Spherical Mixing Chamber for Orientation-Independent Blasting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing micro-abrasive blasting devices for dental procedures face issues with orientation dependence, liquid contamination, back pressure buildup, and complex gas delivery connections, leading to inefficient abrasive mixing and potential contamination.
Innovation Solution
A micro-abrasive blasting device with a disposable pipette structure featuring a continuous tubing design, where the delivery conduit and discharge conduit work together to seal the abrasive material, and a spherical mixing chamber ensures proper mixing and orientation independence, eliminating the need for bulky connectors and reducing component count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate mixing apparatus is used with an extended hand-piece, then operational flexibility and orientation independence are improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the mixing chamber and hand-piece into a single integrated unit, eliminating the need for separate mixing apparatus and extended hand-pieces. This integration maintains operational flexibility while reducing device complexity and size.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing chamber is designed to perform multiple functions: mixing abrasive with gas, serving as part of the hand-piece structure, and providing orientation-independent operation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components.
2Weight of moving object
If the mixing chamber is integrated into the hand-held device, then device size and weight are reduced, but orientation dependence increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing chamber is designed with a spherical shape, which allows abrasive material to be distributed evenly throughout the chamber regardless of orientation. This spherical geometry enables the integrated device to maintain mixing effectiveness in any position, eliminating orientation dependence while keeping the device compact and lightweight.
3Reliability
If conventional sealing methods are used, then particulate matter containment is achieved, but liquid contamination risk and back pressure buildup occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional sealing components (caps and plugs) from the system. Instead, the discharge conduit inlet itself seals against the delivery conduit outlet through precise positioning, eliminating the sealing function of removable caps and plugs. This extraction of sealing components eliminates the pathways for liquid contamination while maintaining particulate containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge conduit inlet acts as an intermediary sealing element between the delivery conduit outlet and the mixing chamber interior. This intermediary component provides reliable particulate containment while allowing pressurized gas flow, preventing both liquid contamination and back pressure buildup.
4Reliability
If bulky custom connectors are used for pressurized-gas delivery, then gas delivery reliability is improved, but device size and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates bulky custom connectors by integrating the gas delivery function directly into the existing conduit structure. The delivery conduit serves dual purposes: transporting abrasive material and delivering pressurized gas, removing the need for separate custom connectors and simplifying manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery conduit is designed to perform multiple functions: conveying abrasive particulate matter, delivering pressurized gas, and providing sealing through its interface with the discharge conduit inlet. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate custom connectors while maintaining gas delivery reliability.
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 provides a reliable, cost-effective, and efficient abrasive delivery system that is resistant to fluid contamination and maintains consistent mixing performance across various orientations, ensuring precise control over abrasive delivery and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
gas at a higher pressure flows towards and into gas at lower pressure. When abrasive powder is mixed with gas at higher pressure, the gas carries the abrasive powder as the gas accelerates and flows to the lower pressure
Implementation Method 2
discharge conduit inlet abuts delivery conduit outlet to seal the mixing chamber
Implementation Method 3
the air stream to perturb the abrasive and generate the mixing action based on U.S. Pat. No. 4,475,370 (Stark et al.) fixed air abrasion device for treating dental castings
Data Source
AI summary
A micro-abrasive blasting device comprises a mixing chamber, a delivery conduit extending from external the mixing chamber to the mixing chamber and a discharge conduit extending from the mixing chamber. Embodiments having delivery and discharge conduits extending from the same, or from opposite ends of the mixing chamber are disclosed. Abrasive material may selectively be sealed in the chamber by positioning the discharge conduit to abut the inlet port. Other sealing techniques are disclosed, such as capping or plugging the delivery and discharge conduits. The chamber may be spherical to deliver consistent powder perturbation at all mixing chamber orientations. Methods of using the device are disclosed. Methods of making the device by blow molding are disclosed.