Spray Atomization for Uniform Tooth Coating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Achieving a uniform coating of cosmetic and therapeutic agents on tooth surfaces is challenging due to the curved shape of teeth, making it difficult to apply agents uniformly using conventional methods like brushes, which often result in defects such as pinholes, streaks, and uneven color.

Innovation Solution

A method involving spraying an orally acceptable coating material through a spray nozzle to form droplets with a volume-averaged size of 1 µm to 100 µm at a spray rate of less than 10 milliliters per minute, with a spray distance of 20 centimeters, using air pressure atomization to achieve a uniform coating on teeth surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional methods like brushes are used to apply cosmetic and therapeutic agents on teeth, then the application process is simple and easy to operate, but the coating uniformity is poor resulting in defects such as pinholes, streaks, and uneven color

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoating uniformityVSAvoidapplication complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical brush application system with a spray atomization system that uses air pressure to break the coating material into fine droplets. This substitution eliminates the mechanical contact and manual manipulation required by brushes, thereby achieving uniform coating deposition on curved tooth surfaces without the operational complexity of precise brush control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs pneumatic atomization by passing a stream of air through the spray nozzle to atomize the coating material into droplets with volume-averaged sizes of about 1 μm to about 100 μm. This pneumatic mechanism enables uniform distribution of the coating material across the tooth surface, resolving the contradiction between coating precision and operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Manufacturing precision

If spray atomization is used to form fine droplets for uniform coating, then coating uniformity is improved, but the device complexity increases due to spray nozzle and air pressure requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoating uniformityVSAvoidspray system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spray nozzle system serves multiple functions: it atomizes the coating material into fine droplets, controls the droplet size distribution, directs the spray pattern onto the tooth surface, and regulates the flow rate. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby managing device complexity while achieving superior coating uniformity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention optimizes critical parameters including droplet size (volume-averaged 1-100 μm), spray rate (less than 10 milliliters per minute), and spray distance (about 20 centimeters) to achieve uniform coating. By carefully controlling these parameters, the system achieves high manufacturing precision without requiring excessively complex device configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If high spray rate is used to reduce application time, then productivity is improved, but coating uniformity deteriorates due to excessive material deposition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication speedVSAvoidcoating uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The coating material is segmented into numerous fine droplets through atomization, with volume-averaged sizes of about 1 μm to about 100 μm. This segmentation allows the material to be deposited more evenly across the tooth surface even at higher spray rates, as the fine droplets distribute more uniformly and reduce the risk of localized excess deposition that causes streaks and pinholes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 method produces a smooth, defect-free coating with reduced surface roughness and waviness, ensuring an aesthetically pleasing and uniform deposition of cosmetic and therapeutic agents on teeth, as demonstrated by the examples on bovine and human teeth.

Implementation Method 1

the atomization process comprises passing a stream of air through the spray nozzle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAtomization:

Implementation Method 2

using air pressure atomization to achieve a uniform coating on teeth surfaces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir pressure atomization:

Implementation Method 3

depositing the droplets onto the tooth surface to thereby form the uniform coating

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeposition: Deposition (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3349684B1Method of forming a uniform cosmetic or therapeutic coating on teeth

Publication Date: 2020.04.01 COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO

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AI summary

Disclosed is a method of forming a uniform coating onto a tooth surface, which method includes: forming droplets by spraying an orally acceptable coating material through a spray nozzle, wherein the droplets have a volume-averaged droplet size of about 1 µm to about 100 µm, wherein a spray including the droplets travels from a tip of the spray nozzle towards the tooth surface at a spray rate of less than about 10 milliliters/minute and wherein the droplets include a film-forming polymer, a therapeutic agent and/or a cosmetic agent; and depositing the droplets onto the tooth surface to thereby form a uniform coating.