6. What were the key findings from the data collected? There were three key findings after Hannover analyzed the data:
a. The Harmony™ Ergonomic Scaler and Curette handle, with its optimized shape and double helix grip, reduces pinch force up to 65% compared to other leading scaler designs. 1
Pinch Force: Pressure applied by the hand to the instrument handle. Measured in kPa.
Scaler Brand HuFriedyGroup
Avg. Pinch Force of Thumb, Pointer, Middle (kPa)
Increase of Pinch Force over Harmony™ Scaler
29.75
Baseline
Competitor D
63.13
52.9%
Competitor C
62.29
52.2%
Competitor B
86.19
65.5%
Competitor A
61.59
51.7%
b. The difference to the pressure applied to the tooth was significant; up to 37% less pressure compared to other leading scaler handle designs. 1
Pressure Applied to the Tooth: Force applied by the scaler onto the tooth. Measured in N.
Scaler Brand
Average of Peak Pressures Applied to Tooth (Fx, Fy, Fz) (N)
Increase of Pressure Applied to Tooth over Harmony™ Scaler
HuFriedyGroup
1.20
Baseline
Competitor D
1.91
37.2%
Competitor C
1.79
33.0%
Competitor B
1.30
7.7%
Competitor A
1.49
19.5%
c. There is a negligible relationship between the weight of a scaler and the total pinch force as well as between weight of the scaler and pressure applied to the tooth. 7. If it is made of metal, it must be heavier right? The current marketplace perception is that light weight handles are more ergonomic. But to achieve a light weight, these han- dles tend to be plastic resin or silicone, which may offer less tactile sensitivity and fall short of the durability of steel handles. The development team was hyper-sensitive to ensure our new handle was not too heavy. What we learned throughout the iterative testing is weight was really more of a Goldilocks complex; it couldn’t be too heavy, but it also couldn’t be too light. This subjective feedback was supported by our key findings, which states that weight has a negligible relationship to total pinch force. Therefore, the Harmony™ Ergonomic Scalers and Curettes are similar in weight to our current #9 handled EverEdge™ 2.0 Instruments. 8. Will this handle be compatible with our IMS™ Cassette System? With HuFriedyGroup being the leader in infection prevention, it was imperative to ensure these handles were compatible with our IMS™ Cassette System. These handles are the same length as a traditional #9 handle, and they fit in the rails the same way our current scalers do today. Additionally, these handles do not touch each other which ensures proper cleaning, drying and sterilization. We conducted a variety of tests to ensure a safe and secure fit in the cassette. 9. With this new handle, are there any special considerations for cleaning, sterilization, and/or warranty? There are no special reprocessing instructions which deviate from the standard recommendations for cleaning and sterilization. Please follow the instructions detailed in the Reprocessing of Hu-Friedy® Dental Hand Instruments and Accessories (HF-USA-17664) document. Additionally, the warranty on the Harmony™ Ergonomic Scalers and Curettes is the same as other EverEdge™ 2.0 Instruments and handles.
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