Dental Impression Cap with Elastic Snap Lip for Accurate Position Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current impression methods for dental implants, particularly in 'closed-tray' impressions, face inaccuracies due to the impression cap not being accurately transferred with the impression material, leading to potential misplacement of dental implants, especially when care is not taken during reinsertion.
Innovation Solution
The impression cap features a sleeve-shaped recess for connecting to the dental implant via a fastening element and a detachable snap connection at one end for 'open tray' impressions, and an elastically deformable snap-in lip or fingers for 'closed tray' impressions, ensuring precise transfer by releasing the connection when a predetermined force is applied during impression removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the impression cap remains on the dental implant during closed-tray impression removal, then the connection is maintained, but the reinsertion into the negative model may lead to inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The snap connection is designed to be dynamic rather than static - it automatically transitions from a connected state during impression taking to a released state during removal. The elastically deformable snap-in lip allows the connection to be maintained when needed but releases automatically when the impression tray is removed, eliminating the need for manual reinsertion and associated inaccuracies.
2Manufacturing precision
If the connection between impression cap and dental implant is actively released before impression removal, then the impression cap remains in the impression material, but this requires additional operational steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the release action automatically through the self-release snap connection mechanism. When the impression tray is removed, the elastically deformable snap-in lip automatically releases from the implant shoulder, causing the impression cap to remain in the impression material without requiring any additional manual release steps or tools.
3Ease of operation
If a snap connection is used for automatic release, then the connection releases when predetermined force is applied, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The snap connection utilizes an elastically deformable snap-in lip, which is a flexible structural element. This thin, flexible component can deform elastically to engage with and disengage from the implant shoulder, providing the automatic release function without requiring complex mechanical assemblies, springs, or multiple moving parts.
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
This design ensures precise transfer of the dental implant position in both 'open tray' and 'closed tray' impressions, minimizing inaccuracies and maintaining the impression cap within the impression material, thereby enhancing the accuracy of the negative model.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically deformable snap-in lip or fingers for 'closed tray' impressions, ensuring precise transfer by releasing the connection when a predetermined force is applied during impression removal
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The cap (2) has two end regions (4, 6) between which a recess (8) extends in a longitudinal direction, where the recess accommodates a fastening element i.e. screw, for connecting the cap with a dental implant at one of the end regions. A connection element is provided at the other end region, and is formed to produce a releasable snap connection between the cap and the implant. The connection element has an elastically deformable snap lip (52) for engaging behind an outer-side snap edge of the implant.