One-Handed Dental Fluid Applicator with Sealed Parylene Container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental liquid applicators require two-handed operation, are complex to use, and can leak due to chemical aggression, leading to environmental contamination.
Innovation Solution
A one-handed dental liquid applicator with a sealed container and a flexible line, featuring a mechanically pierceable film and a parylene coating, which allows for easy opening and safe dispensing of dental liquids using a displacement piston, eliminating the need for additional caps and enhancing chemical resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a breakable ampoule is used to store dental liquid, then the applicator can be operated with one hand, but the operation becomes complicated and requires multiple dips
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the dental liquid from a separate breakable ampoule and integrates it directly into the applicator body in a sealed, non-breakable container. This eliminates the need for separate ampoules and multiple dipping operations, allowing continuous one-handed operation without complicated preparation steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The dental liquid is pre-loaded and sealed within the applicator container before use. The sealed container is designed to be opened directly at the point of use by breaking the seal, rather than requiring separate ampoule breaking and multiple dipping actions. This preliminary preparation simplifies the operation to a single continuous action.
2Reliability
If caps are added to prevent dental fluid escape, then chemical aggression is reduced, but the caps can come off unintentionally and cause leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is pre-formed as an integral part of the container structure rather than being a separate cap that can be lost. The breakable seal is already in place when the applicator is assembled, eliminating the need for separate capping operations and preventing unintentional leakage during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal is merged with the container structure as an integral component rather than being a separate removable cap. This integration ensures the seal remains attached during operation while still allowing controlled opening by breaking the seal with the displacement piston.
3Reliability
If a thick film is used to seal the container, then chemical resistance is improved, but the film becomes difficult to pierce mechanically
Solution Approach 1:
The film is designed with non-uniform thickness: thick in most areas to provide chemical resistance and seal integrity, but with a locally thinned area or weakness point that concentrates stress during piercing. This allows the thick film to maintain its protective function while being pierceable at the intended location by the displacement piston.
Solution Approach 2:
The film thickness parameter is varied across different regions of the seal. By creating a gradient or localized thinning, the film maintains sufficient overall thickness for chemical resistance while having a specific area that can be mechanically pierced with acceptable force by the displacement piston.
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
Enables simple, safe, and efficient one-handed operation with reduced preparation time, preventing environmental contamination and ensuring complete dispensing of dental liquids.
Implementation Method 1
Until the container is opened in the applicator, the film seals the container and prevents the dental liquid from escaping and thus contamination of the environment
Implementation Method 2
The pressure that is applied with one hand in the manner of a syringe can be sufficient to force the dental liquid through the line to the surface of the applicator tip
Implementation Method 3
The coating also causes the container to be sealed. The coating creates an additional barrier for the dental liquid and thus also prevents contamination of the environment with the dental liquid or components thereof
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The applicator (1) has a handle present at an end of the applicator for pressing a container (3) in a cavity. A cylindrical displacing piston (4) remains at a same position relative to a line during insertion of side walls of the container in the cavity such that a dental fluid (2) is compressed from interior of the container by the line. A drive mechanism expels the fluid from the container for slashing or driving a film (16) with a pin. The container is opened using force with which the fluid is discharged. The container is coated using polymer i.e. parylene.