Integrated LED Irradiation Device for Paste Whitening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current teeth whitening techniques require professional intervention, bulky devices, and multiple steps, limiting their accessibility and convenience for personal use.

Innovation Solution

A compact, user-friendly irradiation device and cartridge system that irradiates a paste-type composition during application, featuring a UV or RGB LED light source integrated within a container body, allowing for efficient photoactivation of the composition without the need for external devices or specialized personnel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If professional whitening techniques are used with external light sources, then effective photoactivation is achieved, but the device becomes bulky and requires professional intervention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephotoactivation effectivenessVSAvoiddevice bulkiness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the light source, container body, and paste-type composition into a single integrated irradiation device. The light source is positioned inside the container body to directly irradiate the composition during application, eliminating the need for separate external light sources and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining photoactivation effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The light source is nested within the container body structure, with the paste-type composition containing the light source or positioned around it. This nested arrangement allows the light source to be housed compactly within the existing device structure, reducing bulkiness while ensuring direct irradiation of the composition during application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If multiple whitening steps and professional equipment are used, then effective treatment is achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and less convenient for personal use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewhitening effectivenessVSAvoidtreatment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the application and irradiation steps into a single simultaneous process. The light source irradiates the paste-type composition during its application to the treatment site, eliminating the need for separate application and irradiation steps, thereby reducing treatment time while maintaining whitening effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The light source is pre-positioned within the container body or cartridge structure before application. This preliminary arrangement ensures that irradiation begins immediately upon application to the treatment site, eliminating setup time and enabling immediate photoactivation without requiring separate preparation steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If continuous light emission is used for irradiation, then complete photoactivation is achieved, but energy consumption increases and device lifespan decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephotoactivation completenessVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic or pulsed light emission instead of continuous irradiation. The light source emits light in controlled intervals or pulses during the application process, which is sufficient to achieve complete photoactivation of the paste-type composition while significantly reducing overall energy consumption and extending device lifespan.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The light source is positioned to irradiate the paste-type composition continuously during its transit through the container body or during the brief application period. This ensures complete photoactivation occurs within the short application window without requiring prolonged continuous emission, thereby minimizing total energy consumption while maintaining activation effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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

Enables safe, efficient, and convenient teeth whitening at home by ensuring maximum hygiene and practicality, with energy-saving features and extended device lifespan through controlled light emission.

Implementation Method 1

irradiating a photosensitive substance with a light source of specific wavelength

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Implementation Method 2

After the irradiation, the photosensitive substance photoactivates, i.e. becomes excited, modifying its properties

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoactivation: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 3

featuring a UV or RGB LED light source integrated within a container body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emitting diode: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP2863834B1Irradiation device of a paste-type composition
Publication Date: 2019.10.09 COSWELL
  • EP2863834B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2863834B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2863834B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

It is described an irradiation device (10; 100) of a paste-type composition (C) comprising a container body (12; 120) equipped with a longitudinal through opening (14; 140), for the transit of the paste-type composition (C) to be irradiated, and with a dispensing head (18; 180) extending from the longitudinal through opening (14; 140); at least one irradiation element (24; 240) arranged in the container body (12; 120) and suitable for irradiating the paste-type composition (C) in transit in the longitudinal through opening (14; 140); and an energy source (26; 260) also arranged in the container body (12; 120) and in electrical connection with the at least one irradiation element (24; 240). It is also described a cartridge (50) for application on a treatment site of a paste-type composition (C) to be irradiated, the cartridge comprising a tube (30; 300) of paste-type composition (C) able to be removably associated with such a irradiation device (10; 100).