Multilayer Dental Appliance Hard Soft Polymer Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orthodontic appliances, such as traditional braces and Invisalign aligners, face challenges in consistently applying continuous force and maintaining the shape of teeth receiving cavities over the course of orthodontic treatment, leading to potential mid-course corrections and increased number of aligners required.
Innovation Solution
The development of multilayer orthodontic positioning appliances featuring a hard polymer layer sandwiched between two soft polymer layers, which provides improved durability, stress relaxation properties, and a longer working range, thereby enhancing the consistency of force application and maintaining the shape of teeth receiving cavities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional single-layer orthodontic appliances are used, then the appliance structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the stress relaxation properties are insufficient and the working range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a multilayer composite structure consisting of a hard polymer layer sandwiched between two soft polymer layers. The hard layer provides structural integrity and dimensional stability, while the soft layers provide stress relaxation and comfort. This composite material approach resolves the contradiction by combining materials with complementary properties to achieve both reliability and controlled complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The appliance is segmented into distinct functional layers, each with specific properties. The hard polymer layer maintains the shape of teeth receiving cavities and provides structural support, while the soft polymer layers provide stress relaxation and comfort. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally, improving overall reliability without excessive complexity.
2Duration of action of moving object
If conventional orthodontic appliances are used, then the number of components is low, but the force application is not continuous and midcourse corrections are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The multilayer structure enables continuous force application by combining the elastic recovery of soft layers with the structural support of the hard layer. This continuity reduces the need for midcourse corrections and extends the effective working range of each appliance, thereby improving productivity by reducing the total number of aligners needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the appliance by introducing a multilayer structure with different material properties. The hard layer maintains dimensional stability while the soft layers provide progressive stress relaxation, enabling the appliance to maintain effective force application over a longer duration and working range.
3Strength
If single-layer polymer appliances are used, then the material properties are uniform, but the durability and shape maintenance are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system with a hard polymer layer for structural strength and shape maintenance, sandwiched between soft polymer layers for durability and comfort. This composite approach improves strength and durability by combining materials with complementary mechanical properties, while the layered structure efficiently manages the complexity of material composition.
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
The multilayer appliances offer improved material performance, reducing the need for midcourse corrections and the number of aligners used during treatment, while maintaining the integrity of the teeth receiving cavities and providing more continuous force for effective tooth repositioning.
Implementation Method 1
a hard polymer layer disposed between two soft polymer layers... provide improved material performance, stress relaxation properties and longer working range
Data Source
AI summary
A dental appliance for positioning a patient's teeth includes a removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to directly receive at least some of the patient's teeth and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient's teeth. The appliance includes a hard polymer layer having a hard polymer layer elastic modulus disposed between a first soft polymer layer having a first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and a second soft polymer layer having a second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. The hard polymer layer elastic modulus is greater than each of the first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and the second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. At least one of the first soft polymer layer and the second soft polymer layer has a flexural modulus of greater than about 35,000 psi.