Intraoral Scanner Sleeve Heating for Window Defogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for defogging medical devices, such as intraoral scanners, often cause patient discomfort, increase energy consumption, generate noise, or degrade optical signal transmission, and are insufficient in effectively preventing condensation on transparent elements.
Innovation Solution
A thermal defogging system comprising a transparent conductive layer on a transparent element that generates heat when powered, thermally communicating heat to the external side to prevent condensation without significantly impacting optical signal transmission or device size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fan is used to blow air to defog the window, then condensation is removed, but patient discomfort increases due to tooth sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical fan-based air blowing system with a thermal heating system. Instead of using mechanical force to remove condensation, the invention applies heat directly to the window surface to prevent condensation formation, thereby eliminating patient discomfort while maintaining defogging effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameter from mechanical air flow to thermal heating. By controlling the temperature of the window surface above the dew point, the system prevents condensation without requiring mechanical intervention, thus resolving the contradiction between defogging effectiveness and patient comfort.
2Reliability
If a fan is used to defog the window, then condensation is removed, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the energy-intensive mechanical fan system with a more efficient thermal heating system. The heating element consumes less energy to maintain the window surface temperature above the dew point compared to the continuous operation of a fan required for effective defogging.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary heating of the window surface to prevent condensation formation in the first place. By maintaining the surface temperature above the dew point before condensation occurs, the system avoids the need for continuous energy-consuming fan operation.
3Reliability
If a fan is used to defog the window, then condensation is removed, but device size increases due to occupying valuable space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the bulky mechanical fan assembly with a compact thermal heating element. The heating system can be integrated directly into the window structure, significantly reducing the space required for defogging functionality while maintaining effectiveness.
4Reliability
If an opaque foil heater is used to defog the window, then condensation is removed, but optical signal transmission degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material property of the heating element from opaque to transparent. By using transparent conductive materials, the system maintains both heating functionality for defogging and optical transparency for signal transmission, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
5Temperature
If the sides of the window are heated, then some defogging occurs, but heat dissipates through the ambient environment before reaching central portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies heating uniformly across the entire window surface rather than only at the edges. This ensures that all portions of the window, including central areas, reach the necessary temperature to prevent condensation, eliminating the heat dissipation problem associated with edge-only heating.
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
Effectively prevents condensation on medical device windows while maintaining high optical transmission and minimizing patient discomfort, energy consumption, and noise generation.
Implementation Method 1
a transparent conductive layer covering at least a portion of the transparent element, wherein responsive to the application of electrical power to the transparent conductive layer, the transparent conductive layer generates heat
Data Source
AI summary
An intraoral scanning device comprises a housing having a longitudinal axis and comprising a head configured for insertion into an oral cavity of a patient, the head comprising an aperture for transmission of optical signals, a transparent element positioned within the aperture, wherein the transparent element is non-orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, and a defogging unit comprising a heating unit. A protective sleeve is configured to cover at least a part of the head and comprises an additional aperture that aligns with the aperture and an additional transparent element in the additional aperture. A gap separates the additional transparent element from the transparent element when the protective sleeve is coupled to the housing. The housing and the protective sleeve are configured such that heat generated by the heating unit is transferred from the heating unit to the additional transparent element despite the gap that separates the additional transparent element from the transparent element.