Intraoral Scanner Window System Thermal Fog Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Intraoral scanners face fogging issues due to exhaled breath and air in the oral cavity, leading to erroneous data and discomfort in sensitive patients, with existing solutions involving airflow that increase power consumption and noise, and requiring space for nozzles.
Innovation Solution
A window system with a thermally conductive optical element, such as corundum, detachably connected to a window made of plastic or glass, utilizing a heat source on the optical element to prevent fogging without airflow, ensuring hygienic standards and high transmittance through anti-reflective coatings and efficient heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a transparent window is used in the intraoral scanner to ensure the beam path, then optical function is maintained, but fogging occurs due to contact with exhaled breath and air in the oral cavity
Solution Approach 1:
The window system is divided into two separate components: a reusable optical element with heat source that remains in the device, and a disposable window that contacts the patient's oral cavity. This segmentation allows the optical element to maintain thermal properties for preventing fogging while the window can be replaced or sterilized to maintain hygiene.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical element acts as an intermediary between the heat source and the window. It conducts heat from the heat source to the window surface to prevent fogging, while being thermally conductive itself. This intermediary structure enables heat transfer without requiring the window material itself to be thermally conductive.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If airflow is supplied to prevent fogging, then fogging is reduced, but power consumption increases and noise emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical airflow system is replaced with a thermal field system. Instead of using fans or nozzles to blow air across the window, an electromagnetic heat source heats the optical element, which then conducts heat to the window surface to prevent condensation. This substitution eliminates moving parts and reduces power consumption and noise.
3Reliability
If a disposable window is used to satisfy hygienic requirements, then hygiene is improved, but thermal conductivity is insufficient to prevent fogging
Solution Approach 1:
The window system is divided into two separate components: a reusable optical element with heat source that remains in the device, and a disposable window that contacts the patient's oral cavity. This segmentation allows the optical element to maintain thermal properties for preventing fogging while the window can be replaced or sterilized to maintain hygiene.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical element acts as an intermediary between the heat source and the window. It conducts heat from the heat source to the window surface to prevent fogging, while being thermally conductive itself. This intermediary structure enables heat transfer without requiring the window material itself to be thermally conductive.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the optical element is made of material with high thermal conductivity to prevent fogging, then fogging is reduced, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The window system is divided into two separate components: a reusable optical element with heat source that remains in the device, and a disposable window that contacts the patient's oral cavity. This segmentation allows the optical element to maintain thermal properties for preventing fogging while the window can be replaced or sterilized to maintain hygiene.
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 solution effectively prevents fogging on the window system, maintaining high data quality and hygiene standards without airflow, reducing power consumption and noise, and allowing for easy replacement or sterilization of components.
Implementation Method 1
The optical element has a thermal conductivity of more than 1 W m−1 K−1, preferably more than 40 W m−1 K−1
Implementation Method 2
a transfer of heat by means of thermal radiation, convection or thermal conduction is made possible
Implementation Method 3
a transfer of heat by means of thermal radiation, convection or thermal conduction is made possible
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a window system for an intraoral scanner. Said window system comprises an optical element having a thermal conductivity of more than 1 W m−1 K−1. A window, which comprises a pane made for example of a plastic, glass, or corundum, is detachably disposed on the optical element at an average distance of less than 1 mm. At least one heat source is also connected to the optical element. The invention further relates to an intraoral scanner. Said intraoral scanner comprises the window system. The optical element and the at least one heat source are connected to the intraoral scanner. The window is disposed in a cover. Said cover can be disposed on the intraoral scanner such that the window has an average distance of less than 1 mm from the optical element.