Device for mandibular distraction osteogenesis

Claim 2

The distraction device of claim 1, wherein said first and second sets of tooth engagement members have receptors attached thereto, and said first and second expander assemblies have connectors attached thereto that are removably engageable with said receptors.

Claim 3

The distraction device of claim 2, wherein: each of said receptors comprises a metal member fixed to at least one of said engagement members and has a connector guide extending thereon; and each said connector comprises a metal member fixed to one of said expander assemblies and has an engagement surface complementary to said connector guide of a respective one of said receptors for removable engagement therewith.

Claim 4

The distraction device of claim 3, wherein: at least one of said receptors comprises a back portion fixed to at least one of said tooth engagement members and a front portion defining said connector guide, said connector guide comprising a vertical slot open at front and upper areas thereof and closed at said back area and a lower area thereof, said lower area defining a vertical stop, and said slot tapering from said back area adjacent to said back portion toward said front area; and at least one of said connectors comprising a plug having a front portion fixed to one of said expander assemblies and a plug portion that extends vertically and has a taper complementary to said vertical slot of said at least one of said receptors.

Claim 5

The distraction device of claim 3, wherein: at least one of said receptors comprises a back portion fixed to at least one of said tooth engagement members and a front portion defining said connector guide, said connector guide comprising a vertically tapering front member having a pair of vertically extending flanges thereon defining spaces between said front portion and said tooth engagement members and a vertical stop; and at least one of said connectors comprising a cap having a front portion fixed to one of said expander assemblies having a rear surface engageable with said front portion of said at least one of said receptors and channel members on said front portion that extend vertically and have a taper complementary to said vertically tapering front member of said receptors, said front portion being engageable with said vertical stop.

Claim 6

The distraction device of claim 5, wherein: said front portion of each of said receptors has a vertical alignment hole extending therein from an upper surface thereof, wherein said vertical alignment holes of each of said receptors corresponding to one of said first and second expander assemblies are parallel with each other.

Claim 7

The distraction device of claim 5, wherein said cap has a slot extending horizontally across said front portion thereof at a lower end of said cap.

Claim 8

The distraction device of claim 5, wherein said back portion of said at least one of said receptors comprises horizontally extending tabs and said back portion is fixed to two of said tooth engagement members.

Claim 9

The distraction device of claim 3, wherein said receptors and said connectors are made of stainless steel and soldered to said tooth engagement members and said expander assemblies, respectively.

Claim 10

The distraction device of claim 1, wherein said tooth engagement members are stainless steel crowns.

Claim 11

The distraction device of claim 1, wherein said tooth engagement members are stainless steel bands.

Claim 12

The distraction device of claim 1, wherein each said expandable screw device comprises first and second body portions having aligned threaded holes extending therein and a threaded shaft engaging both said threaded holes.

Claim 13

The distraction device of claim 1, wherein each said set of engagement members comprises a plurality of members aligned for disposition on the teeth of one side of the mandible, and each said expander assembly comprises a forward portion connected to some of said members of one said set of engagement members and a rearward portion connected to the remainder of said members of the one said set of engagement members, said forward and rearward portions being expandable relative to each other for separation of said some of said members from said remainder of said members.

Claim 14

The distraction device of claim 13, wherein forward portions of said expander assemblies and some of said engagement members are connected to each other by a third expander assembly.

Claim 15

The distraction device of claim 3, wherein: at least one of said receptors comprises a front portion defining said connector guide, said connector guide comprising a pair of vertically extending flanges, a vertical stop on said front portion, an intermediate portion extending from said front portion and a back portion extending from said intermediate portion and fixed to at least one of said tooth engagement members, said intermediate portion spacing said back portion from said front portion; and at least one of said connectors comprising a cap having a front portion fixed to one of said expander assemblies, a rear surface engageable with said front portion of said at least one of said receptors and channel members on said front portion for engagement with said flanges, said front portion being engageable with said vertical stop.

Claim 16

The distraction device of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second expander assemblies comprises a single said expandable screw device on one side of the respective said set of engagement members and an expandable tube and pin slider device on the other side of the respective said set of engagement members.

Claim 17

The distraction device of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second sets of engagement members comprises at least one tooth engagement member and one bone engagement member, and wherein said first and second expander assemblies are removably attached to said first and second sets of engagement members by receptors fixed to said first and second sets of engagement members and connectors fixed to said first and second expander assemblies, said connectors being removably engageable with said receptors.

Claim 18

The distraction device of claim 17, wherein said bone engagement member comprises a bone plate and bone screws for fixing said bone plate to a bone of the jaw, and one of said receptors is fixed to said bone plate.

Claim 19

The distraction device of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second sets of engagement members comprises at least two tooth engagement members for disposition on either side of a corticotomy site.

Claim 20

The distraction device of claim 19, wherein each of said at least two tooth engagement members for disposition on either side of a corticotomy site comprises at least a first tooth engagement member for disposition on a tooth on one side of the corticotomy site and at least a second tooth engagement member for disposition on a tooth on the other side of the corticotomy site, wherein at least one of said first and second tooth engagement members comprises a wire extension fixed thereto for extending to and engaging an adjacent tooth.

Claim 21

Attachments for use with an oral osteodistraction device, comprising: a receptor attachment adapted to be connected with an engagement member of an osteodistraction device, said receptor comprising a first metal member having an engagement member connection portion and a connector receiving portion; and a connector attachment adapted to be connected with an expander assembly of an osteodistraction device, said connector attachment comprising a first metal member comprising an expander assembly connection portion and a receptor connection portion that is engageable with said connector receiving portion of said receptor attachment; wherein said connector receiving portion of said receptor attachment comprises a connector guide extending thereon; and wherein said receptor connection portion of said connector comprises an engagement surface complementary to said connector guide of said receptor for removable engagement therewith.

Claim 22

The attachments of claim 21, wherein said receptor comprises an alignment surface thereon for use in aligning said receptor attachment during fixation with the engagement portion.

Claim 23

The attachments of claim 21, wherein: said first metal member comprises a back portion defining said tooth engagement member connection portion and a front portion defining said connector guide, said connector guide comprising a vertical slot open at front and upper areas thereof and closed at a back area and a lower area thereof, said lower area defining a vertical stop, and said slot tapering from said back area adjacent to said back portion toward said front area; and said second metal member comprises a plug having a front portion defining said expander assembly connection portion and a plug portion that extends vertically and has a taper complementary to said vertical slot of said first metal member.

Claim 24

The attachments of claim 21, wherein: said first metal member comprises a back portion defining said tooth engagement member connection portion and a front portion defining said connector guide, said connector guide comprising a vertically tapering front member having a pair of vertically extending flanges thereon, defining spaces between said front portion and said tooth engagement member connection portion, and a vertical stop; and said second metal member comprising a cap having a front portion defining said expander assembly connection portion and a rear surface engageable with said front portion of said first metal member and channel members on said front portion of said second metal member that extend vertically and have a taper complementary to said vertically tapering front member of said connector guide, said front portion of said second metal member being engageable with said vertical stop.

Claim 25

The attachments of claim 24, wherein: said vertically extending flanges have secondary flanges extending therefrom toward said back portion of said first metal member forming glue pockets adapted to receive glue for gluing said cap to said first metal member.

Claim 26

The attachments of claim 24, wherein: said front portion of said first metal member has a vertical alignment hole extending therein from an upper surface thereof.

Claim 27

The attachments of claim 24, wherein said cap has a slot extending horizontally across said front portion thereof at a lower end of said cap.

Claim 28

The attachments of claim 24, wherein said back portion of said first metal member comprises horizontally extending tabs defining a means for connecting said first metal member to two tooth engagement members.

Claim 29

The attachments of claim 24, wherein first and second metal members of said receptor attachment and said connector attachment are made of stainless steel and are solderable to tooth engagement members.

Claim 30

The attachment of claim 24, wherein: said first metal member of said receptor attachment comprises a front portion defining said connector guide, said connector guide comprising a pair of vertically extending flanges, a vertical stop on said front portion, an intermediate portion extending from said front portion and a back portion extending from said intermediate portion defining a means for connecting to at least one tooth engagement member, said intermediate portion spacing said back portion from said front portion; and said second metal member of said connector comprises a cap having a front portion defining a means for connecting to an expander assembly, a rear surface engageable with said front portion of said first metal member and channel members on said front portion for engagement with said flanges, said front portion being engageable with said vertical stop.

Claim 31

The attachments of claim 30, wherein said vertically extending flanges have secondary flanges extending therefrom toward said back portion of said first metal member forming pockets.

Claim 32

The attachment of claim 30, wherein said front portion of said first metal member has a vertical alignment hole extending therein from an upper surface thereof.

Claim 33

Attachments for use with an oral osteodistraction device, comprising: a receptor attachment adapted to be connected with a tooth engagement member of a mandibular distraction device, said receptor attachment comprising a first metal member having a tooth engagement member connection portion and a connector receiving portion; and a connector attachment adapted to be connected with an expander assembly of a mandibular distraction device, said connector attachment comprising a second metal member comprising an expander assembly connection portion and a receptor connection portion that is engageable with said connector receiving portion of said receptor attachment; wherein said connector receiving portion of said receptor attachment comprises a connector guide extending thereon; wherein said receptor connection portion of said connector attachment comprises an engagement surface complementary to said connector guide of said receptor attachment for removable engagement therewith; wherein said first metal member has a vertical stop thereon that projects outwardly of said connector guide so as to be able to stop said receptor connection portion of said connector attachment; and wherein said expander assembly connection portion comprises a planar surface facing away from said receptor attachment when said receptor connection portion is engaged with said connector receiving portion.

Claim 34

Attachments for use with an oral osteodistraction device, comprising: a receptor attachment adapted to be connected with an engagement member of an oral osteodistraction device, said receptor attachment comprising a first metal member having an engagement member connection portion and a connector receiving portion; and a connector attachment adapted to be connected with an expander assembly of the distraction device, said connector attachment comprising a second metal member comprising an expander assembly connection portion and a receptor connection portion that is engageable with said connector receiving portion of said receptor attachment; wherein said connector receiving portion of said receptor attachment comprises a connector guide extending thereon; wherein said receptor connection portion of said connector attachment comprises an engagement surface complementary to said connector guide of said receptor attachment for removable engagement therewith; and wherein said first metal member has a vertical alignment hole extending therein.