SKELETAL EXPANSION / COMPRESSION DEVICE

FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates dento-facial orthopaedic appliance used for palatal corrections using vectoral traction, the invention specifically relates to an dentofacial orthopaedic appliance more specifically to an intra oral multi vectoral expansion and compression appliance for correction of maxillary arch using traction either for expansion or compression.

BACKGROUND

Malocclusion of the teeth or misalignment problems of the teeth can cause several complications, they are also referred as crowded teeth, cross-bite, overbite, under-bite, open-bite etc. in cases of such misalignment (the vital functions of the teeth would be effected which includes like speech and controlling airflow out of mouth. This would affect overall oral and digestive health of the person. So treating these are critical and the prior art holds several options for the same, however palatal expansion devices are still the most preferred option of these.

Though several prior arts discuss the use of palatal expansion devices like patent application US7074036B1 titled as Palatal expansion device and methods discusses a palatal expansion device that has a screw having one or more activation arms wherein the screw connects two blocks, each block having an opening for receiving the screw a stabilizer attached to the blocks: and a spring extension positioned opposite the activation arms, wherein the spring extension is attached to the stabilizer. The present invention involves methods for expanding or compressing the maxillary arch, and kits including the device.

Another application US7192273B2 titled as System and method for palatal expansion discusses a system for progressive palatal expansion, the system comprising a series of incremental expanders, including:

(a) a first incremental expander having a geometry selected to incrementally expand the palate; (b) One or more intermediate expanders having geometries selected to progressively expand the palate; (c)A final expander, having a geometry selected to expand the palate to a target desired breadth.

Though the above applications discusses various devices for palatal expansion which includes jackscrew lies in lateral orientation between two palatal halves i.e. bidirectional. However none of the patent application discusses an expansion assembly extends tri-directionally i.e, to two lateral directions and one anterior - posterior orientation as well. This assists the movement of the correction of the teeth and jaw in three directions thus giving a symmetrical expansion to the maxillary arch with subsequent skeletal expansion.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a device for palatal corrections using traction. It specifically focuses on providing dentofacial orthopaedic appliance which is an intra oral multi vectorial expansion and compression appliance for correction of maxillary arch using controlled vectors of directional traction.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a device for palatal correction comprising Jackscrew assembly: Framework; holder plate, and plate structures, with at least 3 plate structures where the assembly extends in multi directions or at least three directions i.e., to two lateral directions and one anterior - posterior orientation as well providng a symmetrical assisted expansion.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a device for the correction for class III malocculision, cleft lip and plate correction surgeries bypassing severe orthognathic corrections in cleft lip and palate patients.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to an Intra - oral multi vectorial customizable appliance for rapid orthopaedic expansion and compression of maxillary bone and associated dental arch using controlled vectors of directional traction to provide a symmetrical assisted expansion. The device comprises of typical jackscrew, framework, holder plate along with three customizable acrylic plate structures comprising arms.

1. Jackscrew typically comprises of (a)Leadscrew, which applies pressure for the expansion.

(b) a small performed cylinder, encasing lead screw with one or more perforations, which allow the key to fit in and turn and thereby activates the appliance to exert the pressure on the anchor tooth based on the number of turns given.

(c)A guide; one on either side of the lead screw to provide resistance against the forces that cause misalignment of the appliance. The guide also provides reinforcement.

(d) Clasps arranged to cover the holder plate and forman aperture on the top to access the perforation for activities of the appliance. Acrylic plate structure wherein 3 customizable plate structures comprising arms, where two of the acrylic plates cover Framework wire anchored to the above said three acrylic plates for reinforcement. An holder plate that serves as a base for accommodating lead sere, guide and framework wire. The appliance is activated by inserting a key onto the perforated cylinder to rotate the lead screw which helps in exerting a pressure on the tooth. The present appliance is characterized in that the expansion assembly assists in pushing the joint/tooth in three directions including lateral (left and right) and forward direction which gives a symmetric parameter to the expansion vectors of force. The expansion is tailored according to the number of turns given by the key to specific time intervals to provide uniform range over the duration of the appliance in action.

DRAWINGS

Figure 1: illustrating the structure of the Intra -oral dentofacial orthopaedic multi vectoral skeletal expansion / compression device

REFERENCE NUMERALS

1. Lead screw

2. Guide 3. Cylinder encasing

4. Perforation

5. Clasp

6. Holder 7. Framework

8. Plate Structure

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to an Intra-oral multi vectorial customizable appliance for rapid orthopaedic expansion and compression appliance for maxillary bone and associated dental arch whose major components include - jackscrew, framework, three customizable acrylic plate (8) structure comprising arms and holder plate (6) where the jackscrew comprises of

Jackscrew

- a lead screw (1) for expanding maxillary arch by applying pressure - a small perforated cylinder (3) encasing lead screw

(1) with one or more perforations (4) wherein the key is designed to fit in and turn and assists in activating the appliance to exert the pressure on the anchor tooth. - A guide (2) one on either side of lead screw (1) to provide resistance against forces that cause misalignment of the appliance. Guides (2) also assist in providing support.

- A pair of clasps (5) comprising an aperture to cover the holder plate (6) wherein the aperture allows to access the perforation (4) for activation of appliance.

Plate structures (8)

The device comprises three customized acrylic plate (8) structure comprising arms, where two of the acrylic plates (8) cover/exerts pressure onto two posterior palatal halves (from molar to pre molar) and third plate (8) covers/ exerts pressure onto maxillary arch (canine to canine) in the anterior region.

Framework A framework wire anchored to the above said three acrylic plates (8) for reinforcement.

Holder (6)

An holder plate that serves as a base for accomodating lead screw (1) guide (2) and frame work wire. METHOD OF USE The appliance is used for children in whom the mid palatal suture has not been ossified. For children of 4 - 13 years of age the device is placed from canine to canine in the maxilla premolar to molar (deciduous molar in children of 4- 8 years).

The appliance is activated by inserting a key onto the perforated cylinder (3) to rotate the lead (1) which helps in exerting a pressure on the tooth. (2) The present appliance is characterized in that the expansion assembly assists in pushing the joint/tooth in three directions including lateral (left and right) and forward direction which gives a symmetric parameter to the expansion vectors of force bringing out uniformity to the shape of expanded arch.

APPLICATIONS INCLUDE - Use of maxillary contracture in case of cleft lip surgery.

- Correction of class III malocclusion without surgery within time span 2-3 weeks.

- Favourable outcomes associated with surgery of cleft lip and palate and corrective surgeries of class II occlusion as a part of pre-surgical preparation.

Multiple Vectors - Can be used for expansion osteogenesis in cleft cases.

- Also can be used for compression osteogenesis in maxillary trauma resulting in mid palatine split with horizontal excess.

- Another major advantage includes its ability to bypass the second surgery i.e, the orthognathic surgery for correction of occlusion maxillary deformity performed as a part of cleft lip surgery. The cleft lip and surgery has 5 stages as mentioned below.

1 ^st stage - Lip Surgery

2 stage - Palate surgery within 6 months

3 ^rd stage - Aloveolar Bone Grafting (ABG) - is required - bone taken from the patient Which is highly risky because even after grafting the bone may not get molded ( may get rejected )

4 ^th stage -Orthodontic treatment

5 ^th stage - Orthognathic surgery

Complications of this surgery can be: 1. Necrosis of amxilla due to compromise/reduction of vascularity

2. Nerve damage(Parasatia)

3. Not obtaining the desired results or correct occlusion 4. Avoiding the chance of tooth getting non vital

5. Unlike expansion, surgery does not allow distraction histogenesis - soft tissue expansion is absent in surgery.

The application of this device is predominant in cleft lip surgery where out of the 5 stages mentioned above a patient can by pass the 3 ^rd and 5 ^th stage. That is we can avoid Orthognathic surgery with the help of this device.

This is because, after cleft lip and palate surgry, vascularity is compromised and reduced due to scaring of tissue. So a second surgery (i.e., the Orthognathic surgery is required in the total cleft lip and palatal surgery) is needed for the correction of the occlusion and maxillary deformity and is highly risk where in 90% cases there will be contracture/relapse. But in certain cases there can be issues due to the reduction of vascularity to the site where the cleft lip surgery is done. It is in this scenario this appliance is used to bypass the second surgery i.e, the Orthognathic surgery for correction of occlusion maxillary deformity.

Further this device can be used in Trauma/accident cases for compression and expansion post- operatively to correct minor horizontal expansion and drifting of the fragments after mid- palative fractures.