Indirect Bonding Tray Imaging for Accurate Bracket Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indirect bonding trays used in orthodontic treatments often have defects or misaligned dental brackets, leading to incorrect placements, arch wire bending, and prolonged treatment timelines due to the lack of effective quality control systems.
Innovation Solution
A quality control system and method that utilizes digital models and image processing to compare and identify variances in indirect bonding trays and dental brackets, ensuring accurate alignment and placement by using a processor to analyze digital images and generate models, and highlight structural and density variances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If indirect bonding trays are manually inspected without automated quality control systems, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision and reliability deteriorate due to defects in tooth pockets and bracket pockets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection with an automated optical imaging system that captures images of the bonding tray and uses image processing algorithms to detect defects in tooth pockets and bracket pockets. This substitution of mechanical/manual inspection with automated optical-digital systems resolves the contradiction by achieving high manufacturing precision through automated defect detection without requiring complex manual inspection procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy (image model) of the physical bonding tray by capturing images and generating an image model that represents the actual tray geometry. This digital copy is then compared against the designed geometry to identify variances and defects. The copying principle enables automated quality control by working with digital representations rather than physical inspection, improving precision while maintaining manageable system complexity
2Reliability
If automated image processing and digital model comparison are implemented, then manufacturing precision and defect detection improve, but device complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the image processing system captures images of the bonding tray, compares the image model against the designed geometry, identifies defects and variances, and provides feedback about the quality status. This feedback loop enables automated quality control with high reliability by continuously monitoring and reporting deviations from the orthodontic treatment plan, while the systematic feedback approach manages complexity through structured information flow
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an image model as an intermediary between the physical bonding tray and the quality assessment process. The image model serves as a digital representation that mediates the comparison between actual tray geometry and designed geometry. This intermediary enables automated analysis by translating physical features into processable digital data, improving reliability while managing system complexity through the use of an intermediate digital representation
3Manufacturing precision
If dental brackets are loaded without quality control verification, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to incorrect bracket placement and variances from treatment plan
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs quality control inspection before the bonding tray is used for bracket placement. By conducting defect detection and variance identification in advance, the system ensures that only trays meeting quality standards proceed to clinical use. This preliminary action principle resolves the contradiction by catching defects early in the process, ensuring accurate bracket placement without requiring rework during clinical procedures, thus maintaining both precision and productivity
Data Source
AI summary
A quality control system for maintaining quality control standards in the manufacture of indirect bonding trays and loading brackets into the indirect bonding trays.