EP-4171729-B1 - SENSORY UNIT FOR DENTAL IMPLANTS

Inventors

• PEIXOTO MACHADO DA SILVA, José Alberto
• MAGALHÃES MENDES, Joaquim Gabriel
• SOBRADO MARINHO, JORGE SERAFIM

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20210611

Claims (7)

1. Sensory unit suitable for dental implants or prostheses to promote the reestablishment of at least one of proprioceptive, nociceptive and stereognostic sensitivity in a user, comprising at least one dental device (100), configured to be installed in a location of a dental arch of the user, adapted to transform mechanical forces from occlusion and mastication actions from a user into electrical signals; and at least one stimulator device (200); characterized in that the at least one stimulator device (200) comprises a biocompatible airtight coating (12) incorporating a receiver (9), a battery (8), an integration module (6) and a processing module (7) for producing a neural stimulus, and comprises a conductive filament (10) incorporated in a conductive housing with the biocompatible coating (12) and interfacing with cuff type electrodes (13), the at least one stimulator device (200) being configured to transform the electrical signals received from the dental device (100) into neuronal stimuli that are transmitted through the biocompatible coating (12) to enable the controlled excitation of said nerve endings, wherein the neuronal stimuli comprise continuous mode, pulse or sequence of pulses with an electric current intensity varying between a few hundred microamperes and a few milliamperes, with a variable frequency between 5 to 100 Hz, and a pulse duration of a few hundred microseconds.
2. Sensory unit according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the at least one dental device (100) is configured to transmit the electrical signals to the at least one stimulator device (200).
3. Sensory unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical signals are configured to be transmitted by the at least one dental device (100) to the at least one stimulator device (200) via a leading wire system or via a wireless communication system.
4. Sensory unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one dental device (100) comprises a sealing and encapsulating titanium compartment for the incorporation of all constituent elements.
5. Sensory unit according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the constituent elements of the at least one dental device (100) comprises a biocompatible force sensing material (1), a battery (2), a signal acquisition and processing circuit (3), an integration module (4), and a transmitter module (5).
6. Sensory unit according to preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the at least one dental device (100) is configured to be installed in different locations comprising the dental implant, the prosthetic abutment, the prosthetic device that integrates the prosthetic abutment, occlusal surface of the fixed prosthesis teeth or in the space reserved for the screw well that tightens the abutment at the implant head.
7. Sensory unit according to preceding claims 1, 2, 3, and 6, characterized in that the at least one stimulator device (200) is configured to be installed in several locations comprising the vicinity of the terminal branch, respectively of the infraorbital nerve (2012), in the upper maxillary nerve branch, or in the vicinity of the mentonian nerve, in the lower maxillary or mandibular nerve branch.

Description

Technical Domain The present application describes a sensory unit for implant-supported dental implants or prostheses that will provide neuro-sensory information to the trigeminal nerve endings. Background Previous studies related to the matter herein disclosed discussed the use of a bionic device for transducing masticatory pressure into an electrical stimulus, capable of being perceived by the body in the form of nociceptive stimulus, triggering on the part of the organism an adequate motor defense response or decrease of muscle contraction. However, this type of devices did not contemplate the possibility of identifying the gradient of mechanical force exerted on the masticatory surfaces of the teeth of the implant-supported or implant-retained prosthesis, namely the modulation of the electrical signal produced from the mechanical forces exerted by the fixed prosthesis, on the abutment resting on the implant. Therefore, and as a differentiating element in relation to the prior art, the present unit has the ability to better match light mechanical loads to a specific individualized signal. This fact is important, since it returns one of the important functions of natural teeth, which is to signal the position of the jaw as a determining factor to provide information to the structures of the cerebral cortex that allow a motor response to the beginning of gait movement, and to define the sequence of contraction of the various muscle groups in view of the coordinated movement of body displacement, inserted in a trajectory. Prior art is known from BANI-HANI MUATH ET AL: "Energy harvesting from mastication forces via a smart tooth", PROCEEDINGS OF SPIE ISSN 0277-786X VOLUME 10524 as well as from US 2009/216292 A1, US 2015/174406 A1, EP 2 945 691 A1, EP 2 945 691 B1 and US 2012/064486 A1. Summary The present application describes a sensory unit for dental implants according to claim 1. The sensory unit comprises at least one dental device responsible for transforming the mechanical forces from occlusion and mastication actions into electrical signals; and at least one stimulator device responsible for transforming electrical signals from the dental device into neuronal stimuli; wherein the neuronal stimuli promote the restoration of the proprioceptive, nociceptive and stereognostic sensitivity of the user. In a proposed embodiment, the at least one dental device transmits the electrical signals to the at least one stimulator device. In yet another possible embodiment, the electrical signals are transmitted from the at least one dental device to the at least one stimulator device via a leading wire system or via a wireless communication system. In yet another possible embodiment, the at least one stimulator device applies neuronal stimuli to the nerve endings of the maxillary or mandibular trigeminal bundles. In yet another possible embodiment, the at least one dental device comprises the use of a sealed titanium encapsulation for the incorporation of all constituent elements. In yet another possible embodiment, the constituent elements of the at least one dental device comprise the use of biocompatible force sensing material, a battery, an signal acquisition and processing circuit, an integration module, and a transmitter module. In yet another possible embodiment, the at least one stimulator device comprises the use of an airtight biocompatible coating that incorporates all constituent elements. In yet another possible embodiment, the constituent elements of the at least one stimulator device comprise the use of a receiver, a battery, an integration module, a processing module, a conductive filament, a conductive housing with biocompatible coating and a conductive filament incorporated in the conductive housing and interface with "cuff" type electrodes. In yet another possible embodiment, the at least one dental device can be installed in several locations comprising the dental implant, the prosthetic abutment, the prosthetic device that integrates the prosthetic abutment, occlusal surface of the fixed prosthesis teeth or yet in the space reserved for the screw well that fastens the abutment to the implant head. In yet another possible embodiment, the at least one stimulator device can be installed in several locations comprising the vicinity of the terminal branch, respectively of the infraorbital nerve, in the upper maxillary nerve branch, or in the vicinity of the mentonian nerve, in the lower maxillary or mandibular nerve branch. Brief description The present application describes a sensory unit for dental implants or prostheses and aims at returning tooth sensitivity lost as a result of tooth extraction, devitalization, ablative oral surgery, and infections that are the cause for neurophysiological disturbances in stomatognathic system functioning. Therefore, the present invention aims at restoring the neurosensitive connection between the teeth, or their substitutes, whether they are implants, cemented c