Universal Coupler Dental Device for Adjustable Jaw Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental devices for treating sleep breathing disorders are often custom-made in laboratories, leading to high costs and long wait times for patients, and may only address a single issue, such as snoring or jaw-clenching, while also limiting jaw mobility and access to the mouth during medical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A dental device that can be constructed in a dentist's office without sending impressions to a lab, featuring a universal coupler for multiple attachments to treat various disorders, a tension element for adjustable jaw positioning, and a design that allows easy access to the mouth by allowing the jaw to move laterally, reducing costs and improving treatment flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If dental devices are custom-made in laboratories, then treatment precision and customization are improved, but patient wait time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dental device is divided into separate modular components including a maxillary appliance, mandibular appliance, and connector assembly. These segments can be independently adjusted and combined, allowing quick customization in the dentist's office without requiring complete lab fabrication, thus reducing wait time while maintaining treatment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates adjustable connectors and repositionable components that allow dynamic modification of jaw positioning and bite alignment. This dynamic adjustability enables the dentist to customize the device during office visits based on patient needs, eliminating the need for lengthy lab fabrication processes while preserving treatment effectiveness.
2Reliability
If dental devices are designed to target particular problems, then treatment effectiveness for specific disorders is improved, but versatility to treat multiple conditions decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The dental device is designed as a universal system with standardized connectors and interchangeable components that can address multiple dental conditions including malocclusion, sleep apnea, and bruxism. The maxillary and mandibular appliances can be configured for different therapeutic objectives, allowing a single device platform to treat various disorders effectively without requiring separate specialized appliances.
3Stability of the object's composition
If dental devices hook or attach inside the patient's mouth, then jaw positioning stability is improved, but access to the mouth during medical procedures becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The critical connector components of the device are positioned outside the patient's mouth, extending from the dental appliances through the cheeks. This external positioning of key structural elements allows medical professionals to easily access and manipulate the device during procedures, while the portions inside the mouth maintain jaw positioning stability through secure attachment to teeth and gums.
4Reliability
If dental devices lock the lower jaw in place, then breathing passageway openness is improved, but jaw mobility and range of motion are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The connector assembly incorporates dynamic adjustment mechanisms that allow the lower jaw to be positioned forward to open the airway during sleep, while still permitting controlled movement and range of motion. The device maintains functional stability for breathing purposes without completely restricting jaw mobility, enabling both airway patency and necessary jaw movement for speaking and eating.
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3D
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AI summary
A dental device comprising: a first arch configured to engage at least some of the teeth of a user's dental arch, the first arch having a midline that aligns substantially with the anterior midline of the user's mouth when the first arch is inserted in the user's mouth; a first coupler coupled to the first arch along the midline of the arch, a portion of the first coupler configured to be inside the user's mouth when the first arch is inserted in the user's mouth; a second arch configured to engage at least some of the teeth of the user's second dental arch, the second arch having a midline that aligns substantially with the anterior midline of the user's mouth when the second arch is inserted in the user's mouth; a second coupler coupled to the second arch along the midline of the second arch, the second coupler configured to extend anterior to the user's second dental arch when the second arch is inserted in the user's mouth; and a flexible tension element configured to removably engage the second coupler and the first coupler, the tension element configured to maintain a forward position of the first arch relative to the second arch.