Marker-Integrated Oral Stent for IR Tracking and Angle Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing implant procedures for replacing teeth lack real-time tracking and accurate angle adjustment of oral stents, which can lead to potential medical inaccuracies during surgery.
Innovation Solution
An oral stent integrated with IR and radiopaque markers, allowing real-time tracking and fine angle adjustment using gear wheels and reference scales, enabling precise positioning and alignment during surgical procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an oral stent is used for guiding implantation without real-time tracking, then the surgical procedure can be performed, but the positioning accuracy and real-time coordination tracking are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional components into a single integrated stent structure: the oral stent body, IR markers for real-time tracking, radiopaque markers for imaging, and angle adjustment mechanisms with gear wheels are all merged into one device. This allows the stent to simultaneously provide structural guidance, real-time position tracking, imaging capability, and precise angle adjustment without requiring multiple separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The oral stent is designed as a multi-functional device that can: (1) provide mechanical guidance for implantation, (2) enable real-time infrared tracking of position and orientation, (3) appear in radiopaque imaging for verification, and (4) allow precise angle adjustment during surgery. This universal design eliminates the need for multiple separate tools and enhances positioning accuracy across all surgical phases.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the marker part is fixed rigidly to the stent, then the structure is simple, but the angle adjustment capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The marker part is connected to the stent through a movable joint with gear wheels instead of a rigid fixed connection. This dynamic joint allows the marker part to rotate and adjust its angle relative to the stent body during surgery. The gear wheel mechanism provides controlled motion while maintaining a fixed position once adjusted, enabling adaptability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The stent system is segmented into distinct functional parts: the main stent body, the marker part, and the connecting joint mechanism with gear wheels. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of the marker part angle while maintaining the structural integrity of the stent, providing versatility without requiring complete redesign of the entire device.
3Reliability
If standard tracking markers are used without radiopaque markers, then the IR tracking can be performed, but the markers cannot be recognized during CBCT imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The markers on the stent are designed to serve dual functions: they reflect infrared light for real-time optical tracking and simultaneously appear as radiopaque structures in CBCT imaging. This multi-functional marker design allows the same physical features to be utilized across different imaging and tracking modalities without requiring separate marker systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the IR tracking markers and radiopaque imaging markers into a single integrated marker structure. The marker features are designed to have properties that enable both infrared reflection and radiopacity, eliminating the need for separate marker types and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability across both tracking and imaging applications.
4Manufacturing precision
If manual angle adjustment without reference scales is used, then the device is simpler, but the angle adjustment precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces purely mechanical angle adjustment with a guided system that uses reference lines and angle adjustment scales. Instead of relying solely on tactile mechanical feedback, the system incorporates visual reference markings that guide the operator in achieving precise angular positions. This substitution of mechanical intuition with visual guidance enhances precision without requiring complex mechanical stopping mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference lines and angle scales create a visual copy or representation of the desired angular position. By providing scaled reference markings on the stent or adjacent structures, the system allows the operator to visually replicate the correct angle without needing complex mechanical guidance systems, achieving precision through visual measurement rather than mechanical constraint.
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
Enables real-time tracking and accurate angle adjustment of oral stents, reducing the risk of medical inaccuracies by ensuring precise implant placement and alignment.
Implementation Method 1
the position of a stent fixed in an oral cavity of a patient is recognized by an infrared (IR) camera of a marker part located outside the oral cavity so that the coordinates of the stent can be tracked in real time
Implementation Method 2
radiopaque markers are formed at the upper end of a fixed joint, the upper end of a movable joint, and a side surface of the stent, respectively, so that the radiopaque markers can be recognized during cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging
Data Source
AI summary
A marker integrally formed with an oral stent includes a stent located in the oral cavity of a patient and capable of undergoing IR tracking and CBCT imaging and a marker part connected to one side of the stent and exposed to the outside of the oral cavity when the stent is placed in the oral cavity to track the coordinates of the stent. The marker part may have a fixed joint integrally connected to a side surface of the stent, a movable joint that rotates left and right at the fixed joint to adjust the angle of the marker part, and a gear wheel formed at each of the upper end of the fixed joint and the lower end of the movable joint. According to the coupling position of the gear wheel, the angle of the marker part is adjusted and fixed.