Orthodontic Aligner with Referencing Features for Force Measurement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current aligner therapy for tooth misalignments lacks a method to effectively determine treatment effectiveness and progress, as the force applied by plastic aligners degrades over time, making it difficult for dentists and patients to track therapy progress and determine when to change aligners.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating referencing features on aligners that can be detected by cameras or other means, allowing for force measurement through displacement analysis using force/displacement curves, enabling the calculation of forces applied to teeth and tracking of force changes over time, even after aligner removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If plastic aligners are used for tooth misalignment treatment, then treatment effectiveness can be achieved through force application, but the force degrades over time as the plastic material deforms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates force sensors within the aligner that continuously measure the force applied to teeth and transmit this data to a mobile device. This feedback mechanism allows patients and dentists to monitor force degradation in real-time, enabling timely alignment changes before the force becomes insufficient for effective treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-programmes the aligner with target force values and change intervals before treatment begins. The system proactively notifies patients and dentists when the aligner should be changed based on predetermined force degradation patterns, preventing treatment failure before it occurs.
2Reliability
If aligners are changed at regular intervals, then therapy effectiveness can be maintained, but there is no way to track progress or determine exact timing without trial and error
Solution Approach 1:
The force sensors provide continuous feedback on the actual force applied during treatment, allowing patients to see real-time data on their alignment progress. The mobile device displays graphs and information about force degradation, enabling informed decisions about when to change aligners based on actual treatment response rather than fixed schedules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical/clinical assessment method with electronic sensing and digital data collection. Force sensors electronically measure the physical quantity of force, and mobile devices digitally store and visualize treatment progress, eliminating the need for frequent clinical visits and subjective assessment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the plastic material deforms during wearing, then the aligner adapts to tooth movement, but the force applied to teeth is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The force sensors continuously monitor the force output and provide feedback when degradation occurs. This allows the system to distinguish between beneficial adaptation (tooth movement) and harmful force loss, enabling timely intervention before the force becomes insufficient for continued effective treatment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate determination of force applied to teeth, allowing for timely changes in aligners and ensuring consistent therapy effectiveness, using tools like mobile phone cameras and intraoral imaging devices for data visualization.
Implementation Method 1
determining the displacement of the at least two referencing features from each other relative to the initial state due to the application of force during the wearing of the aligner by the patient, by means of a recording obtained through a camera or another suitable means, e.g. for optical measurement
Implementation Method 2
In the course of wearing the aligner, the plastic material from which the aligner was manufactured deforms. As a result, the force applied to the tooth is reduced
Data Source
AI summary
An aligner for use in the treatment of malocclusions/misalignments by using force measurement of the aligner on the teeth. The aligner has at least two referencing features located on it in the initial state. The referencing features are of such a size, about or at least 10 micrometers, that they can be accurately detected by a camera or other means. The referencing features are of an optical or topographic kind.