Enhanced Dental Dam System for Improved Oral Structure Isolation and Patient Comfort
Legal Citation
Summary of the Inventive Concept
An innovative dental dam system featuring advanced technologies to enhance oral structure isolation, patient comfort, and visualization during dental procedures.
Background and Problem Solved
The original dental dam patent, while providing an improved dental dam and clamp arrangement, still has limitations in terms of patient comfort, oral structure isolation, and visualization. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by incorporating advanced technologies, such as temperature sensors, soothing agents, dynamic tensioning mechanisms, and integrated light sources.
Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept
The enhanced dental dam system comprises a shape memory polymer membrane with integrated temperature sensors to monitor and control temperature-induced shape changes, ensuring optimal oral structure isolation and patient comfort. Additionally, the system features a soothing agent, such as a topical anesthetic or calming gel, incorporated into the membrane to reduce patient discomfort. The clamp arrangement is equipped with a dynamic tensioning mechanism that adjusts the clamp's grip on the oral structure in real-time, ensuring optimal retention and minimizing patient discomfort. Furthermore, the system includes an integrated light source that illuminates the oral structure, facilitating improved visualization and precision during dental procedures. The dental dam membrane can also be customized to fit individual patients' oral structures using advanced 3D scanning and printing technologies.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The new inventive concept introduces several novel features, including the integration of temperature sensors, soothing agents, dynamic tensioning mechanisms, and integrated light sources, which provide a significant improvement over the original patent. The inventive step lies in the combination and implementation of these advanced technologies to create a more efficient, comfortable, and precise dental dam system.
Alternative Embodiments and Variations
Alternative embodiments of the enhanced dental dam system could include different types of sensors, such as pressure sensors or humidity sensors, to further optimize oral structure isolation and patient comfort. Additionally, the soothing agent could be replaced with other types of comfort-enhancing materials, such as a local anesthetic or a calming cream. The dynamic tensioning mechanism could also be implemented using different materials or designs, such as a shape memory alloy or a hydraulic system.
Potential Commercial Applications and Market
The enhanced dental dam system has significant commercial potential in the dental industry, particularly in the areas of restorative dentistry, endodontics, and oral surgery. The system's improved comfort, isolation, and visualization capabilities make it an attractive solution for dental professionals seeking to enhance patient care and outcomes. The market for dental dams is expected to grow, driven by the increasing demand for dental procedures and the need for more efficient and comfortable solutions.
CPC Classifications
| Section | Class | Group |
|---|---|---|
| A | A61 | A61C5/82 |
| A | A61 | A61C2201/007 |
Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)
Field of Art
Dental medical devices, specifically dental dam systems and oral isolation technologies, requiring expertise in materials science, polymer engineering, and dental procedural equipment design
Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile
A dental equipment engineer or biomedical materials specialist with advanced degree, familiar with shape memory polymers, medical device design, and dental procedural requirements
Obviousness Rationale
A PHOSITA would recognize that the enhanced dental dam system represents predictable technological extensions of the source patent's fundamental shape memory polymer membrane design. The additional features like temperature sensors, integrated light sources, and dynamic tensioning mechanisms are logical incremental improvements that address known limitations in dental isolation technologies. These variations represent standard engineering problem-solving approaches within the dental medical device domain.
Obvious Combinations & Variations
Original Patent Information
| Patent Number | US 11,857,387 |
|---|---|
| Title | Dental dam and method of use |