Sensor-Integrated Dental Appliance Case for Compliance Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients with removable dental appliances often face challenges in adhering to dental treatment plans due to forgetfulness or loss of the appliance, necessitating a solution to track and ensure compliance.
Innovation Solution
A dental appliance case with integrated sensors and notification systems, including visual and auditory cues, to monitor and track the usage and adherence to the treatment plan, featuring a base, case insert, and lid with sensor humps and apertures to position and detect the appliance accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a removable dental appliance is provided to the patient, then the patient can adhere to the dental treatment plan, but the patient may lose the appliance or forget to reinsert it
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that detect the presence and removal of the dental appliance, providing real-time feedback to both the patient (through notifications) and the dental professional (through usage reports). This feedback mechanism ensures that patients are aware of their compliance status and allows for monitoring of treatment adherence.
Solution Approach 2:
The dental appliance case automatically tracks and records appliance usage through integrated sensors, eliminating the need for manual tracking by the patient. The system self-monitors compliance and generates usage data that can be reviewed by dental professionals, reducing reliance on patient memory or self-reporting.
2Measurement precision
If sensors are integrated into the case to detect appliance presence, then compliance tracking is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing components, notification systems, and tracking functionality are merged into a single integrated case unit. This consolidation allows the case to perform multiple functions (storage, detection, communication, and data recording) without proportionally increasing complexity, as shared components serve multiple purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The case is designed as a multi-functional device that not only stores the dental appliance but also detects its presence, communicates with mobile devices, records usage data, and provides notifications. This universal design allows a single component to fulfill multiple roles, reducing the need for separate dedicated devices for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device storage device comprises a base, case insert, and insert hump. The insert hump is structured to position a medical device within a cavity formed at least partly by the case insert. At least a portion of a sensor is located within the insert hump and configured to detect a feature of the medical device. The feature of the medical device may correspond to an aspect of a treatment plan.