Intraoral Bite Bar Assembly for Endoscope and Oxygen Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intraoral assemblies for endoscopy and oral surgery inhibit access to the oral cavity for endoscope, oxygen delivery, and carbon dioxide detection, and lack a secure and adjustable connection between bite bars and tongue restraints.
Innovation Solution
An intraoral assembly with a bite bar and tongue restraint that allows for adjustable and removably connected components, featuring channels and protrusions for a frictional or interference fit, and includes ports for oxygen and CO2 sensor lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional bite blocks and tongue restraints are used, then patient mouth is held open and tongue is restrained, but access for endoscope, oxygen tube, and CO2 detection tube is inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The intraoral assembly is divided into separate functional components: a bite block for maintaining mouth opening, a tongue restraint for preventing tongue displacement, and integrated channels for endoscope, oxygen, and CO2 detection access. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without interfering with others, resolving the contradiction between maintaining stable mouth opening and enabling unobstructed access to the oral cavity.
2Ease of manufacture
If snap-fit connections are used for bite bar and tongue restraint, then assembly is simple, but frictional forces are insufficient and connections wear down from repetitive use
Solution Approach 1:
The connection mechanism between the bite bar and tongue restraint incorporates pre-configured friction surfaces and geometric interlocking features that are built into the components during manufacturing. These preliminary structural arrangements ensure that when the components are assembled, they automatically generate sufficient frictional forces and mechanical interlocking to maintain a durable connection, eliminating the need for additional fastening operations while ensuring connection reliability under repetitive use conditions.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed configuration bite bars and tongue restraints are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different patient anatomies is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The bite bar and tongue restraint components incorporate adjustable and interchangeable elements that allow the assembly to be dynamically configured for different patient anatomies. The bite bar can be positioned at various locations along the tongue restraint, and components can be interchanged to accommodate different mouth sizes and shapes. This dynamic adjustability maintains manufacturing simplicity through modular design while significantly improving adaptability to diverse patient anatomies.
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
Facilitates uninhibited access to the oral cavity for endoscopy, oxygen delivery, and CO2 detection, while providing a secure and adjustable connection suitable for various patient anatomies.
Implementation Method 1
features channels and protrusions for a frictional or interference fit
Implementation Method 2
features channels and protrusions for a frictional or interference fit
Data Source
AI summary
An intraoral assembly for endoscopy, including a bite bar, including a tubular section including a first end and a second end, a first flange arranged at the first end having an indentation therein, a second flange arranged at the second end, and a first through-hole, and a tongue restraint, including, a proximal end, a distal end, a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side, a second side, and a hole extending from the proximal end to a location proximate the distal end, wherein the bite bar is adjustably and removably connectable to the tongue restraint. The tongue restraint having a pair of protrusions arranged in each of a pair of a channels. The tongue restraint having an extension arranged to be seated within the indentation of the bite bar.