MEDICAL OR DENTAL CLEANING AND/OR CARE DEVICE

Abstract

Medical or dental cleaning and/or care device for cleaning and/or care of at least one instrument, comprising: a housing, a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers configured to accommodate at least one instrument, wherein each chamber has at least one dispensing element for dispensing at least one cleaning agent and/or care agent into the respective chamber and/or to the instrument accommodated in the respective chamber, an opening in the housing, through which the plurality of chambers can be loaded with instruments, and a cover for closing the opening and the plurality of chambers, wherein only a part of the opening can be closed by the cover so that when at least one of the plurality of chambers is completely closed, at least another one of the plurality of chambers is not completely closed.

Claims

1. A medical or dental cleaning and/or care device for cleaning and/or care of at least one medical or dental instrument comprising: a housing, a plurality of chambers in the housing, each chamber of the plurality of chambers configured for accommodating at least one medical or dental instrument to be cleaned and/or cared for, at least one dispensing element in each chamber of the plurality of chambers for dispensing at least one cleaning agent and/or care agent into the respective chamber and/or to the at least one medical or dental instrument that is accommodated in the respective chamber and is to be cleaned and/or cared for, an opening in the housing through which the plurality of chambers can be loaded with medical or dental instruments, and a cover for closing the opening and the plurality of chambers, wherein only a part of the opening can be closed by the cover so that when at least one chamber of the plurality of chambers is completely closed, at least one other chamber of the plurality of chambers is not completely closed.

2. The medical or dental cleaning and/or care device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of chambers is separated by at least one wall element.

3. The medical or dental cleaning and/or care device according to claim 1, wherein the cover is arranged movably in or on the opening.

4. The medical or dental cleaning and/or care device according to claim 1, wherein the cover is arranged displaceably in or along the opening.

5. The medical or dental cleaning and/or care device according to claim 1, wherein the opening is surrounded by a border on which at least one guide element is provided for moving the cover.

6. The medical or dental cleaning and/or care device according to claim 1, wherein the opening is surrounded by a border which delimits the movement of the cover.

7. The medical or dental cleaning and/or care device according to claim 1, wherein at least one handle element for moving the cover relative to the opening is provided on the cover.

8. The medical or dental cleaning and/or care device according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a front face in which the opening is provided and which has a first front face section, a second front face section and a curvature which connects the first front face section and the second front face section, so that the first front face section and the second front face section are arranged at an angle to one another and wherein the cover has a shape corresponding to that of the front face with a first covering section, a second covering section and a bend which connects the first covering section and the second covering section.

9. The medical or dental cleaning and/or care device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one outlet opening for removing cleaning agent and/or care agent from the chamber, wherein the at least one outlet opening is provided in each one of the plurality of chambers and/or in the at least one wall element.

10. The medical or dental cleaning and/or care device according to claim 2, further comprising at least one outlet opening for removing cleaning agent and/or care agent from the chamber, wherein the at least one outlet opening is provided in the at least one wall element.

11. The medical or dental cleaning and/or care device according to claim 1, further comprising a detector unit, which is configured to detect at least one position of the cover and to generate a detector signal that is or can be associated with at least one detected position.

12. The medical or dental cleaning and/or care device according to claim 11, wherein at least one part of the detector unit is provided on the cover and is jointly movable with the cover and/or at least one part of the detector unit is arranged relative to the cover in a stationary position in or on the housing.

13. The medical or dental cleaning and/or care device according to claim 11, wherein at least one part of the detector unit is arranged relative to the cover in a stationary position in or on the housing.

14. The medical or dental cleaning and/or care device according to claim 11, further comprising a control or regulating device which is operatively connected to the detector unit and is configured to receive and to process the detector signal that is or can be associated with the at least one detected position and to control and/or regulate the supply of at least one cleaning agent and/or care agent to the at least one dispensing element and/or at least one of the plurality of chambers on the basis of the received and processed detector signal.

15. The medical or dental cleaning and/or care device according to claim 14, wherein the control or regulating device is configured to supply at least one cleaning agent and/or care agent to the at least one dispensing element and/or the at least one of the plurality of chambers when the control or regulating device detects on the basis of the received and processed detector signal that this at least one chamber is closed by the cover.

16. The medical or dental cleaning and/or care device according to claim 14, wherein the control or regulating device is configured to interrupt the supply of at least one cleaning agent and/or care agent to the at least one dispensing element and/or the at least one of the plurality of chambers when the control or regulating device detects on the basis of the received and processed detector signal that this at least one chamber is not closed by the cover.

17. A method for operating a medical or dental cleaning and/or care device, wherein the medical or dental cleaning and/or care device comprises: a plurality of chambers, each chamber of the plurality of chambers configured for accommodating at least one medical or dental instrument to be cleaned and/or cared for, at least one dispensing element in each chamber of the plurality of chambers for dispensing at least one cleaning agent and/or care agent into the respective chamber and/or to the at least one medical or dental instrument that is accommodated in the respective chamber and is to be cleaned and/or cared for, an opening in the housing through which the plurality of chambers can be loaded with medical or dental instruments, a cover for closing the opening and the plurality of chambers, wherein only a part of the opening can be closed by the cover so that when at least one chamber of the plurality of chambers is completely closed, at least one other chamber of the plurality of chambers is not completely closed, and a detector unit, which is configured to detect at least one position of the cover and to generate a detector signal that is or can be associated with at least one detected position, wherein the method comprises: detecting at least one position of the cover by the detector unit and generating a detector signal that is or can be associated with the at least one detected position.

18. The method for operating a medical or dental cleaning and/or care device according to claim 17, further comprising receiving and processing the detector signal that is or can be associated with at least one detected position by a control or regulating device which is operatively connected to the detector unit and, on the basis of the received and processed detector signal, controlling and/or regulating the supply of at least one cleaning agent and/or care agent to the at least one dispensing element and/or at least one of the plurality of chambers.

19. The method for operating a medical or dental cleaning and/or care device according to claim 17, further comprising supplying the dispensing elements and/or the plurality of chambers sequentially and/or in alternation with at least one cleaning agent and/or care agent.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a medical or dental cleaning and/or care device for cleaning and/or care of at least one medical or dental instrument in which a displaceable cover is in a first covering or closed position, in which it closes a part of an opening in a housing of the cleaning and/or care device such that a first chamber for receiving an instrument to be cleaned and/or cared for is completely closed and a second chamber is completely open;

[0047] FIG. 2 shows the medical or dental cleaning and/or care device of FIG. 1, wherein the displaceable cover is arranged in a displaced or intermediate position in which none of the plurality of chambers is closed completely by the cover;

[0048] FIG. 3 shows the medical or dental cleaning and/or care device of FIG. 1, wherein the displaceable cover is in a second covering or closing position, in which the first chamber is open completely and the second chamber is closed completely;

[0049] FIG. 4 shows the detail labeled as A in FIG. 3 in which an embodiment of a detector unit can be seen, this detector unit being configured to detect at least one position of the cover and to generate at least one detector signal that is or can be associated with a detected position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] The medical or dental cleaning and/or care device 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 for cleaning and/or care of at least one medical or dental instrument comprises a housing 2 and a plurality of chambers 3A, 3B for receiving at least one medical or dental instrument to be cleaned and/or cared for.

[0051] The housing 2 preferably comprises a base area or bottom plate, a front face 9 and a plurality of side faces or side walls arranged between the base surface and the front face 9. Preferably at least one (releasable) connection to an energy source and/or to a fluid source is provided on a rear side face. The housing 2 is preferably made of plastic.

[0052] The plurality of chambers 3A, 3B in the medical or dental cleaning and/or care device 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 comprise two chambers 3A, 3B, but it is also possible for more than two chambers to be provided, as already described above. Each one of the chambers 3A, 3B has an elongated shape, in particular rectangular, and has a chamber bottom as well as a plurality of side walls. The chamber bottom is preferably arranged at an inclination to the base area of the housing 2, in particular in the direction of an outlet opening 11 for removing (excess) cleaning agent and/or care agent from the chambers 3A, 3B. The chamber bottom is especially preferably inclined from a dispensing element 4A, 4B of the chambers 3A, 3B in the direction of the outlet opening 11.

[0053] The chambers 3A, 3B are separated from one another by a wall element 7 wherein the wall element 7 preferably forms one of the plurality of side walls of the chambers 3A, 3B. Each of the chambers 3A, 3B is of such dimensions in particular that at least one medical or dental instrument, preferably a dental handpiece or angle piece can be accommodated in it.

[0054] At least one dispensing element 4A, 4B for dispensing at least one cleaning agent and/or care agent into the respective chamber 3A, 3B and/or to the at least one medical or dental instrument that is accommodated in the respective chamber 3A, 3B and is to be cleaned and/or cared for is provided in each chamber 3A, 3B. The at least one dispensing element 4A, 4B is arranged on one of the plurality of side walls of the chambers 3A, 3B and protrudes into the respective chamber 3A, 3B. The at least one dispensing element 4A, 4B is configured in particular as a connector, an extension or a coupling element with at least one borehole or at least one channel for conducting at least one cleaning agent and/or care agent. This borehole or this duct ends in an opening on the surface of the dispensing element 4A, 4B, through which the at least one cleaning agent and/or care agent can be dispensed to a medical or dental instrument which is connected to the dispensing element 4A, 4B. In particular, the cleaning agent and/or care agent can be dispensed through the openings of the dispensing elements 4A, 4B to an interior space of the instrument and/or a component arranged therein, for example, a line, a duct, a tube, a bearing element or a rotary part.

[0055] The at least one dispensing element 4A, 4B is connected to a supply device (not shown), which is configured to supply a cleaning agent and/or care agent to the at least one dispensing element 4A, 4B, as already described in detail above. The supply device preferably connects the dispensing elements 4A, 4B to sources for the cleaning agent and/or care agent, for example, to containers for the cleaning agent and/or care agent arranged in or on the cleaning and/or care device 1.

[0056] An opening 5 through which the plurality of chambers 3A, 3B can be loaded with medical or dental instruments is provided in the housing 2. The opening 5 extends over all of the plurality of chambers 3A, 3B so that all chambers 3A, 3B are accessible through the opening 5.

[0057] In addition, a cover 6 is provided for closing the opening 5 and the plurality of chambers 3A, 3B, in particular during a cleaning and/or care procedure. As can be seen from FIGS. 1-3, only a part of the opening 5 can be closed or covered by the cover 6 so that when at least one chamber 3A, 3B of the plurality of chambers 3A, 3B is completely closed or covered, at least one other chamber 3A, 3B of the plurality of chambers 3A, 3B is not (completely) closed or covered and/or can be loaded through the opening 5 with a medical or dental instrument.

[0058] The cover 6 is arranged displaceably in the opening 5, in particular along or parallel to the border 5A of the opening 5. A guide element 8 in the form of a strip, which engages in a groove in the cover 6 and supports and guides the cover 6 is provided on this border 5A of the opening or of the housing 2. The border 5A also delimits the movement of the cover 6 by forming a stop for the cover 6.

[0059] The displaceability of the cover 6 is represented by the different positions assumed by the cover 6 in FIGS. 1-3. The cover 6 in FIG. 1 is in a covering or closing position in which the cover 6 completely covers or closes the chamber 3A, in particular so that an instrument accommodated therein can be cleaned and/or cared for while the chamber 3B is open or is not closed and therefore can be loaded with an instrument in particular and/or an instrument can be removed from it. The cover 6 in FIG. 2 is in a displacement or intermediate position in which it does not completely close or cover any of the plurality of chambers 3A, 3B. Therefore, the cover 6 assumes this displacement or intermediate position in particular during displacement from a covering or closing position, for example, on the chamber 3A into another covering or closing position, for example, on the chamber 3B. This covering or closing position on the chamber 3B can be seen in FIG. 3. The cover 6 completely covers or closes the chamber 3B in particular, so that an instrument accommodated therein can be cleaned and/or cared for, while the chamber 3A is open or is not closed and therefore can be loaded with an instrument and/or an instrument can be removed from it in particular.

[0060] In addition, at least one handle element 10 for displacement of the cover 6 relative to the opening 5 is provided on the cover 6. The handle element 10 comprises two strips or wings, which protrude from the cover 6 and are arranged in particular on the lateral ends of the cover 6.

[0061] The front face 9 of the housing 2, in which the opening 5 is provided has a curvature 9B connecting a first flat front face section 9A and a second flat front face section 9C so that the first front face section 9A and the second front face section 9C are arranged at an angle to one another. The angle amounts to max. 90 but is preferably substantially less, for example, less than 75, less than 60 or less than 55. The cover 6 has a shape corresponding to that of the front face 9 with a first flat cover section 6A, a second flat cover section 6C and a bend 6B connecting the first cover section 6A and the second cover 6C.

[0062] At least one outlet opening 11 for removing spent or excess cleaning agent and/or care agent that has entered the chambers 3A, 3B during a cleaning and/or care procedure from the chamber 3A, 3B is provided in each of the plurality of chambers 3A, 3B. The outlet opening 11 is provided in particular on a region of the inclined chamber bottom arranged at a low level or close to the base area of the housing 2. The cleaning agent and/or care agent is removed from the chambers 3A, 3B by a suction device provided in the cleaning and/or care device 1, for example.

[0063] FIG. 4 shows the detail of the medical or dental cleaning and/or care device 1 labeled as A in FIG. 3, wherein small regions of the front face 9 have been removed to provide a view of parts of a detector unit 12 arranged in the housing 2. The detector unit 12 is configured to detect at least one position of the cover 6, in particular at least one covering or closing position and to generate and/or emit a detector signal that is or can be associated with at least one detected position.

[0064] The detector unit 12 comprises at least one part 12B on the cover 6, said part being displaceable jointly with the cover 6. The part 12B is configured as a magnetic element, for example, and/or is arranged in the interior of the cover 6 in particular, for example, being injection molded therein.

[0065] The detector unit 12 additionally comprises at least one part 12A, which is arranged to be stationary in or on the housing 2 in relation to the cover 6. As can be seen from FIG. 4, a stationary part 12A, for example, a magnetic sensor, is associated with each one of the plurality of chambers 3A, 3B. If the cover 6 is in a covering or closing position in which, for example, according to FIG. 4 the chamber 3B is covered completely by the cover 6, then the part 12B which has a magnetic element, for example, is close to the part 12A which has a magnetic sensor or Hall sensor, for example, such that the part 12B is detected by the part 12A and a detector signal that is or can be associated with this covering or closing position is generated and/or output. Accordingly, the detector unit 12 is configured to generate and/or output a detector signal that is or can be associated with the covering or closing position when the cover 6 completely closes the chamber 3A in a covering or closing position corresponding to FIG. 1. In the displacement or intermediate position according to FIG. 2, the part 12A does not detect the part 12B, for example, because the distance between these two parts 12A, 12B is too great so that no detection signal is generated.

[0066] The medical or dental cleaning and/or care device 1 comprises a control or regulating device 13 which is arranged in the interior of the housing 2 and is operatively connected to the detector unit 12, and is configured to receive and process the detector signal that is or can be associated with the at least one detected position and to control and/or regulate the supply of at least one cleaning agent and/or care agent to at least one dispensing element 4A, 4B and/or at least one of the plurality of chambers 3A, 3B, as described already in detail above. In particular the control or regulating device 13 is configured to allow at least one cleaning agent and/or care agent to be delivered to a dispensing element 4A, 4B arranged in a (completely) closed chamber 3A, 3B and/or not to allow any cleaning agent and/or care agent to be delivered to a dispensing element 4A, 4B arranged in a chamber 3A, 3B that is not (completely) closed.

[0067] Finally, an operating or display panel 14 which is operatively connected to the control or regulating device 13 in particular is provided on the housing 2. The panel 14 is configured, for example, to display at least one operating status, operating parameter, a malfunction or a maintenance request. Alternatively or additionally, the panel 14 comprises at least one actuating element, by means of which a user, for example, can set different operating modes of the cleaning and/or care device 1.

[0068] The embodiments described or illustrated here serve in particular to illustrate the invention. The features disclosed in an embodiment are therefore not limited to this embodiment but instead may be used individually or combined with one or more features of one of the other embodiments.

[0069] In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of the disclosed invention may be applied, it should be recognized that the illustrated embodiments are only preferred examples of the invention and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the following claims. We therefore claim as our invention all that comes within the scope and spirit of these claims.