Dental Handpiece Head Venting to Prevent Air Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental handpieces suffer from air leakage along the cutting tool, causing issues such as water scattering and reduced user visibility during treatment, as well as potential risks like subcutaneous emphysema.
Innovation Solution
The dental handpiece incorporates a protruding portion with discharge paths positioned closer to the cutting tool tip, guiding air and water to discharge ports on the outer circumference, preventing leakage and improving visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air is discharged from an air release port formed in the annular portion of the inner housing, then air can be discharged from the inside of the head, but air leaks along the cutting tool and blows away water released toward the tip end
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge function is segmented into multiple discharge ports: a first discharge port in the annular portion for general air discharge, and a second discharge port in the protruding portion specifically positioned to discharge air away from the cutting tool path. This segmentation allows air to be discharged effectively while preventing it from interfering with water delivery and visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding portion acts as an intermediary structure that redirects air flow. By positioning the second discharge port in this protruding portion, air is guided through a specific path that prevents it from traveling along the cutting tool, thereby protecting the water stream and maintaining visibility without compromising air discharge functionality.
2Reliability
If the annular portion branches to the air release port, then air can be discharged, but the air flow scatters and discharges through gaps between the cutting tool and opening
Solution Approach 1:
The air discharge system is divided into two independent discharge paths: one through the annular portion and another through the protruding portion. This segmentation creates controlled discharge zones that prevent uncontrolled scattering of air through gaps, simplifying the overall flow control while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding portion extends the discharge structure in a new spatial dimension, creating a second discharge port positioned in space away from the cutting tool path. This dimensional addition provides a dedicated air discharge route that avoids interference with the cutting tool and water delivery without complicating the internal structure.
3Reliability
If air is discharged toward the outer circumference of the annular portion, then air can be discharged from the head, but visibility during treatment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Air discharge is segmented into two directional streams: one toward the outer circumference of the annular portion and another through the protruding portion directed away from the treatment area. This segmentation ensures that air discharge functionality is maintained while preventing air from obscuring the user's view of the treatment site.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the discharge structure are given different functions: the annular portion discharge port handles general air discharge, while the protruding portion discharge port is specifically designed to discharge air in a direction that preserves visibility. This local differentiation of discharge qualities optimizes both air discharge reliability and user visibility.
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
Prevents air leakage along the cutting tool, enhances user visibility, and reduces the risk of subcutaneous emphysema by directing air and water flows effectively, minimizing their impact on the treatment area.
Implementation Method 1
a supply tube configured to supply air from the body to the head
Implementation Method 2
a discharge path provided at a specific position closer to a tip end of the cutting tool than the specific surface and configured to receive the air supplied from the supply tube at the specific position, guide the air to an outer circumferential side of the head and discharge the air to an outside
Data Source
AI summary
A dental handpiece includes: a body; and a head. The body includes a supply tube configured to supply air to the head. The head includes: a housing, a holding portion disposed in an inside of the housing and configured to hold and rotate a cutting tool, and a protruding portion protruding from a specific surface and having an opening through which the cutting tool is inserted into the holding portion, the specific surface corresponding to an inner-diameter-side bottom of the housing through which the cutting tool passes. The protruding portion has at least one discharge path provided at a specific position closer to a tip end of the cutting tool than the specific surface and configured to receive the air supplied from the supply tube at the specific position, guide the air to an outer circumferential side of the head and discharge the air to an outside.