Dentist Unit Arm Stability and Visual Data Projection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dental units face issues with unstable bracket tables, difficult access to patient data, and cumbersome cleaning due to detached connections and rough surfaces, requiring improved mobility and hygiene solutions.

Innovation Solution

The bracket table is mounted on a revolving and tiltable arm system with built-in actuators, allowing for programmable positioning and equipped with a glass surface for easy cleaning, while light transmitters project vital signals onto the patient, enabling continuous monitoring without eye diversion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the bracket table is made stable and firmly mounted, then stability is improved, but mobility and ease of positioning deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebracket table stabilityVSAvoidease of positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket table is mounted on a multi-axis arm system with revolute and tilt joints that allow dynamic repositioning. The table can be rotated around vertical axes and tilted at various angles, transforming from a static fixed position to a dynamically adjustable position that maintains stability during use while enabling easy repositioning between procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of information

If displays and monitors are added to show patient data, then information accessibility is improved, but the need to divert eyes from the patient worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient data accessibilityVSAvoidcontinuous visual monitoring
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Light transmitters serve as intermediaries that carry patient data and treatment parameters directly to the dentist's field of view. These transmitters project information onto surfaces visible during the procedure, acting as a mediator between the data sources and the dentist's attention, eliminating the need to switch focus to separate displays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional materials and surfaces are used for the bracket table, then ease of manufacture is improved, but cleaning difficulty worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidcleaning ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket table incorporates glass surfaces as a composite material solution. Glass provides a non-porous, smooth surface that is resistant to bacterial adhesion and easy to clean with standard disinfectants, while still being manufacturable through conventional glass forming and shaping processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 setup ensures stable, easily positionable bracket tables, improved hygiene, and continuous monitoring of patient data and treatment parameters, enhancing the work efficiency and safety of dental procedures.

Implementation Method 1

one or more light transmitters are mounted to the table and/or the lamp for projection of light signals onto the patient

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Data Source

PatentEP3244861B1Dentist's unit
Publication Date: 2021.03.31 HEKA DENTAL
  • EP3244861B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3244861B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

By supplying a dentist's unit with joint made supports in the shape of arms (5, 7, 13), as carriers of respectively a bracket table (9) and a lamp (16), built in actuators can be programmed for adjustment of the supports. Furthermore, signal transmitters in the shape of light transmitters (17) can be mounted to the underside of the bracket table (9) and the lamp (16) for visual display of desired data for the treatment, in form of the patient's condition or instrumental data for display (19) onto the patient (21).