Radiolucent Craniostat Bite Block Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing extraoral dental radiographic apparatuses face challenges in immobilizing patients comfortably and effectively during radiographic acquisitions, while maintaining radiolucency and structural integrity, and accommodating a wide range of patient sizes and anatomical variations, while also ensuring ease of use and economic manufacturing.

Innovation Solution

A craniostat with a removable and ergonomic design, utilizing a coupling system with four pins for stability and adjustability, featuring a lower portion with a height-adjustable bite and upper portion with friction-based adjusting mechanisms, made of radiolucent materials to minimize artifacts and ensure patient comfort and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the craniostat is made with thicker materials to ensure rigidity and patient immobility, then structural integrity is improved, but radiolucency deteriorates causing artifacts in radiographic images

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidradiographic artifacts

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The craniostat employs thin-walled radiolucent material structures that provide sufficient rigidity for immobilization while minimizing radiographic interference. The design uses optimized thin film construction to achieve the balance between mechanical strength and radiolucency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The craniostat utilizes composite material construction combining radiolucent materials with strategic reinforcement elements. This allows achieving both radiolucency for clear imaging and sufficient structural integrity for patient immobilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If the craniostat is designed to accommodate wide variability in patient sizes (14 cm to 18.5 cm cranium diameter), then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient size accommodationVSAvoidadjustment mechanisms

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The craniostat incorporates dynamic adjustment mechanisms including height-adjustable bite blocks and movable positioning arms that can be quickly adapted to different patient cranial sizes. These dynamic elements allow the device to accommodate the full range of patient dimensions without requiring multiple specialized fixtures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The craniostat is designed as a universal positioning device that can accommodate various patient sizes and radiographic techniques (panoramic, teleradiography, CBCT) through standardized adjustment ranges and modular components, reducing the need for multiple specialized devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the C-arm needs wide movement possibilities for various trajectories, then acquisition versatility is improved, but the anti-collision cylinder size increases requiring larger craniostat clearance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrajectory optionsVSAvoidanti-collision cylinder

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The craniostat is designed with segmented and modular components that can be independently adjusted or removed, allowing the C-arm to access various trajectories and angles. The modular construction enables clearance for wide C-arm movement while maintaining patient immobilization capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If contact parts of the craniostat are made disposable to ensure hygiene between patients, then ease of cleaning is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehygiene maintenanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The craniostat separates contact parts (bite blocks, forehead rests, ear molds) from the main structure, allowing these specific components to be disposable or easily removable for sterilization while the main device remains permanent and reusable, optimizing both hygiene and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2942014B1Craniostat for acquiring extraoral dental radiographies

Publication Date: 2018.03.21 CEFLA SOC COOP

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AI summary

Craniostat (20) for an extraoral dental radiographic apparatus (1), comprising a chin rest (52), a bite (54), both of which optionally removable, said bite (54) has centring surfaces having a predefined orientation with respect to a centring position of the bite itself, the bite being blocked in the blocking position through the tightening of said surfaces against tightening surfaces also having a predefined orientation with respect to a bite centring position, so that in tightened condition the bite (54) is also automatically brought in the correct centring position on the sagittal plane. Moreover, a method of use of the craniostat is described.