Homogeneous Dental Appliance Button Protrusion Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental appliances for sleep apnea, such as the Elastic Mandibular Advancement (EMAO) device, face issues with button protrusions detaching over time due to cementing methods, leading to instability and increased risk of detachment with use.
Innovation Solution
A dental appliance is designed using direct manufacture techniques, incorporating 3D printing or injection molding with materials like light polymerizable liquid thermoset crosslinked polymers or Ethylene Propylene Copolymers, featuring homogeneous upper and lower trays with integrated button protrusions and vertical displacement bite pads, eliminating the need for additional components and reducing detachment risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If button protrusions are attached using cementing methods, then the dental appliance can be assembled, but the button protrusions detach over time leading to instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the button protrusions directly into the dental trays through homogeneous manufacturing, merging previously separate components (trays and buttons) into a single unified structure. This eliminates the cementing interface that caused detachment, resolving the reliability issue while maintaining assembly capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The button protrusions are pre-formed as integral parts of the dental trays during the homogeneous manufacturing process, rather than being attached later. This preliminary integration ensures structural stability from the outset and prevents the detachment problems associated with post-assembly cementing methods.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used in the dental appliance, then the appliance can be assembled and adjusted, but the device complexity increases and detachment risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (upper tray, lower tray, button protrusions, bite pads) into a homogeneous integrated structure manufactured as a single piece. This reduces device complexity and eliminates assembly-related detachment risks while preserving the functional adaptability through elastic bands and integrated adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The homogeneous dental trays are designed to perform multiple functions: providing structural support, containing integrated button protrusions for positioning, incorporating bite pads for vertical displacement, and working with elastic bands for adjustment. This multi-functionality within a unified structure reduces overall device complexity while maintaining versatility.
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
The solution provides a stable dental appliance with reduced risk of button protrusion detachment, ensuring effective airflow during sleep by maintaining the forward mandibular position through the use of elastic bands, thereby addressing the instability issues of existing appliances.
Implementation Method 1
forming a dental appliance via direct manufacture using the dentition data, the vertical displacement and the forward mandibular position, the dental appliance including a lower dental tray and an upper dental tray... The dental appliance is formed by three-dimensional (3D) printing of one or more of a light polymerizable liquid thermoset crosslinked polymer
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and systems herein relate to receiving dentition data of a patient; processing the dentition data in a server to determine a vertical displacement and a forward mandibular position to enable the patient to breathe during sleep by opening the airway of the patient; and forming a homogeneous dental appliance via direct manufacture using the processed dentition data, the vertical displacement and the forward mandibular position, the dental appliance including a lower dental tray and an upper dental tray, the lower dental tray inclusive of a pair of vertical displacement bite pads with the vertical displacement and a first pair of button protrusions, the upper dental tray inclusive of a second pair of button protrusions, the first pair of button protrusions and the second pair of button protrusions providing the forward mandibular position when two elastic bands are attached to connect the upper dental tray and the lower dental tray.