Locking Dental Forceps for Lower-Strain Tooth Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tooth extraction methods require significant manual stress and strain on the dentist, necessitating precise control of compressive, lateral, and upward forces to avoid complications, while conventional forceps designs do not adequately alleviate this strain.

Innovation Solution

A locking mechanism is integrated into dental forceps, allowing secure grip and tension adjustment, reducing manual stress by enabling quick and secure tooth engagement and release, with interchangeable beaks and handles for versatility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional dental forceps are used with separate locking mechanisms for each jaw, then each jaw can be controlled independently, but the device complexity increases and cross-contamination risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIndependent jaw controlVSAvoidSeparate locking mechanisms
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two separate locking mechanisms into a single unified locking mechanism that controls both upper and lower jaws simultaneously. The locking block engages with both jaw levers through a shared locking surface, allowing one locking action to secure both jaws, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining independent jaw control capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the locking mechanism into distinct functional components: a locking block with differentiated locking surfaces for each jaw, allowing the single locking mechanism to independently engage with both upper and lower jaw levers through separate engagement points, thus maintaining independent control capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If conventional dental forceps require multiple cleaning procedures for different jaws, then thorough sterilization can be achieved, but the time required for preparation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSterilization completenessVSAvoidCleaning time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the cleaning process for both jaws into a single simultaneous cleaning action. The cleaning member engages with both upper and lower tooth extraction portions at the same time through its dual-sided configuration, allowing one cleaning motion to sterilize both jaws, thereby reducing preparation time while maintaining sterilization completeness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If dental forceps have a fixed jaw opening angle, then the structure is simpler, but adaptability to different tooth positions is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveJaw angle mechanismVSAvoidTooth position adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic jaw opening angle mechanism where the lower jaw lever can rotate relative to the upper jaw lever around a fulcrum point. This allows the jaw opening angle to be adjusted during operation to match different tooth positions and extraction angles, providing adaptability without requiring complex mechanical adjustment devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses asymmetric positioning of the fulcrum point and differentiated locking surfaces on the locking block to enable different engagement characteristics for upper and lower jaws, allowing the forceps to adapt to various tooth orientations and extraction vectors while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP4274507B1Locking dental forceps for tooth extraction
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 FRAZEE DENNIS
  • EP4274507B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4274507B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4274507B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A denial forceps includes a first, elongate member having a first beak portion and a second elongate member including a second beak portion. The first elongate member and the second elongate member are connected to each other at a pivot point that allows the elongate members to rotate with respect to each other. The dental forceps also includes a locking arm that is connected to one of the elongate members. The locking arm engages a series of teeth that is positioned on the other elongate member. While the locking arm engages the series of teeth, the position of the elongate members with respect to one another is maintained.