Dental Flow Control Adjuster with Sensor-Triggered Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dental delivery systems often have control knobs for adjusting fluid flow rates that are remote from the instruments, making it unclear which knob is associated with which instrument, leading to incorrect adjustments or avoidance of using the knobs due to confusion.
Innovation Solution
A dental delivery system with a sensor and indicator circuit that illuminates a visual indicator adjacent to the corresponding flow control adjuster when a handpiece is in use, allowing practitioners to easily identify the correct knob for adjusting fluid flow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If control knobs are positioned remotely from the instruments, then the delivery system structure is simplified and easier to manufacture, but it becomes unclear which control knob is associated with which instrument
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color-coded indicators (e.g., colored lights or colored bands) on or near the control knobs that correspond to the color of the connected instrument or conduit. This visual coding system allows practitioners to quickly identify which knob controls which instrument without requiring the knobs to be physically adjacent to the instruments, thus maintaining the simplified remote control structure while eliminating the association confusion.
2Adaptability or versatility
If control knobs are positioned remotely from the instruments, then the delivery system layout is more flexible, but practitioners may use the wrong control knob or avoid using them due to confusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where sensors detect which instrument is currently in use (e.g., through motion detection, pressure sensors, or RFID tags) and automatically illuminate or highlight the corresponding control knob. This dynamic feedback system guides practitioners to the correct knob without requiring them to manually trace connections or remember associations, thereby maintaining layout flexibility while significantly improving ease of operation.
3Loss of information
If visual indicators are added to indicate knob-instrument associations, then the clarity of control association is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the indicator function from the main control knob mechanism, using separate, simple visual elements such as LED lights positioned near the knobs rather than integrating complexity into the knobs themselves. This separation allows the indicator system to be added independently, providing clear association information while minimizing the impact on the overall device complexity and maintaining the simplicity of the core control mechanism.
Data Source
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AI summary
A dental delivery system can comprise a first fluid conduit for supplying fluid via the delivery system to a handpiece connected to a distal end of the conduit, a plurality of flow control adjusters positioned on the delivery system at a location remote from the at least one fluid conduit, and an indicator circuit comprising a plurality of sensors and a plurality of indicators corresponding to the plurality of flow control adjusters. A first flow control adjuster of the plurality of flow control adjusters can be operable to change a fluid flow rate in the first fluid conduit. A first sensor of the plurality of sensors can be operable to trigger a first indicator of the plurality of indicators in response to predetermined motion of the first fluid conduit to indicate that the first flow control adjuster is associated with the first fluid conduit.