Multi Port Irrigation Needle Shear Stress Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endodontic irrigation needles fail to effectively penetrate and clean the lateral canals and irregular anatomy of root canals due to insufficient velocity and pressure of the irrigant, as the exit ports are not optimally positioned or dimensioned to create sufficient shear wall stress.
Innovation Solution
The endodontic irrigation needle is designed with strategically positioned and dimensioned exit ports close to the root canal walls, a tapered internal fluid delivery conduit, and an outer profile matching the geometry of a shaping instrument to maximize pressure and velocity of the irrigant, ensuring balanced and maximized shear wall stress and debridement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional irrigation needle design with exit ports is used, then the needle structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the irrigant velocity and pressure are insufficient to penetrate lateral canals and irregular anatomy
Solution Approach 1:
The needle incorporates multiple exit ports with different diameters (first exit port with larger diameter, second exit port with smaller diameter) positioned at different locations along the needle length. This local variation in port characteristics creates different fluid dynamics at each port, optimizing irrigant velocity and pressure distribution to penetrate lateral canals and irregular root canal anatomy effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The irrigation needle is divided into multiple functional segments: a first exit port for primary irrigation flow, a second exit port for supplementary flow, and a tapered internal conduit system. This segmentation allows each segment to perform a specific function in optimizing irrigant delivery, with the tapered conduit creating velocity gradients that enhance penetration into lateral canals.
2Stress or pressure
If exit ports are positioned farther from the canal wall, then the needle design is simpler, but the irrigant cannot create sufficient shear wall stress to clean lateral canals and irregular anatomy
Solution Approach 1:
Exit ports are strategically positioned at specific locations along the needle length with precise dimensional relationships. The first exit port is positioned to deliver irrigant at a primary location, while the second exit port is positioned at a different location to deliver irrigant at a secondary location. This precise local positioning ensures that irrigant is delivered as close as possible to the canal wall at multiple points, maximizing shear wall stress for effective cleaning of lateral canals and irregular anatomy.
3Productivity
If multiple exit ports with different dimensions are used, then irrigant pressure and velocity can be optimized, but the design and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The needle employs systematic parameter variations in the exit ports: the first exit port has a larger diameter than the second exit port, and they are positioned at different locations along the needle. The internal conduit is tapered with specific dimensional relationships between different sections. These parameter changes are designed to optimize fluid dynamics for maximum cleaning efficacy while maintaining manufacturability through consistent dimensional relationships that can be replicated in manufacturing.
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 design enhances the cleaning efficacy by achieving equal pressure and velocity at all exit ports, effectively cleaning the root canal and lateral canals, ensuring thorough removal of debris and bacteria before obturation.
Implementation Method 1
The internal cavity size of the tapered internal fluid delivery conduit may vary such that a first location on the needle has a larger internal cavity size than a second location on the needle. The tapered design creates a pressure gradient that accelerates the irrigant flow, increasing velocity and pressure at the exit ports for effective debridement.
Implementation Method 2
dimensions of the exit ports may be configured to have the exit ports as close as possible to the walls of the root canal to balance and maximize the pressure and velocity of the irrigant being spouted in order to maximize the amount of shear wall stress and debridement created along the walls of a root canal and lateral canals
Data Source
AI summary
A needle comprising a luer lock connection, an internal fluid delivery conduit, exit ports and an outer profile shaped to match a geometry created by a previous canal shaping instrument. A shape of the needle and features of the exit ports are configured to maximize the amount of shear wall stress and debridement created along the wall of a root canal to be irrigated.