Suction Ring with Foil Seal for Aerosol Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental suction devices do not guarantee complete protection against infection transmission, as they may not effectively capture aerosols and viruses released from the mouth, potentially infecting individuals nearby.
Innovation Solution
A suction ring is designed to be attached directly to the patient's mouth, creating a negative pressure space that extends slightly outside the mouth opening, using a radially inward suction nozzle to capture aerosols and viruses immediately upon release, and is integrated with a clamping and foil system to prevent contact between the patient's lips and the dentist's hands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a suction nozzle is used to suction aerosols from the patient's mouth, then aerosols can be removed, but complete protection against infection transmission is not guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a foil element that forms a flexible seal between the suction ring and the patient's lips. This thin film creates a closed negative pressure space while adapting to the contours of the patient's mouth, ensuring reliable containment of aerosols without compromising infection protection
Solution Approach 2:
The suction ring acts as an intermediary device positioned between the patient's mouth and the surrounding environment. It creates a controlled negative pressure zone that captures aerosols at their source, preventing their release into the treatment room while maintaining a clear boundary for infection control
2Reliability
If a suction ring is placed under negative pressure to capture aerosols immediately, then infection control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated suction ring structure: the ring itself forms the vacuum chamber, the foil element creates the seal, and the suction nozzle is built into the ring. This merging of components achieves effective infection control while minimizing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The suction ring is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it creates negative pressure for aerosol capture, forms a seal with the patient's lips, and serves as a structural support for the entire system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, simplifying the overall device
3Reliability
If a clamping element with foil element is used to prevent contact between patient's lips and dentist's hands, then infection protection is improved, but ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping element is designed to automatically clamp onto the patient's lips when the suction ring is positioned correctly, without requiring manual manipulation by the dentist. The elastic foil element self-adjusts to create the seal, reducing the complexity of the procedure and maintaining ease of operation while ensuring reliable contact prevention
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 suction ring effectively captures aerosols and viruses, reducing the risk of infection transmission between the patient and dentist, while being easy to handle and adaptable for use with standard lip/cheek retractors.
Implementation Method 1
The suction ring (10) is placed under negative pressure with respect to its vacuum chamber (23)
Implementation Method 2
The foil element adheres to the patient's lips due to the clamping action of the clamping element
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a suction ring for placement near the mouth opening of a dental patient, comprising an extraoral clamping element. The clamping element is designed as a suction clamping element and, together with a foil element, forms or creates a vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber extends in an annular or semi-annular shape and has at least one suction nozzle, in particular one that projects radially inwards.