Antimicrobial Dental Structure With Localized Micro-Electric Fields
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental devices lack the ability to create localized, controlled, and efficient micro-electric fields and flows for effective tissue regeneration and bacterial elimination, leading to uneven and potentially harmful current distribution.
Innovation Solution
A dental device with a hydrophilic and hydrophobic surface texture and integrated electrodes creates multiple micro-electric fields and flows, ensuring controlled current densities and distributions through a battery or piezoelectric component, mimicking natural biological stimuli.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electric current is applied through distant poles in dental devices, then bone stimulation and bacterial elimination can occur, but the current flow becomes random and uncontrolled, potentially causing excessive or insufficient current density in different areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the dental device surface into multiple small electrode areas instead of using two distant poles. This segmentation creates multiple localized electric fields that can be independently controlled, ensuring uniform and predictable current distribution across different treatment areas without random flow paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different surface properties (hydrophilic vs hydrophobic) to different zones of the device. Hydrophilic zones with micro-pillars concentrate and control electric current flow where needed for treatment, while hydrophobic zones repel fluid and prevent unwanted current flow, creating locally optimized current distribution.
2Power
If electric poles are placed at extreme points of the device, then electric fields can be generated, but the fields are created far from the main body and current flow is concentrated in limited areas with high randomness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-point pole system to a distributed surface electrode system. By spreading electrodes across the device surface in multiple locations rather than at extreme points, the system creates electric fields in multiple dimensions close to the treatment area, improving field localization and coverage.
3Reliability
If electric current flows through gaps between teeth, then the current takes the shortest path with high current density, but it does not flow along tooth surfaces where treatment is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses hydrophobic surface zones to repel conductive fluid and block current flow in areas where treatment is not desired (such as gap areas), while hydrophilic zones with micro-pillars attract and concentrate current flow along tooth surfaces where treatment is needed. This local differentiation of surface properties precisely controls current paths.
4Ease of operation
If the device uses irregular contact with teeth and gums, then adaptation is easier, but the electric current flow becomes highly variable and difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates hydrophobic zones that repel conductive fluid to create stable, defined boundaries for current flow paths. These zones compensate for irregular device-tissue contact by preventing current leakage into areas with poor contact, maintaining uniform and controllable current density in treatment zones despite variations in device positioning.
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 device efficiently stimulates tissue regeneration and eliminates bacteria by generating uniform micro-electric fields and flows, reducing the risk of oral infections and promoting tissue healing and growth.
Implementation Method 1
The active zones have a physical texture characterised by having micro-pillars (7), which ensures the retention of electrically conductive liquid or gel
Implementation Method 2
another area with hydrophobic characteristics from which liquids or gel are repelled, thus preventing electric current flows in these zones
Implementation Method 3
The electrical system is responsible for creating micro-electric fields that flow through the liquid or gel retained in the active zones, thus creating micro-flows of electric current
Implementation Method 4
The electrical system is powered by a piezoelectric component, assisted by a patella, which moves inside the piezoelectric element and, through the action of impacts, generates electric fields
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes an antimicrobial dental device for tissue regeneration comprising:a main body comprising an interior and an exterior surface;electrodes to stimulate the tissue to regenerate and eliminate bacteria, connected by an electrical circuit; wherein the plurality of electrodes is impregnated throughout the interior of the main body for creating micro-electric fields;a plurality of channels oriented from the outer surface towards the interior of the main body to receive a fluid and direct it to the electrical circuit for creating an electric flow;an array of pillars which are hydrophilic, wherein the space between each pillar of the pillar array forms a network of capillary channels to receive and retain the electric flow from the plurality of channels near the tissue;a hydrophobic and insulating zone inside the main body to repel the electric flow in a zone of the tissue to be protected.