Dental Cleaning Apparatus Using Rotational Fluid Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dental and endodontic procedures are painful and often incomplete, as they fail to remove all diseased material from teeth, leading to post-procedure complications such as infection, due to the use of mechanical instruments that can force organic material into periapical tissues and cause trauma.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method utilizing a chamber with a fluid motion generator to create rotational fluid motion within a tooth, coupled with a suction port to remove fluid, effectively cleaning and disinfecting the tooth without damaging healthy dentin or enamel, using pressure waves and fluid motion to remove unhealthy materials from both interior and exterior surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mechanical instruments such as drills and files are used to clean teeth and root canals, then the cleaning procedure can be performed, but painful sensations occur and not all diseased material is removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical instruments (drills, files) with acoustic energy delivery devices that generate pressure waves and cavitation effects in fluid to remove diseased material. This substitution eliminates mechanical contact with tooth structures, reducing pain while improving cleaning effectiveness through cavitation bubbles that disrupt and remove organic material from root canals and tooth surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses fluid dynamics and pressure wave generation to achieve cleaning. Acoustic energy is delivered through fluid media to create cavitation effects that remove diseased material. The system utilizes hydraulic principles where pressure waves propagate through fluid to dislodge and remove organic material without direct mechanical contact.
2Productivity
If endodontic files are used to open canal spaces, then organic material can be removed, but material may be forced through apical opening into periapical tissues causing trauma
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical endodontic files with acoustic energy delivery. Pressure waves and cavitation effects in fluid remove organic material from canal spaces without physical penetration through the apical opening. This eliminates the mechanism by which material could be forced into periapical tissues, preventing trauma while maintaining effective cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces fluid as an intermediary medium between the acoustic energy source and the organic material. The acoustic energy acts through the fluid to create cavitation effects that remove material, rather than direct mechanical contact. This intermediary approach allows effective removal while controlling the direction and force of material ejection, preventing it from being forced into periapical tissues.
3Productivity
If conventional mechanical drilling is used to break up carious regions, then cavities can be removed, but the procedure is painful and may not remove all diseased material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical drilling with acoustic energy delivery devices. Pressure waves and cavitation effects in fluid break up and remove carious regions and diseased material. This non-mechanical approach eliminates pain associated with drilling while improving completeness of removal through the penetrating ability of acoustic waves and cavitation bubbles to reach all affected areas.
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 enables safe and efficient removal of unhealthy materials from teeth, reducing the risk of infection and discomfort, while ensuring minimal damage to healthy tooth structures, thereby improving patient outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid motion generator configured to generate rotational fluid motion in the chamber
Implementation Method 2
a suction port communicating with the chamber on a side of the chamber opposite of the access port
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
Various systems, method, and compositions for treating a tooth are disclosed herein. For example, an apparatus for treating a tooth is disclosed. The apparatus can include a chamber having an access port which places the chamber in fluid communication with a treatment region of the tooth when the chamber is coupled to tooth. A fluid motion generator can be coupled to the chamber. The fluid motion generator can be configured to direct fluid across the access port to generate fluid motion in the chamber. In various embodiments, fluid motion (e.g., vortices, swirl, etc.) can be induced at or near treatment regions of the tooth, such as a root canal or carious region.