Adjustable Hose Support for Dental Instrument Arm Bending Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dental care unit instrument arms do not allow for easy adjustment of bending resistance according to the weight of hand instruments, leading to inconsistent user experience due to varying instrument weights and personal preferences.

Innovation Solution

The instrument arm's bending resistance is adjusted by varying the position of the hose support relative to the arm, allowing for customizable removal resistance through adjustable positioning of the support organ along the instrument arm, which can be implemented using a mechanism like an eccentric trunnion and locking system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the instrument arm uses a fixed bending resistance design, then the structure is simple, but the removal resistance cannot be adjusted for different instrument weights

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability of bending resistanceVSAvoidcomplexity of adjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hose support is made movable along the instrument arm, allowing the bending resistance to be dynamically adjusted by changing the support position. This enables the same instrument arm to adapt to different instrument weights without requiring multiple fixed-resistance arms, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The bending resistance parameter is changed by varying the position of the hose support along the instrument arm. By adjusting this positional parameter, the removal resistance can be optimized for different instrument weights, achieving adaptability without complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the hose support is positioned far from the instrument arm, then the removal resistance is low, but the hose may become loose and interfere with operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of instrument removalVSAvoidhose interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hose support position is made adjustable rather than fixed, allowing users to dynamically optimize the position based on the specific instrument being used. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the system to adapt to different scenarios - positioning the support to achieve appropriate hose tension and removal resistance for each case.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the hose support is positioned close to the instrument arm, then the removal resistance is high, but it requires excessive force to remove instruments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehose tightnessVSAvoidease of instrument removal
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustable hose support allows users to move the support to positions that optimize removal resistance for different instrument weights. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction by enabling the system to achieve appropriate hose tension without requiring excessively high removal resistance that would hamper instrument removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2086447B1Arrangement for adjusting the bending resistance of an instrument arm
Publication Date: 2016.08.24 PLANMECA
  • EP2086447B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2086447B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2086447B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c

AI summary

The invention concerns an arrangement for adjusting the bending resistance of an instrument arm (8) of a dental care unit, said arrangement comprising at least one instrument arm (8) attached to an instrument console (5) and provided with a hose support (9) for supporting an instrument hose (7). According to the invention, the position of the hose support (9), or the position of the support provided for the instrument hose (7) by the hose support (9), is arranged to be adjustable.