Segmented Dental Impression Tray With Hinged Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental impression trays are rigid, making it difficult and often damaging to remove hardened dental stone models without applying stress along the occlusal and other planes, leading to frequent breakage and loss of detail.
Innovation Solution
A segmented dental impression tray with hinged segments and removable stiffening elements that restrict rotation, allowing for seamless assembly during impressions and easy disassembly without applying stress to the stone model, using tapered slots and tension rods or dissolvable segments for enhanced flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid one-piece impression tray is used, then the tray provides structural stability during the impression process, but the stone model becomes difficult to remove and frequently breaks during separation
Solution Approach 1:
The impression tray is divided into multiple segments that can be separated from each other. The tray includes a body portion and at least one separable wing portion that can be detached from the body. This segmentation allows the tray to maintain structural stability during the impression-taking process while enabling easy separation of the stone model by removing the wing portions, thereby eliminating the need to force the model out of a rigid one-piece tray.
2Ease of operation
If the stone model is removed too early before full stone set, then the model can be easily separated, but important features break off the model
Solution Approach 1:
The separable wing portions allow the tray to remain stable during the complete stone setting process, ensuring full strength development. Once the stone is fully set, the wings can be removed to facilitate safe model extraction, eliminating the need to rush removal before proper curing.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic configuration where wings can be removed. This dynamic capability allows the tray to adapt to different stages of the process: providing stability during impression taking and stone setting, then enabling easy model removal after curing is complete.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the impression material becomes overly stiff after prolonged setting, then the stone model cannot be removed without soaking, but removing it too early causes fracturing
Solution Approach 1:
The separable wing portions enable the tray to maintain its integrity and support the impression material throughout the extended stone setting period. When removal is needed, the wings can be detached to provide access and reduce resistance, allowing model extraction at the optimal time without requiring prolonged soaking or causing fractures from premature removal.
Data Source
AI summary
A dental impression tray having a plurality of adjoining segments forming an entirety thereof. A hinge is optionally provided between each of the adjoining segments allowing movement of the segments relative to each other. Each of the segments has slots therein. Removable stiffening elements are used for selectively locking and unlocking the hinges, during the use thereof for taking a dental impression, and for removing a stone model therefrom respectively. The tray optionally comprises one or more hinges. The stiffening elements and the slots have a moment of inertia to resist bending stress. Because of the hinges and the stiffening elements, there is no possibility of lateral movement of one segment relative to the other. The lateral guiding of the segments prevents, to a great extent, any deformation in the dental stone model when the tray is manipulated with a strong hand grip.