Adjustable Jaw Support Assembly for Dental Force Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental procedures pose a risk of jaw injury and discomfort due to downward forces, especially for patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD), as existing devices fail to support the jaw during these procedures, leading to jaw pain, fatigue, and potential injury.
Innovation Solution
A jaw support device with adjustable mechanisms, including a headrest mount assembly, split sphere assembly, ball joint assembly, and jaw rest assembly, that stabilizes the jaw using air or magnetic locking mechanisms to maintain a fixed position, reducing jaw movement and discomfort during dental procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If downward forces are applied to the jaw during dental procedures, then the dentist can perform procedures more effectively, but the patient experiences jaw pain, fatigue, and potential injury
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw support device acts as a counterweight mechanism that provides upward support force to balance the downward forces applied by the dentist during procedures. The device includes a support structure with adjustable arms that can be positioned to counteract the downward pressure on the mandible, allowing the dentist to maintain procedural effectiveness while the support device prevents jaw pain and injury by offsetting harmful forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The jaw support device serves as an intermediary between the dentist's downward forces and the patient's jaw. Rather than the dentist's forces acting directly on the vulnerable jaw structures, the support device mediates by providing continuous upward support, distributing and balancing the forces to prevent harmful effects while allowing necessary procedural forces to be applied.
2Reliability
If the patient tenses jaw muscles to counter downward force, then jaw protection is improved, but procedure time increases and patient fatigue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw support device provides self-service jaw protection by automatically supporting the jaw without requiring active patient participation. The device maintains continuous upward support force through its mechanical structure, eliminating the need for patients to consciously tense their jaw muscles throughout the procedure. This passive support system ensures consistent jaw protection while allowing patients to remain relaxed and reducing overall procedure time.
3Ease of operation
If sedation is used, then patient comfort is improved, but jaw injury risk increases due to inability to tense muscles
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw support device acts as a critical intermediary for sedated patients who cannot actively protect their own jaws. The device provides continuous mechanical support and force balancing without requiring any neural or muscular response from the patient. This external support system compensates for the patient's reduced protective capability under sedation, maintaining jaw safety while allowing the comfort benefits of sedation to be realized.
4Reliability
If manual jaw support by dentist or assistant is used, then jaw protection is provided, but procedure efficiency decreases due to disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw support device provides self-service jaw protection that operates independently of the dental team's manual intervention. Once positioned, the device maintains continuous support through its mechanical structure without requiring the dentist or assistant to continuously adjust or maintain manual support. This eliminates interruptions and allows the dental team to focus entirely on the procedure, significantly improving efficiency while maintaining reliable jaw protection.
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 device provides stable jaw support, minimizing jaw pain and fatigue, reducing procedure time, and preventing jaw injuries by maintaining the jaw in a fixed position, thus enhancing patient safety and procedural efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the split sphere ball is structured and configured to be pressurized to lock the arm extension in place, and the ball joint ball is structured and configured to be pressured to lock the jaw rest assembly in place
Data Source
AI summary
A jaw support device for supporting a patient's jaw during dental procedures. More specifically, a jaw support device comprising a headrest mount assembly, a split sphere assembly having a first locking mechanism, a ball joint assembly having a second locking mechanism, and a jaw rest assembly. The headrest mount assembly may attach to a dental chair headrest. The split sphere assembly may have a split sphere ball and an arm extension and may attach to the headrest mount assembly. Further, the split sphere assembly's first locking mechanism may lock the arm extension in place. The ball joint assembly may have a ball joint ball and may connect to the arm extension of the split sphere assembly. The jaw rest assembly may attach to the ball joint assembly and may be locked in place when the second locking mechanism is activated.