Bendable Endodontic Tissue RetraCTOR With Adjustable Cheek Catch
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cheek retractors for dental procedures often fail to fit patients properly, causing accessibility issues and discomfort, and are difficult to insert and remove, potentially activating pharyngeal reflexes.
Innovation Solution
A tissue retractor design featuring a bendable and shape-holding bite pad, arm, and cheek retractor with adjustable length and frangible tabs, allowing for customizable fit and easy implementation, including a tooth registration block and cheek catch for enhanced oral cavity access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing cheek retractors are used to hold the patient's mouth open, then the dental professional can have easy access to the teeth, but the retractors are often not a proper fit for certain patients, leading to significant problems with surgical site accessibility and patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The cheek retractor is designed as a bendable device that can be shaped to fit different patient anatomies. The device includes a bite pad, arm, and cheek retractor portion that can be bent into different configurations to accommodate varying mouth sizes and anatomical structures, while maintaining the function of holding the mouth open for dental access
Solution Approach 2:
The device allows for parameter changes in its physical configuration through bending and shaping. The cheek retractor can be adjusted to different angles and positions to match individual patient anatomies, transforming from a standardized form into a customized fit without requiring multiple different devices
2Ease of operation
If existing cheek retractors are used to hold the patient's mouth open, then the dental professional can have easy access to the teeth, but the retractors are difficult to insert and remove, potentially activating patient's pharyngeal reflexes
Solution Approach 1:
The cheek retractor is pre-formed with a basic configuration that includes a bite pad, arm, and cheek retractor portion, but requires minimal final shaping by the practitioner. This preliminary formation allows for quick insertion without complex manipulation, reducing the risk of activating pharyngeal reflexes while still enabling customization for patient comfort
3Adaptability or versatility
If a bendable and shape-holding retractor design is used, then the device can accommodate varying mouth sizes and anatomies, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cheek retractor is constructed as a thin, flexible device that can be bent and shaped. This flexible construction allows the device to conform to different patient anatomies without requiring complex mechanisms, joints, or multiple components. The simplicity of the flexible structure reduces device complexity while maintaining high adaptability
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is a tissue retractor for use in endodontic procedures. The tissue retractor includes a bite pad having a proximal end and a distal end, a tooth registration block connected to the distal end of the bite pad, an arm having a proximal end and distal end, where the proximal end is connected to the tooth registration block such that the tooth registration block is between the bite pad and the arm, a cheek retractor having a proximal end, a distal end and a length, the length defining a top edge and a bottom edge, where the distal end of the cheek retractor is connected to the distal end of the arm, and at least one cheek catch extending from the top edge of the cheek retractor.