Dental Handpiece Load Control for Root Canal Cutting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dental treating apparatuses face inefficiencies in cutting and enlarging root canals due to excessive load on cutting tools, leading to potential breakage and reduced tooth cutting efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A dental treating apparatus with a hand piece, driving unit, control unit, load specifying unit, and load comparing unit that maintains normal rotation until a predetermined condition is met, then switches to reverse rotation to manage load and prevent breakage, enhancing cutting efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the cutting tool is rotated continuously in the normal rotation direction to maintain cutting efficiency, then tooth cutting efficiency is improved, but load on the cutting tool increases causing potential breakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetooth cutting efficiencyVSAvoidcutting tool durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting tool is rotated in normal rotation direction for a predetermined time period to perform cutting, then temporarily rotated in reverse rotation direction to reduce load and discharge cut pieces. This periodic alternation between normal and reverse rotation allows the system to maintain high cutting efficiency while preventing excessive load accumulation and tool breakage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The rotation direction of the cutting tool is dynamically changed from normal to reverse based on elapsed time. The control unit automatically switches rotation direction after the predetermined time period elapses, creating a dynamic operation mode that adapts the cutting process to prevent load-related failures while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the cutting tool is rotated in reverse direction to reduce load and prevent breakage, then cutting tool reliability is improved, but tooth cutting efficiency decreases due to non-cutting rotation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting tool durabilityVSAvoidtooth cutting efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The reverse rotation is applied partially rather than continuously - only for the time period necessary to discharge cut pieces and reduce load. The normal rotation time is set to be longer than reverse rotation time, ensuring that the majority of operation time is spent on productive cutting while still providing sufficient reverse rotation for load management and debris removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If the cutting tool rotates clockwise to cut the tooth, then cutting contribution is maximized, but load accumulation increases leading to breakage risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting contributionVSAvoidload on cutting tool
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The reverse rotation acts as a counterbalancing action that offsets the load accumulated during normal clockwise rotation. By rotating in the opposite direction, the system creates a counter-effect that reduces the net load on the cutting tool, preventing breakage while maintaining the primary cutting function during normal rotation periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Data Source

PatentEP2851035B1Dental treating apparatus
Publication Date: 2021.01.13 J MORITA MANUFACTURING CORP
  • EP2851035B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2851035B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2851035B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A dental treating apparatus according to the present invention includes: a hand piece (1); a head unit (2); a driving unit (13); a control unit (11); a load specifying unit (13d); and a load comparing unit (110). The hand piece (1) drivably holds a cutting tool (5) on the head unit (2). The driving unit (13) drives the cutting tool (5) in a normal rotation direction or in a reverse rotation direction. The load comparing unit (110) compares a load detected by the load specifying unit (13d) and a reference load. During a normal rotation period until driving for rotating the cutting tool (5) in the normal rotation direction by the driving unit (13) satisfies a predetermined first condition, the control unit (11) maintains a rotation direction of the cutting tool (5) in the normal rotation direction, and when a result of comparison by the load comparing unit (110) attains a predetermined result during the normal rotation period, the control unit (11) controls the rotation direction of the cutting tool (5) to the reverse rotation direction.