oblique direction and connects the neighboring side wall edges SE of the polygonal side wall portion  221 , when the connector head portion  220  is inserted into the abutment insertion hole H 1 , even if the directions of the polygonal side wall portion  221  of the connector head portion  220  and the inner wall  111  of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110  do not match accurately, the dental fixture operation connector  200  or the fixture  100  may be rotated along the guide groove  231  disposed in the oblique direction, and accordingly the connector head portion  220  is easily inserted into the abutment insertion hole H 1  so that the polygonal side wall portion  221  fits to the shape of the inner wall  111  of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110 . 
     In the present embodiment, the guide groove  231 , as illustrated in detail in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , may include eight guide grooves arranged spaced apart from each other. The guide grooves  231  are radially arranged with respect to the virtual center axis line of the connector head portion  220 . 
     As such, as the guide grooves  231  are radially arranged with respect to the virtual center axis line of the connector head portion  220 , when the connector head portion  220  is inserted into the abutment insertion hole H 1 , the entrance of the connector head portion  220  may be stably guided. 
     The initial entrance guiding tip head portion  233  is provided in the connector head portion  220 . The initial entrance guiding tip head portion  233  is connected to the entrance guide portion  230  to guide the initial entrance toward the abutment insertion hole H 1 . 
     The initial entrance guiding tip head portion  233  according to the present embodiment, as illustrated in detail in  FIG. 7 , is disposed below the guide groove  231 . Furthermore, the initial entrance guiding tip head portion  233  according to the present embodiment has a convex hemispherical shape such that the outer diameter of a section thereof decreases in a direction away from the guide groove  231 . 
     As such, as the initial entrance guiding tip head portion  233  has a convex hemispherical shape, during the initial entrance of the connector head portion  220  into the abutment insertion hole H 1 , regardless of the direction of the connector head portion  220 , the connector head portion  220  may smoothly enters the abutment insertion hole H 1 . 
     Meanwhile, in the connector head portion  220 , as illustrated in detail in  FIG. 7 , the accommodation groove  240  is disposed above the entrance guide portion  230 . The elastic pressing body  250 , which elastically presses the inner wall of the abutment insertion hole H 1 , is inserted into the accommodation groove  240 . 
     In the present embodiment, the accommodation groove  240  is formed in the upper area of the entrance guide portion  230  and the polygonal side wall portion  221 . 
     As illustrated in detail in  FIG. 9 , the elastic pressing body  250  is provided in a ring shape having a partially cut portion. 
     The elastic pressing body  250  elastically presses the inner wall  111  of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110  while the connector head portion  220  is inserted into the abutment insertion hole H 1 . As such, as the connector head portion  220  according to the present embodiment elastically presses the inner wall  111  of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110 , the fixture  100  may be prevented from being detached from the dental fixture operation connector  200  in the pick-up process of the fixture  100  from the storing ample. 
     Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as the elastic pressing body  250  is disposed in the upper area of the entrance guide portion  230  and the polygonal side wall portion  221 , in the insertion process of the connector head portion  220 , to a certain insertion depth, the elastic pressing body  250  does not contact the inner wall  111  of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110 , causing no insertion resistance applied by the elastic pressing body  250 , and thus the initial insertion of the connector head portion  220  is facilitated. 
     Furthermore, the dental fixture operation connector  200  according to the present embodiment may place the fixture  100  in the alveolar bone of a patient through rotation while the fixture  100  is coupled thereof. 
     The operation of the dental fixture operation connector  200  of the present embodiment is described below with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 10 . 
     To pick up the fixture  100  stored in the storing ample from the storing ample, the dental fixture operation connector  200  of the present embodiment is moved over the fixture  100 . 
     As the dental fixture operation connector  200  that is moved over the fixture  100  descends, the initial entrance guiding tip head portion  233  first enters the inside of the abutment insertion hole H 1 . 
     As described above, as the initial entrance guiding tip head portion  233  is provided in a hemispherical shape, the connector head portion  220  may smoothly and initially enter abutment insertion hole H 1 . 
     Next, as the dental fixture operation connector  200  continuously descends, the guide groove  231  contacts the inner wall  111  of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110 . The guide groove  231  according to the present embodiment is disposed in an oblique direction to connect the two neighboring side wall edges SE of the polygonal side wall portion  221 , and thus even when the directions of the polygonal side wall portion  221  of the connector head portion  220  and the inner wall  111  of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110  do not match accurately, the dental fixture operation connector  200  or the fixture  100  may be rotated along the guide groove  231  disposed in the oblique direction. Accordingly, the connector head portion  220  is easily inserted into the abutment insertion hole H 1 , and thus the polygonal side wall portion  221  fits to the shape of the inner wall  111  of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110 . 
     In this state, the elastic pressing body  250  contacts the inner wall  111  of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110  to elastically press the inner wall  111  of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110 . 
     Next, the dental fixture operation connector  200  ascends and picks up the fixture  100  from the storing ample. In this state, as the polygonal side wall portion  221  fits to the shape of the inner wall  111  of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110 , the polygonal side wall portion  221  and the inner wall  111  of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110  are in close contact with each other, and as the elastic pressing body  250  presses the inner wall  111  of the abutment rotation prevention portion  110 , the fixture  100  is not detached from the dental fixture operation connector  200  in the pick-up process of the fixture  100 . 
     Thereafter, the fixture  100  that is picked up by the dental fixture operation connector  200  is moved into the mouth of a patient, and due to the rotation of the dental fixture operation connector  200 , the fixture  100  is placed in the alveolar bone of a patient. 
     As such, as the dental fixture operation connector  200  according to the present embodiment is provided the entrance guide portion  230  for guiding the entrance of the connector head portion  220  when the connector head portion  220  is inserted into the abutment insertion hole H 1  provided in the fixture  100 , the connector head portion  220  may be fast and conveniently inserted into the abutment insertion hole H 1 , and thus the fixture  100  stored in the storing ample may be easily picked up out of the ample. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a dental fixture operation connector according to the second embodiment of the present inventive concept. 
     Compared to the first embodiment, the present embodiment differs in the shape of the connector body portion  210  only, but the other features are the same as those of the first embodiment in  FIGS. 1 to 10 . Accordingly, in the following description, like reference numerals are used for like elements and descriptions thereof are omitted. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , a connector body portion  210   a  of a dental fixture operation connector  200   a  according to the present embodiment is provided in a square block shape having a shorter length and a wider width than that of the first embodiment. 
     As such, as the connector body portion  210   a  according to the present embodiment is provided in a square block shape having a wide width, an operator may easily grip and handle the connector. 
     Although the present embodiment is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the scope of rights of the present embodiment is not limited to the above-mentioned drawings and descriptions. 
     As such, it is obvious to one of skilled in the art that the present inventive concept is not limited to the above-described embodiment and that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present inventive concept may be used for a medical industry, particularly for a dental medical industry.