HANDPIECE ASSEMBLY FOR MEDICAL DEVICE

Abstract

A handpiece assembly for a medical device has a handpiece having a handpiece distal portion for receiving an insert assembly including a radiofrequency identifier, an insert antenna and an insert. A handpiece antenna is arranged in the handpiece distal portion. Radiofrequency signal supply means provide radiofrequency signals to the handpiece antenna that communicates with the insert antenna when the insert assembly is inserted in an insertion region in the handpiece distal portion. The handpiece antenna is a loop antenna or segmented ring antenna having at least two segments. A first end of a first segment is connected to a first terminal of the radiofrequency signal supply means, a second end of a last segment is connected to a second terminal of the radiofrequency signal supply means, forming a coil radiating structure generating an electromagnetic field. Each segment has a radiant metal element, with respective inductance, electrically connected to a respective capacitive element. A medical device including a control element, an insert assembly, and the handpiece assembly is also provided.

Claims

1. A handpiece assembly for a medical device, said handpiece assembly comprising a handpiece, comprising a handpiece distal portion adapted to receive by insertion an insert assembly comprising a radiofrequency identifier, an insert antenna and an insert adapted to interact with a part of a patient's body, wherein said handpiece assembly further comprises a handpiece antenna, arranged in the handpiece distal portion, and radiofrequency signal supply means, configured to provide the handpiece antenna with a radiofrequency signal adapted to be transmitted by the handpiece antenna, said handpiece antenna being configured to wirelessly communicate with the insert antenna, when said insert assembly is inserted into the handpiece in an insertion region comprised in the handpiece distal portion, said handpiece antenna being a loop antenna or segmented ring antenna comprising: at least two handpiece antenna segments, electrically arranged in series, wherein a first end of a first segment of said at least two handpiece antenna segments is operatively connected to a first terminal of said radiofrequency signal supply means, and a second end of a last segment of said at least two handpiece antenna segments is operatively connected to a second terminal of said radiofrequency signal supply means, so as to form, around said insertion region, a coil radiating structure configured to generate in said insertion region an electromagnetic field with a radiofrequency dependent on said radiofrequency signal, each of said at least two handpiece antenna segments comprising a radiant metal element, characterized by a respective inductance, electrically connected in series to a respective capacitive element, having a capacitance compensating for effects due to the inductance of the radiant metal element on currents circulating in the coil radiating structure of the handpiece antenna.

2. The handpiece assembly of claim 1, wherein said capacitance of each capacitive element is configured to adapt impedance of the handpiece antenna to a radio frequency generator placed in a control element of the medical device, operatively connected to the handpiece assembly.

3. The handpiece assembly of claim 1, wherein said handpiece antenna further comprises: an input impedance adaptation first electrical network, comprised between said first terminal and second terminal of the radiofrequency signal supply means and said first end of the first segment and second end of the last segment of the handpiece antenna; and an antenna impedance adaptation second electrical network, included in the segmented ring antenna, and electrically connected in series between two segments of said at least two handpiece antenna segments.

4. The handpiece assembly of claim 3, wherein said input impedance adaptation first electrical network comprises an inductance-capacitance circuit or a capacitive circuit.

5. The handpiece assembly of claim 3, wherein said antenna impedance adaptation second electrical network comprises a resistance-capacitance circuit or a capacitive circuit, configured to adapt the antenna impedance to a desired impedance value, adapted to optimize transmission of the radiofrequency signal.

6. The handpiece assembly of claim 1, wherein: each radiant metal element of the segmented ring antenna is modellable by an equivalent electric circuit comprising an inductance and a resistance, wherein said inductance is comprised between 2 nH and 30 nH; each capacitive element is a capacitor having a capacity comprised between 1 pF and 12 pF.

7. The handpiece assembly of claim 1, wherein the inductance values of the radiant metal element are different from segment to segment, and capacitance values of the capacitive element are different from segment to segment, depending on the inductance value of the respective segment.

8. The handpiece assembly of claim 1, wherein inductance values of the radiant metal element are equal to each other in different antenna segments, and capacitance values of the capacitive element are equal to each other in different antenna segments.

9. The handpiece assembly of claim 1, wherein said handpiece antenna is configured to operate in frequency ranges in an ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID) band between 860 MHz and 960 MHz.

10. The handpiece assembly of claim 1, further comprising a handpiece identifier, adapted to communicate wirelessly or by wire with said handpiece antenna, said handpiece identifier being adapted to provide information for identifying the handpiece antenna and/or information relating to operating conditions and/or operating frequencies of the handpiece antenna.

11. The handpiece assembly of claim 1, wherein said radiofrequency signal supply means comprise: a signal guide, comprising a micro-strip circuit configured to conduct a radiofrequency supply signal from a connection cable, between the handpiece and a control element of the medical device, to the handpiece antenna; a handpiece antenna connection element, connected to said signal guide and to the handpiece antenna, comprising said first terminal and second terminal of the radiofrequency signal supply means.

12. The handpiece assembly of claim 11, wherein said micro-strip circuit is a controlled impedance circuit, with a thickness comprised between 0.2 mm and 1.0 mm, comprising metal tracks.

13. The handpiece assembly of claim 1, wherein said coil radiating structure of the handpiece antenna has a diameter smaller than 30 mm so as to be contained within an inner wall of the handpiece distal portion.

14. The handpiece assembly of claim 1, wherein said handpiece antenna is connected in a separable manner to said handpiece distal portion.

15. The handpiece assembly of claim 1, wherein said handpiece antenna is fixedly or separably connected to a central handpiece portion.

16. The handpiece assembly of claim 1, wherein the handpiece antenna is formed from a flexible rigid multilayer printed circuit having a T-shape or Γ-shape and comprising a flexible printed circuit part which extends from a rigid printed circuit part, wherein, when said flexible rigid multilayer printed circuit is placed in position inside the handpiece distal portion, an upper part of the T-shape or Γ-shape is wound onto a cone comprised in said handpiece distal portion so that edges of the upper part of the T-shape or Γ-shape overlap, and form an electrical contact, forming a loop or a segmented ring of the handpiece antenna.

17. A medical device comprising a control element, a handpiece assembly for a medical device, said handpiece assembly comprising a handpiece, comprising a handpiece distal portion adapted to receive by insertion an insert assembly comprising a radiofrequency identifier, an insert antenna and an insert adapted to interact with a part of a patient's body, wherein said handpiece assembly further comprises a handpiece antenna, arranged in the handpiece distal portion, and radiofrequency signal supply means, configured to provide the handpiece antenna with a radiofrequency signal adapted to be transmitted by the handpiece antenna, said handpiece antenna being configured to wirelessly communicate with the insert antenna, when said insert assembly is inserted into the handpiece in an insertion region comprised in the handpiece distal portion, said handpiece antenna being a loop antenna or segmented ring antenna comprising: at least two handpiece antenna segments, electrically arranged in series, wherein a first end of a first segment of said at least two handpiece antenna segments is operatively connected to a first terminal of said radiofrequency signal supply means, and a second end of a last segment of said at least two handpiece antenna segments is operatively connected to a second terminal of said radiofrequency signal supply means, so as to form, around said insertion region, a coil radiating structure configured to generate in said insertion region an electromagnetic field with a radiofrequency dependent on said radiofrequency signal, each of said at least two handpiece antenna segments comprising a radiant metal element, characterized by a respective inductance, electrically connected in series to a respective capacitive element, having a capacitance compensating for effects due to the inductance of the radiant metal element on currents circulating in the coil radiating structure of the handpiece antenna, and an insert assembly comprising a radiofrequency identifier, an insert antenna and an insert adapted to interact with a part of a patient's body, wherein said insert assembly is operatively and mechanically connected separably from said handpiece of the handpiece assembly, and wherein said insert antenna and said handpiece antenna are configured to communicate with each other wirelessly in radiofrequency.

18. The medical device of claim 17, configured in such a way that, when said insert assembly is connected to said handpiece, the insert antenna is arranged in a vicinity of the handpiece antenna, in said insertion region in which there is the electromagnetic field generated by the handpiece antenna in radiant condition.

Description

FIGURES

[0075] Further features and advantages of the handpiece for medical device according to the invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments, given by way of indicative, non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0076] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic assembly view of a medical device comprising an ultrasonic system with excitation handpiece and an interchangeable insert assembly, e.g., for dental or microsurgical use;

[0077] FIG. 2 illustrates a section view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1 of the part of the handpiece assembly and insert assembly in FIG. 1, in which the components of the handpiece, such as a transducer, e.g., a piezoelectric transducer, are highlighted;

[0078] FIG. 3 illustrates an axonometric view with parts separated of some components of the handpiece assembly and insert assembly of FIG. 1 in which the insert assembly, the distal handpiece portion cover, the light guide with light concentrators, the handpiece antenna supported to the handpiece antenna connection element and the inner handpiece components, such as the piezoelectric transducer, are shown;

[0079] FIG. 4 is an axonometric view of only the central portion of the handpiece without the distal portion cover and the handpiece antenna highlighting the transducer shaft insert connection tang for the interchangeable connection of insert assemblies;

[0080] FIG. 5 is an axonometric view of an insert assembly;

[0081] FIG. 6 illustrates an axonometric view of the insert tip of FIG. 5 with parts separated in which the different layers of a radiofrequency identifier are highlighted;

[0082] FIG. 7 shows an enlarged plan view of the insert antenna in its extension of its planar profile suited to be wound about and surround or partially surround the insert tip foot of an insert tip;

[0083] FIG. 8 is an axonometric view of a detail of an insert tip antenna to which an identification chip is connected, so as to arrange said identification chip with its entire body protruding from only one side of the extension plane of said insert antenna;

[0084] FIG. 9 is an axonometric view of a further embodiment of an insert antenna connected to an identification chip;

[0085] FIG. 10 is an axonometric view of a detail of the insert antenna in FIG. 9 in the detail in which the identification chip is connected, so as to arrange said identification chip protruding with its entire body from only one side of the extension plane of said insert antenna;

[0086] FIG. 11 is an axonometric view of a detail of an insert antenna to which an identification chip is connected, so as to place said identification chip with its entire body on the same level as said insert antenna and partially beyond or protruding beyond only one side of the extension plane of said insert antenna;

[0087] FIG. 12 illustrates a top view of an insert assembly;

[0088] FIG. 13 illustrates a section taken along the line XIII-XIII in FIG. 12 of the insert of FIG. 12 in which the radiofrequency identifier is highlighted;

[0089] FIG. 14 illustrates the enlargement indicated by XIV in FIG. 13 in which the layers of the radiofrequency identifier are highlighted;

[0090] FIG. 15 illustrates a section view of the enlargement in FIG. 14;

[0091] FIG. 16 is a detail of a cross-section of an insert assembly according to a further embodiment;

[0092] FIG. 17 is an axonometric view with parts separated of a handpiece antenna together with the components of the handpiece distal portion and an insert assembly comprising the various layers of a radiofrequency identifier associated with an insert tip;

[0093] FIG. 18 illustrates an example of an equivalent electrical circuit in serial representation of the assembly formed by the RFID identification chip and the insert antenna;

[0094] FIG. 19 illustrates a parallel representation of another example of an equivalent electrical circuit of the assembly formed by the RFID identification chip and the insert antenna, also including a connection model;

[0095] FIG. 20 is a block chart of an embodiment of the insert antenna and the identification chip;

[0096] FIG. 21 illustrates a block chart of a medical device handpiece portion containing a handpiece antenna;

[0097] FIG. 22 illustrates a simplified block chart of the RF signal distribution mode in the handpiece;

[0098] FIG. 23 illustrates a block chart of a coaxial cable connection to connect the handpiece and a medical system control unit;

[0099] FIG. 24 illustrates an equivalent circuit of an embodiment of a handpiece antenna.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0100] The term “miniaturized” means a device or component having a size between 50 micrometers and 800 micrometers, preferably between 100 micrometers and 600 micro-meters.

[0101] The term “medical device” means an electromechanical device in which a piezoelectric handpiece actuates the mechanical movement of ultrasonic frequency insert tips. These devices can be applied in several fields, of which the following are listed as examples only: [0102] medical: in particular, surgery in the neuro-spinal, cranio-maxillofacial, orthopedic, otorhinolaryngological, pediatric disciplines; [0103] dental, and in particular, surgery, dentistry in general, hygiene and prophylaxis (in particular, the removal of dental calculi, plaque and biofilm).

[0104] The function carried out by the device on bone or on tooth means, for example: [0105] cutting; [0106] perforating; [0107] removing; [0108] eroding.

[0109] The function performed by the device on calculi/plate/biofilm means, for example: [0110] removing; [0111] disintegrating.

[0112] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 identifies an ultrasonic system 101 as a whole comprising generator means 102 or control element 21 operationally connected to a transducer 25 which generates ultrasonic micro-vibrations, which generate vibrations in a connected insert tip 2.

[0113] By way of example only, an ultrasonic system 101 is a surgical or prophylactic instrument, e.g., a dental or medical instrument. According to other embodiments, the present ultrasonic system 101 is an industrial instrument.

[0114] An insert assembly 1 with radiofrequency identifier 3 is described hereinafter. Such insert assembly 1 is adapted to be inserted into a handpiece 4 of a medical device.

[0115] The insert assembly 1 comprises, according to a general embodiment, an insert 2, a ferromagnetic layer 6, a dielectric layer 7, an insert antenna 8, and an identification chip 10.

[0116] The insert (insert tip) 2 is designed to interact with a part of the patient's body and comprises at least one insert metal tang 5.

[0117] The ferromagnetic layer 6 is arranged in contact with, or on the part of, the aforementioned insert metal tang 5 of the insert 2.

[0118] According to an embodiment, said ferromagnetic layer 6 is glued to said insert metal tang 5 of the insert 2. According to a different embodiment, said ferromagnetic layer 6 is applied to said metal tang 5 by interposing a double-sided adhesive.

[0119] The ferromagnetic layer 6 comprises ferromagnetic material.

[0120] The dielectric layer 7 is arranged in contact with the aforesaid ferromagnetic layer 6.

[0121] The insert tip antenna 8 is arranged in contact with the aforesaid dielectric layer 7 and comprises an insert antenna metal element 9, which extends along a predefined, essentially planar profile P.

[0122] Such insert antenna 8 is configured to receive and transmit electromagnetic fields, either modulated or non-modulated, within a given frequency range.

[0123] An identification chip 10 is operationally connected to the aforesaid insert tip antenna 8 and is configured to transmit, when activated, information related to the insert assembly 1.

[0124] The aforesaid ferromagnetic layer 6 is adapted to reduce or cancel attenuation and/or distortion phenomena of the electromagnetic field caused by field parasite effects in the vicinity of the insert antenna 8 due to the interaction of a transmitted/received electromagnetic field with metal parts of the insert metal tang 5 of the insert 2 and/or with liquids present in the insert 2 and/or with the insert antenna metal element 9.

[0125] The aforesaid ferromagnetic layer 6, dielectric layer 7, and insert antenna 8 form a transceiver device 11, adapted to wirelessly connecting the identification chip 10 to a handpiece antenna 12 comprised in the handpiece 4 into which insert assembly 1 is inserted.

[0126] According to a further embodiment, an insert assembly 1 comprises an insert tip 2 and a radiofrequency identifier 3.

[0127] Said insert assembly 1 is adapted to be inserted into a medical device handpiece 4.

[0128] Said insert assembly 1 comprises: [0129] the insert tip 2 adapted to interact with a part of the patient's body, in which the insert tip 2 comprises an insert metal tang 5; [0130] the radiofrequency identifier 3.

[0131] Said radiofrequency identifier comprises a ferromagnetic layer 6, arranged on the side of said insert metal tang 5 of the insert tip 2, in other words directly in contact considering a layer of glue or double-sided adhesive interposed between said ferromagnetic layer 6 and said insert metal tang 5.

[0132] Said ferromagnetic layer 6 comprises ferromagnetic material. In particular, said ferromagnetic layer 6 is adapted to reduce or cancel phenomena of attenuation and/or distortion of the electromagnetic field caused by field parasitic effects in the vicinity of an insert antenna 8 due to the interaction of a transmitted/received electromagnetic field with metal parts of the insert metal tang 5; and/or with liquids present in the insert tip and/or with the insert antenna metal element 9.

[0133] Said radiofrequency identifier further comprises a dielectric layer 7, arranged in contact with said ferromagnetic layer 6.

[0134] Said radiofrequency identifier further comprises said insert antenna 8 arranged in contact with the said dielectric layer 7 and comprising an insert antenna metal element 9, which extends along a predefined, substantially planar profile P.

[0135] Said insert antenna 8 is configured to receive and transmit electromagnetic fields within a given frequency range, either modulated or non-modulated.

[0136] Said radiofrequency identifier further comprises an identification chip 10.

[0137] Said identification chip 10 is operationally connected to the said insert antenna 8, and is configured to transmit, when activated, information related to the insert assembly 1.

[0138] Additionally, said medical device handpiece 4 comprises a handpiece antenna 12.

[0139] Said ferromagnetic layer 6, dielectric layer 7, and insert tip antenna 8 form a transceiver device 11, adapted to wirelessly connect said identification chip 10 to said handpiece antenna 12 of said handpiece 4.

[0140] Advantageously, said ferromagnetic layer 6 and/or said dielectric layer 7 comprises a chip housing 13.

[0141] Said identification chip 10 is operationally connected to said insert antenna 8 in such a way to avoid protruding from at least one first side, or outer side 14, of said substantially flat profile P of said insert antenna metal element 9 of said insert antenna 8.

[0142] Furthermore, said identification chip 10 protrudes with a chip portion 16 thereof from the opposite side, relative to said outer side 14 of said substantially planar profile P, protruding from the inner side 15 of said insert antenna metal element 9 of said insert antenna 8.

[0143] Advantageously, said chip portion which protrudes 16 is accommodated in said chip housing 13, making said radiofrequency identifier particularly compact and space-saving.

[0144] Furthermore, the insertion of said chip portion which protrudes 16 into said chip housing 13 further shields said identification chip 10 making it more robust to external electromagnetic disturbances and also the assembly of said identification chip 10 and said insert antenna 8 more robust mechanically to external stresses and more thermally protected from thermal stresses, e.g., applied by sterilization autoclaves or washer-disinfectors.

[0145] According to an embodiment, said ferromagnetic layer 6, said dielectric layer 7 and said insert antenna 8 form a stack having dimensions in the range between 50 micrometers and 800 micrometers, preferably between 100 micro-meters and 600 micro-meters and adapted to be placed on top of an insert with dimensions transverse to its longitudinal extension, e.g., radial dimensions at one of its longitudinal extension axes, not exceeding 6,400 micrometers. These values refer to the thickness of the stack on a plane so they represent the increase of the radius of the insert tip 2 if, by way of example, it is cylindrical, while the radial dimensions of the insert tip are the diameter of the metal of insert tip 2 if, for example, it is cylindrical.

[0146] According to an embodiment, the thickness of the ferromagnetic layer 6, i.e., the radial dimension relative to the longitudinal extension of the insert tip 2, is in the range between 20 micrometers and 400 micrometers, preferably between 50 micrometers and 300 micrometers.

[0147] According to an embodiment, an inner insulating layer 17, e.g., double-sided adhesive, is arranged internally relative to said ferromagnetic layer 6, i.e., between said insert metal tang 5 and said ferromagnetic layer 6.

[0148] According to an embodiment, said dielectric layer 7 is a two-sided adhesive.

[0149] According to an embodiment, said insert antenna 8 is made of aluminum.

[0150] According to an embodiment, said insert antenna 8 has a flat rectangular shape and dimension of the rectangle sides of the respectively of the short side between 1 mm and 6 mm, preferably between 2 mm and 4 mm, and of the long side between 10 mm and 30 mm and preferably between 12 mm and 25 mm, and thickness of said insert antenna 8 less than 50 micrometers.

[0151] According to an embodiment, said radiofrequency identifier 3 further comprises an outer insulation layer 18, placed externally relative to said ferromagnetic layer 6, dielectric layer 7, identification chip 10 and insert antenna 8.

[0152] According to an embodiment, said radiofrequency identifier 3 further comprises a protective layer 19, e.g., biocompatible, arranged externally relative to said ferromagnetic layer 6, dielectric layer 7, identification chip 10 and insert antenna 8.

[0153] According to an embodiment, said radiofrequency identifier 3 further comprises a protective layer 19, e.g., biocompatible, arranged externally relative to said outer insulating layer 18.

[0154] According to an embodiment, said outer insulating layer 18 is made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), or PET polyethylene terephthalate, or polyamide, e.g., Kapton®.

[0155] According to an embodiment, said protective layer 19 is biocompatible, e.g., a paint or epoxy compound with one or more components.

[0156] According to an embodiment, said ferromagnetic layer 6, said dielectric layer 7 and said insert antenna 8 form a stack.

[0157] According to an embodiment, said ferromagnetic layer 6, said dielectric layer 7 and said insert tip antenna 8 are wound about said insert metal tang 5 forming a substantially concentric structure around said central metal element 5. The term “concentric” does not mean that the structure is totally circling the central metal element nor that it must be perfectly concentric thereto, but only that it embraces the inner metal element along a portion of the periphery of the central metal element, e.g., to allow a minimum extension of said insert antenna about the periphery of the insert tip, an extension adapted for the desired transmission/reception.

[0158] According to an embodiment, such ferromagnetic layer 6 comprises ferrite. According to an embodiment, said ferromagnetic layer 6 is actually made of thin sintered ferrite with high permeability or a polymer base, mixed with magnetic powders of micrometric size dispersed throughout the material.

[0159] According to an embodiment, said ferromagnetic layer 6 said identification chip 10 is an RFID TAG chip.

[0160] According to an embodiment, said identification chip 10 has a parallelepiped-shape with base side dimensions between 50 micrometers and 1200 micrometers, preferably between 100 micrometers and 1000 micro-meters, and thickness less than 300 micrometers.

[0161] According to an embodiment, said insert assembly 1 is configured to operate in association with a medical device for dental or prophylactic or implantological and medical applications in the maxillofacial or craniofacial or neuro-spinal or orthopedic or other anatomical districts.

[0162] The present invention further relates to a medical device 20 comprising a control element 21, a medical device handpiece 4 equipped with a handpiece antenna 12 for RF transmitting-receiving, and an insert assembly 1 according to any one of the embodiments described above.

[0163] According to an embodiment, said insert assembly 1 is operatively and mechanically connected separably from said handpiece 4.

[0164] According to an embodiment, said medical device handpiece 4 comprises a handpiece distal portion 22 which ends with a distal handpiece end 30, a handpiece central portion 23, and a handpiece proximal portion 24. A transducer 25, e.g., a piezoelectric transducer, is connected to an ultrasound generator or control unit 26. Said transducer 25 is accommodated in said medical device handpiece 4 and an insert attachment tang 27 protrudes through said handpiece distal portion 22 connecting in a removable manner to said insert 2 to, when activated, put said insert 2 into resonance.

[0165] According to an embodiment, said handpiece distal portion 22 comprises said handpiece antenna 12. According to an embodiment, said handpiece antenna 12 connects to said handpiece 4 in a movable manner. According to an embodiment, said handpiece antenna 12 is contained in said handpiece 4 and connects to said handpiece 4 in a fixed manner.

[0166] According to an embodiment, said handpiece distal portion 22 comprises a handpiece antenna connection element 28.

[0167] Said handpiece antenna 12 is supported and electrically connected to said handpiece antenna connection element 28 and protrudes from said handpiece antenna connection element 28 towards said distal handpiece end 30 to at least partially overlap said insert antenna 8 when said insert tip is connected to said handpiece 4.

[0168] According to an embodiment, said handpiece antenna 12 protrudes from said handpiece antenna connection element 28 towards said distal handpiece end 30 so as not to overlap said insert antenna 8 when said insert tip is connected to said handpiece 4.

[0169] According to an embodiment, said handpiece antenna connection element 28 is electrically connected to said handpiece in a fixed or removable manner. Said handpiece antenna connection element 28 may comprise at least one LED 29.

[0170] According to an embodiment, each handpiece antenna connection element 28 does not comprise LEDs 29.

[0171] According to an embodiment, if said handpiece antenna connection element 28 comprises at least one LED 29, it may comprise a light guide element 31 comprising at least one light concentrator 32 is associated with said handpiece antenna connecting element 28 to guide the light of at least one LED 29 at the distal handpiece end 30 to illuminate the working area of said medical device 20.

[0172] According to an embodiment, said light guide element 31, said handpiece antenna connection element 28 and said handpiece antenna 12 are covered by a distal handpiece portion cap 33, e.g., made of aluminum, connected in a removable manner to said distal handpiece portion 22.

[0173] According to an embodiment, said medical device 20 connects said handpiece 4 to said ultrasound generator or control unit 21 by means of a connecting cable 34 for supplying power and fluid.

[0174] According to an embodiment, said medical device handpiece 4 receives inserts/insert tips 2 mechanically coupled to a device generating ultrasonic micro-vibrations, e.g., piezoelectric transducer 25, interchangeably, and operating at different frequencies and ranges of power and ultrasonic wave amplitude as a function of the chosen type of insert 2.

[0175] According to an embodiment of the insert assembly, the insert antenna 8 is an RF antenna adapted to work at radiofrequency, the identification chip 10 is a radiofrequency identification chip and the aforesaid frequency range comprises one or more radiofrequency ranges.

[0176] According to an embodiment of the insert assembly 1, the aforesaid transceiver device (hereinafter also referred to as “transceiver structure”) formed by ferromagnetic layer 6, dielectric layer 7 and insert antenna 8 can be modeled by means of an electrical circuit in which the electrical parameters depend on the size and material of the ferromagnetic layer 6.

[0177] According to an implementation option, the aforesaid transceiver structure formed by ferromagnetic layer 6, dielectric layer 7, insert antenna 8, and identification chip 10, can be modeled by means of an electric circuit LC, in which the inductance La and capacitance Cc parameters depend on the dimensions and material of ferromagnetic layer 6, dielectric layer 7, insert antenna 8 and identification chip 10. In particular, the inductance La depends mainly on the dimensions and material of the ferromagnetic layer, the dielectric layer and the insert antenna, while the capacitance Cc depends mainly on the identification chip 10.

[0178] In this case, the frequency range over which the transceiver structure can operate depends on the aforesaid inductance La and capacitance Cc parameters.

[0179] According to an option of use of the insert assembly, the operating frequency ranges of the transceiver structure comprise frequency ranges in the UHF RFID band (between 860 MHz and 960 MHz): for example, 865-868 MHz ETSI European technical standard, 902-928 MHz FCC FHSS North American technical standard, 916.7-920.9 MHz and 916.7-923.5 MHz MIC LBT Japanese technical standard, 902-907.5 MHz and 915-928 MHz ANATEL FHSS Brazilian technical standard, 920.5-924.5 MHz MII FHSS Chinese technical standard.

[0180] According to an implementation option of the insert assembly, the thickness of the ferromagnetic layer, i.e., the radial dimension relative to the insert, is in the range between 20 micrometers and 400 micrometers.

[0181] More preferably, the thickness of the ferromagnetic layer, i.e., the radial dimension relative to the insert, is comprised in the range between 50 micrometers and 300 micrometers.

[0182] According to different possible implementation options of the insert assembly, the ferromagnetic layer is actually made of thin sintered ferrite with high permeability or a polymer base, mixed with magnetic powders of micrometric size dispersed throughout the material.

[0183] According to an embodiment of the insert assembly 1, the identification chip 10 is an RFID chip (e.g., an RFID chip known in itself).

[0184] According to an embodiment of the insert tip assembly 1, the identification chip 10 is configured to store, and to transmit, when excited, through the aforesaid transceiver structure, one or more pieces of information belonging to the following assembly: [0185] unique and non-modifiable identification code information of the insert assembly; [0186] information about the manufacturer and traceability of the insert assembly, and/or one or more types of medical instruments in which the insert assembly may operate; [0187] information about the operating frequency ranges in which the transceiver structure of the insert assembly can operate; [0188] information that the insert tip screwed to the handpiece is appropriate for the type of surgery selected in the medical device; [0189] information about the history of modes and times of use; [0190] information about the integrity of the insert assembly to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the clinical-surgical phase towards the patient; [0191] information about the integrity of the insert assembly for appropriate scheduled maintenance; [0192] information about whether or not the insert assembly is inserted correctly, if the insert assembly is inserted in a respective handpiece; [0193] information about operating parameters of the insert assembly and/or error or alarm messages in the presence of anomalous operating situations.

[0194] According to an example of use, the insert assembly is configured to operate in association with a medical device for dental or prophylactic or implantological and medical applications in the maxillofacial or craniofacial or neuro-spinal or orthopedic or other anatomical districts.

[0195] A medical device according to the present invention is described here.

[0196] Such a medical device comprises a control unit, a handpiece with a handpiece antenna and an insert assembly according to any one of the embodiments described above, in which such insert assembly is operationally and mechanically connected to the aforesaid handpiece of the medical device, and wherein the insert antenna is configured to communicate wirelessly with the handpiece antenna.

[0197] With reference to FIGS. 18-20, further information about possible embodiments of the insert assembly will be given hereinafter.

[0198] FIG. 18 shows an equivalent electrical circuit in the series representation of the assembly formed by the RFID identification chip 10 and the insert antenna 8. Ignoring the parasitic capacitance of the whole, the identification chip 10 is modeled by a capacitance Cc and a resistor Rc; the insert antenna 8 is modeled by an inductance La and a resistor Ra. Indeed, the overall electrical circuit is an LC circuit, while the resistive components take “non-idealities” into account, i.e., radiated system losses and energy losses.

[0199] Such model represents an embodiment in which the wireless transceiver structure is based on Near Field UHF (860 MHz-960 MHz) technique, and exploits the reactive part of the electromagnetic field, which is operating as a so-called “magnetic antenna” with closed-loop geometry preferably segmented.

[0200] From the point of view of the fields, the ferromagnetic layer has the function of isolating the wireless transceiver structure from the metal parts of the insert/insert tip body, thus preventing the creation of the reflected antagonist field caused by the stray currents induced by the variable primary magnetic field, thus avoiding the phenomena of attenuation or zeroing of the overall electromagnetic field.

[0201] In other words, the addition of the ferromagnetic layer, with a complex effective magnetic permeability, modifies the magnetic profile by influencing the mutual inductance and self-inductance. By appropriately selecting material and dimensions of the ferromagnetic layer (e.g., as in the abovementioned implementation options) it is possible to have degrees of freedom to optimize the design of the transceiver structure, maximizing the intensity of the overall field present at the antenna, and improving communication as desired.

[0202] From a “concentrated parameters” electrical point of view, the ferromagnetic layer determines the effect of increasing the inductance of the LC system (where C is dominated by the chip). This feature, in turn, determines the additional effect of lowering the resonance frequency of the “antenna-chip” system, which has the advantage of bringing it within the limits required by the UHF band (and thus facilitating and improving the design of the transceiver structure, making it more easily suited to the desired uses).

[0203] FIG. 19 shows a parallel representation of another example of an equivalent electrical circuit of the assembly formed by the RFID identification chip 10 and the insert antenna 8, also including a model of the connection G. The representation includes system parasitic elements, such as antenna parasite capacitance.

[0204] In particular, in this case, the transceiver structure comprising the insert antenna 8 and the ferromagnetic layer 6 is modeled by means of an RLC circuit, while the identification chip 10 is modeled by means of an RC circuit.

[0205] From a substantial point of view, the considerations already made above with regard to FIG. 18 apply.

[0206] FIG. 20 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the insert antenna 8 and the identification chip 10.

[0207] In particular, magnetic field lines are highlighted about the Near Field antenna 8.

[0208] The identification chip 10, in this embodiment, comprises an analog front-end (power management element 71 and modulator/demodulator element 72) and a digital control part, with a controller 73 (of a type known in itself, e.g., RFID tags) and a non-volatile memory 74.

[0209] As shown in paragraph 52 (ìx-x-xì), the non-volatile memory 74 is configured to store usage information, such as the cumulative sum of usage time and statistically estimated degree of wear, so as to provide the clinician with an updated situation even if the inserts/insert tips are used in places other than the original (clinician with several offices) but always with a suitable and compatible medical device.

[0210] According to a particular implementation option, to ensure data integrity and authenticity, the data can be stored in non-volatile memory 74 even after an encryption or password authentication process which can only be decoded by the appropriate medical device with which the insert can be associated.

[0211] A handpiece assembly for a medical device comprising a handpiece for medical device 4 is described below. Such handpiece 4 comprises a handpiece distal portion 22 adapted to receive by insertion an insert assembly 1 comprising a radiofrequency identifier 3, an insert antenna 8 and an insert 2 adapted to interact with a part of a patient's body (e.g., an insert assembly according to the embodiments described above).

[0212] The handpiece assembly for medical device further comprises a handpiece antenna 12, arranged in the handpiece distal portion 22, and radiofrequency signal supply means, configured to provide the handpiece antenna 12 with a radiofrequency signal adapted to be transmitted by the handpiece antenna 12.

[0213] The aforesaid handpiece antenna 12 is configured to wirelessly communicate with the insert antenna 8 when said insert assembly is inserted into the handpiece 4 in an insertion region R comprised in the handpiece distal portion 22.

[0214] The aforesaid handpiece antenna 12 is a single-coil loop antenna, preferably a segmented ring antenna, comprising at least two handpiece antenna segments S1, S2, electrically arranged in series, which will be named “first segment” S1 and “last segment” S2 hereinafter. A first end 41 of a first segment S1 of said at least two handpiece antenna segments is operatively connected to a first terminal 51 of said radiofrequency signal supply means, and a second end 42 of the aforesaid last segment S2 is operatively connected to a second terminal 52 of said radiofrequency signal supply means to constitute, around the aforesaid insertion region R, a coil radiating structure configured to generate in such insertion region R an electromagnetic field with a radiofrequency dependent on the aforesaid radiofrequency signal.

[0215] The single-coil loop or each of the aforesaid at least two handpiece antenna segments (S1, S2) comprise a radiant metal element (S11, S21), characterized by a respective inductance L, electrically connected in series to a capacitive element (S12, S22), having a capacitance C such as to compensate in the UHF RFID range (860 MHz-960 Mhz) the effects due to the inductance L of the radiant metal element on currents circulating in the coil of the handpiece antenna 12.

[0216] According to an embodiment of the handpiece assembly, the aforesaid capacitance C of each of the capacitive elements (S12, S22) is such to further adapt the characteristic impedance of the handpiece antenna 12 to a radiofrequency generator placed in a control element 21 of the medical device 20, operatively connected to the handpiece assembly.

[0217] According to an embodiment of the aforesaid handpiece, the aforesaid handpiece antenna 12 further comprises an input impedance adaptation first electrical network 43, comprised between the aforesaid first terminal 51 and second terminal 52 of the signal supply means and the aforesaid first end of first segment 41 and second end of last segment 42 of the handpiece antenna 12; and further comprising an antenna impedance adaptation second electrical network 44, comprised in the segmented antenna ring, and electrically connected in series between two segments (S1′, S2′) of the aforesaid at least two handpiece antenna segments.

[0218] According to an implementation option, the aforesaid input impedance adaptation first electrical network 43 comprises an inductance-capacitance circuit LC or a capacitive circuit.

[0219] According to an implementation option, the aforesaid antenna impedance adaptation second electrical network 44 comprises a resistance-capacitance circuit RC or a capacitive circuit, configured to adapt the antenna impedance to the desired impedance value, adapted to optimize the transmission of the radiofrequency signal generated by the medical device 21 and carried along the cable 34 and the handpiece 4.

[0220] For example, such impedance value, in the UHF RFID range (860 MHz-960 MHz) can be expressed with a complex number Z=R+iX having a module between 20 ohm and 80 ohm, preferably between 45 and 55 ohm.

[0221] According to an embodiment of the handpiece 4, the aforesaid radiant metal element (S11, S21) of the segmented ring antenna can be modeled by means of an equivalent electric circuit comprising an inductance L and a resistance R, wherein said inductance is in the range between 2 nH and 30 nH, and preferably between 4 nH and 20 n.H.

[0222] The aforesaid capacitive element (S12, S22), governed by the resonance relation of the system defined as LC=(ω.sup.2).sup.−1 and where ω=2πf and f the working resonance frequency, is a capacitor having a capacitance between 1 pF and 12 pF, preferably between 2 pF and 10 pF.

[0223] According to an embodiment of the handpiece 4, the aforesaid handpiece antenna 12 is configured to operate in frequency ranges in the UHF RFID band between 860 MHz and 960 MHz.

[0224] According to an implementation option, all antenna segments are characterized by equal capacitance C and inductance L values.

[0225] According to another implementation option, the inductance values L of the radiant metal element are different from segment to segment, and the capacitance values C of the capacitive element are different from segment to segment, depending on the inductance value L of the respective segment.

[0226] According to an embodiment, the handpiece assembly 4 further comprises a handpiece identifier 45 adapted to communicate wirelessly or by wire with the aforementioned handpiece antenna 12.

[0227] Such handpiece identifier 45 is configured to provide handpiece antenna identification information and/or information on operating conditions and/or operating frequencies of the handpiece antenna 12.

[0228] According to an embodiment of the handpiece assembly 4, the aforesaid radiofrequency signal supply means comprise a signal guide 50 and a handpiece antenna connection element 28.

[0229] The signal guide comprises, according to a preferred embodiment, a microstrip printed circuit of 50 ohm impedance configured to carry a radiofrequency supply signal from a connection cable 34, between the handpiece 4 and a control element 21 of the medical device 20, to the handpiece antenna 12.

[0230] According to another embodiment, the signal guide 50 comprises a miniaturized coaxial cable of 50 ohm impedance.

[0231] The handpiece antenna connection element 28, connected to said signal guide 50 and the handpiece antenna 12, comprises said first terminal 51 and second terminal 52 of the radiofrequency signal supply means.

[0232] According to an embodiment, the aforesaid microstrip circuit is a 50 ohm impedance-controlled circuit, comprising metal tracks that are less than one millimeter thick.

[0233] The aforesaid microstrip circuit can be made by means of a multilayer printed circuit based on technologies known per se.

[0234] According to a particular implementation option, the aforesaid microstrip circuit comprising metal tracks is comprised between 0.2 mm and 1.0 mm thick, preferably between 0.35 mm and 0.85 mm, and is made of Vetronite material type FR4 or Kapton—Polyamide or Rogers.

[0235] According to an embodiment of the handpiece assembly, the aforesaid coil radiating structure of the handpiece antenna has a diameter smaller than 30mm to be contained within an inner wall of the handpiece distal portion 22.

[0236] According to an embodiment of the handpiece assembly, the handpiece antenna 12 is connected in either fixed or separable manner to the handpiece distal portion 22.

[0237] According to a particular embodiment of the handpiece assembly, the handpiece antenna 12 is made from a T or Γ shaped flexible rigid multilayer printed circuit board, in which the flexible part (e.g. Kapton—polyamide) extends from the rigid part (e.g., Vetronite type FR4 or Rogers).

[0238] When the aforesaid flexible rigid multilayer printed circuit board is placed in position inside the cone of the handpiece, the upper part of the T or Γ is wound about the cone of the light guide making the edges of the upper part of the T or Γ overlap, allowing the electrical contact (i.e., forming the loop or the segmented ring), for example by means of tin or ultrasound welding.

[0239] In this case, exactly in the joining part of the vertical segment of the T or Γ with the horizontal segment, a TAG is placed, electrically connected through a decoupling capacitor. Such TAG performs the function of the aforesaid handpiece identifier and performs the function of identifying the handpiece antenna cone, e.g., for the purpose of traceability, verifying correct use relative to the geographical area (for example, according to the continent or country of destination—e.g., Europe, USA or Japan—the need arises to adapt the handpiece antenna to the local working frequency, which can be achieved with a specific set of antenna capacitors with an appropriate value, adapted to the correct working frequency) and compatibility of the insert tip relative to the clinical application.

[0240] With reference to FIGS. 21-24, further information about possible embodiments of the medical device handpiece assembly will be provided below.

[0241] FIG. 22 shows a simplified block diagram of the RF signal distribution mode in the handpiece. In such block diagram, a microstrip circuit 50 is indicated in the aforesaid embodiment comprising a multi-layer flexible circuit, which, in turn, comprises an impedance-adapted circuit on printed circuit 53 and, at each end of such circuit 53, a respective RF 54 impedance-adapted network.

[0242] The microstrip 50 circuit, in this embodiment, has the function of transmitting, with the lowest possible losses, a composite signal, including both the RF signal for the handpiece antenna and the DC signal for the LED lighting circuit of the light cone.

[0243] The microstrip or stripline circuit is an established technique in the field of impedance controlled printed circuit boards, in which a high degree of integrity of high-frequency signals is to be maintained. Additionally, this microstrip circuit has very small dimensions (in particular, thickness), thus adapting to the small inner space available in the handpiece. For example, the microstrip is designed to obtain a thickness in the range between 0.2-1.0 mm, and preferably between 0.35-0.85 mm.

[0244] Upstream of the microstrip circuit (reference point indicated as B in FIGS. 22 and 23) there is a minimum RF area connector 55 with pin connections, configured to connect to a corresponding minimum RF area connector 65 with pin connections interfaced with a coaxial 60 cable.

[0245] Such coaxial cable 60 (shown in FIG. 23) connects the handpiece 4 to the control element 21 of the medical device and is used to transmit the RF signals between the handpiece 4 and the control element 21.

[0246] Returning to FIG. 22, downstream of the microstrip circuit (reference point indicated as C in FIGS. 22 and 21) there is another minimum RF area connector 55 with pin connections, configured to connect to a corresponding further minimum RF area connector 55 with pin connections interfaced with an RF-DC decoupling network (or decoupler) 56.

[0247] Indeed, in this case, in the flexible rigid circuit, an RF-DC decoupler 56 is also obtained (shown in FIG. 21), which separates the RF and DC components, and routes the DC component to the LED lighting circuit 57 of the light cone, and the RF component to the handpiece antenna 12.

[0248] The aforesaid minimum area RF connectors 55 with pin connections are configured to minimize the insertion area, such as to minimize RF radiation losses at the interconnection points, and to allow adequate transmission performance even in a context where the known RF connectors for coaxial cables cannot be used due to dimensions.

[0249] FIG. 21 also shows the functional blocks corresponding to the lighting circuitry 57 and the light signal guides DC 58, and the handpiece antenna 12, which is a near field antenna with RF input impedance adjustment 59.

[0250] FIG. 21 also shows the functional blocks corresponding to the identifier (tag) of the handpiece 45, connected in wireless near field mode or wired mode by means of decoupling capacitor with the handpiece antenna 12.

[0251] FIG. 24 shows an equivalent electrical circuit of the handpiece antenna, according to an embodiment.

[0252] Hereinafter, a medical device 20 is described comprising a control element 21, a medical device handpiece 4 according to any one of embodiments described above and an insert assembly 1 comprising a radiofrequency identifier 3, an insert antenna 8 and an insert 2 adapted to interact with a part of a patient's body.

[0253] The aforesaid insert assembly 1 is operatively and mechanically connected separably from the handpiece 4 of the handpiece assembly.

[0254] The aforesaid insert antenna 8 and handpiece antenna 12 are configured to communicate with each other wirelessly in radiofrequency.

[0255] According to an embodiment, the medical device 20 is configured in such a way that, when the insert assembly 1 is connected to the handpiece 4, the insert antenna 8 is arranged in the vicinity of the handpiece antenna 4, in the aforesaid insertion region R in which the radiofrequency electromagnetic field generated by the handpiece antenna 4 is present in radiant condition.

[0256] As can be noted, the purpose of the present invention is fully achieved by the system chain (insert assembly 1—handpiece assembly 22;4;24—cable 34—medical device 20—control device 21) developed and described above, by virtue of its structural and functional features.

[0257] Indeed, by virtue of the features described in detail above, the insert assembly allows to reduce and minimize undesired phenomena which worsen the communication between the insert assembly and the remaining parts of the medical device.

[0258] In particular, from the point of view of the fields, the ferromagnetic layer has the function of isolating the wireless transceiver structure from the metal parts of the insert body, preventing the creation of the reflected antagonist field and thus avoiding the phenomena of attenuation or zeroing of the overall electromagnetic field (complained in the prior art).

[0259] The addition of the ferromagnetic layer, with a complex effective magnetic permeability, modifies the magnetic profile by influencing the mutual inductance and self-inductance. By appropriately selecting material and dimensions of the ferromagnetic layer (e.g., as in the abovementioned implementation options) it is possible to obtain degrees of freedom to optimize the design of the transceiver structure, maximizing the intensity of the overall field present at the antenna, and improving communication as desired.

[0260] Ultimately, this leads to an improvement in the patient's safety requirement, which is extremely important in the technical and application areas indicated, but in particular in the dental and medical areas defined in the document.

[0261] From a “concentrated parameters” electrical point of view, the ferromagnetic layer increases the inductance of the system LC (where C is represented by the chip). This feature, in turn, determines the further effect of lowering the resonance frequency of the “antenna-chip” system, which has the further advantage and reaches the further desired purpose of bringing it within the limits required by the UHF band, and thus facilitating and improving the design of the transceiver structure, making it more easily suited to the desired uses.

[0262] With reference to the requirements for the handpiece antenna, it is worth noting that the handpiece antenna, by virtue of the functional and structural characteristics described above, has very small dimensions (suitable for the context of use), can be easily manufactured and provides adequate transmissive performance.

[0263] Indeed, by virtue of the loop or segmented loop structure and the positioning in the distal handpiece portion, about the insertion region of the insert assembly, the handpiece antenna has a uniform emission lobe over its entire emission zone and generates a stable and sufficiently intense electromagnetic field precisely in the insertion region of the insert assembly.

[0264] The structure of the segmented ring antenna, comprising line sections connected by capacitors which compensate and/or cancel with their capacitance the inductance of the corresponding copper line segment, avoids the phase inversion of the current which circulates on the coil, thus obtaining a uniform and strong field especially in the center of the coil, in a region in which the insert antenna intended to communicate with the handpiece antenna is positioned, ultimately to allow the unique insert identifier to be read and the operating and maintenance parameters of the insert to be written or read into non-volatile memory.

[0265] The series configuration of the capacitors connecting the line sections of the segmented ring antenna structure allows an accurate tuning of the resonance frequency being able to rely on the overall capacitance achieved by a multitude of capacitors guaranteeing a fine resolution of the total capacitance value rather than a single component with coarse tolerances and nominal values imposed by the market.

[0266] Furthermore, the handpiece comprises a communication line (handpiece antenna and related RF signal supply means) which can allow for adequate impedance adaptation (essential for effective RF signal transmission and emission) even in a small structure, which does not allow the use of common impedance adapted RF transmission methods (e.g., coaxial cables and related RF connectors). Such purpose is achieved, for example, through an impedance adaptation power supply network, included in the segmented ring structure of the antenna, and by a microstrip RF signal distribution circuit with the features described above.

[0267] A person skilled in the art may make changes and adaptations to the embodiments of the insert assembly and the medical system described above or can replace elements with others which are functionally equivalent to satisfy contingent needs without departing from the scope of protection of the appended claims. All the features described above as belonging to one possible embodiment may be implemented independently from the other described embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0268] 1 insert assembly
2 insert
3 radiofrequency identifier
4 medical device handpiece
5 insert metal tang
6 ferromagnetic layer
7 dielectric layer
8 insert antenna
9 insert antenna metal element
10 identification chip
11 transceiver device
12 handpiece antenna
13 chip housing
14 outer side of said substantially flat profile of said insert antenna metal element of said insert antenna
15 inner side of said insert antenna metal element of said insert antenna
16 protruding chip portion
17 inner insulation layer, e.g. double-sided adhesive
18 outer insulation layer, e.g. PVC or PET or polyamide
19 biocompatible protective layer, e.g. paint or mono or multiple-component epoxy compound
20 medical device
21 control element
22 handpiece distal portion
23 handpiece central portion
24 handpiece proximal portion
25 transducer e.g. piezoelectric transducer
26 ultrasound generator or control unit
27 threaded tang for insert connection
28 handpiece antenna connection element

29 LED

[0269] 30 handpiece distal end
31 light guide element
32 light concentrator
33 handpiece distal portion cap
34 connection cable
41 handpiece antenna first segment first end
42 handpiece antenna last segment second end
43 handpiece antenna input impedance adaptation first electrical network
44 handpiece antenna antenna impedance adaptation second electrical network
45 handpiece identifier
50 signal guide of the radiofrequency signal supply means (e.g., microstrip circuit)
51 first terminal of the signal supply means
52 second terminal of the signal supply means
53 impedance-adapted circuit on microstrip printed circuit board
54 microstrip circuit RF impedance adaptation network
55 minimum area RF connector with pin connections
56 RF-DC decoupling network (or decoupler)
57 LED lighting circuit
58 guides for the DC light signal
59 handpiece antenna input RF impedance adaptation network
60 coaxial connection cable between handpiece and control unit
61 50 ohm RF coaxial connector
65 minimum area RF connector with pin connections
71 identification chip power management element 71
72 identification chip modulator/demodulator element
73 identification chip controller
74 identification chip non-volatile memory
101 ultrasonic system
102 generator means