Rotatable Dental Radiograph Sensor Holder for Multi-View Setup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dental radiograph systems require multiple components to be repeatedly assembled and disassembled for different views, which is time-consuming and inefficient, and necessitate sterilization between patients, causing inconvenience for both dental professionals and patients.

Innovation Solution

A multi-configurable dental radiograph sensor holder system with a handle, aiming ring, hinge linkage, and rotatable sensor holder that allows reconfiguration between anterior, posterior, and bitewing views without disassembly, using detent features and hinge mechanisms for precise orientation and alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple separate components (arms, sensor holders, hanger couplings) are used for different radiograph views, then the system can achieve precise positioning for each view, but the assembly and disassembly time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate components (anterior view holder, posterior view holder, bitewing view holder) into a single integrated sensor holder assembly. This assembly includes a handle with an aiming ring and a sensor holder body that can be configured for different views by rotating the sensor holder body relative to the handle, eliminating the need to assemble and disassemble multiple separate components for each view type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor holder body is designed to be rotatable relative to the handle, allowing dynamic reconfiguration between different radiograph views (anterior, posterior, bitewing) without disassembly. This rotational mechanism enables the same physical components to adapt to multiple positioning requirements, reducing assembly time while maintaining positioning precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If multiple separate components are used for different views, then each component can be optimized for its specific function, but the sterilization process becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidsterilization complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By merging multiple view-specific components into a single integrated sensor holder assembly, the patent reduces the number of separate items that need to be sterilized. The entire assembly can be sterilized as one unit, simplifying the sterilization process while maintaining the functional capabilities needed for different radiograph views through rotational reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If a single integrated sensor holder is used for all views, then assembly time is reduced, but the ability to achieve precise orientation for each view type may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidorientation precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor holder body is designed to be rotatable relative to the handle, allowing dynamic reconfiguration between different radiograph views. This rotational mechanism enables the same physical components to adapt to multiple positioning requirements, reducing assembly time while maintaining positioning precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical assembly/disassembly system with a rotational positioning system. Instead of connecting and disconnecting separate components, the operator simply rotates the sensor holder body to the appropriate orientation for each view type, achieving both speed and precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate components are used, then the system can be customized for each specific view, but the overall system complexity and number of parts increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveview customizationVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated sensor holder assembly is designed to perform multiple functions by rotating the sensor holder body to different orientations. The same physical assembly can capture anterior views, posterior views, and bitewing views, eliminating the need for multiple separate view-specific components while maintaining full versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12458312B1Multi-configurable dental radiograph sensor holder system

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 CULLEN SHAYDA

AI summary

A multi-configurable dental radiograph sensor holder system includes a handle having a long portion and a short portion at right angle to each other. An aiming ring is coupled to the long portion and a sensor holder is coupled to the short portion by a sensor positioning ring that is coupled to the short portion of the handle through a hinge linkage. The hinge linkage is articulable in the plane of the aiming ring and allows the sensor to be moved into different positions relative to the aiming ring in order to collect anterior, posterior, and bite wing views of a patient's dentition.