Bilateral Illumination Attachment for Dental Camera Sub-Enamel Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
There are no lighting devices that are reversibly attachable to existing dental cameras for sub-enamel or bilateral illumination of teeth, preventing existing dental cameras from capturing images of the illuminated interior of teeth effectively.
Innovation Solution
A bilateral illumination attachment for dental cameras that is reversibly attachable, sterilizable, and includes a motherboard, battery, and dual light tooth cups with first and second light sources, allowing for sub-enamel or bilateral illumination of teeth by projecting light from both the buccal and lingual sides, enabling the camera to capture images of the scattered light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a bilateral illumination attachment is added to a dental camera, then sub-enamel illumination capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bilateral illumination attachment is divided into separate modular components: a body housing containing the motherboard and battery, and detachable dual light tooth cups with light sources. This segmentation allows the illumination functionality to be added without permanently complicating the base dental camera system, and components can be sterilized independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment is designed to be reversibly attachable to existing dental cameras, making the illumination system universally compatible with multiple camera models. The same attachment can also accommodate different dual light tooth cup configurations, providing multi-functionality without requiring separate systems for different purposes.
2Illumination intensity
If light sources are added for bilateral illumination, then illumination coverage is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system uses controllable light sources that can be activated periodically or on-demand rather than continuously. The motherboard controls the timing and duration of light emission from the dual light tooth cups, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining adequate illumination coverage for capturing tooth images.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces potential high-energy illumination methods with efficient LED or similar low-power light sources. This substitution provides sufficient illumination coverage for dental imaging while consuming minimal energy, allowing the battery to operate for extended periods.
3Reliability
If the attachment is made sterilizable, then hygiene compliance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment components (body and dual light tooth cups) are designed as separate sterilizable units with smooth surfaces and minimal crevices. This segmentation allows each component to be independently sterilized using standard autoclaving or chemical sterilization methods, ensuring hygiene compliance without requiring complex integrated sterilization systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The tooth cup components are designed with smooth, non-porous surfaces that resist bacterial adhesion and facilitate easy sterilization. The structural design avoids complex geometries that would trap contaminants, making the components compatible with standard sterilization processes while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
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 effective sub-enamel or bilateral illumination of teeth, allowing dental cameras to capture images of internal tooth conditions, such as fractures or decay, while being easily attachable and sterilizable for hygiene purposes.
Implementation Method 1
projecting light into the interior of the tooth from both the buccal side of the tooth and the lingual side of the tooth where this light is scattered in the interior of the tooth to exit the tooth from the coronal surface
Data Source
AI summary
Bilateral illumination attachment for dental camera is a light source that is reversibly attachable to any dental camera. Bilateral illumination attachment for dental camera has two light sources that directly face each other. When properly attached to a dental camera, bilateral illumination attachment for dental camera effectuates sub-enamel illumination or bilateral illumination of a tooth, so that the dental camera may capture a photo or image of the illuminated tooth. Bilateral illumination attachment for dental camera has a specially shaped rigid body that makes a slip-fit, press-fit, or snap-fit with the exterior surface of any dental camera. The distal end of specially shaped rigid body is sterilizeable. Bilateral illumination attachment for dental camera has a plurality of replaceable tooth cups where each tooth cup contains the two light sources. Replaceable tooth cups are placed on the tooth to effectuate sub-enamel illumination or bilateral illumination. Replaceable tooth cups are sterilizeable.