MEDICAL OR DENTAL HAND-HELD TREATMENT INSTRUMENT WITH A CAPACITIVE SENSOR

Abstract

A medical or dental, hand-held treatment instrument, comprising a single-part or multi-part outer sleeve, at least one controlling element having at least one capacitive sensor and a sensor surface provided on the outer sleeve and operatively connected to the capacitive sensor, wherein the controlling element generates an actuating signal when the sensor surface is touched or approached. The treatment instrument further comprises an indicating device, which is arranged on the treatment instrument and which indicates the sensor surface and/or the generation of an actuating signal due to a contact of the sensor surface or an approach to the sensor surface.

Claims

1. A medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument, comprising a single-part or multi-part outer sleeve, at least one controlling element having at least one capacitive sensor and a sensor surface which is provided on the outer sleeve and is operatively connected to the capacitive sensor, wherein the controlling element generates an actuating signal when the sensor surface is touched or approached, and an indicating device which is arranged on the hand-held treatment instrument and which at least one of (i) indicates the sensor surface or (ii) indicates the generation of an actuating signal as a result of contact with the sensor surface or approach to the sensor surface.

2. The medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the indicating device is provided on the sensor surface and/or adjacent to the sensor surface.

3. The medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the indicating device forms the sensor surface.

4. The medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument according to claim 1, wherein the indicating device is configured to generate vibrations.

5. The medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument according to claim 4, wherein the indicating device for generating vibrations is operatively connected to the sensor surface for transmitting vibrations to the sensor surface.

6. medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument according to claim 4, wherein the indicating device for generating vibrations generates vibrations that are acoustically perceptible to a user.

7. The medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument according to claim 1, wherein the indicating device is configured to deform the sensor surface in a manner perceptible to a user.

8. The medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument according to claim 1, wherein the indicating device emits light that is visible to a user.

9. The medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument according to claim 8, wherein the visible light emitted by the indicating device passes through the sensor surface or through a light emitting surface separated or spaced from the sensor surface.

10. The medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument according to claim 1, comprising a circuit board arranged inside the treatment instrument and on which at least part of the indicating device is arranged.

11. The medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument according to claim 1, comprising control electronics arranged in the treatment instrument which are connected to the capacitive sensor and the indicating device and are configured to receive the actuating signal of the capacitive sensor and to control the indicating device on the basis of the received actuating signal to indicate a contact with the sensor surface or an approach to the sensor surface.

12. The medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument according to claim 11, wherein the control electronics are further connected to an actuator and are provided for controlling the actuator on the basis of the received actuating signal of the capacitive sensor.

13. The medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument according to claim 1, wherein a transmission device which is configured to transmit the actuating signal, or a control signal triggered by the actuating signal to an external controller.

14. The medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument according to claim 1, wherein the indicating device comprises a marking on the surface of the outer sleeve that is visible to a user.

15. The medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument according to claim 14, wherein the marking comprises a color marking.

16. The medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument according to claim 1, wherein the indicating device comprises a marking on the surface of the outer sleeve that is tactile to a user.

17. The medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument according to claim 16, wherein the marking comprises at least one depression and/or elevation for haptic perception.

18. The medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument according to claim 14, wherein the marking is fixed on or applied to the outer sleeve and/or the sensor surface.

19. The medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument according to claim 14, wherein the marking is formed on or by the outer sleeve and/or sensor surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument having a controlling element with a capacitive sensor and an indicating device indicating the sensor surface of the capacitive sensor and the generation of an actuation signal;

[0057] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument having a controlling element with a capacitive sensor and an indicating device in the form of markings indicating the sensor surface of the capacitive sensor;

[0058] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of a medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument having a controlling element with a capacitive sensor and an indicating device with a vibration generator, which indicates the sensor surface of the capacitive sensor and the generation of an actuating signal;

[0059] FIGS. 4A and 4B show a fourth embodiment of a medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument having a controlling element with a capacitive sensor and an optical indicating device indicating the sensor surface of the capacitive sensor and the generation of an actuating signal;

[0060] FIG. 5 shows a fifth embodiment of a medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument having a controlling element with a capacitive sensor and an indicating device indicating the sensor surface of the capacitive sensor and the generation of an actuation signal by deformation of the sensor surface;

[0061] FIG. 6 shows in a block diagram an embodiment of a signal transmission and signal processing of a medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument having a controlling element with a capacitive sensor and an indicating device indicating the generation of an actuating signal;

[0062] FIG. 7 shows in a block diagram an alternative embodiment of a signal transmission and signal processing of a medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument having a controlling element with a capacitive sensor and an indicating device indicating the generation of an actuating signal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0063] The medical or dental treatment instrument 1 shown in FIG. 1, which can be held by one hand, is configured as a contra-angle handpiece 1A. It comprises a head part 18 and an adjoining curved handle part 19. At least a tool holder is movably arranged in the head part 18 in order to detachably receive a medical or dental treatment tool. Furthermore, a drive device is provided in the head part 18 and/or handle part 19, which comprises, for example, one or more shafts, a gearbox, a compressed gas line, an impeller that can be driven by compressed gas, or the like, The drive device is operatively connected to the tool holder to set the tool holder and the tool held therein in motion.

[0064] The treatment instrument 1 comprises a multi-piece outer sleeve 2, which comprises a head sleeve portion provided at the head portion 18 and a curved handle sleeve portion provided at the handle portion 19.

[0065] A coupling device or transmission device 15 is provided at the end of the treatment instrument 1 facing away from the head part 18, which can be detachably connected to a supply unit or dental unit or an external controller 16 (see FIGS. 6, 7). At least one medium, for example electrical energy, compressed gas, in particular compressed air, water, light and/or data, for example measurement data, control or regulating data, identification data, for example for identifying the treatment instrument 1 or the tool connected thereto, operating data or similar data, can be transmitted via the coupling device 15. The transmission of the at least one medium and/or the data between the treatment instrument 1 and the supply unit or dental unit or the external controller 16 can be unidirectional or bidirectional.

[0066] A controlling element 3 is provided on the outer sleeve 2 on the handle part 19, in particular on the end of the handle part 19 having the coupling device 15, or on the coupling device 15. The controlling element 3 comprises a plurality of capacitive sensors 4 (see FIG. 3) and three sensor surfaces 6A, 6B, 6C which are provided on the outer sleeve 2 and are operatively connected to the capacitive sensors 4. When the sensor surfaces 6A, 6B, 6C are touched or approached, the controlling element 3 generates actuating signals in order to control one or more actuators 13 (see FIGS. 6, 7).

[0067] Exemplarily, the sensor surface 6A is provided for switching on and off a first actuator 13, for example a motor for driving a tool connectable to the treatment instrument 1. Exemplarily, the sensor surface 6B is provided for setting a parameter of the first actuator 13, for example the speed or power of the motor, continuously or in predetermined steps. Exemplarily, the sensor surface 6C is provided for switching on and off a second actuator, for example an illumination device of the treatment instrument 1 for emitting electromagnetic radiation in the direction of the treatment site.

[0068] The sensor surfaces 6A, 6B, 6C are formed as a part or section of the outer sleeve 2, in particular in one piece with the outer sleeve 2. Thus, the sensor surfaces 6A, 6B, 6C and/or the boundaries of the sensor surfaces 6A, 6B, 6C are difficult or impossible for a user to recognize when looking at the outer sleeve 2, and reliable operability of the controlling element 3 is not ensured.

[0069] Therefore, in order to make the sensor surfaces 6A, 6B, 6C recognizable to a user, an indicating device 5 is provided on the treatment instrument 1, which indicates the sensor surface 6 and/or its outer boundaries. The indicating device 5 comprises three markings 17, for example color markings, which are arranged around, on or above the sensor surfaces 6A, 6B, 6C on the outer sleeve 2, wherein one marking 17 each is assigned to one of the three sensor surfaces 6A, 6B, 6C. This enables reliable operability of the controlling element 3 and the three sensor surfaces 6A, 6B, 6C.

[0070] The indicating device 5 of the treatment instrument 1 is further provided for indicating the generation of an actuating signal due to a contact of or an approach to the sensor surfaces 6A, 6B, 6C. Thus, the user receives feedback as to whether or not the controlling element 3 has generated an actuating signal. For this purpose, the indicating device 5 generates an optical, acoustic and/or haptic indicating signal and emits it, in particular to the sensor surfaces 6A, 6B, 6C, particularly preferably only to the sensor surface 6A, 6B, 6C used by the user during the positioning process. The indicating device 5 can in particular be configured as described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 3-5 and have the components mentioned therein.

[0071] The medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument 1 shown in FIG. 2 comprises a contra-angel handpiece 1A, a motor drive 1B and a coupling unit 1C.

[0072] The contra-angle handpiece 1A comprises a head portion 18, a handle portion 19, and a coupling device or transmission device 15, and is similar in these components to the contra-angle 1A of FIG. 1, to the description of which reference is made. However, the contra-angle handpiece 1A of FIG. 2 does not have a controlling element 3 and an indicating device 5.

[0073] The motor drive 1B is configured as a separate component that can be detachably connected to the coupling device 15 of the contra-angle handpiece 1A via one or more coupling elements (on the side facing the contra-angle handpiece). Alternatively, it is also possible to form the motor drive 1B as an integral part of the contra-angle handpiece 1A that cannot be removed by the user. The motor drive 1B comprises, in particular, an electric motor which can be connected to shafts and/or gears arranged in the contra-angle handpiece 1A in order to set the latter and a treatment tool connectable thereto in a drive movement.

[0074] At its end facing away from the contra-angle handpiece 1A, the motor drive 1B is connected to the coupling unit or hose coupling 1C. The coupling unit 1C is configured as a transmission device 15 which connects the contra-angle handpiece 1A and the motor drive 1B via a hose 20 to a control and/or regulating and/or supply unit or dental unit or an external controller 16 for the purpose of exchanging data, energy and/or media. One or more electrical and/or optical lines and/or media lines are arranged in the hose 20 for transmitting the data, energy and/or media.

[0075] Furthermore, a controlling element 3 is arranged on the outer sleeve 2 having at least one capacitive sensor 4 and two sensor surfaces 6A, 6B provided on the outer sleeve 2 of the coupling unit 1C and operatively connected to the at least one capacitive sensor 4. When the sensor surfaces 6A, 6B are touched or approached by an operating element, for example a finger of a user, the controlling element 3 generates actuating signals in order to control one or more actuators 13.

[0076] An indicating device 5 comprises two markings 17, for example color markings or haptically perceptible markings, which are arranged around, on or above the sensor surfaces 6A, 6B or are formed as part of the sensor surfaces 6A, 6B. One marking 17 is assigned to each of the two sensor surfaces 6A, 6B. This enables reliable operability of the controlling element 3 and the sensor surfaces 6A, 6B.

[0077] The medical or dental, hand-held treatment instrument 1 shown in FIG. 3 in turn comprises a coupling unit 1C, which is configured in particular as a transmission device 15 for transmitting data, energy and/or media from and/or to a control and/or regulating and/or supply unit or dental unit or an external controller 16.

[0078] The coupling unit 1C comprises a controlling element 3 having at least one capacitive sensor 4 and a plurality of sensor surfaces 6A, 6B provided on the outer sleeve 2 and operatively connected to the at least one capacitive sensor 4. An indicating device 5 comprises markings 17, for example color markings or haptically perceptible markings, which are arranged around, on or above the sensor surfaces 6A, 6B or are formed as part of the sensor surfaces 6A, 6B in order to indicate the sensor surfaces 6A, 6B and/or their outer boundaries. One marking 17 is assigned to each of the sensor surfaces 6A, 6B.

[0079] In addition, the indicating device 5 is provided to indicate the generation of an actuating signal due to a touch of the sensor surfaces 6A, 6B or an approach to them. For this purpose, the indicating device 5 generates a haptic indicating signal and outputs it, in particular to the sensor surfaces 6A, 6B, particularly preferably only to the sensor surface 6A, 6B used by the user during the positioning process.

[0080] The haptic indicating device 5 comprises a vibration exciter 7. The vibration exciter 7 comprises an unbalance motor with an electric motor 21 and a mass 22 arranged eccentrically to an axis of rotation of a rotor shaft of the electric motor 21.

[0081] The vibration exciter 7 is mounted on a circuit board 11 inside the coupling unit 1C. The circuit board 11 is directly or indirectly connected to the inside of the outer sleeve 2 of the coupling unit 1C, so that the vibrations generated by the vibration exciter 7 can be transmitted via the circuit board 11 to the outer sleeve 2, in particular to the sensor surfaces 6A, 6B, and can be perceived by the user. The user thus receives haptic feedback on the actuation of the controlling element 3 and/or the generation of an actuating signal.

[0082] FIGS. 4A, 4B show an outer sleeve 2 of a medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument 1. A controlling element 3 having at least one capacitive sensor 4 and a sensor surface 6 provided on the outer sleeve 2 and operatively connected to the at least one capacitive sensor 4 is provided on the outer sleeve 2.

[0083] An indicating device 5 comprises a marking 17 arranged on or formed as part of the sensor surface 6 to indicate the sensor surfaces 6 and/or their outer boundaries. The indicating device 5 is also provided for indicating the generation of an actuating signal due to a contact with or an approach to the sensor surface 6. For this purpose, the indicating device 5 is configured as an optical display device 9 and generates an optical display signal, in particular light visible to the user. The visible light emerges from the outer sleeve 2 to the outside through a light emitting surface 10 which is separate from and adjacent to the sensor surface 6.

[0084] The light emitting surface 10 is formed of glass or plastic and surrounds the sensor surface 6 and/or the capacitive sensor 4 in the form of a frame. The light emitting surface 10 and the sensor surface 6 are received in an opening of the outer sleeve 2, in particular flush.

[0085] The optical display device 9 comprises a light source 23, in particular at least one optical semiconductor element, for example an which is mounted on a circuit board 11 and can be supplied with electrical energy via the circuit board 11. At least a portion of the visible light is emitted from the light source 23 in the direction of the light emitting surface 10 to be guided outwardly through the light emitting surface 10.

[0086] FIG. 5 shows an outer sleeve 2 of a medical or dental hand-held treatment instrument 1. A controlling element 3 is provided on the outer sleeve 2 having at least one capacitive sensor 4 and a sensor surface 6 provided on the outer sleeve 2 and operatively connected to the at least one capacitive sensor 4.

[0087] The capacitive sensor 4 comprises a metal layer 4A, for example a copper layer, as may also apply, for example, to the capacitive sensors 4 of FIGS. 1-4B. The metal layer 4A is arranged on the inside of the sensor surface 6, for example through vapor-deposition.

[0088] An indicating device 5, 8 is configured to indicate the generation of an actuating signal due to a contact with the sensor surface 6 or an approach thereto by a deformation of the sensor surface 6 perceptible to a user. For this purpose, at least one piezoelectric element 24 is provided, which is arranged on the metal layer 4A and thus operatively connected to the sensor surface 6. The at least one piezoelectric element 24 is configured to perform a mechanical movement when an electrical voltage is applied, which movement is transmitted to the sensor surface 6 and deforms or bends it.

[0089] FIGS. 6 and 7 schematically show two different embodiments of a signal transmission and signal processing of medical or dental hand-held treatment instruments 1, each having a controlling element 3 with a capacitive sensor 4 and an indicating device 5 indicating the generation of an actuating signal. The indicating device 5 is preferably formed by one of the indicating devices 5 shown in FIGS. 1-5 and described in the associated description.

[0090] Numeral 12 represents control electronics arranged in the treatment instrument 1, which are connected to the capacitive sensor 4 and the indicating device 5 and are configured to receive the actuating signal of the capacitive sensor 4 and to control the indicating device 5 on the basis of the received actuating signal in order to indicate contact with the sensor surface 6-6C or an approach thereto. The activation of the indicating device 5, for example the emission of visible light or of vibrations or the execution of a movement to cause in particular a deformation of the sensor surface 6, is thus achieved in both embodiments of FIGS. 6 and 7 by the control electronics 12 arranged in the treatment instrument 1, in particular on the circuit board 11.

[0091] According to FIG. 7, the treatment instrument 1, in particular the coupling device or transmission device 15, is configured to transmit the actuating signal of the capacitive sensor 4 to a supply unit or dental unit or an external controller 16. The unit or the external controller 16 is configured to receive the actuating signal of the capacitive sensor 4 or a control signal triggered by the actuating signal, to process it if necessary, and to control an actuator 13 on the basis of the received actuating signal. For this purpose, the unit or the controller 16 generates an actuator control signal that can be transmitted to the actuator 13 via the coupling device or transmission device 15.

[0092] According to the alternative embodiment of FIG. 6, an internal controller 25 is provided in the treatment instrument 1, which is configured to receive the actuating signal of the capacitive sensor 4 or a control signal triggered by the actuating signal, to process it if necessary and to control an actuator 13 on the basis of the received actuating signal. For this purpose, the internal controller 25 generates an actuator control signal that can be transmitted to the actuator 13.

[0093] Optionally, the actuating signal of the capacitive sensor 4 or the actuator control signal of the internal controller 25 can be transmitted via the coupling device or transmission device 15 to a supply unit or dental unit or an external controller 16. The unit or external controller 16 is configured to receive the actuating signal or actuator control signal, process it if necessary, and control an external device based on the received signal. The external device comprises, for example, an external display device on which the actuation of the actuator 13 or a value of an operating parameter of the actuator 13 is displayed.

[0094] The embodiments described or illustrated serve in particular to illustrate the invention. The features disclosed in one embodiment are therefore not limited to this embodiment but can be combined individually or together with one or more features of one of the other embodiments.