Patent Publication Number: US-2005136377-A1

Title: Surgical device for dental use with variable structure

Description:
The present invention concerns a surgical device for dental use with variable structure.  
      In modern dentistry, to be precise in implantology and bone regeneration surgery, increasingly wide use is made of osteotomes, which are surgical instruments similar to chisels with tips of different shapes.  
      They are used in particular in bone remodelling and small and large-scale maxillary sinus lifting operations.  
      Traditional osteotomes have some limitations, however. Firstly they necessarily have to be used with the aid of a hammer which acts as a percussion member at the caudal end. In this way each individual osteotome breaks the bone.  
      Furthermore the hammering can certainly not be controlled in terms of intensity of the force exerted, direction and axiality, it is not a reproducible action and in this way the percentage of risk of accidental perforation of the membrane is increased.  
      Furthermore, the hammering is certainly not pleasant for the patients who undergo these operations and it has also been proved that hammering can cause trauma and undesired side effects.  
      The general aim of the present invention is therefore to produce a surgical device for dental use with variable structure which permits improvement or even elimination of the above drawbacks.  
      A further aim of the present invention is to produce a surgical device with an extremely simple construction suitable for differentiated multiple use.  
      A further aim of the invention is to provide a surgical device with accurate operation in order to safeguard the patient during its use.  
      These aims according to the present invention are achieved by producing a surgical device for dental use with variable structure as illustrated in claim  1 .  
      Further characteristics of the invention are highlighted by the subsequent claims. 
    
    
      The characteristics and advantages of a surgical device for dental use with variable structure according to the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following description, designed to provide a non-limiting example, referring to the attached schematic drawings in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a front elevation view, with exploded fins, of a surgical device for dental use with variable structure according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a front elevation view, with some elements exploded, of the device of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIGS. 3   a - 3   f  are views of a certain number of tips that can be used in the device of the present invention. 
    
    
      With reference to the figures, a surgical device for dental use with variable structure according to the present invention is shown, indicated overall by  10 .  
      The device  10  comprises a handle  11  from which a stem  12  extends on which one of a plurality of work tips  13 - 18  is connected (shown in  FIGS. 3   a - 3   f ).  
      In particular, the stem  12  is connected to the handle  11  by means of an end screw (not shown) inserted in a hole  19  made in the handle  11 . Furthermore, the handle  11  has a wider shape than the stem  12  and the remaining part of the device. A crown element  20 , which acts as a stop element, is positioned in the lower part of the device and allows the operator to operate the tips  13 - 18  at a pre-set size, since it is possible to vary the protruding operative portion of the tip  13 - 18  used during work.  
      In fact, the stem  12 , which extends integral from the crown element  20 , is provided with an external threaded portion  12   b  on which a tubular sleeve  21  is positioned, threaded internally at one end. The tubular sleeve  21  terminates at the top in a hollow tubular end  22 , with restricted diameter, in which the various tips  13 - 18  run and from which the operating portion of the same protrudes. Said tubular sleeve  21  acts as a containing element for the stem  12  and for a large part of the tip ( 13 - 18 ) in use.  
      The upper part  12   a  of the stem  12  is concave and designed to receive a milled end  23  of each tip  13 - 18  which permits locking thereof by means of a micro-screw  24  located in position via a screwdriver (not shown). This prevents the tips from rotating during work.  
      The upper part of the tubular sleeve  21 , near the hollow tubular end  22 , is also provided with a window  25  through which an indication  26  can be seen in the form of a reference line obtained on the upper part  12   a  of the stem  12 . Parallel, the portions at the side of the window  25  of the upper part of the tubular sleeve  21  are provided with a pair of millimetre scales  27  and  28 . A first scale  27  is graduated in millimetres while the second scale  28  is graduated in blocks of five millimetres. In this way means of identification ( 26 ,  27 ,  28 ) are provided which permit detection of the operating position of a tip  13 - 18  with respect to the outer sleeve  21  containing the stem  12  provided with tip  13 - 18 .  
      A screw  29  inserted in a hole of the tubular sleeve  21  permits connection of said sleeve  21  to the stem  12  in a removable manner, once the reciprocal position has been selected.  
      Finally, fins  30  are provided with a threaded end  31 , which can be inserted in threaded holes  32  obtained on the tubular sleeve  21  in a series of pre-set positions, in the example in two pairs.  
      The  FIGS. 3   a - 3   f  show a side elevation of a certain number of tips  13 - 18  which can be used in the device  10  of the present invention. In particular, a ten mm coring chisel tip  13 , a two mm coring chisel tip  14 , a mucotome chisel tip  15 , a concave cutting chisel tip  16 , a convex chisel tip  17  and a pencil chisel tip for compacting  18  are illustrated.  
      According to the invention a surgical device for dental use with variable structure is produced according to the present invention which considerably improves the techniques currently used in terms of ergonomy and procedure.  
      Furthermore, a device of this type, operation of which is evident from the figures, drastically reduces, and in some cases even eliminates, hammering, in particular in the technique of mini-lifting of the maxillary sinus.  
      Furthermore it should be advantageously noted that said device, due to its shape and use, allows the chisel tips to move not only in a rotating direction but also in a vertical direction.  
      Furthermore, it should be noted that the device is produced in surgical steel and can be used in all types of bone regeneration and remodelling. In fact, despite its dimensions, it provides easy access, also in the diatoric areas of the upper quadrants where, as is well-known, more frequent intervention is required.  
      The versatility of the device of the invention is guaranteed by the possibility of applying at least six different interchangeable chisel tips to one instrument only, simply and quickly.  
      The device also permits, with the use of one of its tips  13 - 18 , completely manual bone coring, without the aid of rotating instruments such as surgical drills or coring devices, thus guaranteeing the clinician maximum precision and manual sensitivity.  
      The device also comprises, as mentioned, the stop element  20  in the form of a crown element which acts as a feed stop, in the rear part, and ensures non-interference with the work area of the tip. This means that small corrections can be made without removing the instrument from the site and maintaining an excellent field of vision, by simply acting on the crown element  20  to push out, to varying degrees, the front operative part of the tip in use.  
      Lastly, it should also be noted that this device enables the clinician to control, also during surgery, the work tip feed, translating it and displaying it in millimetres on the millimetre scales  27  and  28  located in the upper and therefore most visible area of the device. In this way the working depth obtained by the chisel tips can be identified at any time.  
      Advantageously, the two fins  30 , which can be positioned as required in the holes  32 , allow the operator to grip the device exerting a greater or lesser thrusting force, and they are also removable.  
      The removability of the sleeve  21  permits, once unscrewed, removal of the inner part for cleaning or sterilisation.  
      It has therefore been seen that a surgical device for dental use with variable structure according to the present invention achieves the aims previously highlighted.  
      The surgical device for dental use with variable structure of the present invention thus conceived can be modified and varied in numerous ways, all falling within the same inventive concept.  
      Furthermore, in practice any materials, dimensions and components can be used according to technical requirements.