Claims:1. An instrument for removing and/or reflecting dental tissue, comprising:
an elongated handle member configured to retain a straight shaft formed integrally on one end of said handle member;
said straight shaft comprising a substantially cylindrical body retained by said elongated handle member and projecting therefrom to expose, on the distal end of said substantially cylindrical body, a circular cutting member;
said circular cutting member positioned in an angled configuration from the shaft;
wherein the cutting member comprises of a blade or tip located at the extreme distal end of a substantially cylindrical body;
wherein the interior of cutting member of said substantially cylindrical body is hollow and at least 5 mm deep;
wherein the diameter of said circular cutting member is between 1 and 6 mm; and
wherein when said instrument is pressed into the surface of the tissue, said instrument produces a circular incision.
2. The instrument of claim 1, in which said cutting member is bent from the straight shaft at an angle between 90 and 180 degrees.
3. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said cutting member and said blade/tip are made from materials selected from the group consisting of surgical steel, stainless steel, and other cutting material.
4. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said elongated handle member is made from plastic or a reusable metal.
5. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the said elongated handle member is made from DELRIN® acetyl resin material.
6. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said cutting member may be detached and then remounted on said straight shaft, or said blades may be detached and then remounted on said cutting member.
7. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the said shaft may be detached and then remounted on said elongated handle member.
, Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The present invention generally relates field of tools, particularly cutting instruments, for obtaining samples of dental tissue.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[002] Biopsy is a medical diagnostic test used to determine the structure and composition of tissues or cells. In particular, cells or living tissues are sampled from an organ or other body part and are examined under microscope. For example, if an abnormality is found, a biopsy can be performed to determine the exact nature of the suspected abnormality. For example, a physician may perform a biopsy as part of cancer diagnosis in order to determine whether an area of concern is malignant (cancerous) or benign (not cancerous).
[003] Biopsies can be performed on a number of organs, tissues, and body sites. The type of biopsy procedure used to obtain a required tissue sample depends on a variety of factors including: the tissue or body part to be sampled, the location, size, shape and other characteristics of the abnormality, the number of abnormalities, and patient preference. A punch biopsy uses a sharp, hollow instrument (like a cookie cutter) to remove a cylindrical piece of skin, for example, from a mole.
[004] Early detection of the oral lesions is of utmost importance. Intraoral biopsy will help to diagnose the benign and malignant lesions as soon as their onset in the oral cavity. Early detection will naturally help the early treatment of the lesions preventing further complications. Presently, in the field of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, which is a special surgical branch of dentistry, the standard conventional biopsy punches are used. Those which are available in the market are having straight handle & working circular blade. Other option is using surgical blade No. 15 or 11 or 12 for the same procedure Many times, there is practical difficulty to access certain areas in the oral cavity, due to restricted oral opening or retro molar region, mobile soft palate areas etc. Similarly, to carryout secondary exposure for oral implants prior to prosthetic rehabilitation procedure, many times due to fibrosis of the tissues over healing cap of the implant, it becomes difficult to have precise exposure of adequate dimension without tissue tags etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[005] The invention generally relates to obtaining tissue samples. The present invention alleviates the disadvantages of the prior art to a great extent by providing an angled cutting member with the ability to make the precise incision of required dimension. Also, the disclosed metallic mucosal punch will help to obtain precise well circumscribed tissue biopsy with adequate depth with minimum tissue trauma, as well as it can be used for carrying out secondary surgical exposure of implants with ease of operation.
[006] The metallic mucosal punch will be very useful for soft tissue biopsy procedures in the oral cavity with easy access due to its modified design with minimum surgical trauma, therefore good postoperative early healing can be obtained.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[007] It is an object of the invention to provide means for early detection of oral lesions which could help in early diagnosis and treatment to minimize possibility of complications.
[008] Another object of the invention is to provide means for obtaining precise predetermined dimension of the tissue for biopsy or for carrying out secondary surgical exposure of the implants.
ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[009] The present invention offers a number of benefits over the prior art inventions, some of which are:
[0010] The present invention is a very simple, handy instrument designed to reach inaccessible areas in oral cavity.
[0011] The invention uses an innovative design which is superior to conventional methods used for obtaining oral lesion biopsy.
[0012] The invention causes minimum surgical trauma thus leading to faster postoperative healing.
[0013] Using the invention depth of the tissue to be obtained can be determined.
[0014] In case of secondary surgical exposure of the implants after osseointegration, using the present invention, precise tissue can be removed to uncover the healing cap and to proceed further without tissue tags, for a final dental restoration.
[0015] The invention minimizes soreness, tenderness of biopsy site.
[0016] The instrument is reusable, as it is autoclavable.
[0017] The handle of the disclosed instrument is preferably made up of DELRIN® material, which is acetal resin. It is highly versatile engineering polymer. It has got high mechanical impact strength and rigidity with excellent resistance to moisture and excellent thermal stability. It`s custom colors are free from heavy metals.
[0018] Additional aspects, advantages, features and objects of the present disclosure would be apparent from the drawings and the detailed description of the illustrative embodiments that follow.
[0019] It will be appreciated that features of the present disclosure are susceptible to being combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0020] The following detailed description of illustrative embodiments is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure, exemplary constructions of the disclosure are shown in the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those in the art will understand that the drawings are not to scale. Wherever possible, like elements have been indicated by identical numbers.
[0021] Figure 1 provides a diagrammatic representation of metallic mucosal punch in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] Figure 2 depicts the working position of disclosed punch for maxillary region, cheek, buccal mucosa, maxillary tuberosity area and mandibular area.
[0023] Figure 3 is a photograph of instrument.
[0024] Figure 4 depicts the clinical application of metallic mucosal punch
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0025] The invention is described in detail below with reference to several embodiments. Such discussion is for purposes of illustration only. Modifications to examples within the spirit and scope of the present invention, set forth in the appended claims, will be readily apparent to one of skill in the art. Terminology used throughout the specification and claims herein is given its ordinary meaning as supplemented by the discussion immediately below. As used in the specification and claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0026] Those with ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the elements in the Figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and are not necessarily drawn to scale. There may be additional components described in the foregoing application that are not depicted on one of the described drawings. In the event, such a component is described, but not depicted in a drawing, the absence of such a drawing should not be considered as an omission of such design from the specification.
[0027] Referring now to the figures, Figure 1 provides a diagrammatic representation of metallic mucosal punch in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The metallic mucosal punch comprises of the following parts:
1(a). Handle member
1(b). Straight Shaft
1(c). Angled cutting member with punch blade/tip at the extreme distal end
[0028] The instrument has an elongated handle member 1(a). This handle member 1(a) is configured to retain a thinner shaft 1(b) which has a cutting member 1(c) at the distal end. The handle 1(a) is often made of plastic, while the shaft 1(b) and cutting member 1(c) along with punch blade/tip is often made out of surgical steel, stainless steel or other material, often a metal, which can hold a cutting edge.
[0029] The shaft 1(b) and cutting member 1(c) can be held or retained on the handle 1(a) by a wide variety of different means including press-fitting or other methods. In some embodiments, the handle itself may be metal, durable plastic, or other material that can itself maintain a cutting edge, in which case the entire instrument may be formed from a single piece of the same material.
[0030] In the preferred embodiment, the handle member is made of DELRIN® which is an acetyl resin. It is highly versatile engineering polymer. It has got high mechanical impact strength and rigidity with excellent resistance to moisture and excellent thermal stability. Its custom colors are free from heavy metals.
[0031] The shaft 1(b) will typically have a substantially cylindrical hollow body that is retained by the handle 1(a). The diameter of the cylindrical body will vary. The optimum diameter for the cylindrical body will typically be between 1 and 6 mm.
[0032] The distal end of the shaft 1(b) has an angled cutting member 1(c). The cutting member comprises of a cylindrical portion and a sharpened cutting edge / blade at the extreme distal portion. The total depth of the cylindrical portion of the cutting member will vary, but will usually be at least 5 mm deep. It should be apparent that when the cutting member of the instrument is pressed onto the surface of the tissue, the instrument will produce a circular incision.
[0033] It is important to recognize that the instrument is intended to be used by a working dentist to work on various regions of the jaw of a human patient. The patient must open their mouth, and the regions of the jaw nearer the front of the mouth will be more accessible than the regions near the back of the mouth. To reach all regions of the mouth, especially the back, the instrument has been given a bent configuration, rather than straight, in order to produce the appropriate cutting results in any portion of the mouth.
[0034] Here the angle between the shaft 1(b) and the cutting member 1(c) can vary to as much as a right angle 90-degree orientation.
[0035] In some embodiments, it may be useful to make the shaft 1(b) demountable or removable from the handle 1(a). For example, a kit containing a variety of different shafts with different cutting members attached provided with a common handle 1(a) may be provided, and the dentist may pick which shaft and cutting member is most appropriate to the particular region, and mount the shaft onto the handle prior to use. This mounting could be done, for example, by a screw joint, snap-to fit joint, or other joint that enables the shaft to be joined to the handle without an undue amount of effort. Here ideally a hand operated connection mechanism is preferred. Alternatively, the cutting members or blades themselves may be capable of being mountable or demountable from the shaft.
[0036] Figure 2 depicts the working position of disclosed punch for various areas of the jaw and mouth. The figures show the ease with instrument cutting member can be placed at the maxillary region, cheek, buccal mucosa, maxillary tuberosity area and mandibular area.
[0037] Figure 2(A) depicts the working position of punch for maxillary region.
[0038] Figure 2(B) depicts the working position of punch for cheek, buccal mucosa.
[0039] Figure 2(C) depicts the working position of punch for maxillary tuberosity area.
[0040] Figure 2(D) depicts the working position of punch for mandibular area.
[0041] Figure 2(E) and 2(F) depicts how working mucosal punch sharp bevel can be used in any area of oral cavity.
[0042] Figure 3 is an actual photograph of metallic mucosal punch in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] Figure 4 depicts the clinical application of metallic mucosal punch for secondary surgical exposure of oral/dental implants for maxillary region. Here the maxillary region of the jaw is shown; exposing the gum tissue. Assume that this is the site on the jaw where the dentist wishes to extract the tissue. The dentist will make a hole in the gum tissue with the cutting member 1(c) of the device by pressing the device into the gum tissue. The circular cutting surface of the cylindrical cutting member will press into the gum tissue and cut a hole and the displaced tissue can then be removed from the region.
[0044] The present invention has been described herein with reference to a particular embodiment for a particular application. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the present teachings may recognize additional various substitutions and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and as defined by the following claims.