Applicator Tip Flattened Conduit Grooves Uniform Dental Dam

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dental application endpieces fail to uniformly distribute and apply viscous or pasty products, such as those used for forming dental dams, leading to incomplete protection of gums during treatments like teeth whitening, as they either lack sufficient product delivery or result in uneven thickness, prompting practitioners to apply excessive pressure, which can expose parts of the gums.

Innovation Solution

An applicator tip with a flattened internal conduit and adjacent grooves ensures uniform distribution of viscous or pasty products, combined with a flexible spatula for controlled thickness and a rounded profile for comfortable application, compatible with Luer-lock syringes, facilitating the deposition of a strip or ribbon with consistent width and thickness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a conventional endpiece with fibrous bristles or spatula is used, then the device structure is simple, but the product distribution is uneven and thickness is inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct distribution uniformityVSAvoidendpiece structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The internal conduit is divided into multiple sections: a first portion with circular section and a second portion with flattened section. Adjacent grooves are introduced into the flattened portion to segment the product flow path, ensuring uniform distribution across the outlet width without requiring complex external mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the internal conduit are given different cross-sectional geometries (circular vs. flattened) to optimize product flow characteristics at different stages. The flattened portion with grooves specifically addresses the uniformity requirement at the outlet, while the circular portion maintains efficient product delivery from the syringe.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If the practitioner presses the spatula more strongly to compensate for insufficient product delivery, then the product quantity increases, but the gums are at risk of injury and product continuity is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct delivery quantityVSAvoidgum injury risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The internal conduit geometry (flattened section with adjacent grooves) is designed in advance to pre-distribute the product uniformly across the outlet width. This preliminary distribution ensures sufficient product quantity is delivered without requiring excessive spatula pressure, thereby preventing gum injury and maintaining product continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If the internal conduit has a circular section, then the device is simple to manufacture, but the product strip width and thickness are not uniform

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestrip width and thickness uniformityVSAvoidconduit manufacturing difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The internal conduit is divided into multiple sections: a first portion with circular section and a second portion with flattened section. Adjacent grooves are introduced into the flattened portion to segment the product flow path, ensuring uniform distribution across the outlet width without requiring complex external mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution allows for effective, uniform application of dental products, minimizing exposure risks and ensuring complete gum protection by delivering a consistent strip or ribbon of product, which can then be polymerized to form a protective dental dam.

Implementation Method 1

The internal conduit comprises at least one portion of flattened shape opening at the level of the outlet orifice, wherein said flattened portion comprises adjacent grooves on at least one of its sides. The adjacent grooves make it possible to uniformly distribute a viscous or pasty product in the flattened-shaped duct portion and to deliver a substantially constant quantity of product over the entire width of the duct portion.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

Another unclaimed subject of the invention is a process for forming a protective barrier or dental dam on a gum comprising the deposition on the gum of a strip or ribbon of a viscous or pasty photopolymerizable product by means of a application tip according to the invention, and the photopolymerization of said product.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotopolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentEP2459104B1Applicator tip
Publication Date: 2018.02.21 PROD DENTAIRES PIERRE ROLLAND
  • EP2459104B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~4
  • EP2459104B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to an applicator tip (100) for a viscous or pasty product, comprising a body (101) having a proximal end (102) that can be attached to a product-dispensing device and a distal end (103) provided with an outlet (104), wherein an internal channel (110) extends between the proximal and distal ends of the body. The internal channel (110) comprises at least one flattened portion (112) that opens out at the outlet (104) and includes adjacent grooves (113) on at least one of the sides thereof.