Titanium Palatal Splint Reducing Bulk and Tooth Contact

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing palatal splints used in oral surgery are bulky and thick due to the use of polymer materials, which compromises their fit and patient comfort, and fail to minimize contact with teeth, hindering long-term wearability and ease of cleaning.

Innovation Solution

A palatal splint made from titanium or similar metals with a streamlined profile, featuring a U- or horseshoe-shaped design with tooth recesses and interdental extensions, wire apertures, and fixation apertures, designed using computer-aided techniques to match individual patient anatomy, reducing thickness and contact with teeth while maintaining strength and rigidity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If polymer material is used for palatal splint, then ease of manufacture is improved, but strength and rigidity deteriorate requiring increased thickness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidstrength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from polymer to titanium, which has fundamentally different mechanical properties. This material substitution allows the splint to achieve the required strength and rigidity with significantly reduced thickness while maintaining manufacturability through established titanium fabrication techniques

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs titanium as a composite material solution, combining the advantages of high strength-to-weight ratio, biocompatibility, and corrosion resistance. This material choice enables the splint to meet both strength requirements and dimensional constraints simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If polymer material is used for palatal splint, then ease of manufacture is improved, but bulkiness increases compromising fit and comfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidbulkiness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from polymer to titanium, which has fundamentally different mechanical properties. This material substitution allows the splint to achieve the required strength and rigidity with significantly reduced thickness while maintaining manufacturability through established titanium fabrication techniques

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a thin-film design approach enabled by titanium's high strength-to-thickness ratio. The splint can be fabricated as a streamlined, thin-profile structure that conforms to the patient's anatomy without requiring the bulky construction necessary for polymer materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Strength

If thicker material is used for palatal splint, then strength is improved, but contact with teeth increases hindering cleaning and comfort

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestrengthVSAvoidease of cleaning

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from polymer to titanium, which has fundamentally different mechanical properties. This material substitution allows the splint to achieve the required strength and rigidity with significantly reduced thickness while maintaining manufacturability through established titanium fabrication techniques

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the unnecessary material bulk from the splint design by utilizing titanium's high strength-to-thickness ratio. This removal of excess material reduces contact with teeth and improves cleanability while preserving the structural strength required for surgical stabilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20240335254A1Palatal Splint

Publication Date: 2024.10.10 KLS MARTIN LP

AI summary

A palatal splint composed of titanium or other metal of similar characteristics, the splint configured in a horseshoe or strut configuration and designed to minimize coverage and contact with the teeth. The splint has alternating tooth recesses and interdental extensions.