Elastomer Dental Insert with Projections for Screw Access Channel Protection

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for protecting screw access channels in dental implants, such as using cotton pellets or Teflon tape, are inefficient for long-term protection and can harbor bacteria, and are difficult and messy to remove.

Innovation Solution

A dental insert made from a medical-grade elastomer with evenly distributed, flexible spikes is used to block the screw access channel, providing a sanitary and easy-to-remove solution for contaminant prevention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If cotton pellets or Teflon tape are used to protect the screw access channel, then the channel is blocked from contaminants, but the materials are difficult and messy to remove and can harbor bacteria

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontaminant preventionVSAvoidremoval difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a disposable plastic insert that is inserted into the screw access channel to block contaminants. This single-use component is designed to be easily discarded after use, eliminating the need for complex removal procedures and preventing bacterial harboring that occurs with reusable materials like cotton pellets and Teflon tape.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the material parameter from absorbent organic materials (cotton, Teflon) to a non-absorbent plastic material. This parameter change prevents the material from becoming saturated with bodily fluids and bacteria, making it easier to remove and more sanitary for temporary or permanent use in the screw access channel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If cotton pellets or Teflon tape are used to protect the screw access channel, then the channel is blocked from contaminants, but the materials can harbor bacteria

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontaminant preventionVSAvoidsanitation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a disposable plastic insert that is inserted into the screw access channel to block contaminants. This single-use component is designed to be easily discarded after use, eliminating the need for complex removal procedures and preventing bacterial harboring that occurs with reusable materials like cotton pellets and Teflon tape.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the material parameter from absorbent organic materials (cotton, Teflon) to a non-absorbent plastic material. This parameter change prevents the material from becoming saturated with bodily fluids and bacteria, making it easier to remove and more sanitary for temporary or permanent use in the screw access channel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If a spherical body with projections is used as a dental insert, then the insert is easy to remove with dental instruments, but the insert must maintain structural integrity while blocking the channel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremoval easeVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the spherical body into multiple segments by adding circumferential projections that create grooves. These segments can flex independently during insertion and removal, allowing the insert to be engaged by dental instruments while maintaining overall structural integrity to effectively block the screw access channel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a flexible plastic shell with circumferential projections that can deform during insertion and removal operations. The flexibility allows dental instruments to engage the projections for easy removal, while the overall shell structure maintains sufficient integrity to block contaminants in the screw access channel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS11026769B2Dental insert

Publication Date: 2021.06.08 LOWE MICHAEL

AI summary

A dental insert consists of a spherical body of a medical grade elastomer. The body has a circumference with a plurality of outwardly extending projections of uniform size and shape distributed evenly about the circumference. The body is not more than 10 mm in diameter, as measured from an outer extremity of the projections. This dental insert has application in implant dentistry and endodontics.