Endodontic Instrument with Segmented Spiral Flutes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endodontic instruments for drilling root canals face challenges with embedding and breakage due to debris wrapping around the instrument, and there is a need for a balance between efficient cutting and anti-embedding to ensure safety and effectiveness during dental procedures.
Innovation Solution
The endodontic instrument features flutes integrated within a conical envelope that narrows progressively, with alternating straight and twisted segments, where the edges of the flutes are positioned either on or inside the conical envelope, allowing for efficient cutting and evacuation of debris while minimizing the risk of embedding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the flutes are positioned on the conical envelope for efficient cutting, then cutting efficiency is improved, but the risk of embedding increases
Solution Approach 1:
The working area is divided into multiple segments with alternating flute configurations. Some segments have flutes on the conical envelope for efficient cutting, while other segments have flutes inside the conical envelope for debris evacuation and anti-embedding. This segmentation allows the instrument to alternate between cutting-efficient and evacuation-efficient modes during rotation, resolving the contradiction between cutting efficiency and embedding risk.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the instrument's working area are given different flute positions tailored to their specific functions. The flutes in cutting-oriented segments are positioned on the conical envelope to maximize material removal, while flutes in evacuation-oriented segments are positioned inside the conical envelope to facilitate debris removal and prevent embedding. This local differentiation allows each segment to optimize its specific function.
2Productivity
If the instrument rotates continuously for efficient drilling, then productivity is improved, but the risk of embedding and breakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is designed to perform periodic alternating actions during rotation. As the instrument rotates, segments with flutes on the conical envelope alternate with segments with flutes inside the conical envelope. This periodic alternation between cutting-mode and evacuation-mode allows continuous rotation for productivity while periodically clearing debris to prevent embedding and subsequent breakage.
Data Source
AI summary
An endodontic instrument (20) for drilling root a canal within a tooth. The instrument has a working area (21) that is arranged so as to form, shape and/or cut the inner wall of the root canal. The instrument has a plurality of flutes wound around a central axis in the form of a spiral, within a conical envelope (25) so as to have a cross-section that becomes narrower from a first end (23) to the second end (26) of the instrument. The working area (21) is sub-divided into adjacent segments (13) such that the flutes alternately have a straight section and a section that is twisted in the form of a spiral and are arranged, in such a way, that the edges of the flutes are located either on the conical envelope (25) or inside the envelope on the straight sections or on the twisted sections.