Bendable Intraoral Sensor with Grooved Case for X-Ray Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional digital intraoral sensors are rigid, leading to discomfort and potential pain for patients during X-ray procedures due to their inability to conform to the shape of the mouth, and they can cause image distortion.

Innovation Solution

A bendable intraoral sensor design featuring a sensing unit with a flexible substrate and a case structure that allows for variable bending, with grooves in the case to adjust the bending level and minimize distortion, and a support on the rear surface to limit bending and enhance comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a rigid digital intraoral sensor is used, then image quality and digital detection capability are improved, but patient comfort deteriorates due to inability to conform to oral structures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidpatient comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor is divided into multiple independent bending elements or segments that can flex independently, allowing the rigid sensing surface to adapt to curved oral structures while maintaining image quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A flexible substrate or thin film structure is used to mount the digital sensor, enabling the rigid electronic components to bend and conform to the patient's oral anatomy without compromising detection precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Ease of operation

If the sensor is made bendable to improve patient comfort, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to flexible structure requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient comfortVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical properties of the sensor substrate are changed by selecting materials with appropriate flexibility parameters, allowing the sensor to bend within controlled limits while maintaining structural integrity and simplifying manufacturing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the sensor is excessively bent to conform to oral structures, then patient comfort is improved, but image distortion increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient comfortVSAvoidimage accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor incorporates dynamic support mechanisms that adapt to bending程度, providing variable support to prevent excessive bending in regions where image accuracy is critical while allowing bending in regions that improve comfort

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 sensor reduces patient discomfort and minimizes image distortion by conforming to the oral structures, while maintaining the ability to generate accurate X-ray images.

Implementation Method 1

generating an electrical signal by detecting an X-ray passing through an object to be examined

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectX-ray detection: X-Ray

Data Source

PatentUS9636071B2Intraoral sensor

Publication Date: 2017.05.02 RAYENCE

AI summary

Provided is an intraoral sensor including an image sensor configured to bendable and to generate an electrical signal by detecting an X-ray; and a case configured to receive the image sensor and to limits a bending level of the image sensor.