Minne Ties: An Invention for Inter-Maxillary Fixation associated with Facial Trauma

This is an invention related to facial trauma therapy, namely, inter-maxillary fixation. The aim of this invention is to restore dental occlusion using an innovative, rapid, safe and non-invasive technique. An iterative prototyping process was developed with 3D printing, cadaver prototype testing, human apical embrasure measurement and ultimately non-significant risk human clinical trial testing. After achieving an institutional review board approval for feasibility clinical trial, Minne Ties were applied to mandible and maxilla fracture candidates with fractures amenable to intra-operative MMF with open reduction with internal fixation. The ties were removed prior to extubation. Pre-teens, comminuted fracture patients and patients requiring post-operative MMF were excluded. These digitally manufactured, sterile prototypes secured MMF successfully in management of unilateral and bilateral mandible and maxilla fractures; and all patients reported correction of pre-operative malocclusion. Application times were typically 12-15 minutes for a single surgeon to achieve MMF. Patients incurred negligible gingival trauma from the technology as the ties require no tissue penetration for application. In conclusion, dental occlusion ties were a non-invasive solution featuring operating room efficiency, minimizing sharps risk and bone/soft tissue trauma than current commercially available devices.