Dental Treatment Unit Common Actuator for Handle and Instrument Tray Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current dental treatment units face challenges with separate locking mechanisms for handles and instrument trays, which are cumbersome and increase the risk of contamination.

Innovation Solution

A dental treatment unit with a common actuating element that can be moved in different directions to unlock either the handle or the instrument tray, improving operability and reducing contamination risk.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate locking mechanisms are used for handle and instrument tray, then each component can be securely locked, but the device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking securityVSAvoidnumber of locking mechanisms

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two separate locking mechanisms into a single integrated locking mechanism that controls both the handle and instrument tray. The actuating element is connected to both locking mechanisms through a coupling mechanism, allowing one actuator to control both locks simultaneously, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining secure locking of both components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single actuating element serves multiple functions: it actuates the first locking mechanism for the handle and the second locking mechanism for the instrument tray. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate actuators, reducing the number of parts while ensuring both components can be securely locked and unlocked

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate locking mechanisms are used for handle and instrument tray, then each component can be independently secured, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to multiple actuators

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent securityVSAvoidnumber of actuators

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges two separate actuators into a single actuating element that controls both locking mechanisms. The actuating element is connected to the first locking mechanism directly and to the second locking mechanism through a coupling mechanism, allowing the user to secure or release both the handle and instrument tray with a single action

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The actuating element is designed with universal functionality to operate both the handle locking mechanism and the instrument tray locking mechanism. This single component performs multiple locking functions, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining secure attachment of both removable components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If separate locking mechanisms are used for handle and instrument tray, then each component can be securely mounted, but the risk of contamination increases due to multiple contact points

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting securityVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces the number of contact points between the user and removable components by combining two separate actuators into one. The single actuating element is positioned on the dentist element body, requiring the user to contact only this one component to release both the handle and instrument tray, thereby reducing contamination risk while maintaining secure mounting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of operation

If a common actuating element is used to control both locking mechanisms, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactuator accessibilityVSAvoidlocking mechanism integration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the locking control system into two independent but coordinated parts: the first locking mechanism for the handle and the second locking mechanism for the instrument tray. Both are controlled by a single actuating element through a coupling mechanism that allows independent operation of each lock while maintaining overall system simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250288479A1Mechanism for assembling and disassembling the handles and the instrument holder of a medical element

Publication Date: 2025.09.18 DENTSPLY SIRONA INC

AI summary

Dental treatment unit including: at least one removable handle; a removable instrument tray for depositing instruments, the instrument tray has one or more claws; a first locking mechanism for locking/unlocking the handle, in the unlocked state, the handle is removable from the dentist element; a second locking mechanism for locking/unlocking the instrument tray, in the unlocked state, the instrument tray including the claws is removable from the dentist element; a dentist element which includes a movable actuating element which can actuate the first locking mechanism to unlock the handle, and the same movable actuating element can individually actuate the second unlocking mechanism to unlock the instrument tray.