Disposable Dental Enamel Reduction Tool with Debris Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental devices for interproximal enamel reduction (IER) are costly, require frequent cleaning and sterilization, and have poor structural integrity due to construction from multiple metal pieces, leading to reduced useful life and increased procedure time due to debris accumulation during the enamel removal process.
Innovation Solution
A dental apparatus with a blade portion featuring an abrasive surface for enamel removal, coupled with a handle that includes a pressure-fit mechanism for reciprocating motion, channeling debris away through apertures, and constructed from a metal frame enveloped by a durable plastic or composite body for strength and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If tools are constructed from multiple pieces of metal coupled together using welds, rivets, or other means, then the tools can be manufactured with required structural features, but the structural integrity is poor and useful life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate metal components (blade, handle, tang) into a single monoblock construction. The blade portion, handle portion, and connecting structures are all formed from one continuous piece of metal, eliminating welds, rivets, or other joining methods that compromise structural integrity. This monoblock design maintains full strength throughout the tool while remaining manufacturable through conventional metal forming processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite construction where a metal frame provides structural integrity and is enveloped by a durable plastic or composite body. This combination allows the metal core to bear mechanical loads and maintain strength, while the outer composite material provides durability, ease of gripping, and protection. The composite structure resolves the contradiction by allowing complex manufactured features in the outer layer without compromising the inherent strength of the metal core.
2Ease of manufacture
If tools are constructed using molded sheet metal, then manufacturing is simplified, but structural integrity is poor and ability to couple to driver mechanism is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure where a metal frame (提供ing structural integrity and coupling strength) is enveloped by a durable plastic or composite body (提供ing ease of manufacture through molding). The metal core maintains the strength needed for secure coupling to the driver mechanism, while the molded outer layer simplifies manufacturing and provides durability. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and structural strength.
3Productivity
If tools are reused a number of times, then economic costs are reduced, but cleaning and sterilization between procedures increases costs and time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable principle by designing a tool that is intentionally designed for single-use only. The tool is manufactured at low cost using simplified processes (monoblock construction, molded composite materials) so that the economic penalty of disposal is minimal. This eliminates all cleaning and sterilization requirements between procedures, completely resolving the contradiction between reusability and time/cost spent on maintenance. The low unit cost makes single-use economically viable while eliminating the time loss associated with sterilization.
4Productivity
If debris accumulates around the interproximal contact area during IER procedure, then the procedure must be interrupted for cleaning, but continuous operation would improve productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the debris removal function from the main enamel-cutting function. The blade portion includes dedicated debris ejection features (apertures, channels, or directional geometry) that actively remove debris from the interproximal contact area during the procedure. This allows the enamel removal process to continue uninterrupted while debris is continuously extracted and ejected, resolving the contradiction between continuous operation and debris accumulation by separating the two functions spatially and operationally.
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 apparatus effectively reduces procedure time by maintaining a clean interproximal area, is economically practical for single-use disposal, and provides structural integrity for efficient enamel removal, addressing the limitations of existing devices.
Implementation Method 1
The blade portion includes an abrasive surface adapted to remove enamel from the tooth in response to reciprocating movement of the abrasive surface against the enamel
Implementation Method 2
The apparatus is adapted to be inserted via a pressure fit into a corresponding opening in a driver mechanism adapted to drive reciprocating movement of the blade portion
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, an apparatus for removing enamel from a person's tooth includes a blade portion and a handle portion. The blade portion includes an abrasive surface adapted to remove enamel from the tooth in response to reciprocating movement of the abrasive surface against the enamel. The handle portion is coupled to the blade portion and includes first and second regions, the first region is proximal and the second region is distal to the blade portion. The first region includes a substantially solid cross-section with a substantially circular perimeter. The second region includes a substantially solid cross-section with at least a substantially semi-circular perimeter, the solid cross-section defining a notched region. The apparatus is adapted to be inserted via a pressure fit into a corresponding opening in a driver mechanism adapted to drive reciprocating movement of the blade portion and the abrasive surface.