WO2008008782A2

WO2008008782A2 - Ultrasonic generator with advanced features for dental applications

Info

Publication number: WO2008008782A2
Application number: PCT/US2007/073161
Authority: WO
Inventors: William L. Bollig; Mohammad Ali Jamnia; Marjavis J. Matthis; Chad A. Follmar; David W. Tipton
Original assignee: Hu Friedy Manufacturing Co LLC
Current assignee: Hu Friedy Manufacturing Co LLC
Priority date: 2006-07-10
Filing date: 2007-07-10
Publication date: 2008-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 2009-01-10
Also published as: WO2008008782A3

Abstract

Ultrasonic generators provided with graphical displays, operator-controlled interfaces, and communication with instruments employed with the ultrasonic generators. A radio frequency identification device or bar code reader may be used to communicate an identification signal from a tip to the ultrasonic generator. A memory associated with the ultrasonic generator stores a plurality of operating profiles, each correlating to a unique identification signal, each identification signal corresponding to a particular tip received in a handpiece associated with the ultrasonic generator. Information about particular tips, such as remaining service life of the tip, temperature at the tip, pressure exerted by the tip, lot number, part number, serial number, and date of manufacture of the tip may be displayed on a display provided on the generator. A controller modifies the operating profile of the tip corresponding to the identifying signal associated with the tip received in the handpiece upon the occurrence of predetermined conditions.

Description

ULTRASONIC GENERATORWITH ADVANCED FEATURES FORDENTAL APPLICATIONS

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/806,807, filed July 10, 2006, and claims the benefit of the filing date thereof for all commonly disclosed subject matter.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] This disclosure relates generally to ultrasonic generators for use with dental instruments and, more particularly, to ultrasonic generators provided with graphical displays, operator-controlled interfaces, and communication with instruments employed with the ultrasonic generators.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Conventional ultrasonic generators and tips of dental instruments powered by the generators lacked any ability to communicate information between one another. It would be useful if data concerning various factors about the tip associated with its operation could be obtained, communicated to the ultrasonic generator, and translated to convey meaningful information to an operator. For instance, many tips for dental instruments have a recommended useful life before the tips are in need of maintenance or replacement. Thus, the cumulative duration of use of a particular tip would be useful information for an ultrasonic generator to obtain and convey to an operator. Furthermore, it would be useful if the ultrasonic generator could modify its output, based on the information communicated from the tip.

[0004] The amount of water flow through a handpiece associated with an ultrasonic generator would also be useful data. Other data may also be useful, such as the time of day, the elapsed time of a particular patient session, the elapsed duration of use of the ultrasonic instrument during the patient session, or a countdown timer. An ultrasonic generator could i utilize such data to advise the operator of time remaining in a patient session or time remaining to perform a particular procedure, such as duration of exposure of light and/or heat to a curable composition applied to a tooth.

[0005] If a dental patient has particularly sensitive gums or sutures warranting more delicate treatment, it would be helpful to provide the operator of the ultrasonic generator with real time information as to the power output of the ultrasonic generator, pressure being exerted to the patient's teeth by the tip, the temperature at the tip, or other data. The manner in which these and other features may be achieved and implemented are described in the following Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0006] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic generator and handpiece of the present disclosure;

[0007] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a memory associated with a microprocessor of the ultrasonic generator of FIG. 1;

[0008] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an ultrasonic generator and handpiece of the present disclosure; and

[0009] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of an ultrasonic generator and handpiece of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] With reference to FIG. I₅ an ultrasonic generator 10 of the present disclosure has a graphical display 12. The graphical display 12 may be digital and may include a screen having, for example, a dot matrix display of a liquid crystal display (LCD) type, organic light emitting diode (OLED), or other suitable screen that allows for graphical display of information.

[0011] The graphical display 12 is preferably adapted to display one or more of the following information to an operator: operating mode, power level, water flow level, timer functions, and tip information.

[0012] The ultrasonic generator 10 is further provided with a controller or microprocessor 14 in communication with the graphical display 12, and a memory 16, such as a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), erasable read only memory (EROM), or erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM). The graphical display 12 may display such information as power level, water flow, operating mode, timers, or remaining service life of a tip. The memory 16 stores, for instance, a plurality of operating profiles 18a, 18b, ... 18x, as best shown schematically in FIG. 2, with each operating profile 18 corresponding to a different tip 20. The particular operating profiles 18 are selectively provided to the microprocessor 14 upon the microprocessor 14 detecting the presence of a particular corresponding tip 20 in a handpiece 22 associated with the ultrasonic generator 10.

[0013] The microprocessor 14 can identify the particular tip 20 received in the handpiece 22 via communication of an identification signal from the tip 20 to the microprocessor 14. The identification signal may be transmitted by, for instance, a radio frequency identification device (RFID) transmitter 24 associated with the tip 20, to an RFID receiver 25 associated with the microprocessor 14. The identification signal may include such identifying information concerning the tip 20 as its date of manufacture, lot number, a part number, and serial number.

[0014] As discussed in greater detail below, other wireless communication technology may be used as an alternative to RFID to achieve communication between the tip 20 and the microprocessor 14. Unique RFID transmitters 24 could be associated with each of a plurality of different tips 20, with each having a unique identification code, such as a serial number. The operating profiles 18a, 18b, ... 18x may be stored in the memory in a manner correlating to the identification codes, such that the operating profile 18a associated with a given tip 20 is accessed or selected upon transmission of the unique identification code of that tip 20 to the microprocessor 14. Depending on the range of the RFID receiver 25, it may be necessary for the practitioner to wave or pass the handpiece 22 in close proximity to the RFID receiver 25 in order for the identification signal to be received. The ultrasonic generator 10 may provide an audible, visible, or tactile signal to the technician to confirm the signal has been received, such as a "beep", a blinking or solid light, or one or more short bursts of vibration of the handpiece 22.

[0015] As a back-up, override, or alternative, the graphical display 12 of the ultrasonic generator 10 may provide an on-screen list from which the dental technician may manually select a graphic or on-screen text representation of the particular tip 20 received in the handpiece 22 to enable the microprocessor 14 to select the applicable operating profile 18. The screen may be touch-sensitive to facilitate the manual selection. Alternate input devices, such as a keyboard, stylus, trackball, or computer mouse, may be used in addition to or instead of the on-screen list for supplying the identity of the particular tip 20 to the microprocessor 14. As discussed in more detail below, bar codes may be used as an alternate to RFID communication or such manual input.

[0016] The operating profiles 18 may contain general static information concerning operating parameters for a generic type of tip 20, such as power requirements. Alternatively or in addition, the microprocessor 14 may be able to write information to the individual operating profiles 18, so that the operating profile 18 associated with a particular tip 20 can store dynamic data, such as elapsed duration of use during a particular session, or over the life of the tip 20. Utilizing the identification information included in the identification signal transmitted by the RFID transmitter 24, the microprocessor 14 adjusts performance of the ultrasonic generator 10 according to the operating profile 18 corresponding to the particular tip 20. hi a preferred embodiment, the ultrasonic generator is programmed to display information regarding the replaceable tip, such as remaining service life of the tip, temperature at the tip, pressure exerted by the tip, lot number, part number, serial number, and date of manufacture, only upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition. For instance, the ultrasonic generator 10 may display, selectively or automatically, the remaining service life of the given tip 20. The ultrasonic generator 10 may be pre-programmed to display, on the graphical display 12, the remaining service life of a tip 20 only upon the calculated remaining service life of the tip 20 reaching a predetermined threshold. Alternatively, the ultrasonic generator 10 may be pre-programmed to display an icon on the graphical display 12 or to provide another appropriate audible and/or visible warning to the dental technician upon the calculated remaining service life of the tip 20 upon the calculated remaining service life of the tip 20 reaching a predetermined threshold.

[0017] Inasmuch as dental office may be provided with a plurality of ultrasonic generators 10, the memory 16 may be centrally located, such as at a mainframe computer, remotely from each of the plurality of generators themselves, and accessed via, for instance, an intranet or wireless data connection. Alternatively, the memory 16 may be integral with each of the ultrasonic generators 10, and the memory 16 of all such ultrasonic generators 10 may removable, so as to be capable of docking to a central docking unit. For instance, the memory 16 may be in the form of a floppy disk, a hard drive, a readable/writable compact disk (CD), a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive, or the like, hi this manner, the operating profiles 18 associated with all tips 20 used in the dental office may be routinely updated with data, such as cumulative elapsed duration of use or number of sterilizations to which individual tips 20 have been exposed, for purposes of, for example, keeping track of when individual tips 20 are due for maintenance or replacement. [0018] Remote access to the central docking unit or mainframe, such as via a secure internet connection, would also facilitate a manufacturer, distributor, or maintenance service having the ability to call on dental practitioners at opportune times, such as when data is received from operating profiles 18 associated with the tips 20 indicating that a predetermined quantity of tips 20 are due for maintenance or replacement.

[0019] A water supply 26 is also provided, which is in fluid communication with the handpiece 22. The microprocessor 14 is also in operable communication with an electronic control valve 28, which is intermediate the water supply 26 and the handpiece 22. An operator interface 30 allows the user to control the flow of water to the handpiece 22. Flow measurement is monitored, transmitted to the microprocessor 14, and displayed on the graphical display 12.

[0020] In addition to an identification signal, the RPED transmitter or other communication system may send signals corresponding to measured data regarding various operating conditions, such as pressure, temperature, or elapsed time, to the microprocessor 14, for instance by transmission to the RFED receiver 25. Such signals may then be translated and displayed on the graphical display 12.

[0021] In another embodiment, shown schematically in FIG. 4, identification information concerning the tip 20 may be communicated to the microprocessor 14 via a bar code strip printed on an exposed portion of the tip 20. Instead of an RFID receiver 25, a bar code reader may be provided on, or in electronic communication with, the ultrasonic generator 10. The handpiece 22 is waved or passed by the bar code reader, in proximity to the bar code reader, in such a manner that the bar code reader can detect the bar code strip on the exposed portion of the tip 20. If the bar code cannot be printed on a portion of the tip 20 which is exposed when the tip 20 is exposed, or at least behind a window through which the light beam of the bar code reader can detect the bar code, then the tip 20 may be waved or passed by the bar code reader prior to insertion on the handpiece 22.

[0022] To facilitate audible signals, such as a warning that a given tip 20 is close to the end of its service life, or that a predetermined time period on a counter used to track the duration of a particular procedure using the handpiece 22 has expired, the ultrasonic generator 10 may be provided with a speaker. The microprocessor 14 of the ultrasonic generator 10 may be programmed not only to run particular operating profiles 18a, 18b, ... 18x stored in the memory, but also to modify the operating profiles 18a, 18b, ... 18x, upon the occurrence of predetermined conditions, such as the data communicated from the tip 20 indicating the pressure or temperature at the tip has reached a predetermined level.

Claims

CLAIMSWe claim:

1. An ultrasonic generator system comprising: an ultrasonic generator; a handpiece in operable communication with the ultrasonic generator; a replaceable tip received in the handpiece, the tip having an identifying signal associated therewith; and means for communicating the identification signal to the ultrasonic generator.

2. The ultrasonic generator system of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic generator includes a display for displaying information regarding operating conditions of the ultrasonic generator and information regarding the replaceable tip.

3. The ultrasonic generator system of claim 2, wherein the information regarding the replaceable tip includes at least one of a group of: remaining service life of the tip; temperature at the tip; pressure exerted by the tip; lot number; part number; serial number; and date of manufacture.

4. The ultrasonic generator system of claim 2, wherein the ultrasonic generator is programmed to display the information regarding the replaceable tip only upon occurrence of a predetermined condition.

5. The ultrasonic generator system of claim 4, wherein the information regarding the replaceable tip is the remaining service life of the tip, and the predetermined condition is a calculated remaining service life of the tip reaching a predetermined threshold.

6. The ultrasonic generator system of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic generator is programmed to provide a warning upon a calculated remaining service life of the tip reaching a predetermined threshold.

7. The ultrasonic generator system of claim 5, wherein the warning is at least one of an icon displayed on a display provided on the ultrasonic generator, an audible signal broadcast through a speaker associated with the ultrasonic generator, or a tactile signal including at least one vibration of the handpiece.

8. The ultrasonic generator system of claim 2, wherein the information regarding the operating conditions of the ultrasonic generator includes at least one of a group of: power level; water flow; operating mode; and elapsed time of operation of the ultrasonic generator.

9. The ultrasonic generator system of claim 2, wherein the ultrasonic generator further comprises a controller in communication with the display and a memory, and wherein the memory stores a plurality of operating profiles, each of said operating profiles corresponding to a unique identification code, one of the identification codes being associated with the replaceable tip received in the handpiece.

10. The ultrasonic generator system of claim 8, wherein each of the operating profiles contains at least one of static information or dynamic data.

11. The ultrasonic generator system of claim 8, wherein the controller is programmed to adjust performance of the ultrasonic generator according to a selected one of the operating profiles, upon communication of the identifying signal associated with the replaceable tip received in the handpiece, said selected one of the operating profiles corresponding to the communicated identifying signal.

12. The ultrasonic generator system of claim 8, wherein the controller is programmed to modify the operating profile corresponding to the identifying signal associated with the tip received in the handpiece upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition.

13. The ultrasonic generator system of claim 11 , wherein the predetermined condition is one of a pressure at the tip reaching a predetermined level or a temperature at the tip reaching a predetermined level.

14. The ultrasonic generator system of claim 9, wherein the memory is removable.

15. The ultrasonic generator system of claim 9, wherein the memory comprises at least one of a group of a floppy disk, a hard drive, a readable/writable compact disk (CD), a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive.

16. The ultrasonic generator system of claim 9, wherein the memory is located remotely from the generator and the memory is accessed via at least one of an intranet or a wireless data connection.

17. The ultrasonic generator system of claim 9, wherein the memory is adapted to be updated with data correlated to each of the unique identification codes and corresponding to at least one of a group of a cumulative elapsed duration of use of the replaceable tip with which each of the unique identification codes is associated or a number of sterilizations of the replaceable tip with which each of the unique identification codes is associated.

18. The ultrasonic generator system of claim 17, wherein the memory is accessible from a remote location via a secure internet connection, facilitating remote accumulation of data indicating that a predetermined quantity of tips are due for maintenance or replacement.

19. The ultrasonic generator system of claim 1, wherein the means for communicating the identifying signal to the ultrasonic generator includes at least one of a group of: an RFDD tag provided on the tip and an RPID receiver associated with the ultrasonic generator; a bar code provided on the tip and a bar code reader associated with the ultrasonic generator; an on-screen list provided on a display associated with the ultrasonic generator from which the identification signal may be selected; and an input device.

20. A method of operation of an ultrasonic generator system including an ultrasonic generator, a handpiece in operable communication with the ultrasonic generator, and a replaceable tip adapted to be received in the handpiece, the tip having an identifying signal associated therewith, the method comprising: communicating the identifying signal associated with the tip to the ultrasonic generator; selecting an operating profile corresponding to the tip identified by the identifying signal from a plurality of operating profiles stored in a memory associated with the ultrasonic generator; and operating the ultrasonic generator in accordance with the operating profile.

21. The method of operation of an ultrasonic generator system of claim 20, wherein in communicating the identifying signal associated with the tip to the ultrasonic generator, the identifying signal is on an RFID tag provided on the tip and an RFID receiver is associated with the generator.

22. The method of operation of an ultrasonic generator system of claim 20, wherein in communicating the identifying signal associated with the tip to the ultrasonic generator, the identifying signal is on a bar code provided on the tip, and passing the bar code in proximity to a bar code reader associated with the ultrasonic generator.

23. The method of operation of an ultrasonic generator system of claim 20, further comprising writing information to. the operating profile corresponding to the tip identified by the identifying signal.

24. The method of operation of an ultrasonic generator system of claim 20, further comprising generating a warning upon occurrence of a predetermined condition.