Palatal Expansion Support Kit With Scanner-Guided Home Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing palatal expansion devices are prone to user error, leading to under or overexpansion, which can cause pain and increase treatment time, especially in cases of skeletal crossbites where the upper jaw is inadequately developed.
Innovation Solution
A palatal expansion support kit comprising a mouth scanner, central console, and a spring-loaded key that allows users to monitor and adjust palatal expansion accurately, communicating with an orthodontist via a cloud server to ensure precise adjustments based on prescriptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users manually adjust palatal expansion devices without monitoring, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to under or overexpansion
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a mouth scanner that captures images of the palatal expansion device and transmits them to a mobile application. The application analyzes the images to determine the current expansion state and provides feedback to the user through notifications, guiding them to make precise adjustments. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables users to accurately control expansion without professional presence while maintaining high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system empowers users to independently monitor and adjust their own palatal expansion devices using the mouth scanner and mobile application. Users can capture images, receive automated analysis, and make adjustments based on system guidance without requiring orthodontist intervention for each adjustment,实现 self-service orthodontic treatment.
2Manufacturing precision
If orthodontists continuously monitor treatment in person, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to increased treatment time
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a mobile application and cloud server as intermediaries between the patient and orthodontist. The mouth scanner captures device images, the application analyzes expansion status, and the server communicates with the orthodontist's system. This intermediary automated monitoring system maintains precision while eliminating the need for continuous in-person orthodontist supervision, significantly improving treatment efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical system of in-person orthodontist monitoring with an automated digital system. Instead of orthodontists physically examining patients frequently, the mouth scanner captures images, the application processes them algorithmically, and results are transmitted electronically. This substitution of manual mechanical monitoring with automated digital monitoring maintains accuracy while dramatically improving productivity.
3Manufacturing precision
If users frequently visit orthodontists for adjustments, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time worsens due to travel and appointment time
Solution Approach 1:
Users can perform self-adjustments at home using the mouth scanner and mobile application, eliminating the need to travel to orthodontist offices for routine adjustments. The system provides automated guidance and monitoring, allowing users to make precise adjustments on their own schedule, thereby recovering significant time while maintaining adjustment accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the expansion device state through image capture and automated processing before user adjustment. The mobile application pre-calculates the required adjustment parameters and provides step-by-step guidance, enabling users to make accurate adjustments without prior professional intervention, thus eliminating travel time while preserving precision.
4Device complexity
If manual adjustment without feedback is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to user error
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates automated feedback through the mobile application that analyzes mouth scanner images, determines current expansion status, and provides real-time guidance to users. This feedback loop ensures consistent and reliable expansion by preventing both under-expansion and over-expansion, while the user-friendly interface maintains relative system simplicity.
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 self-adjustment of palatal expanders at home, reducing user errors and treatment time by providing real-time feedback and guidance from orthodontists, ensuring accurate expansion and minimizing discomfort.
Implementation Method 1
a spring-loaded key that allows users to monitor and adjust palatal expansion accurately
Data Source
AI summary
A palatal expansion support kit is provided for use in conjunction with a palatal expansion device installed in an upper jaw. The kit includes a mouth scanner sized and shaped for placement into an oral cavity of a patient to allow the patient to bite on it for capturing distal and lateral length readings of the upper jaw. The kit further includes a central console communicatively coupled to the mouth scanner. The central console is adapted to receive the readings of the upper jaw, transmit the received readings to an orthodontist for review, and receive necessary instructions on a course of treatment from the orthodontist. The central console further displays informational data over a display screen. The kit further includes a key adapted to adjust the palatal expansion device for correcting the upper jaw's misalignment.