WO1998032352A1

WO1998032352A1 - Prosthetic bonding method and device for restoring or modifying a natural nail

Info

Publication number: WO1998032352A1
Application number: PCT/FR1998/000137
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Vadot; Frédéric VADOT; Sophie Vadot; Philippe Vadot
Original assignee: Daniel Vadot; Vadot Frederic; Sophie Vadot; Philippe Vadot
Priority date: 1997-01-28
Filing date: 1998-01-27
Publication date: 1998-07-30
Also published as: FR2758697A1; FR2758697B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a prosthetic bonding method for restoring or modifying a natural nail using a self-curing resin consisting in dry blasting, cleaning and/or blowing, defatting followed by drying, applying an agent for bonding the resin on the nail. The method is characterised in that it consists in the following complementary steps consisting at least in: 1) preparing and spreading the self-curing resin at least on the nail to be bonded; 2) vibrating the nail to obtain a homogeneous levelling of the resin; 3) curing said resin at a controlled temperature and under an atmosphere of controlled pressure; 4) working the nail prosthesis so as to obtain shape and thickness close to the natural nail; 5) depositing a finishing varnish on the nail prosthesis. The invention also concerns a device for implementing the method or its alternatives.

Description

PROSTHETIC RECONSTRUCTION METHOD AND DEVICES FOR THE RESTORATION OR MODIFICATION OF A NATURAL NAIL

The present invention relates to a prosthetic reconstruction process for the restoration or modification of a natural nail by the use of a self-curing resin spread and polymerized by means giving the prosthesis more hardness and less susceptibility to agents. exterior and yellowing, while providing the beneficiary with a comfort of use never reached before; the invention also relates to a device allowing the implementation of said method. We are well aware of all the problems that can arise on the nails of a human being: he can for example bite his nails to the point that they become very unsightly and that the subject wishes to reconstruct them; but it can also be people who wish to modify the shape or the length of their nails, and this, for all kinds of reasons of a generally aesthetic order; everyone can finally experience small accidents on the nails during a DIY or household tasks for example, which can create a real gene, and in any case an inconvenience for the victim.

These are all the reasons which have given rise to the emergence of a number of centers or institutes for the installation and maintenance of false nails which generally cover the natural nail or nails which are hypothetically damaged, devitalized or else which are no longer suitable. to patients.

For the most part, the services of these institutes can be classified into two main categories: - deposit of a resin on the natural nail previously frosted and treated with a bonding agent, followed by a classic work of manicuria aimed at giving on the cover the nail shape desired by the customer, or - deposit of a capsule in a plastic material previously chosen for its shape and length, then pre-cut to the dimensions required to adjust to the nail to be restored, on which it is finally fixed thanks to a rapid bonding based on cyanoacrylate.

All these methods, now perfectly known, have almost all the same drawbacks: first the drawbacks related to the glues used of the cyanolite type which, in addition to being not painless, attack the structure of the natural nail and deteriorates it making it soft and more fragile than before fitting the prosthesis, has the serious disadvantage of not being able to detach the capsule from the natural nail, then the disadvantages linked to the quality of resin used , and especially in its way of applying it which generates micro-porosities particularly harmful for the solidity of the prosthesis which is damaged and breaks in too short a time, also harmful for the visual aspect of the prosthesis which very quickly changes colored, yellowed, or aged badly; in addition, we very often observe, after having resorted to these nail prosthesis methods, an important gene and sometimes even an absence of tactile sensation, which generates a real gene for example for people who work on computer keyboards .

The present invention has the specific aim of reducing, in considerable proportions, or even eliminating them, the micro-porosities of the resins which can be used in nail prosthesis.

In this regard and in accordance with the invention, a method of prosthetic reconstruction is proposed for the restoration or modification of a degraded, devitalized or damaged natural nail using a self-polymerizing resin comprising preliminary steps consisting of etching of the remaining part of the natural nail, cleaning and / or blowing to remove the residue from the etching, degreasing followed by drying, application of a resin binding agent on the nail, said process being characterized by succession of additional steps consisting at least of:

1) prepare and spread the self-polymerizing resin at least on the remaining part of the nail to be reconstituted, 2) vibrate the finger whose nail is treated to obtain a uniform spreading of the resin,

3) polymerizing said resin at a controlled temperature and under an atmosphere at controlled pressure,

4) work the nail prosthesis in place using a handpiece and a micro lathe to obtain a shape and thickness close to the natural nail,

5) advantageously, although not necessarily, depositing a finishing varnish on the nail prosthesis which will advantageously be of the photo-crosslinkable type to accelerate drying.

We understand all the advantage of such a process compared to previous methods: first of all the resin is spread no longer with a brush but thanks to a spatula as used in dental prosthesis and vibrated at a frequency sufficient to obtain a good homogeneity of covering which eliminates the inclusion of micro-bubbles of air incorporated during the mixing of the resin; then the resin which is polymerized at the right temperature in a fairly conventional manner, is in parallel subjected to a partial vacuum then / or to a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, determining for the resin a tightening of its very advantageous molecular structure.

Under these conditions, it has been observed that the porosity of the resin thus polymerized was almost zero with the expected result that this same resin is particularly solid against mechanical stresses and impacts on one side, but also against stresses from external agents such as light, detergent, etc ... giving it exceptional resistance to color changes or dirt encrustations. According to another essential characteristic of the invention, the process which has just been stated can be applied in at least three main ways: a) process for a prosthetic reconstruction of a nail which is characterized in that in the step 1 of the general method, a flexible modeling form of the adhesive paper type is previously put in place, adjusted on the nail to be treated, which can if necessary be extended forward, to serve as a support for the nail prosthesis, the resin not polymerized then being deposited in advantageously successive layers in sufficient number to gradually shape the prosthesis, the finger corresponding to the treatment being vibrated in accordance with step 2 and then introduced into an enclosure for polymerization in accordance with step 3 finally worked in accordance with l 'step 4 and possibly 5. b) process for a reconstruction using a capsule which also allows mounting false nails which is characterized in that, before the implementation of the process, and, at least before step 1, the capsule is formed and polymerized from a self-crosslinking resin, it is then adjusted on the natural nail, then in step 1, a few drops of self-curing resin are placed on the back of the capsule which is then applied to the natural nail before polymerization of the assembly according to step 3 and following. c) method for a reconstitution using a capsule also allowing, if necessary, the mounting of false nails which is characterized in that step 1 consists in spreading a thin layer of resin on the remaining part of the nail and in that a part of the plastic type, for example ABS, is bonded to said part, after step 3, by means of a rapid glue of the cyanoacrylate type. In accordance with this last variant of the restoration process according to the invention, the plastic capsule commonly used is no longer directly bonded to the nail with the difficulties highlighted in the preamble, since a layer of resin is inserted between the nail and the capsule, which it will therefore be very easily possible to remove in the ordinary way with the consequence of detaching the plastic capsule despite sticking with cyanolyte for example.

In addition, and according to another entirely essential characteristic of the invention, in all of the processes which have just been mentioned above, the polymerization is carried out in a sealed enclosure which is maintained at a fixed temperature for a optimal polymerization of the resin and which is subjected either to an alternation of partial vacuum and pressurization, or only to partial vacuum or pressurization at levels and for durations which are sufficient to strongly tighten the molecular structure of the resin giving it a homogeneity practically free of micro porosities.

Thus implanted in accordance with the invention, the nail prostheses provide obvious comfort both during installation and after use. Indeed, contrary to what is observed with the previous methods, the patient no longer feels the prostheses as a foreign body and better, he no longer has the unpleasant impression of a tactile insensitivity. Other characteristics and advantages will emerge more clearly from the device which will now be described, making it possible to apply one or the other of the methods mentioned above, this device being moreover only given by way of nonlimiting example of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a frosting enclosure by sandblasting the natural nail with a view to its preparation for receiving a nail nail prosthesis,

- Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a vibrator device, 1 bracket which rests the finger, the nail of which is restored, capable of creating a homogeneity of the resin in the liquid phase,

- Figure 3 shows in elevation and in sagittal section, a sealed enclosure intended for the polymerization of the liquid resin placed on the nail under temperature and controlled pressure.

In accordance with FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a device will now be described for implementing one or other of the methods according to the invention for the prosthetic reconstruction of a natural nail 1 from a acrylic type resin, widely used by dental technicians.

The device essentially comprises a frosting enclosure 2, a vibrating device 3 and a polymerization enclosure 4.

According to a first particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the frosting of the nails 1 important beforehand to create a natural retention of the resin, before the prosthetic implantation will be obtained by a sandblasting operation under pressure of said natural nail 1; the frosting chamber 2 is therefore closed and roughly sealed to contain the projected sand; the enclosure 2 is provided on one of its sides 5 with an inlet preferably coupled to an inner glove 6 to allow the operator to handle a sandblasting nozzle 7 connected by a flexible tube 8 to a sand sprayer under pressure which is not shown in Figure 1; on the other side face 9 of the enclosure 2 an inlet 10 is provided allowing the patient to present his hand 11 inside the enclosure 2 so that the operator can project thanks to the nozzle 7 of the sand on each of the nails 1 to be treated, the precision and monitoring of this operation being ensured by a glazed bezel 12 provided on the front face of the sealed enclosure 2.

In this way, it is possible to project in a very localized manner onto the parts of the natural nail 1 to be treated, a jet of sand whose average particle size is advantageously around 50 micrometers under a pressure of 6 kg corresponding to a good compromise to obtain an effective frosting without pain for the patient. Note that incidentally the sealed enclosure 2 is equipped with a suction device 13 conventionally ensuring the extraction of dust during the sanding operation.

Of course, the sanding machine which has just been described is only a variant, undoubtedly preferred, of a device ensuring the necessary frosting of natural nails before the deposition of a resin, and any other method using for example files or graters could be quite suitable in the context of the invention.

In accordance with FIG. 2 and according to a major step of the invention, the dental resin is deposited on the nail 1 with the finger positioned on the stirrup 14 of the vibrator 3; the vibrator 3 is conventionally constituted by an electromagnet mounted as an oscillator magnetically coupled to the stirrup 14 subjecting the finger, and consequently the nail, to an oscillation with adjustable frequency advantageously adjusted around 50 Hz, which allows d '' use household food directly.

It is therefore understandable that the frequency to which the nail is subjected does not disturb the operation of depositing the resin; on the other hand, it is quite effective in producing perfect spreading of said resin in the liquid phase on the nail 1, taking into account the inertia of the elements present. Naturally, any other frequency value in a fairly wide range around 50 Hz could be used with success, however under conditions in particular of less advantageous duration.

In accordance with FIG. 3, the device allowing the polymerization of the dental resin deposited according to one or the other of the methods on a nail 1 will now be described.

The polymerizing device 4 essentially comprises a chamber 5 of at least sufficient volume to widely accommodate the finger 11 whose nail 1 is to be treated. Being once again reminded that, according to an essential characteristic of the invention, the polymerization of the resin used for the prosthetic reconstruction must be carried out under controlled temperature and pressure; on the other hand, when the finger 11 enters the chamber 15 for polymerization of the resin, it must be able to penetrate easily without risking accidental contact with the walls, in particular the upper walls of said chamber 15; for this, the entrance 16 of the chamber 15 must be wide enough to avoid any untimely contact.

To achieve this, a flared entry 16 is provided for the chamber 15 facilitating the introduction of the finger 11; so that the chamber 15 is then sealed notwithstanding the presence of the finger 11, a tubular elastic member 17 is arranged at the entrance to the chamber 15, just after the flared entrance 16 in an integral and sealed manner all around the chamber 15 to form around the finger 11 an O-ring capable of exactly matching its external shape after inflation of said elastic tubular member 17 by means of a compression system not shown in the figures, supplying air comprising a circular peripheral chamber 18 by a inlet channel 19 forming the peripheral chamber of the inflatable O-ring 17.

In accordance with a usual characteristic of polymerizers, there is provided a heating element 20 inside the chamber 15, for example a simple heating rod, chosen to produce and maintain a predetermined temperature, for example 42 ° C. for the resin. dental usable according to the processes.

It will be observed here that the heating element 20 is switched on permanently regardless of the closing or opening of the O-ring 17 corresponding, as we know, to the presence or absence of a finger to be treated. Finally, according to a last important characteristic of the invention, the polymerization of the resin must be carried out under the particular pressure conditions making it possible to obtain a tightening of the molecular structure of the resin contributing, as we know, to a greater solidity of the prosthesis and especially to a much greater insusceptibility to yellowing and more generally to aging of the resin. To do this, the chamber 15 once the finger 11 is in place and the O-ring 17 inflated around the latter, thus ensuring a tightness of the said chamber 15, is firstly connected to a vacuum pump by a pipe 21 making it possible to obtain inside the enclosure a pressure of approximately 0.6 bar; this partial vacuum is maintained for approximately 1 minute, after which, the internal pressure of the chamber 15 is quickly brought to 1 or even 1.2 bar by means of a compressor group not shown in the figures; this slight compression inside the chamber 15 is also maintained for approximately 1 minute. At the end of these operations, the polymerization is complete, the seal 17 is thawed in order to remove the finger 11 and it is possible to polymerize another nail prosthesis if necessary.

Naturally and in accordance with variants of the general process set out above, it is quite possible to carry out the polymerization operation according to completely different protocols. observing that it could then only be a lower quality polymerization; for example, one could replace the alternation partial vacuum / pressurization, by only partial vacuum or only pressurization at levels and for durations which could be different while remaining sufficient to contribute to a better homogeneity of the molecular structure of the resin which should normally be the least porous possible.

It is quite clear that the device which has just been described constitutes a particular example of implementation. methods according to one invention and that all variants using different parameters to take into account, for example, particular qualities of the resin, would not, however, depart from the invention. Finally, it should be noted that the method and moreover the device as just described are particularly suitable for the care of the fingernails of the fingers of a human hand, but the person skilled in the art would know very quickly. adapt the equipment to the care of toenails, for example, or even to the care of animal nails if the need arises.

Claims

1 - Method of prosthetic reconstruction for the restoration or modification of a natural nail by using a self-curing resin comprising the preliminary steps consisting of etching of the remaining part of the natural nail, cleaning and / or blowing to remove frosting residue, degreasing followed by drying, application of a resin bonding agent on the nail, said method being characterized by the succession of complementary steps consisting at least of:

1) prepare and spread the self-curing resin at least on the remaining part of the nail to be reconstituted, 2) vibrate the finger whose nail is treated to obtain a homogeneous spreading of the resin,

2 - Method according to claim 1 for a total prosthetic reconstruction of a nail characterized in that in 1 step 1 is previously put in place a form of flexible modeling, of the type of adhesive paper, adjusted on the nail to treat, possibly if necessary, extend forward, to serve as a support for the nail prosthesis, the non-crosslinked resin then being deposited in advantageously successive layers and sufficient to gradually shape the prosthesis, the finger corresponding to the treatment being vibrated in accordance in step 2 then introduced into an enclosure for polymerization in accordance with step 3 finally worked in accordance with step 4 and optionally 5. 3 - Method according to claim 1 for a reconstitution using a capsule advantageously allowing the mounting of false nails characterized in that, before the implementation of the method and at least before step 1, the capsule is formed and polymerized from of a self-crosslinkable resin, it is then adjusted on the natural nail, then in step 1 there are a few drops of self-curing resin on the back of the capsule which is then applied to the nail natural before polymerization of the assembly according to step 3 and following.

4 - Method according to claim 1 for a reconstruction using a capsule advantageously allowing the mounting of false nails characterized in that step 1 consists in spreading a thin layer of resin on the remaining part of the nail and in that one sticks on said part after step 3 a capsule of the plastic type, for example ABS, by means of a quick glue of the cyanoacrylate type. 5 - Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the preliminary etching step is obtained by sandblasting under pressure of the natural nail.

6 - Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that according to step 3, the polymerization is carried out in a sealed enclosure which is maintained at a fixed temperature for optimal polymerization of the resin and which is subjected either to alternating partial vacuum and pressurization, either only at partial vacuum or pressurization at levels and for periods that are sufficient to strongly tighten the molecular structure of the resin providing it with homogeneity practically free of micro porosities . 7 - Method according to the preceding claim characterized in that the enclosure is maintained at 42 ° C to polymerize a resin of the dental type and the enclosure is subjected to a partial vacuum of approximately 0.6 bar for 1 minute then pressurized around 1.2 bar for one minute.

8 - Device for the prosthetic reconstruction of a natural, devitalized, degraded or damaged nail to implement the preceding method according to one or other of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it essentially comprises:

- a sandblaster (2) with its sandblasting nozzle (7) and its associated compressor, - a vibrator (3) with its positioning system (14),

- a polymerizer (4) with its temperature and pressure control means (17 to 21).

9 - Device according to the preceding claim characterized in that the sandblaster (2) comprises a roughly sealed enclosure to contain the projected sand, provided on one side (5) with an inlet advantageously coupled to an inner glove (6) for the hand of the operator and the other (9), of an inlet (10) for the hand (11) to be treated, on top of a glazed window (12) for the control of work and of a suction (13) for sanding dust, a sanding nozzle (7) which is available to the operator inside the enclosure being connected by a flexible tube (8) passing through the enclosure to a conventional group spray.

10 - Device according to claim 9 characterized in that the sand has an average particle size of 50 micrometers and it is sprayed with a pressure around 6 kg.

11 - Device according to claim 8 characterized in that the vibrator (3) consists of a positioning bracket (14) of the finger (11) to be treated, mechanically coupled to an oscillator with frequency adjustable advantageously around 50Hz.

12 - Device according to claim 8 characterized in that the polymerizer (4) comprises an enclosure (15) for receiving the finger (11) supporting the resin, rendered airtight after insertion of the finger (11) and comprising a heating member (20) capable of maintaining a constant temperature inside the enclosure (15) which is connected (21) to a vacuum pump and / or a compressor. 13 - Device according to the preceding claim characterized in that the enclosure (15) has a flared inlet (16) facilitating the penetration of a finger (11) supporting the resin or the nail prosthesis not yet polymerized, the subsequent sealing being obtained by annex inflation of a tubular elastic member (17) arranged internally and in a sealed manner all around the enclosure (15) just after the flared entry (16) to form around the finger (11) an O-ring capable of '' marry its external form.