Root Canal Instrument Cutting Efficiency Test System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for evaluating cutting efficiency of root canal rotary instruments distort test boundary conditions, leading to inaccurate measurements due to changing contact position, area, and stress during the cutting process.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a root canal rotary instrument attached to a driving unit, a cutting object with prestressing force, and a feeding unit that maintains constant contact area, angle, and stress by using rotated cylinders, allowing precise evaluation of cutting efficiency through continuous feeding and stable contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional test methods (teeth or acrylic plates) are used to evaluate cutting efficiency, then the test can be performed with simple equipment, but the contact area, contact angle and contact stress change during the cutting process, leading to distorted results

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of test equipmentVSAvoidaccuracy of cutting efficiency evaluation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the cutting object from irregular surfaces (teeth, acrylic plates) to a perfectly cylindrical surface. This parameter change ensures that the contact between the rotary instrument and the cutting object remains consistent throughout the cutting process, maintaining constant contact area, contact angle and contact stress, thereby eliminating the distortion of test results while keeping the test equipment relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the root canal rotary instrument cuts into stationary objects (teeth or acrylic plates), then the initial test boundary conditions can be controlled, but the contact position, contact area and contact stress change with cutting depth and period

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistency of initial test boundary conditionsVSAvoidstability of contact conditions during cutting

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having the rotary instrument cut into a stationary block (where contact conditions deteriorate with depth), the patent inverts the approach by using a rotating cylindrical cutting object. The rotary instrument rotates along the cylindrical surface, which ensures that the contact point continuously refreshes on the same cylindrical surface, maintaining stable contact conditions throughout the cutting process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Device complexity

If conventional cutting test methods are used, then the test setup is simple, but the cutting efficiency results are distorted due to changing contact conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of test systemVSAvoidprecision of cutting efficiency measurement

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the cutting object from irregular shapes to a perfect cylinder, and changes the motion parameters from stationary target to rotating target. These parameter changes enable precise measurement of cutting efficiency while keeping the overall device complexity relatively low, as the core improvement comes from the cutting object design rather than complex additional equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 precise estimation of cutting efficiency for different root canal rotary instruments and their various portions by maintaining consistent contact conditions throughout the cutting process.

Implementation Method 1

The cutting object is pressed by the prestressing force providing unit to contact the root canal rotary instrument

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPrestressing force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

The feeding unit feeds the cutting object to the root canal rotary instrument

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical feeding: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

The root canal rotary instrument is attached on the driving unit, and driven thereby

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotational motion: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS8539848B2System for evaluating cutting efficiency of root canal rotary instruments

Publication Date: 2013.09.24 NAT TAIWAN UNIV

AI summary

A system for evaluating cutting efficiency of root canal rotary instruments is provided. The system includes a root canal rotary instrument, a driving unit, a cutting object, a prestressing force providing unit and a feeding unit. The root canal rotary instrument is attached on the driving unit, and driven thereby. The cutting object is pressed by the prestressing force providing unit to contact the root canal rotary instrument. The feeding unit feeds the cutting object to the root canal rotary instrument, and the root canal rotary instrument cuts an uncut surface of the cutting object.