Rotatable Dental Instrument Head for Ergonomic Repositioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dental instruments with fixed heads require significant dexterity and time to reposition manually, making procedures like cord packing difficult and time-consuming, especially in the confined space of the mouth.
Innovation Solution
A dental instrument with a rotatable working end coupled to a handle via a rotational joint, allowing easy repositioning without reorienting the entire instrument, facilitated by a housing with finger rests for ergonomic rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed head dental instrument is used, then the instrument structure is simple, but the instrument requires constant manual repositioning which increases operation time and reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the fixed head into a rotatable head that can dynamically adjust its orientation. The rotational joint allows the working end to rotate relative to the handle, enabling the instrument to adapt to different tooth surfaces and angles without requiring complete instrument removal and repositioning, thereby significantly improving procedural efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the dental instrument into distinct functional components: a handle, a rotational joint, and a working end. This segmentation allows the working end to rotate independently while the handle remains stable in the user's hand, resolving the contradiction by enabling complex repositioning capability without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
2Device complexity
If a fixed head dental instrument is used, then the instrument structure is simple, but the instrument requires considerable dexterity and skill to operate, reducing ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational joint provides dynamic repositioning capability that simplifies operation. Instead of requiring the user to manually flip and turn the entire instrument, the rotatable working end can be easily oriented to match the tooth curve, making the instrument accessible to general practitioners without requiring extensive dexterous skill.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotational mechanism allows the working end to be easily repositioned by the user through simple rotational motion rather than complex manual manipulation. The finger rest on the housing provides an ergonomic interface that enables one-handed rotation, making the instrument self-repositioning to some extent.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the working end is constantly repositioned manually, then the instrument can adapt to tooth curves, but the time spent on each tooth increases, reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational joint enables rapid adaptation to tooth curves by allowing the working end to rotate into the correct orientation parallel to the tooth tangent. This dynamic adjustment is much faster than manually repositioning a fixed head instrument, significantly reducing the time spent on each tooth while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotational mechanism is pre-configured to allow easy rotation of the working end, so the adaptation to tooth curves can be achieved quickly without extensive manual manipulation. The finger rest and rotational joint are designed beforehand to facilitate this preliminary positioning action.
4Ease of operation
If a rotatable working end is implemented, then ease of repositioning is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the rotational joint mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational joint is designed as a separate, modular component that connects the handle and working end. This segmentation allows the rotation mechanism to be a simple, focused structure rather than a complex integrated system, minimizing the increase in overall device complexity while maintaining ease of repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotational joint acts as an intermediary element between the handle and working end, providing the necessary rotation capability through a simple mechanical interface. The housing with cavity and corresponding member creates a straightforward rotational connection that adds minimal complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1D
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A dental instrument having a working end that can be easily rotated into a desired position in the mouth of a patient while the handle of the instrument is held steady by the user. The dental instrument has a handle and a working end that is rotatably coupled together by a rotational joint formed by a housing having a cavity and a member positioned in the cavity so that the housing and the member are free to rotate relative to each other. The housing may include one or more finger rests for easy manipulation. The rotational joint may be connected to the handle via a bend so that the working end extends, obliquely relative to the handle. The working end may be a cord packer, a Woodson end, a periotome end, and a periosteal end. The instrument may be formed from an autoclavable, disposable, plastic or other medical grade material.