Ergonomic Dental Elevator with Zig-Zag Shank

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dental practitioners experience musculoskeletal disorders and discomfort due to the poor ergonomic design of existing dental elevators, leading to strain and inefficiency during tooth extraction procedures.

Innovation Solution

An ergonomic dental elevator with a contoured, three or four-finger grip and textured surface, featuring a zig-zag shank and honey spoon-shaped blade, designed to reduce strain and improve control, comfort, and stability, while accommodating various hand sizes and movements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional dental elevator design is used, then the instrument can perform tooth extraction function, but it causes musculoskeletal disorders and wrist pain due to poor ergonomic design

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveergonomic designVSAvoidmusculoskeletal disorders

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The handle portion is designed with a curved, contoured shape that conforms to the natural curvature of the human hand, allowing the fingers to wrap around the handle in a ergonomic manner. This curved geometry distributes pressure more evenly across the hand and wrist, reducing strain and preventing musculoskeletal disorders during prolonged use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The handle incorporates a textured surface with localized friction-enhancing patterns in specific gripping areas, while other portions maintain smooth finishes. This local variation in surface quality provides optimal grip where needed without causing overall discomfort, addressing specific pressure points on the hand and wrist.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If traditional handle design is used, then the instrument structure is simple, but it creates uncomfortable gripping and ineffective extraction movements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrip comfortVSAvoidhandle structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The handle is formed with a curved, contoured structure that matches the natural anatomy of the hand, enabling a more comfortable grip. This curvature allows the fingers to naturally conform to the handle shape, improving grip comfort without requiring complex mechanical adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The handle dimensions and geometry are optimized based on ergonomic research, with specific parameters for diameter, length, and curvature designed to accommodate average hand dimensions. These parameter optimizations balance grip comfort with operational effectiveness, avoiding overly complex structures while improving performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If conventional dental elevator is used, then the instrument is readily available, but it causes strain on hand and wrist during repetitive movements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextraction efficiencyVSAvoidhand and wrist strain

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The curved handle design allows for more natural hand positioning and reduced wrist deviation during repetitive extraction movements. This ergonomic curvature distributes mechanical stress more evenly across the hand and wrist, reducing strain accumulation during high-productivity procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The handle is designed with segmented grip zones featuring different surface textures and curvature radii, allowing different portions of the hand to engage with the handle in optimized ways. This segmentation enables better stress distribution across multiple hand muscles and tendons, reducing overall strain during repetitive use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If traditional holder design is used, then the instrument is easy to manufacture, but it causes carpal tunnel syndrome and nerve compression

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrip ergonomicsVSAvoidnerve compression

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The handle's curved geometry is specifically designed to accommodate the natural curvature of the hand, allowing the palm and fingers to wrap around the handle in a neutral wrist position. This curvature prevents wrist deviation and reduces compression on the median nerve, addressing carpal tunnel syndrome risks while maintaining ease of manufacture through molded construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS20250099204A1Ergonomic dental elevator

Publication Date: 2025.03.27 ROSHKOVAN IGOR

AI summary

A dental elevator device is described herein, where the dental elevator has an ergonomic grip to facilitate the prying of teeth from the mouth of a patient. The device may include a holder portion of the ergonomic dental elevator, a zig-zag shaped shank portion of the ergonomic dental elevator, and a honey spoon dipper shaped blade portion. The holder portion is ergonomically designed in the shape of a human hand to reduce fatigue and discomfort as the dentist performs his work.