Detachable Lighted Vacuum Tip for Sterilizable Intra-Oral Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oral suction devices face challenges in providing illumination within the oral cavity without increasing development costs and ensuring the detachability and sterilizability of the vacuum tip, while also addressing the issue of bacteria growth and contamination from oral fluids.
Innovation Solution
The oral suction device features a detachable light source unit with a light source and lead wire housed in a light source holder on the vacuum tip, allowing easy detachment and sterilization, and includes a power-supply system with electrodes for electrical continuity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a light source unit with lead wire is permanently installed on the vacuum tip, then illumination function is achieved, but the vacuum tip cannot be easily detached or sterilized
Solution Approach 1:
The light source unit is segmented from the vacuum tip through the use of a detachable light source holder. The holder can be attached to or removed from the vacuum tip, allowing the vacuum tip to be easily detached for sterilization while maintaining the illumination function when the holder is attached. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling separate handling of the vacuum tip and light source components.
Solution Approach 2:
The light source holder is designed with dynamic attachment capability, allowing it to be easily attached to or removed from the vacuum tip during operation. This dynamic design enables the system to adapt between different states (attached for illumination, detached for sterilization) without compromising the reliability of the illumination function when active.
2Ease of manufacture
If optical fiber or light guide member is used for illumination, then illumination function is achieved, but development cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a simple light source unit with lead wire that can be easily replaced rather than using expensive optical fibers or light guide members. The light source holder is designed to be detachable and replaceable, allowing for a cost-effective solution where the light source can be swapped without requiring complex, expensive optical components. This approach reduces development cost while maintaining reliable illumination functionality.
3Reliability
If light source and lead wire are not detachable, then illumination function is stable, but water resistance and heat resistance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the light source unit from the vacuum tip through detachable connection, the design eliminates the need for complex water and heat resistance protection. The light source and lead wire can be easily removed and dried without requiring sealed connections or heat-resistant materials, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining illumination stability during use.
4Productivity
If vacuum tip is made detachable for sterilization, then cleaning efficiency improves, but connection reliability with vacuum hose may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum tip is segmented from the light source holder, allowing the vacuum tip to be easily detached for sterilization while maintaining a reliable connection interface with the vacuum hose. The detachable design includes proper connection mechanisms that ensure stable coupling with the vacuum hose while still allowing easy separation for cleaning purposes.
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
This configuration enables effective illumination within the oral cavity without increasing development costs, allows for easy cleaning and sterilization of the vacuum tip, and prevents contamination from oral fluids.
Implementation Method 1
a light source (7) as illumination in an oral cavity
Implementation Method 2
a suction source; a vacuum tip having a tube body that has a proximal end connectable to a distal end of the vacuum hose and a distal end as a suction port
Data Source
AI summary
An oral suction device includes a vacuum hose connected to a suction source, a vacuum tip having a tube body that has a proximal end connectable to a distal end of the vacuum hose and a distal end as a suction port, and a bag-shaped light source holder provided on a tube-body outer surface, on a tube-body inner surface, or in a tube wall of the vacuum tip or at locations corresponding to a combination thereof, extending along a longitudinal direction of the vacuum tip, and having an opening at one end.