Year:2018
Magic Strip
A breakthrough in restorative dentistry
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Summary
Kii.am has been a ‘hybrid’ engineering contractor for a decade:
not only developing complex handheld devices but manufacturing
them as well. Involved in several medical-related market verticals,
our strong focus has been in dentistry.
Timeframe:1.5 years
A delicate job
During composite dental restorations, the contouring or finishing of interproximal surfaces is a delicate process. Great care is needed to highly control the right removal of dental enamel and ensure accurate work. So when Strauss Diamond Instruments sought a team to develop an innovative new tool, they turned to Kii.am.
Controlling the bend
We faced three main problems. IPR tools at the time relied on manual finger pressure to bend the saw strip during finishing, which was clumsy. The strips were held in the dentist's fingers, which prevented a clear view. Additionally, they tended to lose their sharpness quickly.
Methodical approach
Our first decision-point was to give the tool a handle to which various strips/ saws could be fitted. It made all the difference to convenience for the dental practitioner and comfort for the patient.
We then developed a barrel and frame attached to the strip: turn it to tighten and increase the curvature for finishing, loosen it to straighten for IPR. To identify the different kinds of strips, we color-coded the barrel. Finally, we identified the right metal that would keep the strips durable, sharp and long-lasting over many autoclave cycles.
Fast and convenient
Following development, Kii.am field-tested Magic Strip in numerous dental clinics. The feed-back was outstanding. As one dentist from New York told us: "Your tool has made it much easier to accomplish precise work in less time. You really understand the IPR environment. Everything I need is there."
Magic Strip is excellent for composite restorations, orthodontics and crown and bridge work. Single-sided grit strips are available (Fine to Coarse) from .08mm to .18mm thickness. Double-sided grit strips range from 0.11mm to .50mm thickness.
Sustained success
Magic Strip is sold worldwide. It's also distributed in many markets by Garrison Dental Solutions, a global dental supplies manufacturer, under the 'FitStrip' name. Together, sales amount to some 150,000 units annually - a testament to the long-term success of this high-value IPR tool.
Other Showcases
Our long experience in various segments of the medical market means that we connect well with your background and goals. It gives us a running start.
