Patent Application
20070254261
The present invention relates to dental instruments and more particularly to control devices for dental instruments.
Many tools are operated by electrical power in a dentist's office. Unless they are battery powered, such tools are tethered and connected to the electrical source by cables. Since most power inlets are installed around the walls of a dentist's office, such cables traverse the room where dental procedures are performed. Some tools are operated by manual foot pedals, which are also connected by cables to the power source. The cables can be a potential hazard to both the dental professional and patient.
In addition, the complexity and clutter tends to reduce the efficiency of dental procedures by slowing the activities of the dental professional. Complexity and clutter in the environment also increases the risk of error and accident. Thus, there remains a need for another means of control that can reduce complexity and clutter in the working environment of the dental professional and minimize potential hazards.
The present invention relates to a wireless remote control for dental equipment, such as dental scaler tools, dental drills, prophy angles, rotary instruments.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a wireless control such as a foot pedal is used to control the operation of an ultrasonic dental tool comprising a base unit, a handpiece comprising a handle and an insert, and a wireless control switch such as a foot switch. The handpiece is coupled at one end (i.e., the proximal end) to an electrical energy source, a fluid source and/or gas, via a cable. The cable includes a hose to provide a fluid (e.g., water), and/or a gas, and conductors to provide electrical energy. The other end (i.e., the distal end) of the handpiece has an opening intended to receive an insert with a transducer (e.g., a magnetostrictive transducer) carried on the insert. The transducer extends from the proximal end of the insert into a hollow interior of the handpiece. An ultrasonically vibrated tip extends from a distal end of the insert. The handle has means therein which is adapted to impart a vibration to the insert. Such means are well known in the art and may be mechanical, magnetostrictive or piezoelectric in nature. The dental tool described can be in the form of a dental scaler.
When the wireless control is a foot switch, depressing the foot switch will result in activation of the ultrasonic handpiece and also delivery of cooling water to the insert tip. When the foot is removed from the foot control, both the ultrasonic handpiece and water are shut off.
The wireless control, such as the foot switch, replaces manual and foot operated controls formerly connected by cables to the dental tool and/or to the power supply. This removes a potential safety hazard in the dentist's office and makes the equipment control more versatile and easier to adapt to various office conditions.
In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the dental tool comprises a base unit, a handpiece comprising a handle, a dental insert and a wireless control switch such as a foot switch. The dental tool is connected to a power, and/or fluid, and/or an air supply source through a conduit cable, so that the supply source, though coupled to the tool, is located at a position remote from the working end of the tool. The wireless foot switch, in the form of such as a pedal, is located within easy reach of the operator to permit turn-on and/or turn-off of the tool. The signaling means which simply and yet effectively provides for selective automatic turn on and turn off of the tool while totally eliminating the need for an electrical connection between the main supply unit and the remote control unit again removes a potential safety hazard in the dentist's office and makes the equipment control more versatile and easier to adapt to various office conditions. In addition to controlling the on and off of the dental tool, the wireless module can also be programmed to control the speed of the tool by a switch on the tool.
The dental tool includes a dental drill, a rotary instrument, an endodontic file and a prophy angle. A common or different handpiece can be used with various inserts to form these tools. For example, a dental drill comprises a drill bit; a rotary tool comprises an insert, such as a multi-use diamond dental bur; a dental carbide bur; a dental sintered diamond bur; a dental diamond disc; a dental laboratory tungsten carbide cutter; a steel dental bur; an endodontic file; and a prophy angle comprising a longitudinal body and a prophy cup. The insert comprises a shank or attachment adapted to be fitted into the handpiece.
In addition to having wireless control in a dental office, a still further embodiment of the invention comprises a wireless control such as a foot switch for use with, especially rotary dental instruments or drills, in a dental laboratory. A dental drill or a rotary dental tool such as a carbide bur, is connected to a power supply through a conduit cable so that the power supply source, though again coupled to the handpiece, is located at a position remote from the working end of the handpiece. The wireless control in the form of such as a foot pedal is located within easy reach of the operator to permit turn-on and/or turn-off of the instrument, thus again eliminating the need for an electrical connection between the main power supply unit and the remote control unit. This removes a potential safety hazard in a dental laboratory and makes the equipment control more versatile and easier to adapt to various laboratory conditions.
In still a further aspect of the present invention, the above exemplary dental tools can also be fitted with at least one light source. The light source can draw its power supply from the same or different power source that supplies the power for the operations of the tool, or the light source can draw its power from the energy created by the ultrasonic vibrations. A wireless control means for the selective energizing of the light supply source can be separate or the same as the wireless means that controls the on and off of the dental tool. If a separate control is used, it can also be located within easy reach of the operator to permit turn-on and/or turn-off of the light supply source through simple foot pedal control provided within a remote control unit
These and other advantages and features of the invention will be more readily understood in relation to the following detailed description of the invention, which is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
a and 4b show dental burs for use in a wirelessly controlled dental instrument according to one embodiment of the invention; and
Conventional ultrasonic units have a footswitch connected to the unit with a cable. When the foot control is depressed, a solenoid valve is activated permitting the flow of water and electricity through the regulator and through the solenoid, to the handpiece and over the dental insert or tip. Vibration of the insert is thus initiated by energizing the ultrasonic generation mechanism.
In a preferred embodiment, the handpiece 112 is coupled at one end (i.e., a proximal end 116) to an electrical energy and fluid source 104 via a cable 106. The other end (i.e., a distal end 118) of the handpiece has an opening intended to receive therein an insert 114 with a transducer 122 which is adapted to impart a vibration to a tip of the insert 124. The transducer 122 may be, for example, mechanical, magnetostrictive or piezoelectric in nature. The transducer 122 extends from an aperture at the distal end 118 of the handpiece 112 into a hollow interior of the handpiece. An ultrasonically vibrated tip 124 extends from a distal end of the insert. In one exemplary embodiment, the insert 114 is a dental scaler.
In use, a dental practitioner touches a tip of the scaler lightly against a tooth. The transducer 122 imparts a vibratory motion to the tip of the scaler. The energy of this vibratory motion, is mechanically coupled to the tooth and plaque and calculus are consequently removed from the tooth.
According to one embodiment of the invention, depressing the foot pedal 110 results in activation of the ultrasonic transducer 122, and also in the delivery of cooling water to the insert tip. In one embodiment, when the foot pedal 110 is released, both the ultrasonic handpiece and water are shut off.
The absence of wires coupled between the foot pedal 110 and the electrical energy and fluid source 104 obviates a potential safety hazard in the dentist's office or dental laboratory and makes the equipment control more versatile and easier to adapt to various office conditions. This type of control can be adapted to control the speed of a device, such as a dentist's drill, or a rotary instrument, as shown and described in more detail below.
The ultrasonic insert can be made of metal, plastic or metallic alloys. Suitable metals or metallic alloys include stainless steel, titanium, titanium alloys such as nickel-titanium and titanium-aluminum-vanadium alloys; aluminum and aluminum alloys; and combinations thereof. The preferred materials are stainless steel and titanium alloys. Suitable plastics include high temperature plastics such as ULTEM®, which is an amorphous thermoplastic polyetherimide or Xenoy® resin, which is a composite of polycarbonate and polybutyleneterephthalate or Lexan® plastic, which is a copolymer of polycarbonate and isophthalate terephthalate resorcinol resin, all available from GE Plastics, or any other suitable resin plastic or composite. In general, the metal tips can be used for general cleaning, scaling and the like, while the non-metal tips may be used around sensitive gum lines, on expensive restorations such as crowns, bridges, and/or around titanium implants which may be more easily damaged by a metal tip.
In addition to being an ultrasonic scaler, the dental instrument can also be of a non-ultrasonic type, such as a vibratory type, which utilizes a different handpiece from the ultrasonic handpiece described above in
Although conventional dental drills, dental files, prophy angles and rotary instruments are not normally fitted with a foot switch, such instruments are also amenable to having a wireless switch for turning the instrument on and off, or to vary the speed of operation, as noted above. Thus, in another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a dental tool 130 as shown in
The wireless foot switch 110 is again located within easy reach of the operator to permit turn-on and/or turn-off of the instrument. The signaling means can either provide for selective automatic turn on and turn off of the drill, or to vary the speed of the drill. This totally eliminates the need for an electrical connection between the main supply unit and the remote control unit and again removes a potential safety hazard in the dentist's office and makes the equipment control more versatile and easier to adapt to various office conditions.
Rotary dental instruments such as multi-use diamond dental burs; dental carbide burs; dental sintered diamond burs; dental diamond discs; dental laboratory tungsten carbide cutters; dental steel burs; and surgical drills are all contemplated in the present invention. These rotary dental inserts and other cutting tools for surgical placements of dental and orthopedic implants, developed to aid dental professionals in removing damaged portions of the tooth, including root canals, reconstructing and shaping the restored tooth or replacement tooth, including dental implants, all can be equipped with a wireless control.
a and 4b show exemplary rotary dental burs 1250. The
The shank 1252 can be made of any suitable metal, such as that used in the ultrasonic insert. The preferred materials are stainless steel and titanium alloys. These metals have good flexibility and resistance to torsional breakage.
The abrading surfaces can be formed in a number of different ways. One way of generating an abrading surface is by coating or embedding diamond particles or chips 1258 into the working surface of working portion 1256 of the substrate shank 1252. The abrading particles can in turn be coated with a coating such as a titanium nitride or a diamond-like carbon coating.
Another way of generating an abrading surface is by forming cutting surfaces or edges on the surface of the working portion 1256 of the shank 1252 as shown in
The flexible substrate 1272 can be made of metal or polymer. The surface of the substrate is coated or embedded with diamond particles 1274 having cutting edges formed thereon the surface of the substrate. The abrading surface can in turn be coated with a diamond-like carbon coating.
The materials suitable for use as a flexible substrate of the disc include those identified above as suitable also for the shanks of dental burs. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the desirable characteristics of substrate materials include good flexibility.
One of skill in the art will appreciate that a wide variety of other shapes and configurations of cutting tools may be employed in a dental tool having wireless remote control, such as the already mentioned dental drill, in the form of a drill bit insert (not shown) an endodontic file and reamer, as shown in
In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the above exemplary dental tools can also be fitted with at least one light source 101, as shown in
The wireless control discussed above is also applicable here. As noted, the footswitch can be designed to indicate only on/off conditions where proportional control is not necessary, since some ultrasonic dental hygiene tools only need an on/off control. For such applications, the footswitch need only have two states, also to be described in more detail below.
As noted above,
As also noted above,
According to one embodiment of invention, the actuator 202 is a foot pedal such as that identified with reference numeral 110 in
As shown in
Transmitter 300 includes a first single pole double throw (SPDT) switch 302 and a second SPDT switch 304. A common connection to 306 of switch 302 is coupled to a first capacitor terminal 308 of a capacitor 310. A second capacitor terminal 312 of capacitor 310 is coupled through a resistor 314 to a first output terminal 316 of switch 302. The output terminal 312 is also coupled to an input terminal 318 of a first code transmitter 320.
The footswitch sends a first signal when the actuator is pressed and a second signal when the actuator is released. The first signal, when received at the base unit, turns on the equipment. The reception of the second signal causes the equipment to turn off. In the footswitch, it is preferred that there is no electrical activity after the initial signal is sent so as to conserve energy in the battery that powers the device. The footswitch is preferably battery powered in most embodiments so that the cables presently needed for the footswitch operation can also be completely abandoned.
In this embodiment, powering only the signaling of an on and off signal allows the footswitch to operate for hundreds of activations before the battery must be replenished (if rechargeable) or replaced (if not).
One approach for such on/off control means is to provide an electrical circuit including switch means mounted within the remote control unit and coupled across a pair of conductive leads extending between the remote control unit and the supply source. The switch may be selectively turned on and off in order to respectively energize and deenergize the dental tool or instrument.
A battery 322 has a first battery terminal 324 coupled to ground and a second battery terminal 326 coupled to a second output terminal 328 of switch 302. Second battery terminal 326 is also coupled to a third output terminal 330 of switch 304. A second capacitor 332 includes a third capacitor terminal 334 coupled to a second common terminal 336 of switch 304. A fourth capacitor terminal 338 of capacitor 332 is coupled through a second resistor 340 to a fourth output terminal 342 of switch 304. The capacitor terminal 338 is also coupled to an input terminal 344 of a second code transmitter 346. The first and second code transmitters 320, 346 are mutually connected to ground at respective ground terminals 348, 350. Code transmitter 320 includes a first pulldown resistor 352 coupled between input terminal 318 and ground terminal 348. Code transmitter 346 includes a second pulldown transistor 354 coupled between input terminal 344 and ground terminal 350.
A pedal 356, or other actuator, is mechanically coupled to both switches 302 and 304. When the pedal 356 is depressed by a user, both switches 302 and 304 change their respective states substantially simultaneously.
In a preliminary state, prior to depression of the pedal capacitor 310 discharged and terminal 334 of capacitor 332 is charged to the voltage of battery 322 (e.g., 12 volts). Common terminal 306 is electrically connected to output terminal 316, and common terminal 336 is electrically connected to output terminal 330.
When the pedal is depressed, the states of the switches transition (state transition 1), so that common terminal 306 is electrically connected to output terminal 328 and common terminal 336 electrically connected to output terminal 342. In response to these electrical connections, terminal 308 of capacitor 310 rapidly charges to battery voltage and terminal 334 of capacitor 332 substantially discharges through resistor 340 and pulldown resistor 354 to ground potential. This discharging of terminal 334 occurs during a first transient time beginning immediately after state transition 1 and results in an electrical current that flows through resistors 340 and 354. A resulting first transient voltage appears that terminal 344. This first transient voltage is detected by internal circuitry of code transmitter 346, which responsively transmits a wireless signal indicating depression of the pedal.
It should be noted that the first transient time is of limited duration, as substantially determined by an RC time constant of capacitor 332 and resistors 340 and 354. Current flows from the battery 322 to terminal 308 of capacitor 310 during a similarly brief transient. Thereafter, no power is required from the battery until the next state transition, with the exception of power required to compensate for any leakage current of capacitor 310. Such leakage current will be substantially negligible.
When the pedal 356 is released, the states of the switches again transition (state transition 2). The terminal 334 of capacitor 332 is recharged by a transient current out of the battery 322. At the same time, terminal 308 of capacitor 310 discharges by way of switch terminals 306 and 316, resistor 314 and resistor 352 to ground. A consequent transient electrical current flows through resistors 349 and 352 that results in a transient voltage at terminal 318. This transient voltage is detected by internal circuitry of transmitter 320.
The transmitter 320 responsively transmits a wireless signal indicating release of the pedal. Again, power transmission from the battery 322 to capacitor 332 is limited by the brief duration of the second transient time interval.
The internal circuitry of transmitter 320 and 346 may be configured to transmit wireless signals of time and duration appropriate to the environment in which the wireless transmission system is to be employed. One of skill in the art will understand, however, that by limiting the duration of signal transmission, the power requirements of the transmitters 320, 346 may be correspondingly limited.
The double pole double throw electromechanical relay 412 includes a first switch 414. The first switch 414 has a first common terminal coupled to a second output terminal 416 of the latch circuit 406 and a third normally open terminal coupled to a fourth output terminal 418 of the latch circuit 406.
Relay 412 includes a second switch 420 with a fifth common terminal 422 and a sixth normally open terminal 424. Also included in relay 412 is an activation coil 426. The activation coil 426 is coupled at seventh output terminal 428 to a source of ground potential.
Relay 408 includes a third switch 430 with an eighth common terminal 432 coupled to a ninth input terminal 434 of activation coil 426. Relay 408 also includes a tenth normally open terminal 436 mutually coupled to input terminal 424 and to an eleventh output terminal 438 of first code receiver 402. Relay 408 also includes a second activation coil 440 with a pair of input terminals 442, 444 coupled to respective output terminals of the first code receiver 402.
Relay 410 includes a fourth switch 446 with a 12th common terminal 448 coupled to common terminal 432 of relay 408. Relay 410 also includes a 13th normally closed terminal 450 coupled to common terminal 422 of switch 420 (relay 412). Relay 410 also includes an activation coil 452 with a further pair of input terminals 454, 456 coupled to respective output terminals of the second code receiver 404.
First code receiver 402 is coupled to a power supply at power supply terminals 458, 460. Second code receiver 404 is coupled to a power supply at power supply terminals 462, 464. In addition, first code receiver 402 is coupled to a source of ground potential at a signal ground terminal 466. Flyback diodes 468, 470 and 472 are coupled across activation coils 440, 452 and 426 respectively.
In operation, code receiver 402 is adapted to receive a first signal from a corresponding first code transmitter, such as code transmitter 346 as shown in
This substantially short-circuit condition may be used to control a dental instrument. For example, a power supply may be coupled in series with the switch 414 and the motor of an electric dental drill. Alternately, the power supplies may be coupled in series with the switch 414 and an ultrasonic power supply of an ultrasonic scaler instrument. In another example, a power supply may be coupled in series with an activation coil of a solenoid valve. The solenoid valve controls a flow of high-pressure air to a pneumatic dental instrument, such as a pneumatic dental drill.
The latch circuit 406 operates as follows. When code receiver 402 receives the first signal, it impresses an electrical voltage sufficient to activate coil 440 across terminals 442, 444. The resulting electromagnet of coil 440 closes switch 430 and produces a substantially short-circuit between terminals 432 and 436. Terminal 438 is thus switchingly coupled to terminal 434. The terminal 438 exhibits a voltage, taken with respect to ground terminal 466 (and thus with respect to terminal 428) that is sufficient to activate coil 426. The consequent electromagnet of coil 426 closes both switch 414 and switch 420.
As discussed above, the closure of switch 420 is adapted to activate a dental instrument. The closure of switch 420 provides a substantially short-circuit between terminals 422 and 424. This short-circuit, in series with normally closed switch 446 provides a current path that is electrically parallel to switch 430. The parallel current path couples output terminal 438 to input terminal 434 of coil 426. Consequently, coil 426 remains active after code receiver 402 stops providing the activation voltage across terminals 442 and 444, and after switch 430 responsively reopens.
Since the active state of coil 426 keeps both switch is 420 and 414 in their respective closed states, the dental instrument coupled to terminal 416 and 418 remains active. This active state persists until the circuit supplying coil 426 is broken by the activation of relay 410. The latch circuit 406 is said to be in a latched state.
When a second signal (such as that generated by code transmitter 320 of
One of skill in the art will appreciate that the above described operation of receiving circuit 400 allows continuous operation of a dental tool, and subsequent termination of the tool's operation, to be effected with two signals, each signal being of a relatively brief duration. As described above, in relation to
As illustrated in
In
In this embodiment, powering only the signaling of an on and off signal allows the footswitch to operate for hundreds of activations before the battery must be replenished (if rechargeable) or replaced (if not).
It should be noted that the embodiments described above in relation to
A fourth terminal 514 of switch 504 is coupled through a first voltage divider to the source of ground potential. The first voltage divider includes first 516 and second 518 resistors mutually coupled in series at common fifth terminal 520.
A sixth terminal 522 of switch 504 is coupled through a second voltage divider to the source of ground potential. The second voltage divider includes third 524 and fourth 526 resistors mutually coupled in series at a common seventh terminal 528.
Terminals 520 and 528 are mutually coupled to an input terminal 530 of a voltage controlled oscillator 532. As is understood by those of ordinary skill of the art, a voltage controlled oscillator produces an output signal having a frequency related to a voltage applied at an input of the oscillator 532.
The ratio of resistances, of resistors 516 and 518, of the first voltage divider are selected to be different from the ratio of resistances, of resistors 524 and 526, of the second voltage divider. Consequently, the electrical potential of input terminal 530 depends on a state of the switch 504. Because the output frequency of the oscillator 532 depends on the potential of input terminal 530, changing the state of switch 504 changes a frequency of a signal output at output terminal 534.
The output terminal 534 is coupled to an input terminal 536 of a modulator 538. A further input terminal 540 of modulator 538 receives a radio frequency signal from an output 542 of a radio frequency oscillator 544. The modulator 538 produces a modulated signal at an output 546.
The modulated signal is received at an input 548 of a radio frequency amplifier 550 which produces an amplified radio frequency signal at its output 552. The output 552 of the radio frequency amplifier 550 is mutually coupled to an antenna 554 and, through a ballast or load 556, to a source of ground potential.
In operation, the wireless transmitter 500 is placed on the floor of examining room at a location convenient to the foot of the dentist. When the dentist wishes the dental tool to operate, he or she depresses the foot pedal 502. This causes switch terminal 506 to be electrically connected to terminal 522. Accordingly, the voltage of battery 510 is applied across resistors 524 and 526.
As is understood by one of skill of the art, a resulting first signal voltage is impressed at node 528 that is different from the voltage of battery 510, and depends upon the voltage of battery 510 and upon the resistance values of resistors 524 and 526. This first signal voltage is received at input 530 of voltage controlled oscillator 532. It is characteristic of a voltage controlled oscillator that an output frequency at output 534 corresponds to the voltage input at terminal 530. Thus a first output frequency is received at modulator 538. The modulator 538 mixes this first output frequency with a radio frequency carrier signal received from RF oscillator 544. The resulting mixed (or RF modulated) signal it amplified with RF amplifier 550 and the resulting amplified signal is used to drive antenna 554. This results in the broadcasting of a first modulated RF signal over an area determined principally by the signal power available from the RF amplifier 550 and the configuration of the antenna 554.
When the foot pedal 502 is released, the connection between terminals 506 and 522 is broken. Immediately thereafter, a new connection is formed between terminal 506 and terminal 514. This acts to couple resistors 516 and 518 in series with battery 510. The voltage of battery 510 is dropped across the series combination of resistors 516 and 518, producing a second signal voltage at node 520. This second signal voltage produces a second frequency at the output 534 of the voltage controlled oscillator 532. As with the first signal frequency, this second signal frequency is RF and modulated in the modulator 538, amplified in the RF amplifier 550, and broadcast as a second RF signal from the antenna 554.
The first and second RF signals are received at a receiving apparatus that includes a control system adapted to, for example, turn on a dental instrument in response to receiving the first RF signal and turn off the dental instrument in response to receiving the second RF signal.
It will be understood by one of skill in the art that, in a further embodiment, the switch 504 may be replaced with a pulse generator circuit adapted to respond to an input from foot pedal 502 by connecting terminal 506 and 514 for a particular time interval. The pulse generator circuit may be configured to connect terminal 506 to terminal 522 for a second particular time interval upon release of the foot pedal 502. In this way, savings in battery lifetime, along the lines of those described above in relation to
The mechanical input of resistor 602 is adapted to vary respective resistances between output terminal 616, and terminals 604 and 614. Consequently, the voltage divider arrangement shown produces a voltage at terminal 616 that varies in relation to the degree to which foot pedal 502 is depressed.
The variable voltage at terminal 616 is received at an input 618 of a voltage controlled oscillator 620. The voltage controlled oscillator also has a first power supply terminal coupled to battery terminal 606 and second power supply terminal coupled to common node 610. An output 622 of the voltage controlled oscillator is coupled to an input 624 of a buffer amplifier 626.
An output 628 of the buffer amplifier 626 is coupled to a first input 630 of a modulator circuit 632. A second input 634 of the modulator circuit is connected to an output 636 of a radio frequency oscillator 638. The modulator circuit 632 has an output 640 coupled to an input 642 of a radio frequency (RF) amplifier 644. An output 646 of the RF amplifier is mutually coupled to an antenna 648 and, through a ballast, to a source of ground potential.
Like the voltage controlled oscillator 618, the buffer amplifier 626, the modulator circuit 632 and the RF amplifier each has a power terminal coupled to battery terminal 606 and a power terminal coupled to common node 610.
In operation the foot pedal 502 is placed at a convenient location for access by the dental professional. When the dental professional wishes to activate a dental tool controlled by the foot pedal, he or she presses on the foot pedal 502. As will be understood by one of skill in the art, the foot pedal is mechanically coupled to a wiper of the variable resistor 602. Moving the wiper over the internal resistance element of the variable resistor forms a continuously varying voltage divider. The voltage output at terminal 616 depends on the voltage of battery 608 and the relative resistances of the portions of resistor 602 above and below the wiper.
The result, at terminal 616, is a continuously varying voltage, having a value at any particular moment that is related to the activation of the foot pedal at that particular moment. This voltage at terminal 616 is applied to the input 618 of voltage controlled oscillator 620. In response to the voltage at terminal 616 at a particular moment, the voltage controlled oscillator produces a corresponding output signal at output 622. The output signal has a frequency with an instantaneous value corresponding to the voltage at terminal 616, which is related to the degree to which pedal 502 is depressed. This output signal is amplified in amplifier 626, RF modulated in modulator 634, RF amplified in amplifier 644 and broadcast via antenna 648. Because the RF modulated signal broadcast by antenna 648 contains a continuously varying signal that may be extracted by receiver, a dental instrument coupled to receiver may be controlled in continuous fashion. For example, a rotary drill may be controlled from a stopped state continuously to a state of maximum rotation. In another example, and ultrasonic scaler may be controlled from a stopped continuously to a state of maximum vibration in amplitude and/or frequency.
The battery 708 includes a second battery terminal 714 coupled to the common node 712. In the illustrated embodiment, the digital encoder produces a pulse train signal at a first output port 716 and a second sense signal at a second output port 718. The first 716 and second 718 output ports are coupled to respective third 720 and fourth 722 input ports of a digital up/down counter 724. A fifth parallel output port 726 of the digital up/down counter 724 is adapted to output a digital count value in parallel format.
The parallel output port 726 is coupled to a parallel input port 728 of a modem circuit 730. The modem circuit 730 includes a parallel to digital shift register adapted to convert a parallel count value received from the digital up/down counter 724 into a serial bit-stream. In addition, in various embodiments the modem circuit 730 includes additional devices adapted to insert control bits such as stop and start bits into a serial bit stream output from a serial output port 732 of the modem circuit 730.
The modem circuit 730 also includes first 758 and second 759 clock inputs. Clock inputs 758 and 759 are signalingly coupled to respective clock outputs of a clock and control circuit 761. Clock signals received from the clock and control circuit 761 control the latching of parallel data at input port 728 and the subsequent serial output of that data at output port 732.
In the illustrated embodiment, the serial output port 732 is coupled to an input port 734 of a signal amplifier 736. An output 738 of the signal amplifier 736 is coupled to a low-frequency input 738. A high frequency input 742 of the modulator circuit 740 is coupled to an output 744 of an RF oscillator 746.
A modulated signal output 748 of the modulator circuit 740 is coupled to an input 750 of an RF amplifier 752. An output 754 of amplifier 752 is coupled to an antenna 754 and, through a ballast circuit 756, to common node 712 and thus to ground.
Power is supplied to the digital encoder 702, the digital up/down counter 726, the modem circuit 730, the signal amplifier 736, the modulation circuit 740, the RF oscillator 746, and the RF amplifier 752 by way of respective power terminals, each coupled to battery terminal 706, and ground terminals, each mutually coupled to the common node 712 (and thus to battery terminal 714).
One of skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing disclosure teaches a variety of alternative embodiments including such alternative position and motion transducers as, for example, rotary resolver devices, linear resolver devices, ultrasonic position measuring devices and linear Hall effect magnetic position measuring devices, among others.
Pushbutton 802 is adapted to increase the speed, power, or other operating parameter of a dental tool with which the signal transmitter 800 communicates. Pushbutton 804 is adapted to reduce the speed, power, or other operating parameter of the dental tool. Pushbutton 806 is adapted to immediately reduce to zero the power, or other operating parameter of the dental tool. Pushbutton 808 is adapted to turn on a light, water jet, air jet, or other ancillary feature of the dental tool and pushbutton 810 is adapted to turn off the light, water jet, air jet, or other and slurry feature of the dental tool.
Each pushbutton 802, 804, 806, 808, 810 includes a first terminal mutually coupled to an output node 812 of a power control device 813. A second terminal of each pushbutton is coupled to a respective input terminal 814, 816, 818, 820, 822 of an I/O port device 824. The I/O port device 824 also includes an output terminal 826, a power supply terminal 828 and a port 830 (typically a parallel port) for receiving and sending data and control signals.
The signal transmitter 800 also includes a microprocessor 832 with a power supply terminal 834 and a port 836 (typically a parallel port) for receiving and sending data and control signals.
A data and control bus 838 is mutually coupled between data and control port 830 and data and control port 836. In addition, data and control bus 838 is coupled to a data and control port 840 of a memory device such a read-only memory device 842. In the illustrated embodiment, the memory device also includes a power supply terminal 844. The power supply terminal 844 is mutually coupled with a power supply terminal 834 of the microprocessor 832, with the power supply terminal 828 of the I/O port 824, and with the output node 812 of the power control device 813.
In the illustrated embodiment, output terminal 826 of I/O port device 824 is coupled to an input 846 of a buffer amplifier 848. An output 850 of buffer amplifier 848 is coupled to a first input 852 of a modulation circuit 854. A second input 856 of modulation circuit 854 is coupled to a output 858 of an RF oscillator 860. The modulation circuit 854 includes an output 862 coupled to an input 864 of an RF amplifier 866. The RF amplifier 866 has an output 868 coupled to an antenna 870. The output 868 of the RF amplifier 866 is also coupled to an input 872 of an antenna ballast 874. According to one embodiment of the invention, the antenna ballast 874 also includes a terminal 876 coupled to a source of ground potential.
When foot pedal 502 (as seen for example, in
An antenna 910 is coupled to a first input 912 of a preamplifier circuit 914. The preamplifier circuit 914 includes an output 916 coupled to an input 918 of a demodulator circuit 920. According to one aspect of the invention, the demodulator circuit 920 includes an RF oscillator and is adapted to extract a modulation signal from and amplified RF signal received from the antenna 910 by way of the preamplifier circuit 914.
An output 922 of the demodulator circuit 920 is coupled to a serial input 924 of a demultiplexer circuit 926. In addition, in a typical embodiment the demultiplexer circuit 926 includes a serial input parallel output shift register along with control circuitry adapted to detect and interpret ancillary bits such as start and stop bits. The demultiplexer circuit 926 also includes a clock input 928 and a parallel digital output 930.
The parallel digital output 930 of the demultiplexer circuit 926 is coupled to a parallel digital input 932 of a digital to analog converter 934. The digital to analog converter 934 includes a clock input 936 and an analog output 938.
A clock and control device 929 includes a first clock output 931 coupled to clock input 928 and a second clock output 933 coupled to clock input 936.
The analog output 938 is coupled to an input 940 of a power control circuit 942. According to one embodiment of the invention, the power control circuit is a linear power amplifier, or a switched power amplifier adapted to control the drill motor of a rotary electric dental tool. According to another embodiment of the invention, the power control circuit is coupled to an ultrasonic power supply, including an ultrasonic oscillator and power amplifier. The ultrasonic power supply is adapted to control an ultrasonic dental tool. According to a further embodiment, an output of the power control circuit 942 is coupled to an input 944 of a dental tool 946 such as an electric rotary dental drill. According to one embodiment of the invention, the electric rotary dental drill also includes a further terminal 947 coupled to the common node 908.
In a further aspect, according to one embodiment, the invention includes a further digital output 948 of the demultiplexer circuit 926. The further digital output 948 is coupled to an input 950 of a buffer amplifier 952. The buffer amplifier 952 has an output 954 coupled to a first terminal 956 of a solenoid valve activation coil 958. A second terminal 960 of the solenoid valve activation coil 958 is coupled to common node 908. The solenoid valve activation coil 958 is magnetically coupled to a valve 962, such as a water control valve or air control valve.
In a further aspect of the invention, power terminal 904 of power supply 902 is coupled to respective power input of the preamplifier 914, the demodulator 920, the clock and control device 929, the demultiplexer 926, the digital to analog converter 934, the power control circuit 942 and the buffer amplifier 952. In like fashion, respective brown terminals of the preamplifier 914, the demodulator 920, the clock and control device 929, the demultiplexer 926, the digital to analog converter 934, the power control circuit 942 and the buffer amplifier 952 are coupled to common node 908.
In the illustrated embodiment, the voltage modifying device 1022 is a voltage divider including a first resistor 1024 and a second resistor 1026. An output of the voltage modifying device 1022 includes a node 1028 between the two resistors 1024 and 1026. Node 1028 is electrically coupled to an input 1030 of a light source 1032, such as a light emitting diode, or an array of light emitting diodes. The light emitting diode 1032, the motor 1018, the voltage modifying circuit 1022, the wireless receiving device 1008, and the power supply 1002 all include a mutual connection to a common node 1034. According to one embodiment of the invention, the common node 1034 is maintained at ground potential.
It should be noted that the wireless receiver 1000 is best adapted to be used with a dental instrument where simple on-off control of the motor 1018 is required. Under such circumstances, the electrical potential maintained at the output 1014 of the wireless receiving device 1008 may be either zero Volts, or a substantially constant non-zero voltage. Under such circumstances, the illumination produced by the light source 1032 also will be substantially constant. Alternately, where stepped or continuously varying control of the motor 1018 is desired, it is appropriate to provide a separate controlled power source for the light source 1032.
Unlike wireless receiver 1000, however, wireless receiver 1050 includes a separate controlled power supply for the light source. In the illustrated embodiment, this power supply is an electrochemical battery 1052. A first terminal of the electrochemical battery is connected to a common or ground node. A second terminal 1056 of the battery 1052 is coupled to an input 1054 of a control device 1058.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the control device 1058 includes a switching transistor. According to another embodiment of the invention, the control device 1058 includes an electromechanical relay. The control device 1058 includes a control input 1060 adapted to receive an electrical signal. In response to the electrical signal received at control input 1060, an output terminal 1062 is electrically connected to or disconnected from input terminal 1054. Output terminal 1052 is coupled to an input of a light source, such as the illustrated light emitting diode 1032. Consequently, whether the light emitting diode 1032 is illuminated or dark depends on a state of the signal received at control input 1060. Furthermore, because the light emitting diode 1032 has at its power source battery 1052, the illumination provided by the diode 1032 remains substantially invariant as the power supplied to the motor 1018 is varied.
Like wireless receiver 900, wireless receiver 1100 includes a power supply 902, an antenna 910, a preamplifier circuit 914, a demodulator circuit 920, a demultiplexer circuit 926, a clock and control device 929, a digital to analog converter 934, a power control circuit 942 and a dental tool 946 such as an electric rotary dental drill or an ultrasonic vibrational dental scaler.
As illustrated, the multiplexer circuit 926 includes a digital output 948. The digital output 948 is coupled to an input 1102 of a driver or device 1104. The driver or device is electrically coupled to the power supply 902, from which it receives electrical power, and includes an output coupled to a light source such as a light emitting diode 1104.
The wireless receiver 1100 is adapted to receive a radiofrequency signal and, based on the information content of that radiofrequency signal, control a level of electrical power delivered by drive circuit 942 to the dental tool 946 and also control an on or off state of light source 1104.
Wireless receiver 1150, as shown in
For example, the electric generator 1154 may include a piezoelectric generator mechanically coupled to a piezoelectric transducer of the dental tool 946 and adapted to receive mechanical power therefrom. In this way, a portion of the electrical energy transmitted from the power control circuit to the dental tool 946 is converted by the dental tool 946 into mechanical energy, and then converted back into electrical energy for the purpose of powering the light source 1152.
A wireless control means for the selective energizing of the light supply source can be separate or the same as the wireless means that controls the on and off state of the mechanical transducer of the dental tool. If a separate control is used, it can also be located within easy reach of the operator to permit turn-on and/or turn-off of the light supply source through simple foot pedal control provided within a remote control unit.
In particular,
According to one embodiment of the invention, the activation of the ultrasonic insert is controlled by the wireless foot control (110 as shown e.g., in
The first driver circuit 1170 is coupled to an electromechanical transducer 1176, such as a motor, or piezoelectric oscillator, as would be founded a dental instrument. The second driver circuit 1172 is coupled to a light source 1178, such as an incandescent light, a fluorescent light, a light emitting diode, or a combination thereof. The third driver circuit 1174 is coupled, for example, to a coil of a solenoid valve. The solenoid valve controls a mass transfer function such as, for example an air jet, a waterjet, or a saliva vacuum.
One of skill in the art will understand that a dental office may be an electrically noisy environment, especially when ultrasonic equipment is being used. One advantage of incorporating a microprocessor in the wireless transmitter, as shown in
The use of a microprocessor or microcontroller also allows automatic timing of tool activities, automatic adjustment of light levels, and other automatic features desirable to a dental professional. For example, it is possible to control various tools with a single foot pedal based on mutual communications between the foot pedal device and a sensor, such as a finger switch or capacitive sensor, in the tool indicating that it is presently being used.
The various receivers and transmitters discussed above have been presented as embodiments employing radiofrequency signals for communication. It will be understood by one of skill in the art, however, that other signaling means, including optical signaling and audio signaling (such as ultrasonic signaling) may be employed to good effect.
While this invention is described in detail with reference to a certain preferred embodiments, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to those precise embodiments. Rather, in view of the present disclosure which describes the current best mode for practicing the invention, many modifications and variations would present themselves to those of skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention.
The present application is the National Stage of International Application No. PCT/US2004/039937 designating the United States, filed on Nov. 24, 2004, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/524,911, filed on Nov. 26, 2003, the disclosures of which are herewith incorporated by reference in their entirety.
