High-Density Rotary Blade Air Turbine for Dental Handpiece Torque

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dentists may feel dissatisfied with the rotational force of a cutting tool when drilling a decayed tooth using a conventional dental handpiece.

Innovation Solution

An air turbine with a rotary blade made of ceramics or metal with a specific gravity of 3.0 or more, which functions as a flywheel, increasing the rotational force of the cutting tool without the need for additional flywheel components or significant changes to the dental handpiece design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If a flywheel is added to increase rotational force, then the rotational torque of the cutting tool is improved, but the device complexity and housing structure must be greatly changed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotational torqueVSAvoidhousing structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the flywheel function with the rotary blade by making the rotary blade itself serve as the flywheel. This integration eliminates the need for a separate flywheel component and avoids complex housing modifications, while still achieving the desired increase in rotational torque for the cutting tool.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotary blade is given dual functionality: it serves both as the cutting element and as the flywheel for storing rotational energy. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for additional components while maintaining the torque-enhancing benefit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Force

If atmospheric pressure of compressed air is increased to increase rotational force, then the rotational torque is improved, but the chair unit structure must be greatly changed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotational torqueVSAvoidchair unit structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of changing the atmospheric pressure of compressed air (which would require chair unit modifications), the patent changes the material parameter of the rotary blade by using ceramics or metal with specific gravity of 3.0 or more. This parameter change increases the moment of inertia and rotational torque without affecting the chair unit structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Weight of moving object

If light metal such as aluminum alloy is used for the rotary blade, then the weight of the dental handpiece is reduced, but the rotational torque of the cutting tool is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedental handpiece weightVSAvoidrotational torque

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the density parameter of the rotary blade material from light metal (specific gravity 2.6-2.8) to ceramics or metal with specific gravity of 3.0 or more. This increases the moment of inertia and rotational torque while maintaining relatively low weight, resolving the contradiction between lightweight design and torque generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite material options including ceramics-metal combinations for the rotary blade. These composite materials provide optimal balance between weight and moment of inertia, achieving both lightweight handpiece design and sufficient rotational torque for effective cutting.

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

The air turbine with a high-specific-gravity rotary blade enhances the rotational torque and force of the cutting tool, improving drilling efficiency without increasing costs associated with redesigning the dental handpiece or chair unit.

Implementation Method 1

The rotary blade constituting the air turbine according to the present invention itself functions as a flywheel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlywheel effect: Flywheel

Implementation Method 2

a rotary blade, and a cutting tool which is coaxially coupled to the rotary blade, where the rotary blade is formed of ceramics or metal with a specific gravity of 3.0 or more

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMoment of inertia: Moment of Inertia

Data Source

PatentUS20250099203A1Air turbine, dental handpiece, and boost adapter

Publication Date: 2025.03.27 SUZUKI KAZUYOSHI

AI summary

Provided are an air turbine that may increase a rotational cutting force of a cutting tool, a dental handpiece and the like that uses the air turbine. An air turbine 2 includes a rotary blade 20 (rotor), an upper shaft member 21 coaxially disposed on an upper side of the rotary blade 20, a lower shaft member 22 coaxially disposed on a lower side of the rotary blade 20, and a cutting tool 24 that has a tapered, substantially cylindrical shape and that extends coaxially downward from the lower shaft member 22. The rotary blade 20 is formed of ceramics or metal having a specific gravity of 3.0 or more, or a combination thereof (including a composite material).