Ultrasonic Dental Insert Assembly for Wear-Stable Output Stroke
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic dental inserts experience a decrease in output stroke due to wear, leading to reduced efficiency and increased clinician strain, as they are not designed to maintain performance durability over their normal wear life, necessitating higher power settings or increased pressure, which can cause patient discomfort.
Innovation Solution
The design of ultrasonic dental inserts with a connecting body tip assembly (CBTA) that operates at a frequency lower than the resonance frequency of the magnetostrictive stack, featuring a contra bend and specific bend angles, allows for controlled output stroke maintenance over wear, using a combination of transducer, acoustic transformer, and tip configurations to enhance durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If conventional ultrasonic inserts are used, then initial output stroke is achieved, but output stroke decreases monotonically as the insert wears
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the insert tip length variable rather than fixed. The insert is designed with an initial length that intentionally exceeds the wear threshold, allowing the tip to dynamically shorten during use. This dynamic adjustment compensates for wear by maintaining the acoustic transformer length within the optimal range, thereby preserving output stroke throughout the insert's service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of tip length to solve the contradiction. By designing the insert with a longer initial tip that progressively wears down, the system transforms the harmful effect of wear into a beneficial parameter change. As the tip wears and shortens, the acoustic transformer length is maintained, keeping the operating frequency and output stroke stable throughout the insert's life.
2Length of moving object
If power dial is increased to compensate for wear, then output stroke is maintained, but clinician experiences increased pinch force and pain
Solution Approach 1:
The insert design enables self-compensation for wear effects. As the tip wears and shortens, the system automatically maintains the acoustic transformer length within the optimal range, preserving output stroke without requiring external intervention. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for clinicians to increase power settings, thereby avoiding increased pinch force and discomfort.
3Strength
If tip portion wears 1 mm, then mechanical abrasion resistance is achieved, but output stroke decreases by 25%
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the tip length parameter to compensate for wear-induced output stroke loss. By designing the insert with an initial tip length that accounts for expected wear, the system ensures that even after 1 mm of wear, the remaining tip length maintains the acoustic transformer within the optimal frequency range, preventing the 25% output stroke decrease seen in conventional inserts.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional insert design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but performance durability decreases after 2 mm wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by designing the insert with a longer initial tip that dynamically shortens during use. This dynamic design maintains the acoustic transformer length within the optimal range throughout wear, preserving performance durability. The manufacturing process remains relatively simple, requiring only precise initial dimensional control, while achieving significantly improved reliability over the insert's service life.
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
The inserts maintain a non-monotonic increase in output stroke over the initial wear, extending the service life and reducing clinician strain by maintaining efficiency and minimizing power compensation needs.
Implementation Method 1
a mesial portion of a combination of the acoustic transformer and the tip is coupled to the magnetostrictive stack
Implementation Method 2
an operational frequency of the combination is not equal to the frequency of resonance of the magnetostrictive stack
Data Source
AI summary
Ultrasonic dental instruments, inserts, and insert assemblies are provided which include an acoustic transformer and a tip that, in combination, are configured to operate at an operational frequency different from the frequency of resonance of the transducer that drives the combination. As a result, the ultrasonic dental instruments, inserts, and insert assemblies provide improved performance durability by providing improved output stroke ranges over nominal wear lengths between, for example, 2 mm and 3 mm, which results in more durable performance over a longer service life.