Proximal mandibular segment positioner
OwnerWilbur M. Davis, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and instrument for positioning a proximal segment of a buccal cortex to seat a condyle in the fossa during TMJ corrective procedures includes osteotomizing a mandible, thereby forming a proximal segment and a distal segment, drilling a burr hole in the proximal segment adjacent the osteotomy and inserting, into the hole, the tip of a positioning instrument having a handle, an elongated shaft and a stepped down tip angled approximately 45.degree. relative to the axis of the handle and shaft. The instrument can be manipulated from the patient's mouth in a minimally invasive and secure fashion.
Claims15
A method of seating a condyle of a proximal mandibular segment in a fossa, said method comprising the steps of:
- osteotomizing a patient's mandible into at least one proximal segment and a distal segment;
- providing a hole in the proximal segment;
- inserting a tip of an elongated instrument into the hole, said instrument having a handle and a shaft transitioning to the tip, said tip having a smaller peripheral width than a peripheral width of the shaft, said tip being angled relative to an axis of said handle;
- limiting the tip insertion by an engagement of a peripheral width of the tip and the hole;
- and
- manipulating the instrument by the handle to seat the condyle in the fossa.
A method of seating a condyle of a proximal mandibular segment in a fossa, said method comprising the steps of:
- osteotomizing a patient's mandible into at least one proximal segment and a distal segment;
- providing a hole in the proximal segment;
- inserting a tip of an elongated instrument into the hole, said instrument having a handle and a shaft transitioning to the tip, said tip being angled relative to an axis of said handle;
- limiting the insertion by an engagement of a transverse face structure, connected to the shaft, with the segment;
- and
- manipulating the instrument by the handle to seat the condyle in the fossa.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.