Laser Irradiation Tip Parallel Flow Paths for Dental Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental laser treatment apparatuses face challenges in efficiently cutting teeth due to issues with the formation of a thin water film, mist particle size, timing of laser and spray coordination, and the complexity and cost of existing spray mechanisms, which affect the precision and effectiveness of laser absorption and cutting efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A laser irradiation tip with a main body and tip end portion featuring parallel optical fiber, water, and air flow paths, a mixing chamber, and a concave portion for mixing water and air, allowing for the creation of a uniform, minute mist that is sprayed parallel to the laser beam, enhancing cutting efficiency and reducing operator burden.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a spray mechanism is used to spray mixed mist of water and air during laser irradiation, then laser absorption is enhanced due to water absorbability, but the mist particles may be too large and absorb laser before reaching the target, reducing cutting efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the spray system by using a needle valve to precisely control the water flow rate (0.01 to 0.5 mL/min) and adjusting the air-to-water ratio. This parameter optimization ensures that water is atomized into fine particles that do not absorb laser energy before reaching the target, while still maintaining sufficient laser absorption at the target surface for efficient cutting.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements dynamic control of the spray mechanism through a needle valve that can be adjusted during operation. The spray amount is not fixed but can be dynamically optimized based on treatment requirements, allowing the system to adapt between enhancing laser absorption and preventing premature mist absorption, thus resolving the contradiction between energy loss and productivity.
2Loss of energy
If timing control is implemented to coordinate laser irradiation and spray stopping, then extra laser absorption is avoided, but the control becomes extremely difficult due to high pulse frequency
Solution Approach 1:
The invention maintains continuous spray during laser irradiation rather than implementing intermittent spray-stop cycles. The continuous spray ensures that the target surface remains moist for optimal laser absorption throughout the entire irradiation process, eliminating the need for complex timing synchronization between laser pulses and spray cycles while preventing extra laser absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system design allows the spray mechanism to continuously serve the laser irradiation process without requiring active timing control. The needle valve-based flow control automatically maintains appropriate spray levels, making the system self-regulating and eliminating the operational complexity of coordinated timing between spray and laser at high pulse frequencies.
3Manufacturing precision
If a mesh screen and mixing chamber are added to mix water and air, then mist formation is improved, but the apparatus becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates unnecessary components from the spray system. Instead of using a mesh screen and complex mixing chamber as in conventional systems, the patent achieves effective mist formation through a simplified structure with a needle valve for water flow control and a co-axial air outlet. This extraction of unnecessary elements reduces apparatus complexity and cost while maintaining or improving mist uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical mesh screen mixing system with a fluid dynamics-based mixing approach. The needle valve creates a controlled water flow that mixes with air through co-axial flow patterns and pressure differentials, eliminating the need for mechanical mesh screens and complex mixing chambers. This substitution reduces device complexity while achieving uniform mist formation through fluid mechanical principles.
Data Source
AI summary
A laser irradiation tip has a main body and a tip end portion. The main body is connected with a handpiece and irradiating therapeutic laser with high absorbability in water. The tip end portion being connected with the main body. The main body of the laser irradiation tip has an optical fiber for guiding the therapeutic laser, a water flow path, and an air flow path in a parallel manner. The tip end portion of the laser irradiation tip has a connection portion with the main body, a water guide path communicated with the water flow path of the main body, an air guide path communicated with the air flow path of the main body, a fiber guide portion capable of inserting a tip side portion of the optical fiber, and a mixing chamber of water and air.