Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital to Transfer Customized Occlusal Therapy System for RMB 3 Million

Recently, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, intends to transfer two items through listed trading via the Shanghai Technology Exchange."Patent Technology Related to 'Customized Temporomandibular Joint Repositioning Occlusal Splint'", the assignee isHangzhou Yazhi Medical Technology Co., Ltd., the proposed transfer amount is RMBRMB 3 million。

The inventors of the patented technology in this project are experts in the field of stomatology at Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.The research team led by He Dongmei.

The team has long been dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation technology development for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, boasting extensive clinical experience and robust research capabilities in oral and maxillofacial surgery and occlusal reconstruction. By innovatively integrating digital design with personalized medicine, the team has developed a TMJ repositioning occlusal splint featuring precise positioning and customization capabilities, thereby providing more efficient and comfortable treatment solutions for affected patients. The team also includes professionals such as Yang Zhi, Zhu Huimin, and Hua Jiangshan, forming a collaborative innovation group that emphasizes both medical-engineering integration and the balance between clinical practice and translational research.

The assignee of this patented technology, Hangzhou Yazhi Medical Technology Co., Ltd., is a high-tech enterprise dedicated to research at the intersection of stomatology and human anatomy.

The companyNew Technologies for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint DisordersFocusing on core R&D directions, it participated in relevant projects under the 2020 National Key R&D Program, holds more than 20 key patents in gnathological technologies, and has established platform-based advantages encompassing diagnostic and treatment standards, algorithm design, and SaaS systems [3-5].

Company Rated“Hangzhou Fledgling Enterprise” “Innovative SME”qualifications. Its business scope covers technical development, medical device sales, artificial intelligence software development, and other fields. It has been listed.19Products for the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders.

The two technological achievements involved in this transfer includeA Customized Occlusal Therapy System for Temporomandibular Joint Disorders, mainly includingAn Occlusal Splint Based on Personalized Mandibular Correction Position Design and Fabrication, and Its Matching Adjustable Device.

This technology package integrates patient dentition data with clinical orthodontic positioning methods to achieve precise and stable temporomandibular joint (TMJ) repositioning and occlusal reconstruction. It features a modular structural design adaptable to various tooth morphologies, balancing scientific rigor in treatment with ease of use.

In clinical practice, temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) are a common condition affecting the oral and maxillofacial region. The temporomandibular joint is the only paired joint in the maxillofacial area that functions bilaterally in coordination, responsible for daily movements such as mouth opening and closing, protrusion and retrusion of the mandible, lateral excursions, as well as mastication. The prevalence of this disorder among adultsUp to 33%, reaching even higher levels among orthodontic patients53.28%。

Its primary clinical manifestations include pain in the temporomandibular joint region and surrounding masticatory muscles, which may be accompanied by migraines, neck and shoulder pain, joint clicking or crepitus, and abnormal mandibular movements, such as limited mouth opening, deviation of the opening path, or joint locking. Studies have shown thatOcclusal Factorsare significant contributing factors to this condition, including occlusal interference, premature contacts, missing posterior teeth, and excessive reduction of vertical dimension; particularly deep overbite (excessive vertical overlap of the upper anterior teeth over the lower anterior teeth), excessive overjet (excessive horizontal distance between the upper and lower anterior teeth), and retroclined incisors with locked bite.

Therefore,Correction of Malocclusionbecoming a key component of treatment, andOcclusal Splintis a commonly used occlusal therapy tool.

Currently, occlusal splints commonly used in clinical practice are predominantly made of polymer resin materials with a soft side and a hard side, formed in a single step through high-temperature compression molding. Their primary function is to protect the temporomandibular joint by isolating direct contact between the upper and lower teeth and redistributing occlusal forces.

However, due to their one-piece molded design, these traditional occlusal splints often fail to conform to the actual oral anatomy of patients. This mismatch is particularly pronounced in patients with protruding teeth (overjet), severe malocclusion, or dental anomalies. Furthermore, such designs do not facilitate the adjustment of mandibular position as required for treatment.

Furthermore, this type of occlusal splint relies on the elastic clamping force of its hard surface for retention on the teeth. However, in patients with significant dental protrusion, such as those with buck teeth, poor fit between the splint and the teeth can lead to unstable retention, making the device prone to dislodgement during use.

More notably, the structure of existing occlusal splints is relatively simple, lacking specificity in correcting complex occlusal disorders. Particularly after reduction of the temporomandibular joint disc, patients’ occlusal relationships undergo changes.

For patients who are still in the growth phase and present with dentofacial deformities, it is necessary not only to maintain the new occlusal position after reduction but also to leverage this position to promote new bone formation in the condyle (the head of the mandibular joint), thereby guiding normal jaw development, reducing the severity of the deformity, and creating favorable conditions for subsequent orthodontic treatment.

Currently, there is a clinical lack of customized occlusal splints that can simultaneously meet the requirements of personalized fit, stable retention, and support for guided jaw growth.

To address the limitations of existing occlusal splints in terms of individual fit, stability, and treatment specificity, and to meet the clinical needs for maintaining occlusal relationships and guiding jaw growth after temporomandibular joint disc repositioning, this patent portfolio proposesAn Innovative Occlusal Splint System Integrating Personalized Design, Adjustable Structure, and Precise Repositioning Functions.

The customized temporomandibular joint repositioning occlusal splint system proposed in this patent portfolio has its core advantage inTruly achieving personalized and precise treatment.Traditional occlusal splints are mostly preformed or semi-customized, making it difficult to conform to each patient’s unique dental arch morphology and occlusal relationship. This issue of poor fit is particularly pronounced in patients with complex malocclusions, such as deep overbite, excessive overjet, or locked bite due to lingually inclined anterior teeth.

This technology overcomes this limitation through a comprehensive digital workflow: First, clinicians scientifically determine the optimal stabilization position for the patient’s mandible using one of three approaches—muscle deprogramming (to relieve abnormal tension in the masticatory muscles via specific techniques), guiding the mandible into protrusion until temporomandibular joint clicking resolves, or directly following reduction of the articular disc (whether achieved through manual manipulation or surgical intervention). Subsequently, precise three-dimensional data of the patient’s full dentition are acquired, and computer-aided design is employed to create an integrated occlusal splint based on the previously determined corrective position.

This means that the final fabricated appliance not only perfectly conforms to the morphology of the patient’s own upper and lower dental arches, but more critically, it precisely maintains the mandible in the position most favorable for temporomandibular joint rehabilitation.Achieved a leap from “approximate matching” to “biomechanically precise matching.”

In terms of therapeutic mechanisms and clinical efficacy,This patent portfolio demonstrates advancements that go beyond mere symptom relief. Its integrally molded occlusal splint body, by simultaneously enveloping and connecting the upper and lower dental arches, acts as a precise “positioner” capable of stably maintaining the mandibular condyle (the head of the temporomandibular joint) in the correct position within the glenoid fossa.

This not only helps alleviate symptoms such as pain and clicking caused by disc displacement or muscle dysfunction, but also creates conditions for more in-depth treatment:A stable joint environment facilitates the repair and new bone formation of the condyle undergoing remodeling.This is crucial for patients who are in the growth and development stage and have secondary jaw deformities (such as mandibular retrusion or deviation) due to joint problems.

This occlusal splint not only maintains the outcomes achieved after surgical reduction but also guides jaw growth in a normal direction, thereby reducing the severity of the deformity and establishing a stable skeletal foundation for subsequent conventional orthodontic treatment.A novel sequential treatment paradigm of “joint stabilization–bone remodeling–orthodontic correction” has been established.

In terms of the physical design and user experience of medical devices,The utility model solutions within the patent portfolio offer significant advantages in flexibility and reliability. To address variations in patient dentition counts and severe misalignment of individual teeth (such as protruding teeth), the design adopts a modular approach. The occlusal splint consists of multiple connectable units, each independently adaptable to a single tooth, and interconnected through the insertion of snap-fit heads and posts to form an integrated assembly.

More ingeniously, a metal shaping wire running through all the monomers allows clinicians to fine-tune the overall curvature of the occlusal splint after placement, thereby achieving more optimal repositioning outcomes. In terms of retention design, each monomer is equipped with a spring clip and an adjustable pad. The spring clip exerts continuous force toward the lingual (inner) surface of the teeth, working in conjunction with the anterior portion of the housing to provide gentle yet sustained clamping force. This dynamic clamping mechanism conforms particularly well to the natural concave morphology of the lingual tooth surfaces, ensuring stable retention even for protruded teeth and effectively addressing the common issue of traditional occlusal splints being prone to dislodgement.

This adjustable and modular design enables a single occlusal splint to flexibly accommodate the needs of different treatment stages, thereby extending the device’s service life and enhancing patient comfort and compliance.

In summary, the overall advancement of this patent portfolio is reflected in its integration of precise biomechanical therapeutic targets, long-term planning for tissue regeneration, and human-centered device design.

It is no longer a passive “spacer” for isolating the teeth, but an active treatment system that performs joint positioning, skeletal guidance, and is highly personalized. This represents a significant direction in the occlusal treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD), shifting from standardization to precision and from passive relief to active reconstruction.

To address the current clinical pain points of traditional occlusal splints, including poor fit, unstable retention, and an inability to meet the needs for maintaining occlusion and guiding growth after temporomandibular joint reduction, domestic and international enterprises and research institutions are continuously exploring more advanced digital diagnostic and therapeutic devices as well as personalized rehabilitation solutions.

In the international market,South Korean Digital Health StartupsBeyond MedicineFocusing on the field of AI-based digital therapeutics, with a core commitment to symptom improvement and self-management for patients with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD).

The company's core product in the field of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) treatment is“Clickless DTx” Digital Therapeutic Device, this device breaks away from the existing drug/device-centric treatment model by innovatively adopting an app-based, non-invasive therapeutic approach focused on behavioral control and habit improvement, demonstrating significant differentiation at both the technological and market levels.

Currently, the product has been designated by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of South Korea as the first innovative medical device in the field of dentistry. Exploratory and confirmatory clinical studies have been completed in collaboration with Seoul National University Dental Hospital and Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital. Notably, the results of the 2022 exploratory clinical trial were published in the world-renowned Journal of Dentistry.

In China，Shanghai Zhengya Dental Technology Co., Ltd.Focusing on the fields of oral diagnosis and treatment related to invisible orthodontics and jaw position reconstruction, it has jointly developed the GS Jaw Position Reconstruction Technology with the Taikang Shengang Orthodontic Team in the field of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) treatment.

This technology takes facial form as its breakthrough point, incorporating factors such as occlusion, alveolar process prominence, and jaw relationships into diagnostic and treatment criteria. While correcting teeth, it effectively improves associated facial aesthetic issues, demonstrates significant efficacy in the clinical treatment of certain cases of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD), and provides non-surgical options for facial contour improvement for both adult and adolescent patients.

Currently, this technology has entered the stage of widespread clinical application and industrial commercialization, with the cumulative number of application cases both domestically and internationally exceeding100,000Example, the relevant devices have successfully obtained utility model patent applications in China and overseas countries such as Spain, Germany, Japan, and the Philippines, and the technology has successfully entered major markets including Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Southeast Asia.

Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical UniversityFocusing on the prevention, treatment, and reconstructive strategies for temporomandibular joint disorders, Professor Jiao Kai’s team in the Department of Stomatology has developedOSPPB Dual-Responsive Hydrogel.

This smart hydrogel forms a dynamic cross-linked network through the modification of sodium alginate with aldehyde-functionalized phenylboronic acid and polyethyleneimine–protocatechuic acid complexes. It incorporates bevacizumab-functionalized bioactive glass nanoparticles that respond to the acidic (pH) and oxidative stress (ROS) microenvironment of the joint cavity to achieve precise controlled drug release. By clearing extracellular nucleic acids (exRNA) to block neurovascular signal amplification pathways and sustainably releasing bevacizumab to inhibit VEGF function, it effectively suppresses neurovascularization, simultaneously improves pain-related behavioral metrics, and promotes structural regeneration at the cartilage–bone interface. This approach provides a new paradigm for synchronous therapy in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA), shifting from symptom control to pathological reversal.

This achievement is currently in the preclinical research stage. The related research paper has been published in Nature Communications, and experiments have confirmed its efficacy; however, clinical trials have not yet been initiated.

Driven by the industry trends toward precision medicine and digitalization, the diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD), particularly subtypes associated with malocclusion, will continue to attract innovative forces from multiple fields, including medical devices, digital therapeutics, and biomaterials.

Looking ahead, advancements in this field will depend increasingly on the deep integration of clinical needs, engineering technologies, and evidence-based medicine. Regardless of the technological pathway, ultimate breakthroughs will stem from a more profound understanding of the complex biomechanical mechanisms of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), as well as from rigorous clinical research that delivers truly safe, effective, and accessible comprehensive treatment solutions for patients across precise diagnosis, efficacy validation, and long-term management.