Fluid Motion Generator for Root Canal Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dental and endodontic procedures are painful and often incomplete, as they fail to remove all unhealthy material from teeth, leading to post-procedure complications such as infection, due to the use of mechanical instruments that can force organic material into periapical tissues and damage healthy tooth structures.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method using a chamber with a fluid motion generator that creates a rotational flow of fluid across the tooth's access port, effectively removing unhealthy materials from both inside and outside the tooth without damaging healthy dentin or enamel, utilizing pressure waves and fluid motion to clean and obturate root canals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If mechanical instruments (drills, files) are used to clean unhealthy material from teeth, then the cleaning action is provided, but organic material is forced into periapical tissues causing trauma and infection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidtrauma to soft tissue and infection risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical instruments (drills, files) with an acoustic wave generator that uses acoustic energy to remove unhealthy material. The acoustic waves create cavitation and mechanical vibrations in the fluid medium, which selectively removes diseased tissue without requiring direct mechanical contact with the tooth, thereby preventing forced entry of organic material into periapical tissues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes a fluid medium (irrigation solution) combined with acoustic wave generation to create cavitation bubbles and fluid dynamics that facilitate removal of unhealthy material. The acoustic waves interact with the fluid to produce mechanical effects that clean the tooth structures without direct mechanical instrument contact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Productivity

If endodontic files are inserted into root canal to remove organic material, then canal spaces are opened, but not all organic material is removed leading to post-procedure complications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorganic material removalVSAvoidinfection risk from residual material

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical file instrumentation with acoustic wave energy that propagates through the fluid medium to reach and remove organic material throughout the root canal system. The acoustic cavitation and vibration effects penetrate into complex canal geometries more effectively than mechanical files, achieving more complete removal of organic material

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The acoustic wave generator produces high-frequency vibrations and cavitation in the fluid medium that create intense local mechanical effects. These vibrations dislodge and remove organic material from root canal spaces more thoroughly than steady mechanical file motion, reducing residual material that could cause infection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

3Productivity

If mechanical drills are used to break up carious regions, then cavities are removed, but the procedure is painful for the patient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecaries removalVSAvoidpatient pain

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical drilling with acoustic wave energy that removes carious tissue through cavitation and vibration effects in the fluid medium. This non-contact approach eliminates the mechanical pressure and friction that cause pain during conventional drilling, while still achieving effective removal of decayed tissue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 approach safely and efficiently removes all unhealthy materials, reduces the risk of infection, and minimizes patient discomfort by using fluid motion and pressure waves to clean and fill the tooth without the need for mechanical instruments, ensuring thorough cleaning and obturation of the root canal system.

Implementation Method 1

the fluid motion generator is configured to pass a stream of the fluid across an access port of the chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 2

generate a rotational motion of fluid in the chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotational fluid motion:

Implementation Method 3

utilizing pressure waves and fluid motion to clean and obturate root canals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure waves:

Data Source

PatentEP3943042B1Apparatus for cleaning teeth and root canals

Publication Date: 2024.03.13 SONENDO INC

Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A

AI summary

An apparatus is disclosed for treating a tooth. The apparatus comprises a chamber (6) to be positioned against a tooth; and a fluid motion generator coupled to the chamber (6) and configured to generate a rotational motion of fluid in the chamber (6). When the chamber is positioned against the tooth, the fluid motion generator is positioned outside the tooth. The apparatus is preferably configured to clean a root canal of the tooth. The root canal has a central axis, and the fluid motion generator is preferably configured to generate the rotational motion about an axis transverse to the central axis of the root canal. Embodiments are disclosed for cleaning and/or obturating the tooth..