Dental Prophy Angle Adapter with Rotatable Ball Joint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dental prophy angles and their adapters face issues with secure engagement, compatibility with different drive sources, and the need for multiple adapters to provide various orientations, leading to inefficiencies and sterility concerns due to disposable plastic construction.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable angle adapter system that includes a concave guard integrated with the prophy angle housing, a rotatable nose and body configuration with a ball joint mechanism, and a multi-axis rotation joint, allowing for adjustable angles and secure sealing to prevent debris entry, while being compatible with various drive sources and reducing the need for multiple adapters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prophy angles are made from lightweight plastic for disposable use, then sterility is improved, but engagement security and durability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The prophy angle is divided into separate components: a disposable plastic angle body and a reusable metal adapter. The adapter contains the engagement mechanisms (ball receiver, cam, latch) that provide secure connection, while the plastic angle maintains sterility through disposable use. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its material properties for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal adapter serves as an intermediary between the disposable plastic prophy angle and the drive source. It provides the robust mechanical engagement features needed for secure operation while allowing the plastic angle to remain simple and disposable. The adapter's ball receiver and cam mechanism mediate the connection, ensuring durability without compromising the sterility benefits of the plastic component.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple adapters are used to provide different orientations, then orientation flexibility is improved, but device complexity and sterility maintenance worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter incorporates a rotatable nose that can be positioned at multiple angles relative to the body, allowing dynamic adjustment of the prophy angle orientation. The ball joint mechanism enables smooth rotation and locking at desired angles, providing versatility without requiring multiple separate adapters. This dynamic adjustment capability reduces the number of components needed while maintaining orientation flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter is designed as a universal component that can accommodate different prophy angle types and provide multiple orientations through its rotatable nose and adjustable mechanisms. This single multi-functional adapter replaces the need for multiple specialized adapters, simplifying the overall system while maintaining adaptability to various clinical requirements.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the guard is made larger to improve sealing, then debris prevention is improved, but interference with drive source engagement worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The guard is designed with non-uniform dimensions, featuring a larger diameter at the sealing surface to effectively prevent debris entry, while maintaining a smaller overall profile that does not interfere with drive source engagement. The guard's geometry is optimized locally: wider where sealing is needed, and more compact where mechanical engagement occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The guard extends primarily in the radial dimension to provide effective sealing, while its axial length is minimized to avoid interfering with the drive source engagement. By concentrating the guard's protective function in the radial direction and keeping it compact axially, the design achieves debris prevention without compromising operational ease.
Data Source
AI summary
A dental system comprises a dental prophy angle and an adjustable angle adapter. The prophy angle includes a housing and a guard with a concave inner surface. The adapter is configured to drive the prophy angle and the adapter includes a body, a nose, and an outer joint. The nose is configured to receive a portion of a prophy angle. The body is adjustably connected to the nose. The outer joint includes a ball portion connected to the nose, and a ball receiver positioned on the body. The ball receiver includes a first portion coupled to a first end of the body and a second portion attachable to the first portion. The nose is rotatable relative to the body into at least a first configuration and a second configuration. The concave inner surface of the guard engages a convex outer surface of the ball receiver.