Dental Appliance With Extendable Cleaning Elements For Adhesive Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for removing dental adhesive from the gums of denture wearers are inefficient, as conventional toothbrushes lack sufficient stiffness and fingers are too large and slippery to effectively clean the adhesive from confined areas, leading to incomplete removal and potential irritation.

Innovation Solution

A dental appliance with a body containing semi-rigid to rigid cleaning elements, resembling a toothbrush, featuring a handle, cylindrical or grooved bores, and a Y-shaped extension with textured edges to engage and remove adhesive, allowing for targeted cleaning of the gums.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional toothbrushes are used to remove dental adhesive, then the cleaning action is gentle, but the bristles are not stiff enough to effectively remove the adhesive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestiffness of cleaning elementVSAvoidinability to remove adhesive

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameter of the cleaning element from soft bristles to semi-rigid to rigid structures, enabling effective removal of bonded dental adhesive while still allowing safe use in the mouth

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If fingers are used to remove dental adhesive, then the skin is soft and flexible, but the fingers are too large and slippery to reach confined areas and effectively remove adhesive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to confined areasVSAvoidinability to remove adhesive

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The appliance divides the cleaning function into multiple separate cleaning elements positioned in bores, allowing each element to independently access different confined areas of the mouth while maintaining the necessary rigidity to remove adhesive

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extends cleaning elements through bores in three-dimensional space, allowing them to reach confined areas that fingers cannot access, while the elements maintain rigidity through their structural design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Strength

If the cleaning elements are made rigid to remove adhesive, then the adhesive can be effectively removed, but the appliance becomes harder to maneuver in confined areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to remove adhesiveVSAvoidmaneuverability in mouth

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The appliance segments the rigid cleaning structure into multiple separate elements that can move independently within bores, allowing the appliance body to remain stable while individual cleaning elements access different areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning elements are designed to be moveably positioned in the bores, allowing them to dynamically adjust their positions and orientations to access different confined areas while maintaining rigidity for effective adhesive removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11445812B2Dental appliance

Publication Date: 2022.09.20 SAGER FREDERICK

AI summary

A dental appliance for removing material from the mouth of a user is disclosed. The appliance has a body with a plurality of bores extending through the body. A cleaning element is positioned in each of the bores. The cleaning elements are disposed to extend beyond the body and are moveably positioned in the bores.