Intra-oral Sensor Cradle Wireless Data Charging Sterilization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional intra-oral sensors face issues with communication cable damage due to tension, requiring additional sensors as lifespan reduces, and prolonged sterilization processes, along with difficulties in identifying which teeth are represented by projection data.

Innovation Solution

An intra-oral sensing system with a cradle that allows simultaneous data transmission, charging, and sterilization, featuring a data connector, charging connector, and an integrated sterilizer, eliminating the need for additional cables and enabling easy recognition of tooth parts through identifiers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a communication cable is connected to the intra-oral sensor for data transmission, then data can be transmitted from the sensor, but the cable is damaged due to tension and separation occurs between the sensing unit and cable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidcable connection strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the communication cable from the intra-oral sensor system entirely. The sensing unit now transmits data wirelessly through a communication module integrated into the sensor housing, eliminating the physical cable connection that was subject to tension and separation issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical cable connection system with a wireless communication system. The sensing unit uses a communication module to transmit data radio-frequencally to an external receiver, substituting the mechanical cable interface with an electromagnetic field-based transmission system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If the intra-oral sensor is sterilized using conventional cleaning or sterilizing devices, then sterilization is achieved, but time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesterilization effectivenessVSAvoidsterilization time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the sterilization function with the cradle structure. The cradle now integrates a sterilization unit that automatically sterilizes the sensor when placed in the cradle, merging two separate processes (data transmission/charging and sterilization) into a single integrated system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor system performs self-sterilization by placing it in the cradle, which automatically activates the sterilization unit. This eliminates the need for manual cleaning or separate sterilization device operation, allowing the sensor to be sterilized autonomously as part of its normal workflow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If projection data is stored without identifiers, then storage is simple, but it is difficult to recognize which tooth is represented by the data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata storage complexityVSAvoidtooth identification information
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies identifiers to the projection data at the time of data acquisition and storage. The sensing unit automatically assigns identification information (such as tooth number, quadrant, or patient ID) to each projection data set before storage, so that the data is already tagged and ready for later retrieval and display without requiring additional manual labeling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3120775B1Intra-oral sensing system
Publication Date: 2019.05.01 RAYENCE
  • EP3120775B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3120775B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3120775B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to an intra-oral sensor and an intra-oral sensing system using the same, which are capable of not only transmitting projection data but also achieving charging of a driving power supply and sterilization at the same time when mounted on a cradle, and capable of outputting the projection data including an identifier therein, thereby enabling a user to easily recognize which part in a set of teeth is the part, video data of which the projection data correspond to..