Mandibular advancement and retraction via bone anchoring devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016199157-A1
Application number	US-201614992299-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 11, 2016
Priority date	Jan 13, 2015
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems, methods, devices and apparatus for mandibular advancement or retraction via bone anchoring devices are described herein. In various aspects, an apparatus for treating a patient via mandibular advancement or retraction comprises a plurality of anchoring devices positioned in the patient's intraoral cavity. Each of the plurality of anchoring devices can be positioned in bone of the patient's upper jaw or bone of the patient's lower jaw. One or more connecting structures can be removably coupled to and extend between the plurality of anchoring devices in order to displace the lower jaw anteriorly or posteriorly relative to the upper jaw.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for treating a patient via mandibular advancement or retraction, the apparatus comprising:
a plurality of anchoring devices positioned in the patient's intraoral cavity, wherein each of the plurality of anchoring devices is positioned in bone of the patient's upper jaw or bone of the patient's lower jaw; and one or more connecting structures removably coupled to and extending between the plurality of anchoring devices in order to displace the lower jaw anteriorly or posteriorly relative to the upper jaw.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more connecting structures are arranged to produce an anterior-posterior force component that displaces the lower jaw anteriorly or posteriorly relative to the upper jaw.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the one or more connecting structures, when coupled to the plurality of anchoring devices, are capable of producing the anterior-posterior force component without producing a vertical force component.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more connecting structures and the plurality of anchoring devices are arranged to constrain vertical displacement of the lower jaw relative to the upper jaw.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the vertical displacement is constrained in order to inhibit contact between teeth of the lower jaw and teeth of the upper jaw.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more connecting structures comprise at least one elastic structure.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more connecting structures are arranged to apply a moment to at least one of the upper jaw or the lower jaw.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the one or more connecting structures comprise a connecting structure configured to support one or more of a bending load or a shear load in order to apply the moment.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the connecting structure is coupled to the upper jaw or the lower jaw via at least one anchoring device that constrains rotation of the connecting structure along at least one direction of rotation in order to apply the moment at a location near the at least one anchoring device.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of anchoring devices comprises three or more anchoring devices.

11 . A method for treating a patient via mandibular advancement or retraction, the method comprising:
positioning a plurality of anchoring devices in the patient's intraoral cavity, wherein each of the plurality of anchoring devices is positioned in bone of the patient's upper jaw or bone of the patient's lower jaw; and removably coupling one or more connecting structures to the plurality of anchoring devices, wherein the one or more connecting structures extend between the plurality of anchoring devices in order to displace the lower jaw anteriorly or posteriorly relative to the upper jaw.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more connecting structures are arranged to produce an anterior-posterior force component that displaces the lower jaw anteriorly or posteriorly relative to the upper jaw.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more connecting structures, when coupled to the plurality of anchoring devices, are capable of producing the anterior-posterior force component without producing a vertical force component.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more connecting structures and the plurality of anchoring devices are arranged to constrain vertical displacement of the lower jaw relative to the upper jaw.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the vertical displacement is constrained in order to inhibit contact between teeth of the lower jaw and teeth of the upper jaw.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more connecting structures comprise at least one elastic structure.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more connecting structures are arranged to apply a moment to at least one of the upper jaw or the lower jaw.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the one or more connecting structures comprise a connecting structure configured to support one or more of a bending load or a shear load in order to apply the moment.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the connecting structure is coupled to the upper jaw or the lower jaw via at least one anchoring device that constrains rotation of the connecting structure along at least one direction of rotation in order to apply the moment at a location near the at least one anchoring device.

20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of anchoring devices comprises three or more anchoring devices.

Assignees

• Align Technology Inc

Inventors

• Boronkay Allen R

Classifications

• A61F5/56

  Devices for preventing snoring · CPC title

• A61C8/0096 Primary

  Implants for use in orthodontic treatment · CPC title

• A61C7/08

  Mouthpiece-type retainers {or positioners, e.g. for both the lower and upper arch (arch-shaped medicament applicators for teeth or gums A61C19/063; mouthguards for protecting the teeth of sportsmen A63B71/085)} · CPC title

• A61B2017/603

  with three points of contact, e.g. tripod · CPC title

• A61B17/663

  for jaw bones, e.g. subcutaneous distractors with external access (periodontal bone regeneration A61C8/0006) · CPC title