Anatomical Adaptable Drape for Dental Saliva Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental treatment materials and devices fail to effectively maintain therapeutic efficacy due to exposure to saliva contamination and salivary washout, with existing covers leaking or being unsuitable for individual anatomical variations, and requiring cumbersome and uncomfortable application methods.
Innovation Solution
An anatomical drape made of elastomeric material with a curing agent that conforms to the oral anatomy, providing a liquid-impermeable and gas-permeable barrier with internal channels for curing, allowing for a snug fit and extended therapeutic exposure time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid vacuum-formed plastic tray is used to cover teeth and gums, then the tray provides structural coverage, but it leaks treatment material and allows saliva to seep inside due to inability to adapt to varied topography
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from rigid plastic to flexible elastomeric material, enabling the drape to conform to varied anatomical topography while maintaining sealing effectiveness. The flexibility allows the material to adapt to individual patient anatomy without leaking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure combining elastomeric material with integrated curing agents and treatment material layers. This composite design provides both adaptability to anatomy and reliable sealing, as the elastomeric base material conforms to contours while the curing agent creates a sealed barrier.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom vacuum-formed trays are made for each patient, then the tray is tailored to individual anatomy, but the manufacturing process is complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the drape into modular components: an elastomeric base layer, integrated curing agent channels, and treatment material layers. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing while maintaining custom fit capability, as each layer can be produced separately and then assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates self-curing mechanisms where the elastomeric material contains integrated curing agents that activate upon contact with saliva or through light exposure. This self-service feature eliminates the need for complex external curing systems and simplifies the overall fabrication process.
3Reliability
If rubber dam barriers are used to prevent saliva ingress, then they provide effective barrier protection, but they are cumbersome, large, and preclude use of intra-oral mouthpieces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a drape that provides barrier protection only where needed - over the gums and treatment areas - rather than using a full-face rubber dam. The elastomeric material with integrated curing agents provides effective saliva barrier in specific anatomical regions, allowing intra-oral mouthpiece usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamic properties of the elastomeric material that can deform and adapt to the oral cavity anatomy, unlike rigid rubber dams. The material's flexibility allows it to conform to the shape of teeth and gums while maintaining barrier function, and it can be easily removed or adjusted to accommodate mouthpiece insertion.
4Reliability
If light curable foam materials are manually applied to the gingiva, then they create a protective barrier against peroxide, but the application is manually intensive and requires high skill level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates the protective barrier material and curing agents into the elastomeric drape during manufacturing. The drape is pre-formed with the protective layer already integrated, eliminating the need for manual application during the procedure. The barrier is ready to be deployed immediately upon insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses self-curing foam materials that automatically cure upon contact with saliva or through light exposure embedded in the elastomeric structure. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual curing operations and reduces the skill level required for application, as the material cures automatically in place.
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
The drape effectively maintains treatment materials in high concentration on the target tissues, preventing saliva contamination and washout, enhancing therapeutic outcomes by conforming to individual anatomy and providing a comfortable, secure fit.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric material capable of conforming to the contours of the anatomical part
Implementation Method 2
including a curing agent wherein activation of the curing agent causes hardening of the material to set the drape in a configuration conforming to the anatomical part
Implementation Method 3
providing a liquid-impermeable and gas-permeable barrier
Data Source
AI summary
An anatomical drape (1a or 1b), such as a dental drape, for covering a treatment area of an anatomical part, the drape comprising an elastomeric material capable of conforming to the contours of the anatomical part and including a curing agent (9) contained within internal channels distributed in the drape; and wherein activation of the curing agent, for example by a light source, causes hardening of the material to at least partially set the drape in a configuration conforming to the anatomical part. The semi-rigid set drape is liquid impermeable but gas permeable. A method of manufacturing the drape is also disclosed.