Occlusal Pressure Analysis Program for Dental Sensor Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pressure sensitive films and sensors face challenges in accurately measuring occlusal pressure due to slippage and irregularities in tooth surfaces, leading to inaccurate representation of the occlusal contact state.

Innovation Solution

An occlusal pressure analysis program that separates detection units into those clearly due to occlusion and those unclear, based on pressure values, areas, and pressure characteristic values, using thresholds and additional criteria like shape and color to improve accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If pressure sensitive film is used to measure occlusal pressure, then occlusal pressure can be visualized, but slippage and folding occur during the biting process causing measurement errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveocclusal pressure measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the pressure-sensitive film into multiple independent pressure-sensitive elements arranged in an array. Each element independently detects pressure at its location, preventing the film from slipping or folding as a whole while maintaining pressure measurement capability. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by making the measurement system rigid yet functional.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical pressure-sensitive film with an electronic pressure-sensitive element array that converts pressure into electrical signals. This substitution eliminates the mechanical slippage and folding issues inherent in flexible films while maintaining the ability to visualize and measure occlusal pressure distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If pressure sensitive film contacts complex tooth surfaces, then occlusal contact position can be detected, but the complicated irregularities cause sheet folding and adhering matters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveocclusal contact position detectionVSAvoidsheet folding and adhering issues
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the pressure-sensitive film into discrete pressure-sensitive elements, the system can accommodate complex tooth surface geometries without requiring the entire film to conform perfectly. Each element independently contacts the tooth surface, reducing the impact of folding and irregularities on overall measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates an electronic representation (copy) of the pressure distribution through the pressure-sensitive element array, which can be processed and analyzed without being affected by physical sheet folding or adhering matters that occur during the biting process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If pressure values are obtained for each minimum unit, then detailed pressure distribution is achieved, but distinguishing occlusion from slippage becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure distribution detailVSAvoidocclusion identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple pieces of information (pressure value, area of pressure-sensitive elements, and spatial arrangement) to distinguish occlusion from slippage. By merging these different data dimensions, the system can differentiate between genuine occlusal contact and artifacts caused by film movement, resolving the information loss problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the pattern and distribution of pressure-sensitive element responses to identify and filter out slippage artifacts. By analyzing the spatial and pressure characteristics of detected signals, the system can distinguish true occlusal contacts from false signals caused by film movement during the biting process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

Enhances the accuracy of grasping the occlusal contact state by distinguishing between occlusal and non-occlusal pressure distributions, reducing the impact of slippage and irregularities.

Implementation Method 1

Pressure sensitive films (pressure sensitive sheets) and sensor sheets are known as means for measuring occlusal pressure... When a subject bites a pressure sensitive film, the pressure sensitive film is strongly pressed at an occlusal contact portion of the upper and lower tooth rows, and a visual or electrical change appears.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure sensitivity: Piezoresistive Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3845201A1Occlusal pressure analysis program
Publication Date: 2021.07.07 GC CORP
  • EP3845201A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3845201A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3845201A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is an occlusal pressure analysis program capable of improving the accuracy of grasping the occlusal contact state in occlusal pressure acquisition by a pressure detection means, including a step of obtaining a pressure value for each minimum unit from which the pressure value can be recognized by a pressure detection means, and a step of, regarding each of the minimum units where the pressure value exists as a detection unit, separating the detection units into the detection units which can be regarded as due to occlusion and the detection units which are unclear whether they are due to occlusion, based on the pressure value.