Interchangeable Blade Dental Tool for Interproximal Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental cleaning methods, such as toothbrushes and floss, are inadequate for removing plaque and stains from between teeth and under crowns, leading to the need for frequent dental appointments, which can be inconvenient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A dental maintenance kit that includes an intraoral tool with interchangeable blades, a battery-powered toothbrush, flossing tool, pumice paste, and a standard mirror, designed for easy and safe use by unskilled users, featuring a safety release mechanism and plastic coating for protection, allowing for comprehensive plaque and stain removal between regular dental visits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If toothbrush and floss are used for cleaning teeth, then basic oral hygiene is maintained, but plaque and stains between teeth and under crowns cannot be effectively removed
Solution Approach 1:
The intraoral tool is divided into a handle and interchangeable blades. The blades are further segmented into different types (sickle blade for interproximal surfaces, scaler blade for crown surfaces) that can be selected based on specific cleaning needs. This segmentation allows each blade to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining ease of use through simple attachment and detachment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the interchangeable blade system) that bridges the gap between simple toothbrushing and professional dental cleaning. The blades act as mediators that transfer the user's manual motion into effective plaque removal action, making professional-grade cleaning accessible to unskilled users.
2Reliability
If professional dental cleaning tools are used, then effective plaque removal is achieved, but the complexity of the tool increases and requires skilled operation
Solution Approach 1:
The intraoral tool handle is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate multiple types of blades (sickle, scaler, and other specialized blades). This multi-functionality allows a single handle to perform various cleaning tasks that would otherwise require multiple different professional tools, reducing overall complexity while maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade attachment mechanism is designed to be dynamic rather than fixed. Blades can be easily attached, detached, and replaced based on the specific cleaning task at hand. This dynamic configuration allows the tool to adapt to different situations without requiring the user to master complex fixed-tool techniques.
3Productivity
If blades are made sharp for effective cutting, then plaque removal efficiency increases, but the risk of injury to user increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blades exhibit local quality differentiation: the working edges are sharpened for effective plaque cutting, while the portions of the blades that contact the user's fingers are rounded or covered with protective material. This localized differentiation allows the blade to be sharp where needed for productivity while safe where it contacts the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates protective features in advance of potential injury. The handle design includes finger rests and protective contours that cushion the user's fingers from accidental contact with sharp edges. Additionally, the blade attachment mechanism includes safety features that prevent the blade from detaching during use, providing beforehand protection against injury.
4Reliability
If dental appointments are scheduled frequently for cleaning, then oral hygiene is maintained, but time and financial costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The intraoral tool enables patients to perform their own professional-grade cleaning at home between dental appointments. This self-service capability maintains oral hygiene consistency by allowing frequent cleaning without requiring travel to the dentist's office, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining reliability of hygiene maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
A dental maintenance kit for the removal of stains and debris from the surface and from between the teeth that includes an intraoral tool equipped with a detachably-attachable sickle blade and scaler blade. A preferred material for the intraoral tool is non-metallic that includes a recess at each opposite end of the intraoral tool for acceptance of a protrusion on the non-working end of the sickle blade and or the scaler blade. The protrusion will have means to secure the sickle blade or scaler blade firmly into the recess at each opposite end of the intraoral tool. A preferred material for the sickle blade and scaler blade is stainless steel. A coating is applied to a shaft of the sickle blade or scaler blade that extends longitudinally for the entire length of the shaft exposing only the working surface of the sickle blade or scaler blade. A preferred material for the coating is non-metallic. A guide is included with the dental maintenance kit. The guide provides written instructions for the use of the intraoral tool included in the dental maintenance kit.