Rotatable Ultrasonic Dental Insert With O-Ring Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dental practitioners face inefficiencies and interruptions during procedures due to the need to repeatedly re-orient ultrasonic dental tools, which are hindered by the tools' inability to rotate freely within the handpiece, requiring both hands and disrupting the workflow.
Innovation Solution
The ultrasonic dental tool features a rotatable insert within the handpiece, facilitated by a low-friction O-ring and groove design, allowing single-handed rotation and maintaining a secure seal, enabling 360-degree rotation without removing the insert from the patient's mouth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the insert is tightly fitted in the handpiece to maintain a secure seal, then sealing reliability is improved, but rotation difficulty increases requiring both hands
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing interface is segmented into multiple O-rings positioned at different locations along the insert. This segmentation allows each O-ring to contribute to the overall seal while distributing the frictional forces, enabling rotation with one hand while maintaining reliable sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The O-rings are strategically positioned at specific locations where sealing is most critical, rather than providing uniform sealing along the entire insert length. This local quality approach maintains sealing reliability at key interfaces while minimizing friction in rotation zones.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the insert rotation is restricted to maintain stability, then operational stability is improved, but re-orientation efficiency deteriorates requiring repeated removal and reinsertion
Solution Approach 1:
The insert design transitions from a static, fixed-position configuration to a dynamic, rotatable configuration. The insert can rotate 360 degrees within the handpiece while remaining securely positioned, allowing the practitioner to dynamically adjust the tip orientation without removing the insert, thereby maintaining stability while improving re-orientation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The O-ring sealing system acts as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between the need for rotational freedom and the need for stable positioning. The O-rings allow rotation while preventing excessive movement or dislodgement, enabling both stability and efficient re-orientation.
3Measurement precision
If both hands are used for insert rotation, then rotation control is improved, but workflow continuity deteriorates due to time-consuming re-orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The insert design enables self-service rotation where the practitioner can easily rotate the insert using one hand without requiring assistance or complex manipulation. The reduced friction from the O-ring system allows the insert to rotate smoothly under minimal applied force, saving time and maintaining workflow continuity.
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
This design reduces the time and effort required for re-orientation, enhances workflow continuity, and allows for precise positioning of the tool without interrupting the dental treatment process.
Implementation Method 1
an O-ring is generally used. The O-ring generally sits in a groove disposed somewhere on the coupling member
Implementation Method 2
the surface of the groove it is seated or in contact with, either on the connecting body or the retaining ring, has a reduced frictional force to enable the insert to rotate easily
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention describes an ultrasonic dental insert capable of enhanced operating efficiency. A first transducer generates ultrasonic vibrations. A connecting body has a proximal end and a distal end having a tip attached thereto. The proximal end is attached to the first transducer so as to receive the ultrasonic vibrations therefrom and to transmit the ultrasonic vibrations toward the tip attached to the distal end. The ultrasonic dental insert may be inserted into a handpiece for providing electromagnetic energy to the first transducer to generate the ultrasonic vibrations. The ultrasonic insert, when seated in the handpiece, is substantially decoupled, on a rotary axis, from the handpiece. A rotary force need only be applied to the insert to rotate it in the handpiece. At least one light source substantially proximate or distal to the tip may also be provided.