Dental Handpiece Control for Bite Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dental treatment apparatuses face difficulties in efficiently releasing the bite of a cutting tool from the root canal wall, requiring complex operations to switch from forward to reverse rotation driving, especially in cordless models lacking dedicated operation buttons, leading to increased operational burden and design challenges.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus incorporates a control system that sets a specific operation button as a bite releasing button only when prescribed conditions are met, such as the cutting tool being driven and forcibly stopped, allowing for simplified operation by alternately performing forward and reverse rotation driving without the need for a dedicated button, thus reducing operational complexity and design modifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a dedicated operation button for bite releasing is added to enable reverse rotation driving, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The existing operation button is designed to serve multiple functions: forward rotation driving during normal operation and reverse rotation driving for bite releasing when the cutting tool is stopped. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a dedicated bite releasing button, maintaining ease of operation while avoiding increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The function of the operation button is made dynamic rather than static. The button's behavior changes based on the operational state of the cutting tool: it controls forward rotation when the tool is moving and automatically triggers reverse rotation when the tool is forcibly stopped due to biting. This dynamic functionality resolves the contradiction by adapting the interface to different operational contexts without adding hardware complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the operation button always triggers reverse rotation driving, then the ease of operation is improved, but erroneous reverse rotation driving occurs during normal cutting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control system continuously monitors the operational state of the cutting tool (whether it is moving or forcibly stopped) and uses this feedback information to determine the appropriate response to button presses. When the cutting tool is forcibly stopped indicating a bite condition, the button triggers reverse rotation. During normal cutting operation, the button maintains its forward rotation function. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable operation by adapting the system response based on real-time operational conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3984491B1Dental treatment apparatus
Publication Date: 2022.12.07 J MORITA MANUFACTURING CORP
  • EP3984491B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3984491B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3984491B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A dental treatment apparatus (100) includes: a handpiece (1) including a head (2) that holds a cutting tool (5); a drive unit (7, 13) capable of performing forward rotation driving for rotating the cutting tool (5) held at the head (2) in a cutting direction, and reverse rotation driving for rotating the cutting tool (5) held at the head (2) in a non-cutting direction; an operation receiving unit (15) that receives an operation of an operator; and a controller (9) that controls the drive unit (7, 13) that drives the cutting tool (5), according to the operation received by the operation receiving unit (15). Only when a prescribed condition is satisfied, the controller (9) sets the operation received by the operation receiving unit (15) as an operation to drive the cutting tool (5) by reverse rotation driving, or as an operation to drive the cutting tool (5) by twist driving by which the forward rotation driving and the reverse rotation driving are alternately performed.