Dental Handpiece Drive Patterns for Root Canal Adaptability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dental treatment apparatuses struggle to effectively cut and enlarge root canals due to varying shapes and conditions, leading to inefficient cutting and potential tool breakage from inappropriate driving patterns.
Innovation Solution
A dental treatment apparatus with a handpiece and control system that employs a plurality of drive patterns, including both cutting and non-cutting rotations, to adaptively drive a cutting tool based on the root canal's shape and condition, combining basic drive patterns into sets and sequences to ensure efficient cutting and minimize tool load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a constant drive pattern is used to cut root canals, then the cutting tool can be driven continuously, but the cutting efficiency decreases and tool breakage increases due to mismatch with varying root canal shapes and conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by switching between multiple drive patterns (continuous rotation, intermittent rotation, reverse rotation) based on real-time cutting conditions. The control unit dynamically adjusts the drive pattern according to load detection results and pre-set conditions, allowing the cutting tool to adapt to varying root canal geometries and conditions, thereby maintaining high cutting efficiency while preventing tool breakage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operational parameters by varying rotation direction (forward/reverse), rotation continuity (continuous/intermittent), and rotation speed across different drive patterns. These parameter changes enable the cutting tool to handle different root canal conditions effectively, improving both cutting efficiency and tool reliability by matching the drive parameters to the specific cutting situation
2Speed
If the cutting tool rotates only in the cutting direction, then cutting speed is maximized, but the tool may become stuck or break when encountering calcified or curved root canal portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by alternating between forward rotation (cutting direction) and reverse rotation (non-cutting direction) in intermittent drive patterns. This periodic reversal prevents the cutting tool from becoming stuck in curved or calcified root canal portions while maintaining overall cutting progress, thereby preserving both cutting speed and tool stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies inversion by rotating the cutting tool in the reverse direction (opposite to the cutting direction) during intermittent drive patterns. This reverse rotation helps dislodge the tool from stuck positions in curved or calcified root canals, preventing tool breakage while allowing the cutting process to continue effectively
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple drive patterns are implemented to adapt to different root canal conditions, then cutting appropriateness improves, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-setting multiple drive patterns and their switching conditions in the control unit before the cutting operation begins. The control unit automatically selects and switches between drive patterns based on pre-programmed logic and real-time load detection, eliminating the need for complex real-time decision-making algorithms and reducing control system complexity while maintaining high adaptability
Data Source
Figure 1A~1E
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AI summary
In a dental treatment apparatus, a control portion (11) controls a drive portion in accordance with a drive sequence. The drive sequence includes a plurality of drive patterns and at least one of the plurality of drive patterns is different from other drive pattern. The plurality of drive patterns include at least one drive pattern having such drive that a cutting tool is rotated in a direction of cutting for cutting an object to be cut and drive for rotating the cutting tool in a direction of non-cutting reverse to the direction of cutting.