DE102021123066A1 - Retractors for use in dental procedures - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention comprises a retractor (1) for use in dental interventions, which is formed from a flat strip with an upper side (3) and an underside (2), the strip at least
- a functional area (4) for retaining tissue during the intervention,
- A grip area (6) for gripping the retractor (1) by a user and
- has a transition area (5), the transition area (5) being arranged between the functional area (4) and the handle area (6) and forming an angle α with the functional area (4) with 90° ≤ α ≤ 180° and with the Grip area (6) forms an angle β with 90° ≤ β ≤ 170°, the strip having at least one longitudinal channel (8, 9, 10) in its upper side (3) for guiding a suction tube (20).

Description

The present invention relates to a dental instrument, in particular a retractor.

Retractors are used in medicine to hold back the surrounding tissue during an intervention, for example a surgical intervention, and thus make the intervention site accessible.

Retractors are also widely used in dentistry/oral surgery. While the essentially L-shaped so-called Langenbeck retractor is commonly used in some countries, the double-curved so-called Minnesota retractor is used in other countries. In addition, there are numerous other forms of retractors for different purposes.

From the U.S. 2010/0021863 A1 the shape of the commonly used "Minnesota retractor" is known. Retractors of this type are used, for example, to hold a patient's gums or cheek, lip or tongue aside during a dental procedure in order to expose the site of the procedure and make it accessible.

Due to the need to be able to work with high precision, quickly and sterile in an extremely small space, instruments used in dentistry in particular should be shaped as ergonomically as possible. In addition, however, they must also be easy to clean and sterilize if they are not disposable parts.

Typically, a retractor is used in a dental procedure at the same time as a suction device used to remove blood, saliva and/or coolants from the surgical site. Retractors and suction devices are often held by the same person.

The DE 10 2019 008 509 A1 discloses a retractor that is integrated into a suction device such that a suction tube that follows the contour of the retractor is positioned on an upper side of the retractor and connected to it. A similar device is also known from KR 10 2017 0072744 A and from U.S. 2008/0166684 A1 known.

Such combinations of retractors and suction devices have the advantage that they are particularly space-saving. In addition, the suction device is fixed by the retractor at the site of the medical intervention, and the retractor and suction device can easily be held with the same hand. However, they also have the disadvantage that they cannot be used flexibly. Another problem is that such complex devices are difficult to clean or sterilize and, because of their complexity, cannot be manufactured as disposable parts. They have therefore not become established in everyday dental practice.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to specify a retractor that is particularly space-saving and ergonomic to use and easy to clean. In particular, it should facilitate the simultaneous use of a suction device.

This object is achieved with the subject matter of the independent patent claim. Further versions and advantageous configurations are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

According to one aspect of the invention, a retractor for use in dental procedures is provided, which is formed from a flat strip with a top and a bottom, the strip having at least one functional area for retaining tissue during the procedure and a gripping area for grasping the retractor has a user and a transition area, wherein the transition area is arranged between the functional area and the gripping area and forms an angle α with the functional area with 90° ≤ α ≤ 180° and forms an angle β with the gripping area with 90° ≤ β ≤ 170° wherein the strip has at least one longitudinal groove in its upper side for guiding a suction tube. In particular, the transition area can also be used to hold the cheek away from the side.

The retractor has the advantage that the longitudinal groove, which can be arranged in particular in the functional area and/or in the transition between the functional area and the transition area, enables a suction tube of a suction device to be guided securely. The suction tube can be partially placed on the retractor and is fixed by the longitudinal groove in such a way that the retractor and the suction device can be held with one hand. This prevents the suction tube from slipping off the smooth retractor. The retractor can be used to advantage with suction tubes that are angled at a large, obtuse angle and are therefore particularly easy to clean and have good suction power. The retractor thus enables safe, ergonomic and precise work on narrow space, whereby tried and tested instruments available in practice can be used.

The retractor can be used in particular in the field of dentistry in humans, but is also suitable for veterinary dental procedures or other procedures in the field of veterinary or human medicine.

A flat strip is understood here in the following to mean a shape that is considerably more extensive in a longitudinal direction than in a transverse direction and considerably wider in a transverse direction than in a vertical direction. The flat strip is not an even strip, but has at least two “kinks”, namely in the transition between the functional area and the transition area and in the transition between the transition area and the gripping area.

The groove or grooves can be formed in particular by warping the strip in the transverse direction. A channel of this type allows a suction pipe to be supported loosely, but nevertheless in a fixed manner, in contrast to a fixed attachment by means of a clip or a similar attachment. This has various advantages: Such a retractor is particularly easy to produce and is shaped in such a way that it can be easily cleaned, which can be relevant for the classification of the retractor according to the Medical Devices Act. In addition, such a loose fixation allows tolerance compensation between intake manifolds of different shapes and/or sizes. In addition, the suction tube can be moved forwards and backwards along the longitudinal groove, i.e. along the longitudinal axis of the retractor, when the retractor is in use.

The angles α and β each denote the amount of the obtuse angle between the functional area and the transition area or between the transition area and the gripping area. Here, the angle α designates the angle that is formed at the bottom of the flat strip, while the angle β designates that angle that is formed at the top of the strip. The designations have been chosen in order to be able to specify angular ranges that are easier to grasp intuitively.

The retractor has the advantage that, in contrast to a fixed combination of a retractor and a suction device, it also allows flexible use of the two instruments independently of one another. For example, a user can combine the retractor with different suction tubes or use a suction device with different retractors or other instruments such as a drill as required. The retractor can also be used without a suction tube. It can be used with different designs of suction tubes, both reusable and disposable items from different manufacturers. In addition, the retractor is easy to clean because it has no closed areas or sharp edges or sharp kinks.

The retractor can in particular be a modification of the so-called Minnesota retractor. The Minnesota retractor has a functional area that comes into contact with the patient during use, and a transition area that adjoins the functional area and forms an obtuse angle α with it, typically 110° ≤ α ≤ 150°, for example about 135 degrees. forms. The task of the transition area is to move the adjoining grip area laterally by a few centimeters from the site of the medical intervention. The handle area adjoins the transition area and in turn forms an obtuse angle β with it with 110°≦β≦150°, for example about 135 degrees, so that the functional area and the handle area are approximately parallel or, for example, only angled by up to 30 degrees to one another get lost. However, it is also possible, particularly depending on the geometry of the suction pipe, for the angle between the functional area and the gripping area to be more than 30 degrees.

A longitudinal groove can be arranged in the functional area in the upper side of the strip and/or in a transition between the transition area and the functional area. A further longitudinal groove can be arranged in the grip area in the upper side of the strip, the bottom area of this further longitudinal groove being parallel to the bottom area of a longitudinal groove arranged in the transition between the transition area and the functional area.

This embodiment has the advantage that the first longitudinal groove in the functional area and at least one further longitudinal groove in the transition or in the gripping area form bearing surfaces for a suction tube, which is also curved but can have a different angle than the retractor. Typical intake manifolds are approximately L-shaped, but with an obtuse angle rather than a right angle. For example, the short leg of the L can be angled by only 45° with respect to a longitudinal direction of the intake manifold.

By two longitudinal grooves spaced apart from each other, which form a common support for the intake manifold, namely a longitudinal groove in the transition between the functional area and the transition area and a longitudinal groove in the handle rich, the suction tube is particularly stable on the retractor.

Depending on the shape or functionality, the retractor can also have a longitudinal groove in the transition area or a longitudinal groove that is continuous over the entire length of the instrument.

According to one embodiment, the handle area and the functional area are inclined towards one another by an angle γ with 0°≦γ≦60°.

The handle area can have, for example, a longitudinal groove on its upper side, the bottom area of which is inclined by an angle δ relative to a longitudinal direction of the handle area, where 10°≦δ≦45°.

According to one embodiment, a third longitudinal groove is provided in the upper side of the strip in a transition between the transition area and the functional area, the bottom area of which is parallel to the second longitudinal groove.

This embodiment has the advantage that it can be combined particularly well with standard intake manifolds. In the area of the third longitudinal groove and in the area of the second longitudinal groove, the largest part of the intake manifold rests, while the angled part of an intake manifold can rest in the angled functional area with the first longitudinal groove. In this way, the intake manifold can be guided particularly securely, while at the same time certain tolerances are provided with respect to the precise dimensions of the intake manifold.

According to one embodiment, the strip has a width b with 10 mm≦b≦30 mm, in particular 15 mm≦b≦25 mm. The functional area can have a length L ₁ with 30 mm≦L ₁ ≦60 mm, in particular 45 mm≦L ₁ ≦55 mm. Such dimensions have proven themselves for retractors.

The grip area can have a length L ₃ with 60 mm≦L ₃ ≦120 mm, in particular 80 mm≦L ₃ ≦100 mm. This length is greater than that known for a Minnesota retractor and has the advantage that the retractor can be better gripped with the whole hand and held more stably, which is particularly advantageous when combined with a suction tube.

The transition area can have a length L ₂ with 30 mm≦L ₂ ≦50 mm.

According to one embodiment, the strip is curved in the direction of the underside in its end of the functional area facing away from the transition area. In this area, which forms the tip of the retractor that comes into contact with the site of the intervention, the lowermost part of the retractor, for example 5-7 mm, is angled or curved again to enable more precise handling of the retractor and keep the view of the site of the intervention as clear as possible. In addition, the angled end creates more space for the intake manifold.

According to one embodiment, the strip is U-shaped or trough-shaped in cross-section with edges curved towards the top. This has the advantage that there are no sharp edges at the edges of the retractor that could damage the surrounding tissue held back by the retractor.

The retractor can in particular be made in one piece from a metal or a ceramic or carbon. Stainless steel, titanium or zirconium oxide ceramics, for example, are suitable for such instruments.

• 1 zeigt eine Seitenansicht eines Wundhakens gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung;
• 2 zeigt eine Ansicht des Wundhakens gemäß 1 von oben;
• 3 zeigt ein Detail des Wundhakens gemäß 1;
• 4 zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht des Wundhakens gemäß den 1 bis 3 in Kombination mit einem Saugrohr;
• 5 zeigt eine erste Querschnittsansicht des Wundhakens gemäß 1 und
• 6 zeigt eine zweite Querschnittsansicht des Wundhakens gemäß 1.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with the aid of schematic figures.

• 1 Figure 12 shows a side view of a retractor according to an embodiment of the invention;
• 2 shows a view of the retractor according to FIG 1 from above;
• 3 shows a detail of the retractor according to 1 ;
• 4 shows a perspective view of the retractor according to FIGS 1 until 3 in combination with a suction tube;
• 5 shows a first cross-sectional view of the retractor according to FIG 1 and
• 6 shows a second cross-sectional view of the retractor according to FIG 1 .

The 1 , 2 and 3 12 show different views of a retractor 1 for use in dental procedures according to an embodiment of the invention. The retractor 1 is in the form of a flat strip with a bottom 2 and a top 3. The strip has a substantially uniform width b, which can be approximately 20 mm, for example.

The retractor 1 is divided into a functional area 4, by means of which tissue is retained during an intervention and which has a length _L1 , a transition area 5 with a length _L2 adjoining the functional area 4, and a grip area adjoining the transition area 5 6, in which the Retractor 1 is gripped and held by a user by hand and has a length L ₃ .

An angle α is formed between the functional area 4 and the transition area 5 . The angle α is an obtuse angle and is approximately 130° in the embodiment shown. A likewise obtuse angle β is formed between the transition area 5 and the gripping area 6, which is approximately 140° in the embodiment shown. The functional area 4 and the gripping area 6 do not run parallel in the embodiment shown, but are inclined towards one another by the angle γ, γ being approximately 10° in the embodiment shown.

During use, it can be advantageous to arrange a suction tube of a suction device on the upper side 3 of the retractor 1.

So that such a suction tube rests stably, so that the suction tube and the retractor 1 can be held with the same hand without slipping against one another, the retractor 1 has a number of longitudinal grooves on its upper side 3 . In the embodiment shown, three such longitudinal grooves are provided, which partially merge into one another: in the functional area 4, a first longitudinal groove 8 is arranged in the upper side of the strip, which extends from the front end 7 of the functional area 4 to a transition 13 between the functional area 4 and the Transition area 5 extends. The longitudinal channel 8, which is also in the 2 and 3 is shown has a width w that is essentially constant in the embodiment shown, which is matched to the thickness of the suction tube to be used with the retractor 1 and can be, for example, 8 to 14 mm. A depth of the longitudinal groove 8 can be 2 to 7 mm, for example.

In alternative embodiments, the width w can also be added towards the end 7 of the retractor 1 and/or larger than in FIGS 1 until 3 be shown. These embodiments have larger tolerances compared to a suction tube to be used with the retractor 1 . At the same time, however, this greater tolerance results in less stable guidance of the suction tube on retractor 1.

Furthermore, the retractor 1 in the embodiment shown has a second longitudinal channel 9 which is arranged at the end 14 of the grip area 6 . A bottom area of the second longitudinal groove 9 is not parallel to the gripping area 6, but inclined towards it by an angle δ, which is approximately 30° in the embodiment shown.

Furthermore, the retractor 1 according to the embodiment shown has a third longitudinal channel 10 which is arranged in the transition 13 between the functional area 4 and the transition area 5 . This third longitudinal channel 10 has a bottom area which runs essentially parallel to the bottom area of the second longitudinal channel 9 . The bottom areas of the third and the second longitudinal channel 9, 10 are not only parallel, but even aligned with each other. A suction tube of a suction device that is straight in sections can thus be placed on top 3 of retractor 1 in such a way that it rests stably both in second longitudinal channel 9 and in third longitudinal channel 10 . The second longitudinal groove 9 and the third longitudinal groove 10 then together form a bearing surface for a section of the intake manifold. The foremost area 21 of such an intake manifold is, as in 4 is shown, typically angled and comes in the first longitudinal channel 8 to lie.

The end 7 of the retractor 1 can be curved, which is not shown in the figures, so that a cross section in the region of the end is not straight, but has a shape that is curved downwards or upwards. This has the advantage that particularly precise work and lateral deflection of tissue is made possible. Alternatively or additionally, the retractor 1 can also have microstructures such as small teeth or corrugations at its end 7 in order to achieve better interaction with the tissue.

4 shows a combination of a suction tube 20 with the described retractor 1. The suction tube 20, when it is placed on the retractor 1 as indicated by the lines 24, is guided with its front area 21 in the area of the first longitudinal channel 8. The front area 21 of the intake manifold 20 is angled from the rear area 22 by an angle λ. The angle λ is typically around 135°, but can also be more acute or obtuse. Since the in the 6 Since the second longitudinal groove 9 (not visible) and the third longitudinal groove 10 are parallel in their bottom area, the straight rear area 22 of the intake manifold 20 rests stably in these longitudinal grooves 9, 10. The angle α between the functional area 4 and the transition area 5 is chosen such that it corresponds to the angle λ or does not deviate so significantly from it that a stable support of the suction tube 20 on the retractor 1 would not be achievable. For example, the angle α can be chosen such that it deviates from λ by only a few degrees or up to 10 or 20°.

If α=λ applies, then the front region 21 of the suction tube 20 is stable in the first longitudinal groove 8. If α and λ differ from one another, then the suction tube 20 typically does not lie completely and stably in all longitudinal grooves 8, 9, 10. However, a stable combination of suction tube 20 and retractor 1 is still possible because positional tolerances of retractor 1 and suction tube 20 relative to one another can be compensated to a certain extent. For example, the suction tube 20 can be pushed relatively far in the direction of the end 7 of the retractor 1 in order to achieve secure contact in the second longitudinal channel 9 and the third longitudinal channel 10 and at the same time in parts of the first longitudinal channel 8 when the angle λ is smaller than the angle α, which is often the case with typical retractors and typical suction tubes. If the angle λ is greater than the angle α, then there is a stable position in the second longitudinal channel 9 and the third longitudinal channel 10 anyway, with the front part 21 of the intake manifold 20 not lying in the first longitudinal channel 8, however.

In alternative embodiments that are not shown, no first longitudinal groove 8 is provided in the functional area 4, but only a second longitudinal groove 9 and a third longitudinal groove 10. This may be sufficient for stable guidance of the intake manifold 20.

5 shows a cross section through the retractor 1 in the area of a longitudinal groove 8, 9, 10. The lowest point of the longitudinal groove 8, 9, 10 is marked with P and characterizes the cross section of the linear bottom area of the longitudinal groove 8, 9, 10. The depth t of the Longitudinal groove 8, 9, 10, which corresponds to its radius in the case of a round design, can be, for example, 2 to 7 mm, not all longitudinal grooves 8, 9, 10 having to have the same dimensions.

6 shows a cross section through the retractor 1 in an area outside the longitudinal grooves 8, 9, 10. In the cross section it can be seen that the retractor 1 is trough-shaped with a flat central area 11 and edges 12 that curve upwards. The curved edges 12 prevent a painful cutting of the retractor 1 in the tissue.

Reference List

1

retractor

2

bottom

3

top

4

functional area

5

transition area

6

grip area

7

End

8th

first longitudinal groove

9

second longitudinal gutter

10

third longitudinal gutter

11

central area

12

edge

13

crossing

14

End

20

intake manifold

21

front area

22

the backstage area

24

line

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• US20100021863A1 [0004]
• DE 102019008509 A1 [0007]
• US20080166684A1 [0007]

Claims (11)

Retractor (1) for use in dental interventions, which is formed from a flat strip with an upper side (3) and an underside (2), the strip being at least - a functional area (4) for retaining tissue during the intervention, - A grip area (6) for gripping the retractor (1) by a user and - has a transition area (5), the transition area (5) being arranged between the functional area (4) and the handle area (6) and forming an angle α with the functional area (4) with 90° ≤ α ≤ 180° and with the Grip area (6) forms an angle β with 90° ≤ β ≤ 170°, the strip having at least one longitudinal channel (8, 9, 10) in its upper side (3) for guiding a suction pipe (20). retractor (1) after claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal groove (8) is arranged in the functional area (4) in the upper side (3) of the strip. retractor (1) after claim 1 or 2 , A longitudinal groove (10) being provided in the upper side (3) of the strip in a transition (13) between the transition region (5) and the functional region (4). retractor (1) after claim 3 , wherein a further longitudinal groove (9) is arranged in the grip area (6) in the upper side (3) of the strip, the bottom area of which is parallel to the bottom area of the longitudinal groove arranged in the transition (13) between the transition area (5) and the functional area (4). (10). Retractor (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 4 , wherein the handle area (6) and the functional area (4) are inclined to one another by an angle γ with 0°≦γ≦60°. Retractor (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 5 , wherein the strip has a width b with 10 mm≦b≦30 mm, in particular 15 mm≦b≦25 mm. Retractor (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 6 , wherein the functional area (4) has a length L ₁ with 30 mm≦L ₁ ≦60 mm, in particular 45 mm≦L ₁ ≦55 mm. Retractor (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 7 , wherein the handle area (6) has a length L ₃ with 60 mm ≦ L ₃ ≦ 120 mm, in particular 80 mm ≦ L ₃ ≦ 100 mm. Retractor (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 8th , wherein the strip is curved in its end (7) of the functional area (4) facing away from the transition area (5) in the direction of the underside (2). Retractor (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 9 , wherein the strip is U-shaped in cross-section with edges (12) curved towards the top (3). Retractor (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 10 , which is formed in one piece from a metal or a ceramic.

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