Medical implant and method of implantation

Abstract

A medical implant and a method of implanting a medical implant are disclosed. The medical implant (20) is elongate and for fixation in a patient, and comprises an apical bone anchoring portion (200) for bone apposition, and an unthreaded coronal portion (210), wherein said coronal portion (210) has a length (L2) exceeding or equaling a length (L1) of said apical portion (200), and wherein said apical portion (200) has a maximum outer diameter (D1) that is equal to or larger than a maximum outer diameter (D2) of said coronal portion. In a method of implanting a medical implant, an apical part is affixed in the zygomatic bone, and a coronal part is positioned outside the maxilla in the mucous membrane.

Description

PRIORITY INFORMATION[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 003,260, filed Mar. 31, 2011, which is the 371 National Phase of PCT / EP2008 / 005585, filed Jul. 9, 2008, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention pertains in general to the field of medical implants and methods for implantation of such implants. In particular, the invention relates to dental implants and methods for their implantation.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Various types of medical implants are known, e.g. as anchoring elements that are intended to be implanted in patients' jaws. Upon implantation these anchoring elements support e.g. dental restorations via a connection interface.[0004]Due to various reasons, such as diseases, bone quality may be poor in certain bone regions of a patient. In edentulous or partly edentulous patients jaw bone tissue may be highly resorbed. Therefore it may be difficult or impos...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]The medical implant and the method enables a more beneficial position and location of the implant interface against the bridge or tooth / teeth replacement. This in turn provides for use of a less voluminous replacement. Furthermore, the implant describes an alternative path from the zygomatic bone, which does not occupy so much space in the oral cavity. This is considered advantageous for esthetic reasons and provides for more space for the tongue. The beneficial position of the inventive implant, when attached to the zygomatic bone in accordance with the method, in relation to the dental restoration allows for a more aligned load transfer, which may alleviate the surrounding body parts as well. Further embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims, wherein features for the second and subsequent aspects of the invention are as for the first aspect mutatis mutandis.

[0014]Some embodiments of the invention also provide for an improved medical implant that provides reliable anchoring in skull bone tissue and a connection interface at an alveolar ridge of a maxilla.

[0016]Some embodiments of the invention provide for a method of implanting a medical implant, wherein visibility of the implantation is improved.

[0018]Some embodiments provide for a medical procedure of implanting a medical implant that is more securely and less complicated to perform for a surgeon. Some embodiments provide for increased surgical flexibility. Some embodiments provide for improved surgical control, e.g. by improved visible feedback of the medical procedure. Some embodiments provide for cost-effectiveness, e.g. by reduced surgery time, patient recovery time, potential side effects, etc.

Problems solved by technology

Due to various reasons, such as diseases, bone quality may be poor in certain bone regions of a patient.

Therefore it may be difficult or impossible to satisfactorily anchor conventional medical implants in such damaged or resorbed bone tissue regions.

For instance, working inside and from inside the maxillary sinus may be difficult due to limited visibility, space etc.

However, this may be both cumbersome and imply healing complications for the patient.

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