INTEGRATED DENTAL CARE APPARATUS

• US 20100112513A1
• Filed: 11/20/2007
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Planmeca Oy
• Original Assignee: Planmeca Oy
• Inventors: Fröjdman, Jan, Huotari, Arto, Müller, Timo, Virta, Arto
• Granted Patent: US 8,882,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 15/00 Operating chairs; Dental chairs barbers' chairs A47C1/04; Accessories specially adapted therefor, e.g. work stands
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 15/14 Dental work stands; Accessories therefor

Abstract

The invention concerns an integrated dental care apparatus which comprises a patient chair and a dental care unit, which according to the invention are arranged to comprise means for mounting the dental care unit on a floor while the dental care unit and the patient chair are structurally connected by means which support the patient chair, and wherein both the dental care unit and the patient chair are arranged to comprise means for enabling them to be turned in relation to a vertical axis.

Claims

1. Integrated dental care apparatus which comprises a patient chair and a dental care unit and in which at least one of the following is structurally connected to the dental care unit:

a spittoon arrangement, an arm for dentist'"'"'s instruments, an arm for assistant'"'"'s instruments and/or for a suction system of the integrated dental care apparatus, an aim for a display screen, an aim for a light, an aim for a tray, an arm for some other implement used in a dental treatment environment, a connector structure for any device or implement used in a dental treatment environment, whether mentioned above or not, characterized in that the integrated dental care apparatus is arranged to comprise means for mounting it on a floor and the dental care unit and the patient chair are structurally connected by means supporting the patient chair at least, and both the dental care unit and the patient chair are arranged to comprise means for enabling them to be turned in relation to a vertical axis.

2. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the apparatus comprises means for raising and lowering the patient chair, and at least part of the mechanics required for changing the height position of the patient chair is arranged in connection with the dental care unit

3. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the dental care unit and the patient chair are arranged to be turnable relative to each other in such manner that the dental care unit may be positioned symmetrically in relation to the patient chair into at least one position on either side of the patient chair.

4. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the dental care unit comprises a vertical part and a substantially horizontally extending part, in which substantially horizontal part are arranged at a distance from each other the aforesaid means for mounting the treatment machine on a floor on the one hand, and the aforesaid vertical part of the dental care unit, on the other hand.

5. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the aforesaid means for enabling the dental care unit to be turned relative to a vertical axis are arranged substantially in connection with the aforesaid means for mounting the dental care unit on a floor.

6. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the dental care unit is arranged to be turnable through 360 degrees relative to the vertical axis.

7. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforesaid means for enabling the patient chair to be turned relative to a vertical axis are arranged in connection with the means for supporting the patient chair.

8. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforesaid means for supporting the patient chair comprise a part extending substantially horizontally from the dental care unit.

9. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the patient chair is arranged to be turnable through at least 180 degrees relative to a vertical axis.

10. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the horizontal dimension of the means for supporting the patient chair is substantially of the same order of magnitude as the horizontal dimension of the aforesaid horizontally extending part of the dental care unit.

11. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a swivellably mounted arm for dentist'"'"'s instruments arranged in the dental care unit, which arm comprises an instrument table or equivalent means for supporting the instruments used by the dentist and which arm is arranged to comprise means for swiveling it relative to at least two vertical axes located at a distance from each other.

12. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforesaid instrument table or equivalent means for supporting the instruments used by the dentist is arranged to be tunable relative to a vertical axis.

13. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an arm for assistant'"'"'s instruments and/or for the suction system of the integrated dental care apparatus, said arm being arranged in the dental care unit so as to be turnable relative to a vertical axis.

14. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforesaid arm for the assistant'"'"'s instruments and/or for the suction system of the integrated dental care apparatus comprises a substantially vertical member, which comprises means for supporting instruments and which is arranged in the arm to enable it to be turned relative to a vertical axis.

15. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical member arranged in the aforesaid arm for the assistant'"'"'s instruments and/or for the suction system of the integrated dental care apparatus is arranged to be turnable through 360 degrees relative to a vertical axis.

16. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforesaid vertical part and the substantially horizontal part of the dental care unit are implemented in such manner that while the dental care unit is mounted on the floor, at least part of the bottom of the vertical part at least stands at a distance from the floor level.

17. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforesaid arm for the assistant'"'"'s instruments and/or for the suction system of the integrated dental care apparatus is connected to the dental care unit from its bottom.

18. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that there is arranged in the dental care unit a spittoon arrangement turnable relative to a vertical axis.

19. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, besides a seat part, the patient chair is arranged to comprise at least one part attached to it so as to be turnable relative to a horizontal axis.

20. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover of the dental care unit is arranged to comprise a plane of symmetry, and the vertical axis relative to which the patient chair is arranged to be turnable is arranged to be located in this plane of symmetry.

21. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover of the dental care unit is arranged to comprise a plane of symmetry and at least one of the following:

a spittoon arrangement, an aim for dentist'"'"'s instruments, an arm for assistant'"'"'s instruments and/or for the suction system of the integrated dental care apparatus, an arm for a display screen, an arm for a light, an arm for some other implement used in a dental treatment environment, is arranged to be turnable relative to a vertical axis and this axis to be located in the aforesaid plane of symmetry.

22. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that at least some of the parts of the apparatus are arranged to be turnable independently in relation to the other parts of the apparatus regardless of their position and/or of movement thereof.

23. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the dental care unit and the patient chair are arranged to be turnable independently of each other.

24. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical axis relative to which the dental care unit is arranged turnable, and the vertical axis relative to which the patient chair is arranged turnable, are arranged to lie at a distance from each other.

25. Integrated dental care apparatus, comprising a patient chair and a dental care unit and in which at least one of the following is structurally connected to the dental care unit:

a spittoon arrangement, an arm for dentist'"'"'s instruments, an arm for assistant'"'"'s instruments and/or for the suction system of the integrated dental care apparatus, an arm for a display screen, an arm for a light, an arm for a tray, an arm for some other implement used in a dental care environment, a connector structure for any device or implement used in a dental care environment, whether mentioned above or not, characterized in that the integrated dental care apparatus is arranged to comprise means for mounting it on a floor, and the dental care unit and patient chair are structurally connected by means supporting the patient chair at least, and that the apparatus is implemented by arranging said dental care unit to be symmetrical at least as far as the external parts visible to the dental treatment site are concerned to form at least one vertical plane of symmetry, with which plane of symmetry is arranged to unite at least the axis relative to which the aim for assistant'"'"'s instruments and/or dentist'"'"'s instruments is arranged to be turnable, and that said patient chair is arranged to be symmetrical at least as far as its external parts are concerned to form at least one vertical plane of symmetry, with which plane of symmetry the axis relative to which said dental care unit has been arranged to be turnable is arranged to unite.

26. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 25, characterized in that the apparatus comprises an assistant'"'"'s unit arranged to comprise at least one plane of symmetry, at least in respect of its external parts, which unit is located in connection with the aforesaid aim for assistant'"'"'s instruments and comprises at least one instrument holder provided for the said assistant'"'"'s instruments, the position of the said instrument holder being arranged to be adjustable relative to an axis uniting with at least one of the aforesaid at least one plane of symmetry.

27. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 25, characterized in that the apparatus comprises two or more substantially horizontally extending arm structures, which are arranged to support instruments or devices used in connection with dental care work and which are arranged to comprise at least one such axis with which the aforesaid plane of symmetry of the dental care unit unites.

28. Integrated dental care apparatus according to claim 25, characterized in that the dental care unit comprises a spittoon arrangement which itself or at least some of the components comprised in it is/are arranged to be adjustable in position so that it or they is/are turnable relative to an axis uniting with the aforesaid plane of symmetry of the dental care unit.