Dental Tool Tip Parallel Irrigation Fluid Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic dental scalers face challenges with aerosol contamination and inefficient irrigation, leading to potential iatrogenic damages and high liquid consumption, as the irrigation fluid often reflects off the tool tip during vibration, reducing visibility and requiring excessive fluid use.
Innovation Solution
A dental tool with a handpiece and tool tip designed to prevent irrigation fluid from crossing the tool tip, featuring a non-bent, needle-like tip and an outlet channel configuration that ensures the fluid travels directly to the distal end without reflection, allowing for reduced fluid usage and improved visibility during treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the ultrasonic power level is increased, then the removal capacity of dental calculus is improved, but the amount of irrigation fluid reaching the tip extremity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet channel is configured to eject irrigation fluid in a direction substantially parallel to the extending direction of the tool tip, rather than perpendicular or at an angle that would cause the fluid to cross and reflect off the tip. This inverted ejection direction allows the fluid to travel alongside the tip to the extremity without being redirected, resolving the contradiction between high power operation and adequate irrigation delivery.
2Quantity of substance
If the amount of irrigation fluid is increased, then the irrigation effectiveness is improved, but the liquid consumption increases and reservoir refill frequency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet channel configuration enables the irrigation fluid to efficiently reach the treatment area without requiring excessive fluid volume. The parallel ejection direction ensures that the fluid travels directly to the tip extremity and treatment zone, maximizing the utilization of each unit of irrigation fluid and reducing the need for frequent reservoir refills.
3Quantity of substance
If the amount of irrigation fluid is increased, then the irrigation effectiveness is improved, but the visibility in treatment area decreases due to fog
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the ejection direction to be parallel to the tool tip extension rather than allowing cross-flow, the irrigation fluid is delivered efficiently with minimal waste. This reduces the excess fluid that would otherwise create fog and impair visibility, while still maintaining adequate irrigation at the treatment site.
4Quantity of substance
If the irrigation fluid crosses the tool tip during vibration, then the irrigation coverage is improved, but aerosol contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet channel is configured to eject fluid parallel to the tool tip extension direction, preventing the fluid from crossing the vibrating tip. This eliminates the generation of aerosols through fluid-tip interaction while still ensuring that irrigation fluid reaches the distal end and treatment area effectively.
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 solution enhances the efficiency of irrigation, reduces contamination risks, and improves operator visibility by ensuring the irrigation fluid reaches the treatment area effectively without causing fog, thereby facilitating safer and more precise dental treatments.
Implementation Method 1
A removal capacity of the ultrasonic scaling instrument is achieved by their ultrasonic vibrational power
Implementation Method 2
the tool tip performs a flexural movement in a plane extending along the extending direction of the tool tip and perpendicular to the cross section of the tool tip
Implementation Method 3
the combination of the irrigation fluid and the ultrasonic movement can cause a cavitation effect
Implementation Method 4
the irrigation improves a sliding effect with reduced friction coefficient of the tool tip on the dental tissue resulting in a reduced abrasion
Data Source
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AI summary
A tool (1) for a medical treatment, in particular a dental treatment, comprising: - a handpiece (40) having a vibration source (30), - a moving part (10) of the handpiece (40), performing a vibration movement in a vibration direction (VD) in a vibrating state, - a tool tip (20) being connected to the moving part (10) of the handpiece (40) in an interface section (15), state, the tool tip extending along an extending direction (ED), in particular along a straight extending direction (ED), in a non-vibrating state, - an outlet channel (18) for ejecting an irrigation fluid along a ejecting direction (ED1), wherein the tool (1) is configured such that the irrigation fluid travels to a distal end (6) of the tool tip (20) without crossing the tool tip (20).