Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet for Dental Implant Disinfection and Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional treatments for peri-implantitis, such as antibiotics and mechanical cleaning, complicate osseo-integration and leave a high risk of relapse, while existing plasma devices lack specificity and efficiency in disinfecting and coating dental implants.
Innovation Solution
An atmospheric pressure plasma jet device with a single electrode nozzle and a precursor supply, capable of generating a directed plasma jet for disinfection and carbon-based coating, using electrical pulses to create a low-temperature plasma for targeted treatment of dental implants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional mechanical cleaning with metal brush is used to remove biofilm, then the surface is smoothened, but osseo-integration becomes more difficult and relapse risk remains high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical cleaning with metal brush with a plasma-based treatment system. The atmospheric pressure plasma jet delivers reactive species that chemically modify and remove biofilm without mechanical contact, thereby avoiding surface damage that would hinder osseo-integration while maintaining effective biofilm elimination.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the treatment parameters from mechanical force to plasma parameters (voltage, gas flow, treatment duration). By controlling plasma power and exposure time, the system achieves biofilm removal while preserving the underlying tissue structure necessary for osseo-integration, thus resolving the contradiction between effective cleaning and tissue preservation.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If antibiotics are used to treat peri-implantitis, then bacterial infection is addressed, but the treatment is not specific and relapse risk remains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes antibiotic chemotherapy with a physical plasma treatment system. The plasma jet delivers reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that directly kill bacteria and modify surface properties to prevent bacterial adhesion, providing a more specific and durable treatment that reduces relapse risk compared to systemic antibiotics.
Solution Approach 2:
The plasma treatment performs preliminary surface modification before potential re-infection can occur. By creating a hydrophilic surface with reduced bacterial adhesion properties and eliminating existing biofilm, the treatment establishes a protective state that prevents future infections, thereby improving long-term reliability and reducing relapse.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If high power plasma is used for treatment, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but tissue damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control of plasma parameters, adjusting power, gas flow rate, and treatment duration in real-time. This allows the system to deliver sufficient reactive species for effective disinfection while limiting total energy deposition to prevent tissue damage, thereby resolving the contradiction between disinfection effectiveness and tissue safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The plasma treatment is applied in controlled periodic pulses rather than continuous high-power exposure. This intermittent treatment allows brief periods of high reactive species concentration for effective disinfection, followed by rest periods that prevent cumulative thermal damage to surrounding tissue, thus achieving both thorough disinfection and tissue preservation.
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 device effectively disinfects and coats dental implants, reducing bacterial adhesion and preventing peri-implantitis through a selective, low-temperature plasma treatment that maintains tissue integrity and enhances osseo-integration.
Implementation Method 1
an atmospheric pressure plasma jet device for disinfecting and coating a dental implant
Implementation Method 2
using electrical pulses to create a low-temperature plasma
Implementation Method 3
a carbon based coating forms covalent bonds on the dental implant
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention refers to an atmospheric pressure plasma jet device (20) for disinfecting and coating a dental implant (100). The device comprises a gas supply (30) and a nozzle (40) for providing a gas (2) to a tip (41) of the nozzle wherein the nozzle is a single electrode nozzle having a first electrode (60). The device comprises further a precursor supply (50) for providing a coating precursor to the nozzle, a second electrode (80) and a connector (90) for electronically connecting the second electrode with the dental implant. In another aspect the present invention refers to a system for disinfecting and coating.