Intraoral Scanner Head Bonding Structure for Sterilization Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Plastic scanning tips for intraoral scanners experience reduced bonding strength with reflectors after multiple high-temperature sterilizations due to low surface energy, leading to adhesion failure and limited reuse.
Innovation Solution
A reinforced adhesive-bonding structure is implemented using a metal mesh, multi-adhesive layers, or modified surface properties to enhance the embedding force between the plastic base layer and reflector layer, thereby improving bonding strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a plastic base layer is used for the scanning tip, then the cost is reduced and the tip can be reused, but the bonding strength between the adhesive-bonding layer and the plastic base layer decreases sharply after multiple high-temperature sterilizations due to low surface energy of the plastic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a composite material structure by combining the plastic base layer with a metal mesh layer. The metal mesh serves as a reinforcing structure that compensates for the low surface energy of plastic, maintaining adhesive bonding strength after multiple sterilizations while keeping the overall tip cost-effective and reusable.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal mesh is applied locally at the bonding region between the adhesive-bonding layer and the plastic base layer, specifically where the reflector attaches to the tip. This localized reinforcement targets the critical bonding area without requiring the entire plastic component to be replaced with more expensive materials.
2Productivity
If the scanning tip undergoes multiple high-temperature sterilizations, then the tip can be reused to reduce cost, but an interactive reaction occurs between the plastic and adhesive causing surface adhesion to decrease sharply
Solution Approach 1:
The metal mesh integrated into the plastic base layer creates a composite structure where the metal component provides thermal stability during sterilization cycles. This composite approach allows the tip to withstand multiple high-temperature sterilizations while maintaining the adhesive bonding strength between the reflector and the base layer.
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 bonding strength between the reflector and plastic base layer is enhanced, increasing the number of reuses of the intraoral scanner and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
the metal mesh is connected to the plastic base layer by vacuum metal spraying, cathode coating or hot-pressing embedding
Implementation Method 2
an adhesive-bonding layer applied to an entire or partial surface of a region of the plastic base layer directly facing the window; a reflector layer disposed within the window to be bonded to the plastic base layer by the adhesive-bonding layer
Implementation Method 3
the property of the surface of the plastic base layer can be changed by heating, ion beam and laser etching
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure belongs to the technical field of intraoral scanners, and particularly to a scanning head with a reinforced adhesive-bonding structure and an intraoral scanner that can be reused for an increased number of times and has the scanning head. The scanning head includes a plastic base layer (10) having a window formed at a tip portion thereof; an adhesive-bonding layer (20) applied to an entire or partial surface of a region of a plastic base layer directly facing the window; and a reflector layer (30) disposed within the window to be bonded to the plastic base layer (10) by the adhesive-bonding layer (20). The adhesive-bonding layer (20) is configured to enhance an embedding force with the plastic base layer (10) by a reinforcing structure so as to be strongly bonded to the reflector layer.