Rounded Dental X-Ray Sensor Housing for Patient Comfort

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional digital dental x-ray sensors with rectangular shapes cause discomfort due to edges and corners, leading to pain and gag reflexes in patients, especially those with smaller mouths, as they do not conform well to individual mouth sizes.

Innovation Solution

A digital dental x-ray sensor device featuring a rounded housing without edges or corners, designed to fit comfortably in the mouth, which can accommodate both conventional and circular digital x-ray sensors, and includes an attachment feature for optimal positioning and handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rectangular digital x-ray sensor is used, then the sensor can capture images effectively, but it causes discomfort and pain to patients due to edges and corners

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage capture capabilityVSAvoidpatient discomfort and pain

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies spheroidality by replacing the rectangular sensor housing with a rounded, curved housing that has no sharp edges or corners. This curved design conforms to the natural contours of the patient's mouth and soft tissues, eliminating the cutting sensation and discomfort caused by rectangular edges while maintaining the sensor's image capture functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Area of stationary object

If a large rectangular sensor is used for adults, then image coverage is improved, but it becomes difficult to accommodate in smaller mouths

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor area for image coverageVSAvoidadaptability to different mouth sizes

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by making the sensor housing flexible and adaptable in size. The rounded housing can be compressed and molded to fit different mouth sizes and shapes, allowing the same sensor design to accommodate both adult and pediatric patients effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a flexible housing design that can deform to match the contours of different mouth sizes. This flexible shell allows the sensor to be accommodated in smaller pediatric mouths while maintaining full sensor area for image coverage in adult patients.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of manufacture

If a rectangular sensor housing is used, then manufacturing is simple, but it causes gag reflexes and vomiting in some patients

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidgag reflex and vomiting

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rounded, curved housing design eliminates sharp edges and corners that trigger gag reflexes. The smooth, continuous curvature conforms to the natural anatomy of the mouth and throat area, preventing the triggering of gag reflexes and vomiting while remaining manufacturable through standard molding processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Strength

If corners and edges are present on the sensor, then structural integrity is maintained, but they dig into soft tissues of the mouth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidtissue penetration and discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces sharp corners and edges with continuous curved surfaces that have no protruding points. This curved design maintains structural integrity of the housing while eliminating the ability to dig into or penetrate soft oral tissues, thereby preventing discomfort and injury.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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

The rounded housing design reduces discomfort and gag reflexes, allowing for broader angles of view and improved image capture by conforming to the mouth's shape, enhancing patient comfort and image quality.

Implementation Method 1

The rounded housing can include a radio transceiver

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

digital x-ray sensors use conventional image sensor technology, such a complementary metallic oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors, in combination with a scintillator that produces visible light in the presence of x-rays

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectScintillation: Scintillation

Data Source

PatentUS11191497B2Digital dental x-ray sensor device having a rounded housing including a radio transceiver

Publication Date: 2021.12.07 CULLEN SHAYDA

AI summary

A digital dental x-ray sensor device includes a rounded, three dimensional housing that lacks corners, edges, or other relatively sharp features that are known to cause discomfort when used in a patient's mouth. The rounded three dimensional housing can be spherical, ellipsoid, or any similar regular or irregular rounded shape, and can be formed by ensuring that all curves of a surface of the rounded three dimensional housing have a minimum radius that is sufficient to prevent features that can dig into a soft tissue of the inside of a patient's mouth.