DEVICE FOR OPERATING AN INTRAORAL SCANNER

Abstract

In a device for operating an intraoral scanner with at least one handpiece and at least one computer unit, the handpiece and the computer unit are electrically insulated from one another.

Claims

1. Device for operating an intraoral scanner with at least one handpiece (1) and at least one computer unit (2), wherein the handpiece (1) and the computer unit (2) are electrically insulated from one another.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the handpiece (1) has a power source.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the power source is a safety power supply unit (8).

4. Device according to claim 2, wherein the power source is an energy storage.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the handpiece (1) and the computer unit (2) are connected using a non-galvanic link for data transmission.

6. Device according to claim 5, wherein the data transmission link is an optical fiber.

7. Device according to claim 5, wherein the data transmission link has at least two component sections.

8. Device according to claim 7, wherein at least one component section is a non-galvanic link.

9. Device according to claim 7, wherein at least one component section is an optical fiber.

10. Device according to claim 7, wherein at least one component section is part of a dental treatment chair.

11. Device according to claim 1, wherein the computer unit (2) is part of a dental treatment chair.

12. Device according to claim 2, wherein the handpiece (1) and the computer unit (2) are connected using a non-galvanic link for data transmission.

13. Device according to claim 3, wherein the handpiece (1) and the computer unit (2) are connected using a non-galvanic link for data transmission.

14. Device according to claim 4, wherein the handpiece (1) and the computer unit (2) are connected using a non-galvanic link for data transmission.

15. Device according to claim 6, wherein the data transmission link has at least two component sections.

16. Device according to claim 8, wherein at least one component section is an optical fiber.

17. Device according to claim 8, wherein at least one component section is part of a dental treatment chair.

18. Device according to claim 9, wherein at least one component section is part of a dental treatment chair.

19. Device according to claim 2, wherein the computer unit (2) is part of a dental treatment chair.

20. Device according to claim 3, wherein the computer unit (2) is part of a dental treatment chair.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Other preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims. One preferred embodiment of the invention that, however, does not limit the protective scope of the application is presented in detail below with reference to the drawing. It shows:

[0016] FIG. 1 shows schematically one possible setup of a device according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] The device that is shown in FIG. 1 for operating an intraoral scanner has a handpiece 1 and a computer unit 2.

[0018] In the illustrated embodiment, a computer-side USB link 3 goes from the computer unit 2 to a computer-side transceiver 4. Of course, other links for communication with a computer are also conceivable; for the operation of intraoral scanners, the use of a USB 3.0 interface has in any case proven itself since it can offer not only the desired communications bandwidth, but also an adequate power supply. If a data link should be chosen that is not able to make available an adequate power supply, optionally a power supply unit 5 can be connected in addition to the computer-side transceiver 4. For this purpose, a commercial power supply unit without special safety precautions intended for use in the medical field can be used.

[0019] In the computer-side transceiver 4, the control signals coming from the computer unit 2 can then be converted into optical signals 6 and can be relayed via an optical link to a second handpiece-side transceiver 7.

[0020] The handpiece-side transceiver 7 is supplied with power from a safety power supply unit 8 that is protected (MOOP) and is suitable for use in a medical context. In the handpiece-side transceiver 7, the optical signal 6 is received and converted again into an electrical signal. In doing so, for example, a USB signal can be generated by the combining data and power supply. In the illustrated embodiment, the combined signal is transmitted via a handpiece-side USB connection 9. The latter is also used to supply the handpiece with power.

[0021] The device according to the invention makes it possible to use a computer unit 2 and a handpiece 1 according to the state of the art without they themselves having to be modified for electrically safe use in a medical context.

[0022] Another advantage of the device according to the invention arises when an intraoral scanner is to be integrated into an existing treatment chair since, in this way, only space for the safety power supply unit 8, the handpiece-side transceiver 7 and the cabling is required, and the computer unit 2 and optionally also the computer-side transceiver can be positioned spatially separated.

REFERENCE NUMBER LIST

[0023] 1 handpiece [0024] 2 computer unit [0025] 3 USB (computer-side) [0026] 4 transceiver (computer-side) [0027] 5 power supply unit (normal) [0028] 6 optical signal(s) [0029] 7 transceiver (handpiece-side) [0030] 8 safety power supply unit [0031] 9 USB (handpiece-side)