IL266753A - Adjustable modular structure - Google Patents

Description

266753-2 Adjustable Modular Dental Structure Field of The Invention

[0001] The present application is generally related to structures generally disposed between one or more adjacent bases located generally there below, and one or more adjacent culminations located generally there above. More specifically, the following disclosure relates to such structures erectable from pre-made modules that can be constructed easily and quickly on site, offering on one hand flexibility in adjustment to existing and varying conditions while still offering enough stability and support.

Background of The Invention

[0002] Background of the invention is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily admit that subsequently mentioned information and / or publications are prior art.

[0003] Generally, intermediating structures are required to effectively connect pre- positioned bases, anchoring devices to location, and culminations used for specific actions or purposes. Such structures have critical importance in medical reconstructive operations, for example, and particularly so in reconstructive dentistry, where bridges carry loads from a plurality of false teeth to a few dental implants linking the bridge to a jaw bone, such as in all-on 4 and / or all-on-6 teeth and mouth reconstructions.

[0004] Current practice usually necessitated complex and expensive 3D imagery scans, pre-manufacturing a 3D bridge, positioning bases [also known as ‘anchors’, or ‘implants’] in pre-determined locations, by precisely drilling and installing implants in exact accordance to plans, and attaching the pre-constructed bridge, to the implants. This is a lengthy, meticulous, and error-prone process.

[0005] One such exemplary-only device is disclosed in EP-393324 to Verzicht Des Erfinders Auf Nennung, titled “Fixation device for superstructures”. There is disclosed, inter alia “In fixation devices for superstructures, in each case two screw implants (1) are interlocked by means of a bar (5).A bar prosthesis is built up on the bar (5). Each bar (5) is made up of two parts, which can be moved steplessly towards one another in the axial direction. Each bar (5) is designed at its free ends as part of a ball joint (31, 53), whose other part is provided at the head (12) of the screw implant (1).

Similarly, DE4211561 to Brandau Rolf, titled “Holder for dental implant superstructure - has intermediate strap with sleeve, into which is insertable telescopic strap lug from both sides”, discloses, inter alia, “Between several screw implants is fitted a strap (15), on which a prosthesis can be formed. Each strap has a sleeve (14), in whose both ends is insertable a telescopic strap lug (13).The lug free ends are coupled to implant erection posts (3), pref. via ball joints (10) in adaptor caps (5).Pref. each erection post has an upwards protruding conical stub (4) with a coaxial inner thread, onto which the adaptor cap with [corresponding] conical bore (7) is insertable and securable by a screw (8).”

[0006] Numerous advantages and features of the presently disclosed structure invention may become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and embodiment thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings.Summary of The Disclosure

[0007] In the following disclosure, aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope.

[0008] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an on-site, conveniently constructible and adjustable structure, interconnecting one or more bases anchored in living tissue [such as bone tissue – for example, jaw bone tissue] to one or more culminations [such as, but not limited to, artificial teeth].

[0009] One aspect of the present invention generally concerns exemplary structures comprising at least one stud potentially removably secured to a tissue-mounted base [such as, bit not necessarily limited to, anchors and / or implants, for example – jaw-bone implants.

[0010] Optionally, an adjustable, modular, assembled on-site, structure, designed extend away from one or more adjacent bases towards one or more adjacent riders mountable opposite the one or more bases.

[0011] Further, the structure comprises stud removably mountable to a base and extending away therefrom to terminate at a respective stud end.

[0012] Moreover, a first pair of spaced apart wings comprising opposing, upper and lower wings adjustably mounted onto the at least one stud and defining an adjustable gap therebetween.

[0013] Further, the structure comprises at least one bar having at least one prominence at a bar-end thereof and a bar body merging with and extending away from the prominence, wherein –[0014] Still further, the bar is disposed to extend generally transversely away from adjacent the stud, with the at least one prominence being frictionally and slidingly retained in the gap, facilitating low-force adjustability of a spatial position of the bar.

[0015] The structure further comprises at least an adjacent stud removably positioned onto an adjacent base, with a second pair of spaced apart wings being adjustably mounted onto the adjacent stud defining an adjacent adjustable gap therebetween.

[0016] Moreover, the bar comprises an opposing prominence opposed to the at least one prominence at an opposing bar-end of the bar, with the bar body merging with and extending towards the opposing prominence.

[0017] Further yet, the bar extends away from the at least one stud towards the adjacent stud, with the at least one prominence being frictionally and slidingly retained in the gap of the first pair of wings, and the opposing prominence being frictionally and slidingly retained in the gap of the second pair of wings, thereby linking the at least one stud to the adjacent stud, to extend the structure between the at least one base and the adjacent base.

[0018] In other aspects of the structure, each base is mounted onto a biological tissue.

[0019] Optionally, the biological tissue is a bone.

[0020] Possibly, the structure is used to support a plurality of artificial teeth.

[0021] On another aspect, the bar extends between two prominences, each defining a bar end.

[0022] Further, the prominence has a cross-section area PM which is larger than a XA corresponding bar cross-section area BR .

XA

[0023] Moreover, each pair of spaced-apart wings mounted onto a stud comprises a clamp.

[0024] Possibly. at least one clamp is an end-clamp, accepting one prominence on its associated gap and having one bar linked thereto and extending away from the stud.[0025] Alternatively, at least one clamp is mid -clamp, accepting two prominence on its associated opposing gaps, and having two bars linked thereto and extending away from the stud.

[0026] Potentially, there is disposed at least one stud having the mid-clamp mounted thereon between two studs having each one end-clamp mounted onto each of the two studs.

[0027] Further, there are two studs having end-clamps and two studs having mid-clamps disposed there between, with one bar adjustably linking any two adjacent studs.

[0028] Yet another aspect of the disclosure concerns a method of constructing a modular structure on site, the method comprising removably positioning a stud onto a pre- positioned base, the stud extending away from the base to terminate at a respective stud end; positioning a first pair of spaced apart wings onto the stud, the wings comprising opposing, upper wing and lower wing, and adjusting the wings to form a gap therebetween; placing at least one bar having at least one prominence at a bar-end thereof and a bar body merging with and extending away from the prominence, with the prominence positioned within the gap, and with the bar extending generally transversely away from adjacent the stud, and tightening the gap so that the at least one prominence is frictionally and slidingly retained in the gap, facilitating low-force adjustability of a spatial position of the bar.

[0029] Further, the method comprises removably placing an adjacent stud onto an adjacent base, mounting a second pair of spaced apart wings onto the adjacent stud and defining an adjacent adjustable gap therebetween; placing the bar having an opposing prominence opposed to the at least one prominence at an opposing bar-end of the bar, with the bar body merging with and extending towards the opposing prominence, adjusting the bar to extend away from the at least one stud towards the adjacent stud, with the at least one prominence being frictionally and slidingly retained in the gap of the first pair of wings, and the opposing prominence being frictionally and slidingly retained in the gap of the second pair of wings, thereby linking the at least one stud to the adjacent stud, to extend the structure between the at least one base and the adjacent base.

[0030] Yet another aspect of the disclosure regards a possible application of such structures, to construct an “all-on-4” dental structure designed to form a dental bridge, the structure being constructed on-site and being adjustable and modular, and extending away from four adjacent bases towards a plurality of tooth-substitutes mountable opposite the bases.

[0031] Further, the structure comprises four studs each removably mountable to a respective base and extending away therefrom to terminate at a respective stud end; and four clamps, each clamp comprising a pair of spaced apart opposing, upper and lower wings adjustably mounted onto the respective one stud and defining an adjustable gap therebetween.

[0032] Possibly, three bars, each having two opposing prominences are disposed at opposing bar-end thereof and having a bar body merging therewith and extending away therefrom, with ach bar links two adjacent studs by extending generally transversely away therefrom, with one prominence being frictionally and slidingly retained in the gap of one clamp and the opposing prominence being frictionally and slidingly retained in the gap of an adjacent clamp mounted onto the adjacent stud, facilitating low-force adjustability of a spatial position of the bar.

[0033] In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the figures and by study of the following detailed descriptions.

Brief Description of The Drawings

[0034] Exemplary and / or illustrative embodiments of the present invention will be presented herein below in the following figures, by way of example only. The present disclosure may be best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like portions have the same reference numerals. Modifications or alteration of a generally similar portion and/or element, will be identified with the same numeral, appended by a letter, such as Hand 77, left hand 77l, right hand 77r.[0035] It should be emphasized that according to common practice, various features of the drawings are not drawn to scale unless otherwise indicated. On the contrary, dimensions of various features, and / or the features themselves, may be expanded and / or reduced and / or roughly shown and / or omitted entirely, to show details of particular components, in a purpose that the present disclosure may become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying schematic figures. Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0036] FIG. 1 illustrates a general schematic perspective view of an exemplary structure, comprising four [4] posts having three [3] interconnecting bars, each bar interconnecting two adjacent studs, as may exemplarily be employed during all- on-four dental reconstruction. in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0037] FIG. 2 illustrates a general schematic side view of the exemplary-only embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

[0038] FIG. 3 illustrates a general schematic perspective detail view of an exemplary-only embodiment of a stud as shown in Fig. 1;

[0039] FIG. 4 illustrates a general schematic “exploded” perspective detail view of the stud as shown in Fig. 3;

[0040] FIG. 5 illustrates a general schematic detail side view of the stud as shown in Fig. 3;

[0041] FIG. 6 illustrates a conceptional schematic top / bottom view of one possible variation of a wing, in accordance with one possible embodiment of the exemplary structure of the present disclosure; and[0042] FIG. 7 illustrates a conceptional schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line VII—VII of one limb of the wing shown on Fig. 6.

Detailed Description Of An Embodiment Of The Disclosure

[0043] As required, a schematic, exemplary-only embodiment of the present application is disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the present disclosure, which may be embodied in various and / or alternative forms. Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

[0044] Aspects, advantages and/or other features of the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure will become apparent in view of the following detailed description, which discloses various non-limiting embodiments of the invention. In describing exemplary embodiments, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity.

However, the embodiments are not intended to be limited to this specific terminology. It is to be understood that each specific portion includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

[0045] Exemplary embodiments may be adapted for many different purposes and are not intended to be limited to the specific exemplary purposes set forth herein.

Those skilled in the art would be able to adapt the exemplary-only embodiment of the present disclosure, depending for example, on the intended use of adapted embodiment. Moreover, examples and limitations related therewith brought herein below are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the following specification and a study of the related figures.[0046] Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3, the present application discloses a modular [i.e., constructed and / or assembled from a collection and/or a “kit”, of pre- fabricated parts] and adjustable structure 110. The modular and adjustable structure 110, as generally and/or schematically described and discussed herein below may be assembled and/or adjusted to adapt to a wide variety of processes and/or goals, usually as a scaffolding for construction and/or re-construction.

Generally, structures 110 link and/or connect a plurality of adjacent bases [not shown] to a plurality of adjacent riders [not shown]. Some possible, exemplary- only utilization of such structures 110 may be in jaw reconstructive processes, as may be desirable by [but not necessarily only] human clients, to carry a plurality of false teeth on a few anchoring points, better distributing the loads carried by the structure. Another possible implementation is in bone fixation and/or reconstruction. However, quite a wide variation of possible uses may be easily achievable, by modifications of materials and dimensions of the pre-fabricated components, without deviating from the scope and the spirit of the disclosure at hand.

[0047] Being modular, the structure 110 may be assembled in various configuration. One such configuration will be schematically exemplified herein below, for on-site fabrication of a dental bridge, linking a plurality of false and/or artificial teeth, to a few anchoring points, created by installing dental implants [aka – “anchors”] onto a patients upper and/or lower jaw bone [or both – not shown].

Such procedures are well-known in dental procedure as “All-on-4” and/or “All- on-6” restorations. Thus, the structure 110 exemplified on Fig. 1 schematically illustrates such an “All-on-4” structure 110, interlinking four bases. The structure 110 shown on Fig. 1 may be used to form and/or carry thereupon yet-to- be-fitted artificial teeth and/or dentures [not shown].

[0048] The exemplary-only four-bases structure 110 as shown in the figures comprises four studs 130. Each stud 130 may be integral with, and/or removably assembled onto, a base [not shown]. The base may be a dental implantable component, such as, but not limited to, a dentate threaded implant, designed to be implanted onto a jaw bone, as is well known in the art. Each stud 130 carries an adjustable clamp 140. A lock 150 is positioned above and/or below the clamp, to better define the position of the clamp 140 on the stud 130. In Figs. 1 to 3, there are shown two such locks 150 per stud 130, as an illustrative example.

[0049] Attention is presently directed to Fig. 3. The clamp 140 accommodates one or two bars 160, extending towards, and linking between, two adjacent studs 130.

As better shown in Fig. 2m an end-clamp 140e may carry one bar, and a mid- clamp 140m may carry two bars, extending towards adjacent stud or studs 130.

[0050] Returning now to Fig. 3 and additionally to Fig. 4, each clamp 140 has opposing basal and apical wings 170b, 170a. The end-clamp 140e comprises upper and lower, single-sided end-wings [not shown]. The mid-clamp 140m comprises upper and lower two-sided wings 170m. Further directing attention to Fig. 6, Each mid-wing 170m comprises the hub 180, with two limbs 190 extending away therefrom, to either side of the hub 180. Each upper end-wing [not shown] and lower end-wing [not shown] comprising a hub 180 and one limb 190 extending away therefrom. The upper and/or lower limbs 190u, 190l, respectively, of the mid-clamp 140m may form therebetween a wing angle Ω of any preferred, pre-determined, generally obtuse angle [i.e., 90 ≤ Ω ≤ 180]. On this exemplary-only embodiment, the wing angle Ω may be approximately 175, as shown on Fig. 6.

[0051] The wings 170 may be adjustably positioned onto the stud 130, facing each other, with a basal wing 170b adjacent a basal end 130b of the stud 130, and an apical wing 170a being adjacent an apical end 130a thereof, forming a variable gap 200 therebetween. The position of each wing 170, and the span of the gap 200 therebetween, are independently adjustable. The hub 180 of each wing 170 comprises a bore 210, interfacing with the stud 130, The bore 210 may be threaded, interfacing a threaded stud 130. Alternatively, bore 210 may frictionally and/or freely slide onto the stud 130 in compliance with design and application constraints and/or preferences.

[0052] As is best shown on Fig. 7, each limb 190 comprises a generally polygonal cross-section, having an outer face 220, and a generally concave inner face 230 disposed opposing the outer face 220 with flanks 240 interconnecting therebetween. The concave inner face 230 forms a channel 250 extending generally laterally in a direction away from the bore 210 along the limb 190.

[0053] Referring now to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, each bar 160 comprises a bar body 260 extending along a bar axis B between two prominences 270 defining a bar end 260e thereof. Each prominence 270 has a cross-section area PM which is XA larger than a corresponding bar cross-section area BR . When the upper and XA lower limbs 190 of the corresponding upper and lower wings 170 of one clamp 140 are positioned to maintain a gap 200 therebetween, the prominence 270 is frictionally clasped between the upper and lower limbs 190, allowing axial movement thereof while fixing the bar 180 in lateral movement.

[0054] The base, studs, clamps. locks, and bars of the illustrative, exemplary-only structure 110 as described here, mays be formed and/or fashioned and/or fabricated from any known and/or yet to be discovered material, chosen to abide manufacturing and/or usage constraints and/or restrictions. Moreover, different bars 160 may be fashioned in differing dimensions, to facilitate on-site construction of the exemplary structure 110, to enhance adjustability and/or customized fitment, to a with variety of different, specific, situations.

[0055] When erecting and/or establishing the structure 110, a practitioner first positions and/or applies the bases [not shown] onto preferred sites to provide long- term stability of the structure 110. In an “all-on-4” procedure, for example, four such bases may be placed. Then, the practitioner positions four studs 130 onto the bases [not shown]. The appropriate clamp 140 – be it a mid-clamp 140m and/or an end-clamp 140e – is placed onto the stud 130 in accordance with its disposition.

The stud 130 is inserted through the hub 180 of each of the wings 170 of the same clamp 140, and- on this exemplary embodiment, the lock 150 is placed onto the stud 130 to position the apical wing 170a at the desired gap 200 away from the basal wing 170b.

[0056] Having placed the wings 170 comprising the clamps 140 onto their respective studs 130, and initially gapping them to the desired gaps 200, the practitioner then selects the appropriate bar 160 to extend between two adjacent studs 130. Placing the bar 160 calls for adjusting the gap 200 of one clamp 140 to accept one prominence 270, adjusting the lock 150 to lightly grasp the prominence 270 onto the channel 250 formed onto each of the opposing limbs 190 of the clamp 140. Then, the practitioner proceeds to place an opposing prominence 270 of the same bar 160 between the limbs 190 of an adjacent clamp 140, which had already been placed onto an adjacent stud 130.

[0057] Extending the bar 160 between two adjacent studs 130 is facilitated by appropriately selecting one bar having an appropriate bar length from a plurality of readily-available bar lengths as supplied to the practitioner. Relatively stress-free placement of the bar 160 to extent between the two adjacent studs 130 may be further enabled by frictionally grasping each prominence 270 at the end of the bar 160 by its respective clamp 140, enabling limited translation while allowing some polar freedom of movement. This helps to substantially reduce, if not to completely eliminate, sideways loading and/or bending moments, carried and/or exerted carried by the structure 110 from transferring to the bases [not shown] that support the structure 110. Since the bases may be implanted onto living tissues, that need to heal following the implantation, such reduction of side- and bending- loads may assist healing, while, in parallel, reduce work-loads and preparations and timed required for complex, intensive, procedures.[0058] All directional references (e.g., upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the present disclosure, and hence, may not be construed to create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the devices and / or methods disclosed herein. Additionally, all numerical terms, such as, but not limited to, “first”, “second”, or any other ordinary and / or numerical terms, should also be taken only as identifiers, to assist the reader’s understanding of the various embodiments, variations and / or modifications of the present disclosure, and may not create any limitations, particularly as to the order, or preference, of any embodiment, variation and / or modification relative to, or over, another embodiment, variation and / or modification.

[0059] It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting of the scope of the disclosure. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.

While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad present disclosure, and that this present disclosure is not limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications and / or adaptations may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is to be understood that individual features shown or described for one embodiment may be combined with individual features shown or described for another embodiment. It is to be understood that some features are shown or described to illustrate the use of the present disclosure in the context of functional segments and such features may be omitted within the scope of the present disclosure and without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.ABSTRACT Disclosed is a modular, adjustable structure designed for on-site erection and adjustment.

The structure comprises wings adjustably mounted onto studs, with bars having bar ends larger than bar bodies frictionally and slidingly adjustably grasped between wings and extending from one stud to a neighboring stud to adjustably link therebetween. Such structures may be erected on-site from modular, pre- manufactured “kit” of components, and facilitate adjustability and customization, while still maintaining stability thereof.

Claims (17)

266753-2 Claims:

1. A modular, structure facilitating adjustable assembly onto confined or restricted sites, the structure comprising: a first stud removably mountable to a first base and extending away therefrom to terminate at a respective first stud end; and an associated first pair of spaced apart wings comprising opposing, upper and lower wings ad justably mounted onto the first stud, said first pair of wings forming a first clamp and defining an adjustable first gap therebetween; and at least one bar comprising a first prominence located on at least one bar-end thereof, the at least one bar further comprising a bar-body merging with and extending away from the first prominence, wherein - the at least one bar is disposed to extend generally transversely away from the first stud, with the first prominence being frictionally and slidingly retained in the adjustable first gap defined by the first clamp comprising the first pair of upper and lower wings, facilitating low-force ad justability of a spatial position of the bar.

2. The structure as claimed on claim 1, further comprises at least a second adjacent stud removably positioned onto a second adjacent base, comprising a second pair of spaced apart wings forming a second clamp and being adjustably 266753-2 UI mounted onto the adjacent second stud, the second clamp defining a second adjacent adjustable gap therebetween; wherein the at least one bar having an opposing prominence opposed to the at least one prominence at an opposing bar-end of the at least one bar, with the bar-body merging with and extending towards the opposing prominence, wherein the [at least one] bar extends away from the first stud towards the adjacent second stud, with the first prominence being frictionally and slidingly retained in the first clamp, and the second prominence being frictionally and slidingly retained in the second clamp, thereby linking the first stud to the adjacent second stud, to extend the structure between the first base and the adjacent second base.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein of the first and second bases are mountable onto a biological tissue.

4. The structure of claim 3, wherein the biological tissue is a bone.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein the structure is used to support a plurality of artificial teeth.

6. The structure of claim 1, wherein the at least one bar extends between a first and a second prominences, each of the first and the second prominences defining a bar end.

7. The structure of claim have a cross-section area PMXA which is larger than a corresponding bar-body cross-section area BRXA. 266753-2

8. The structure of claim 2, wherein the first clamp comprises an end- clamp, accepting one prominence on its associated gap and having one bar linked thereto and extending away from the first stud.

9. The structure of claim 8, wherein the second clamp comprises a mid-clamp, accepting two prominences on its associated opposing gaps, and having two bars linked thereto and extending away from the second stud.

10. The structure of claim 9, wherein there is disposed at least one stud comprising the mid-clamp mounted thereon between two studs each comprising an end- clamp mounted onto each of the two studs.

11. A method of constructing a modular structure facilitating adjustable assembly onto confined or restricted sites, the method comprising: reinovably positioning a first stud onto a pre-positioned first base, the first stud extending away from the first base to terminate at a respective first stud end; positioning a first clamp, the first clamp comprising a first pair of spaced apart and opposing upper wing and lower wingonto the first stud, the, the first clamp comprises a first adjustable gap defined by the spaced-apart first pair of upper and lower wings, and adjusting the gap to an initial gap position; placing at least one bar comprising a first prominence at a first bar-end thereof and a bar-body merging with and extending away from the first prominence, with the first prominence positioned within the 266753-2 first gap, and with the at least one bar extending generally transversely away from adjacent the first stud, and tightening the first gap so that the first prominence is frictionally and slidingly retained in the gap, facilitating low-force adjustability of a spatial position of the bar.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising removably placing an adjacent second stud onto an adjacent second base, mounting a second clamp comprising a second pair of spaced apart wings onto the second stud and defining an adjacent adjustable second gap; providing the at least one bar with a second prominence located opposing the first prominence at a second bar-end thereof and placing the second prominence of the at least one bar onto the second gap of the second clamp such that the at least one bar is retained frictionally and slidingly adjustable manner to extend between the first stud and the second stud, inter-connecting them to form the structure, while minimizing loads on the first and second bases.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein each base is mounted onto a biological tissue.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the biological tissue is a bone.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the structure is used to support a plurality of artificial teeth. 266753-2

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one bar comprises a bar-body extending between the first and the second prominences, respectively defining a first and a second bar ends.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein each prominence has a cross-section area PMXA which is larger than a corresponding bar cross-section area BRXA.