CN210784757U

CN210784757U - Dental instrument with indicator

Info

Publication number: CN210784757U
Application number: CN201921388775.5U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 孙永富; 黄雷
Original assignee: Wuxi Ea Medical Instruments Technologies Ltd
Current assignee: Wuxi Ea Medical Instruments Technologies Ltd
Priority date: 2018-09-18
Filing date: 2019-08-26
Publication date: 2020-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 2029-08-26
Also published as: WO2020057181A1

Abstract

An aspect of the present invention provides a dental instrument having an indicator, wherein the dental instrument is adapted to be worn in an oral cavity, the indicator is adapted to indicate whether a wearing time of the dental instrument is sufficient, the indicator includes: a first pattern layer forming a first pattern; and a second patterned layer forming a second pattern, wherein at least one of the first and second patterns changes color over time within the oral environment such that the pattern exhibited by the indicator when the dental implement is not worn indicates that the dental implement is not fully worn, and the pattern exhibited by the indicator when the dental implement is fully worn indicates that the dental implement is fully worn.

Description

Dental instrument with indicator

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to a dental instrument having an indicator.

Background

In the dental field, many treatments are performed by wearing dental instruments in the oral cavity, such as orofacial muscle training devices and shell appliances based on polymer materials, which are becoming increasingly popular due to their advantages of aesthetics, convenience and ease of cleaning.

In many cases, a sufficient wearing time of the dental appliance is necessary, so that, on the one hand, suitable means are needed to improve the compliance of the patient and, on the other hand, suitable means are needed to indicate whether the time for which the dental appliance is worn is sufficient.

In view of the above, there is a need to provide a dental instrument with an indicator.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

An aspect of the present invention provides a dental instrument having an indicator, wherein the dental instrument is adapted to be worn in an oral cavity, the indicator is adapted to indicate whether a wearing time of the dental instrument is sufficient, the indicator includes: a first pattern layer forming a first pattern; and a second patterned layer forming a second pattern, wherein the first and second patterns at least partially overlap, at least one of the first and second patterns changing color over time within the oral environment such that the pattern exhibited by the indicator when the dental implement is not worn indicates that the dental implement is not fully worn, and the pattern exhibited by the indicator when the dental implement is fully worn indicates that the dental implement is fully worn.

In some embodiments, the dental appliance is a shell-like dental appliance that forms a cavity that receives a tooth.

In some embodiments, the cavity has a geometry that repositions the patient's teeth from a first configuration to a second configuration.

In some embodiments, the geometry of the cavity is determined based on a second layout of the patient's teeth.

In some embodiments, the geometry of the cavity substantially conforms to the second arrangement of the patient's teeth.

In some embodiments, the first pattern does not change color and the second pattern changes color over time within the oral environment.

In some embodiments, the first patterned layer is attached to the dental implement outer surface and the second patterned layer is attached over the first patterned layer.

In some embodiments, the indicator further comprises a pathway control layer attached over the second patterned layer to control the rate of color change of the second patterned layer.

In some embodiments, the color of the second pattern fades over time to clear within the oral environment.

In some embodiments, the second pattern is a color change with contact time with saliva.

In some embodiments, at least one of the first and second patterns changes color with contact time with saliva.

Drawings

The above and other features of the present application will be further explained with reference to the accompanying drawings and detailed description thereof. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only several exemplary embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a shell-like dental instrument in one embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the structure of an indicator in one embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the structure of an indicator in yet another embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the structure of an indicator in yet another embodiment of the present application; and

fig. 5 schematically shows the structure of an indicator in a further embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification. The exemplary embodiments mentioned in the description and the drawings are only for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the present application. Those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that many other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present application. It should be understood that the aspects of the present application, as described and illustrated herein, may be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are within the scope of the present application.

After extensive research and development efforts, the inventors of the present application developed a dental instrument with an indicator.

Referring to FIG. 1, a shell-like dental instrument 100 is schematically illustrated in one embodiment of the present application.

Shell-like dental appliance 100 is a one-piece shell-like shape that forms a cavity for receiving a tooth. An indicator 101 is provided on the shell-like dental instrument 100.

Referring to fig. 2, the structure of the indicator 101 in one embodiment of the present application is schematically illustrated.

In one embodiment, the indicator 101 may include three layers, a first patterned layer 1011a, a second patterned layer 1013a, and a pathway control layer 1015a, which are sequentially superimposed and attached to the outer surface of the shell-like dental instrument 100.

The first pattern layer 1011a forms a first pattern, the second pattern layer 1013a forms a second pattern, and the pathway control layer 1015a controls the pathway between a variable factor (e.g., saliva) and the first pattern layer 1011a and/or the second pattern layer 1013a to control the speed at which the color of the first pattern and/or the second pattern changes.

The first pattern layer 1011a, the second pattern layer 1013a, and the via control layer 1015a may be formed by spraying, rubbing, screen printing, pasting, or the like.

At least one of the first and second patterns is capable of changing color under the influence of the environment (e.g., temperature, pH, moisture, enzymes, proteins, etc.) within the oral cavity. The color change can be from transparent to one color, from one color to transparent, or from one color to another color.

In one embodiment, the first pattern is not discolored and the second pattern is capable of discoloring under the influence of the environment within the oral cavity. In yet another embodiment, both the first and second patterns are capable of changing color under the influence of the environment within the oral cavity. In yet another embodiment, the first pattern is capable of changing color under the influence of the environment within the oral cavity and the second pattern does not change color.

The pattern presented by first design layer 1011a and second design layer 1013a before the color change occurs indicates that shell-like dental implement 100 is not adequately worn. After sufficient discoloration has occurred, the pattern presented by first design layer 1011a and second design layer 1013a indicates that shell-like dental implement 100 is fully worn.

The following description will be made of a specific example in which the first pattern is completely covered with the second pattern, the first pattern does not change color, and the second pattern changes color from dark to transparent under the influence of the oral environment.

The first pattern is a pattern indicating that the shell-like dental implement 100 is worn for a sufficient time, for example, a smile pattern, corresponding characters, a trademark of a product, or the like.

The second pattern is a pattern indicating that the shell-like dental implement 100 is not sufficiently worn, for example, corresponding characters, cross-shaped icons, and the like.

In one embodiment, the first and second patterns may be customized according to patient/customer requirements.

Before being worn, the first pattern is not visible, and only the second pattern, which indicates that the shell-like dental implement 100 is not fully worn, can be seen. As wear time increases, the second pattern becomes progressively lighter in color until transparent, at which point only the first pattern is visible, indicating that the shell-like dental implement 100 is fully worn.

In one embodiment, the color changing material may be a food color that slowly dissolves in saliva, becoming transparent. In yet another embodiment, the color changing material may be a mixture of an ultra fine organic pigment and an aqueous polymer emulsion, which may slowly dissolve in saliva, becoming transparent. The aqueous polymer emulsion can be aqueous polyurethane emulsion, aqueous polyacrylic emulsion, etc. In yet another embodiment, the color-changing material may be a material that changes its refractive index and/or wavelength of reflected light and/or crystalline state after absorbing water, thereby generating a color change. For example, inks that are water-variable transparent (such as those offered by Ningbo New color-Change Material, Inc.). As another example, color-changing silica gels (HG.T 2765.4-2005 blue gel indicator, color-changing silica gel, and cobalt-free color-changing silica gel). The above listed materials are safe materials harmless to the human body. In the light of the present application, it will be appreciated that, in addition to the materials listed above, there are many other materials available on the market which are capable of undergoing a colour change under the action of saliva and which are safe to the human body.

In one embodiment, the passage control layer 1015a may be a porous polymer film, for example, a porous polymer film made of a polymer such as polyurethane, silicone, polyacrylic, or the like. The porous polymer film has certain porosity, and can realize the control of saliva permeation amount and further control the color change speed of the color change material.

In yet another embodiment, the pathway control layer 1015a may also be a degradable or dissolvable polymer layer, such as made of chitosan, cellulose, gelatin, sodium alginate, sodium hyaluronate, polylactic acid, chemical derivatives of such materials, and the like. Such a degradable or dissolvable polymer layer degrades or dissolves upon sufficient contact with saliva, whereupon the underlying pattern layer is exposed to the oral environment and changes color upon contact with saliva.

The pattern presented by the indicator changes along with time, so that the interestingness of use can be increased, and the compliance of a patient wearing the dental appliance can be improved.

Referring to fig. 3, yet another configuration of the indicator 101 is schematically illustrated.

The first patterned layer 1011b is located on the inner surface of the shell-shaped dental instrument 100, the second patterned layer 1013b is located on the outer surface of the shell-shaped dental instrument, and the path control layer 1015b is attached to the second patterned layer 1013 b.

Referring to fig. 4, yet another configuration of the indicator 101 is schematically illustrated.

In this embodiment, a first patterned layer 1011c is attached to the outer surface of the shell-like dental implement 100, and a second patterned layer 1013c is attached over the first patterned layer 1011 c. Since the material of the second pattern layer 1013c is suitable in the rate of color change under the influence of the oral environment, the passage control layer may not be provided.

Referring to fig. 5, yet another configuration of the indicator 101 is schematically illustrated.

The first patterned layer 1011d is attached to the inner surface of the shell-like dental implement 100 and the second patterned layer 1013d is attached to the outer surface of the shell-like dental implement.

In one embodiment, the shell-like dental appliance 100 may be a shell-like orthodontic appliance. In one embodiment, the tooth-receiving cavities of shell-like dental appliance 100 have a geometry that repositions the patient's teeth from a first configuration to a second configuration. In one embodiment, the geometry of the tooth-receiving cavity of shell-like dental appliance 100 may be determined based on the second layout of the patient's teeth. In one embodiment, the geometry of the tooth-receiving cavity of shell-like dental appliance 100 may substantially conform to the second configuration of the patient's teeth.

It will be appreciated in light of the present application that the indicators of the present application are not only useful in shell orthodontic appliances, but also in other dental appliances that require a certain amount of time to be worn in the mouth, such as orofacial muscle trainers and the like.

While various aspects and embodiments of the disclosure are disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to be limiting. The scope and spirit of the application are to be determined only by the claims appended hereto.

Likewise, the various diagrams may illustrate an exemplary architecture or other configuration of the disclosed methods and systems that is useful for understanding the features and functionality that may be included in the disclosed methods and systems. The claimed subject matter is not limited to the exemplary architectures or configurations shown, but rather, the desired features can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. In addition, to the extent that flow diagrams, functional descriptions, and method claims do not follow, the order in which the blocks are presented should not be limited to the various embodiments which perform the recited functions in the same order, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Unless otherwise expressly stated, the terms and phrases used herein, and variations thereof, are to be construed as open-ended as opposed to limiting. In some instances, the presence of an extensible term or phrases such as "one or more," "at least," "but not limited to," or other similar terms should not be construed as intended or required to imply a narrowing in instances where such extensible terms may not be present.

Claims

1. A dental implement having an indicator for wearing in an oral cavity, the indicator for indicating whether the dental implement is worn for a sufficient period of time, the indicator comprising:

a first pattern layer forming a first pattern; and

a second patterned layer forming a second pattern, wherein the first and second patterns at least partially overlap, and at least one of the first and second patterns changes color over time within the oral environment such that the pattern exhibited by the indicator when the dental implement is not worn indicates that the dental implement is not fully worn, and the pattern exhibited by the indicator when the dental implement is fully worn indicates that the dental implement is fully worn.

2. A dental instrument as in claim 1, wherein the dental instrument is a shell-like dental instrument that forms a cavity for receiving a tooth.

3. A dental instrument as in claim 2, wherein the cavity has a geometry that repositions the patient's teeth from a first configuration to a second configuration.

4. A dental instrument as in claim 3, wherein the geometry of the cavity is determined based on the second layout of the patient's teeth.

5. A dental apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the geometry of the cavity substantially conforms to the second configuration of the patient's teeth.

6. A dental implement according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first pattern does not change colour and the second pattern changes colour over time within the oral environment.

7. A dental implement according to claim 6, wherein the first design layer is attached to the outer dental implement surface and the second design layer is attached to the first design layer.

8. A dental instrument as in claim 7, wherein the indicator further comprises a pathway control layer attached over the second patterned layer to control the rate of color change of the second patterned layer.

9. A dental implement according to claim 6, wherein the second pattern is faded in color over time to transparent within the oral environment.

10. A dental implement according to claim 6, wherein the second pattern is a colour change with contact time with saliva.

11. A dental implement according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second patterns changes color with contact time with saliva.