Artificial Salivary Gland

• US 20160278909A1
• Filed: 03/24/2016
• Published: 09/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Connecticut (State of Connecticut)
• Original Assignee: University of Connecticut (State of Connecticut)
• Inventors: Adams, Douglas J., Kelly, John Robert, Freilich, Martin Allen
• Granted Patent: US 9,872,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/08 Artificial teeth; Making same kilns for artificial teeth F27B
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/06 Implements for therapeutic treatment radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/063 Medicament applicators for teeth or gums, e.g. treatment with fluorides
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 5/50 Implements for filling root canals; Methods or instruments for medication of tooth nerve channels
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/00 Means to be fixed to the jaw-bone for consolidating natural teeth or for fixing dental prostheses thereon; Dental implants; Implanting tools fastening of peg-teeth in the mouth A61C13/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0018 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/003 Transmandibular implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0037 Details of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0039 in the form of hollow cylinder with an open bottom
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/022 Artificial gland structures using bioreactors hemodialysis A61M1/16; hemofiltration A61M1/34; other extracorporeal blood treatment A61M1/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2803 for mandibular reconstruction temporo-mandibular joints A61F2/3099; bone plates for the jaw A61B17/8071
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit

Abstract

Artificial salivary gland devices and assemblies are provided. The present disclosure provides artificial salivary pump/gland devices and assemblies, and related methods of use. One embodiment utilizes the interstitial/marrow fluid reservoir within the underlying mandibular or maxillary bone as a source for replacement saliva. The salivary pump/assembly, which is implantable in the mandibular or maxillary bone as a dental implant and driven by incidental tooth contact and masticatory forces, harvests interstitial/marrow fluid and treats it via semi-permeable membrane technology and soluble particles as a continuously available saliva replacement. Masticatory forces and tooth contact power the pump to both harvest interstitial/marrow fluid and drive flow through a bed of ion-exchange resins and/or soluble particles to adjust fluid chemistry providing a continuously available saliva-like solution. Exemplary devices and assemblies can also be utilized to introduce beneficial bacteria into the oral cavity and/or be utilized as a delivery system for drugs/therapeutic agents.

Claims

1. A salivary gland assembly comprising:

an implant member, the implant member configured and dimensioned to be at least partially disposed within a mouth of a user; and

an insert member at least partially disposed within the implant member;

wherein the implant member and the insert member are configured and dimensioned to harvest a fluid of the user as a source for replacement saliva for the user.

2. The salivary gland assembly of claim 1, wherein the implant member is configured and dimensioned to be at least partially implanted in mandibular or maxillary bone of the user;

wherein the fluid is interstitial fluid or marrow fluid; and

wherein the implant member and the insert member utilize fluid from a first fluid reservoir within the mandibular or maxillary bone as the source for replacement saliva for the user, and wherein the implant member includes a second fluid reservoir at an apical portion of the implant member, the first fluid reservoir in communication with the second fluid reservoir.

3. The salivary gland assembly of claim 1, wherein the implant member and the insert member include porous walls to harvest the fluid;

and

wherein the insert member is configured to screw or snap fit into the implant member.

4. The salivary gland assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert member includes a piston member, the piston member configured to be driven, at least in part, by tooth contact forces of the user to harvest the fluid as the source for replacement saliva for the user.

5. The salivary gland assembly of claim 4, wherein the piston member is driven, at least in part, by masticatory forces or incidental tooth contact during swallowing forces of the user on the piston member to harvest the fluid as the source for replacement saliva for the user.

6. The salivary gland assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert member includes treatment materials to adjust or alter the chemistry of the fluid;

and

wherein the treatment materials include semi-permeable membranes or soluble particles.

7. The salivary gland assembly of claim 4, wherein the piston member is a piston head;

and

wherein the piston head is in fluid communication with a one-way valve.

8. The salivary gland assembly of claim 4, wherein the piston member utilizes the tooth contact forces of the user to:

(i) harvest the fluid, (ii) drive the fluid to flow through treatment materials to alter or adjust the chemistry of the fluid, and (iii) drive the fluid to an oral cavity of the user.

9. The salivary gland assembly of claim 1, wherein the implant member is substantially hollow and the insert member is removable and replaceable from the implant member.

10. The salivary gland assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert member includes an outer chamber in fluid communication with the fluid;

and

wherein when tooth contact forces of the user engage the insert member, the outer chamber is pressurized, thereby causing fluid to flow through the insert member and out of an outlet of the insert member and into an oral cavity of the user.

11. The salivary gland assembly of claim 10 further comprising a valve member associated with the insert member;

and

wherein when the tooth contact forces cease engaging the insert member, the valve member closes and creates a vacuum in the outer chamber, thereby drawing additional fluid of the user into the outer chamber.

12. The salivary gland assembly of claim 11, wherein the insert member includes one or more spring members;

and

wherein when the tooth contact forces cease engaging the insert member, the one or more spring members facilitate the closing of the valve member.

13. The salivary gland assembly of claim 1 further comprising a crown member mounted with respect to the insert member, the crown member providing a coronal chewing surface for the user, and providing a chamber configured to house or treat the fluid.

14. The salivary gland assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert member includes a fluidically-driven piston member in communication with a fluid bladder member of a crown member, the fluid bladder member having an occlusal member mounted on a coronal end of the fluid bladder member;

and

wherein the fluidically-driven piston member is configured to be driven, at least in part, by tooth contact forces of the user on the occlusal member to harvest the fluid as the source for replacement saliva for the user.

15. The salivary gland assembly of claim 1 further comprising a filter member mounted to an apical end of the insert member, wherein the filter member is in communication with a fluid reservoir of the implant member.

16. The salivary gland assembly of claim 1 further comprising an abutment member, the abutment member configured to be at least partially disposed within the implant member, with the insert member configured to be at least partially disposed within the abutment member and at least partially disposed within the implant member to secure the abutment member, the insert member and the implant member to one another.

17. The salivary gland assembly of claim 16 further comprising a crown member mounted on a coronal end of the abutment member, and a piston member mounted on a coronal end of the insert member, the piston member configured to be driven, at least in part, by tooth contact forces of the user to harvest the fluid as the source for replacement saliva for the user.

18. The salivary gland assembly of claim 16, wherein the insert member is threadably engaged with the implant member to secure the abutment member, the insert member and the implant member to one another.

19. A salivary gland assembly comprising:

a hollow and substantially cylindrical implant member, the implant member configured and dimensioned to be at least partially implanted in jaw bone of a mouth of a user; and

a hollow and substantially cylindrical insert member at least partially disposed within the implant member;

wherein the implant member and the insert member are configured and dimensioned to harvest interstitial fluid or marrow fluid of the user as a source for replacement saliva for the user;

wherein the implant member and the insert member utilize fluid from a fluid reservoir within mandibular or maxillary bone as the source for replacement saliva for the user;

wherein the insert member includes a piston member, the piston member configured to be driven, at least in part, by masticatory forces or incidental tooth contact during swallowing forces of the user on the piston member to harvest the interstitial fluid or marrow fluid as the source for replacement saliva for the user;

wherein the insert member includes treatment materials to adjust or alter the chemistry of the interstitial fluid, the treatment materials including semi-permeable membranes or soluble particles; and

wherein the piston member utilizes the masticatory forces or incidental tooth contact during swallowing forces of the user to;

(i) harvest the fluid, (ii) drive the fluid to flow through the treatment materials to alter or adjust the chemistry of the fluid, and (iii) drive the fluid to an oral cavity of the user.

20. A method for harvesting fluid comprising:

providing an implant member, the implant member configured and dimensioned to be at least partially disposed within a mouth of a user; and

disposing an insert member at least partially within the implant member;

wherein the implant member and the insert member are configured and dimensioned to harvest a fluid of the user as a source for replacement saliva for the user.