Dental Suction Tool Recessed Tip and Screen Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current high volume evacuator (HVE) devices used in dental procedures face issues such as causing inadvertent traumas, leading to post-procedure discomfort and potential infections, blocking due to lodged materials, inadvertently evacuating and damaging sterilized objects, and producing excessive noise that can cause hearing loss and dental anxiety.

Innovation Solution

A suction tool designed for dental procedures, featuring an elongate body with a screen mechanism and a tip portion, which includes a recessed portion to reduce pressure and noise, and a screen mechanism with circular openings to allow evacuated matter to pass through while preventing larger objects from entering the suction system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a traditional HVE device is used to evacuate matter from a patient's mouth, then the suction function is achieved, but noise is excessive causing hearing loss and dental anxiety

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise exposureVSAvoidsuction function

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The tip portion is divided into upper and lower sections with a recessed portion between them, creating segmented airflow paths that reduce turbulence and noise while maintaining suction effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The recessed portion is strategically positioned at the tip to locally modify airflow characteristics, reducing pressure and noise generation at the most critical location without compromising overall suction performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a traditional HVE device is used, then evacuation of matter is achieved, but inadvertent traumas occur leading to post-procedure discomfort and potential infections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrauma and infection riskVSAvoidsuction function

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The recessed portion acts as a pressure relief zone that cushions the tip against oral tissues before contact, preventing trauma and reducing the risk of infections while maintaining reliable suction function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If a traditional HVE device is used, then suction is achieved, but blockages occur due to lodged materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous suction functionVSAvoidscreen mechanism structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The screen mechanism serves as an intermediary element within the central passageway that filters and prevents material blockages while allowing airflow to pass through, ensuring continuous suction function without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If a traditional HVE device is used, then evacuation is achieved, but sterilized objects are inadvertently evacuated and damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamage to sterilized objectsVSAvoidevacuation function

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The screen mechanism extracts and retains larger objects including sterilized items from the airflow path, preventing their evacuation and potential damage while maintaining the suction function for fluid and particulate matter

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12263054B2Suction tool

Publication Date: 2025.04.01 SAFEVAC LLC

AI summary

A suction tool for connection to a dental suction system can include an elongate body, a tip portion, and a screen mechanism positioned within the elongate body. The tip portion can extend over at least a portion of the elongate body. The tip portion can include an upper portion and a lower portion integrally formed with the upper portion and at least partially spaced apart from the upper portion by a recessed portion.