MEDICAL OR DENTAL INSTRUMENT WITH A TEMPERATURE-MEASURING DEVICE

• US 20140072930A1
• Filed: 11/14/2013
• Published: 03/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W&H Dentalwerk Burmoos GmbH (PM Privatstiftung)
• Original Assignee: W&H Dentalwerk Burmoos GmbH (PM Privatstiftung)
• Inventors: Pruckner, Christian, Eder, Karlheinz, Grosslhuber, Johann
• Granted Patent: US 9,526,585 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets A61B18/00 takes precedence; contraceptive devices, pessaries, or applicators therefor A61F6/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0271 Thermal or temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/06 Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0007 Control devices or systems fluid temperature control in air and water supply systems of dental machines or apparatus A61C1/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0015 Electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/04 Measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C5/44 takes precedence; testing vitality of teeth A61B5/0534; radiation diagnosis specially adapted for dentistry A61B6/51
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/041 Mountings in enclosures or in a particular environment
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/10 using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/02 using thermoelectric elements, e.g. thermocouples
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/38 the variations of temperature influencing the magnetic permeability
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 37/585 the switch being of the reed switch type

Abstract

Medical or dental instruments, preferably handpieces having different temperature-measuring devices for measuring the temperature in the instrument or of at least a part of the instrument are described. The temperature-measuring devices are designed, for example, to measure the temperature contacht-freely by detection of electromagnetic radiation or to measure the temperature of an interior of the instrument that can be heated by a heat source. The temperature-measuring devices may be designed, for example, as electrical temperature-measuring devices or may have a magnetic material whose magnetic property is a function of temperature and/or has a temperature-dependent course. The temperature-measuring device may comprise for example, an electrical switching device and a signal device to switch the signal device at least between a first signal condition and a second signal condition when a temperature limit value is reached or exceeded or is underrun.

Claims

1. A medical or dental handpiece, comprising

an outer shell,

a drive device for setting in motion a tool that can be connected to the handpiece, and

a temperature-measuring device for measuring the temperature of the handpiece or of a part of the handpiece, wherein

the temperature-measuring device is designed to measure the temperature of the handpiece or of a part of the handpiece contact-freely by detection of electromagnetic radiation or thermal radiation.

2. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 1, further comprising at least one heat source which is arranged in the outer shell of the handpiece and which comprises a surface that emits electromagnetic radiation, wherein said surface is spaced from a surface of the temperature-measuring device receiving the electromagnetic radiation of the heat source.

3. The medical or dental, handpiece according to claim 1, wherein the temperature-measuring device is configurable to receive electromagnetic radiation of a plurality of heat sources arranged in the outer shell of the handpiece to determine an average temperature value of the plurality of heat sources.

4. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 1, wherein the temperature-measuring device comprises a pyrometer or an infrared sensor.

5. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 1, wherein the temperature-measuring device comprises an optical conductor for electromagnetic radiation whose scattering or refractive index varies based on changes in temperature.

16. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 1, wherein the handpiece comprises a handpiece head in which a tool holder for the tool that can be connected to the handpiece and a temperature sensor of the temperature-measuring device are provided.

6. A medical or dental handpiece, comprising

a hollow outer shell having an interior space,

a drive device for setting in motion a tool that can be connected to the handpiece,

at least one heat source arranged in the outer shell of the handpiece and heating the interior space by emitting heat, and

a temperature-measuring device which is designed to measure the temperature of the interior space that can be heated by the at least one heat source.

7. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 6, wherein the interior space comprises a volume comprising a fluid, said volume separating components of the handpiece from one another, wherein the temperature-measuring device is provided in said volume.

8. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 6, wherein the temperature-measuring device is spaced from the at least one heat source.

31. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 6, wherein the handpiece comprises a handpiece head in which a tool holder for the tool that can be connected to the handpiece and a temperature sensor of the temperature-measuring device are provided.

9. A medical or dental handpiece, comprising

an outer shell,

a drive device for setting in motion a tool that can be connected to handpiece, and

a temperature-measuring device for measuring the temperature of at least a part of the handpiece, wherein the temperature-measuring device comprises an electrical temperature-measuring device.

10. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 9, wherein the electrical temperature-measuring device comprises at least a part of a thermocouple designed to supply a thermoelectric voltage signal for the measurement of the temperature.

11. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 10, wherein the part of the thermocouple is arranged in an interior space of the handpiece, wherein the interior space comprises a volume comprising a fluid separating components of the handpiece from one another, and wherein the part of the thermocouple is configured to assist in determining the temperature of the interior space or of the fluid.

12. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 10, wherein the part of the thermocouple is provided on a component of the handpiece.

13. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 11, wherein the part of the thermocouple comprises an electrically conductive component of the handpiece, wherein the part of the thermocouple is a first part and further comprising a second part coupled to the first part to form the thermocouple.

14. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 10, wherein the part of the thermocouple is electrically conductive and comprises at least one of an outer shell of the handpiece, a component of the handpiece connected to the outer shell, a bearing for supporting a tool holder for the tool that can be connected to the handpiece, or a contact ring.

15. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 9, wherein the electrical temperature-measuring device comprises a material whose electric resistance or dynamic resistance is variable as a function of temperature.

32. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 9, wherein the handpiece comprises a handpiece head in which a tool holder for the tool that can be connected to the handpiece and a temperature sensor of the temperature-measuring device are provided.

17. A medical or dental handpiece, comprising

a handle part,

a coupling part for connecting the handpiece to at least one media source and/or an energy source,

a head part with a holding device for a tool that can be set in motion,

a temperature-measuring device for measuring the temperature in the handpiece or of at least a part of the handpiece, which is designed to provide an electrical temperature-measuring signal, and

an electrical switching device, which is electrically connected to the temperature-measuring device and to a signal device to receive the temperature-measuring signal supplied by the temperature-measuring device and to switch the signaling device between at least one first signal condition and one second signal condition, which is different from the first signal condition, when the temperature-measuring signal reaches, exceeds or falls below a limit value.

18. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the electrical switching device, the temperature-measuring device and the signal device is connectable to an energy source situated outside of the handpiece and from which electric energy is supplied via the coupling part.

19. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the electrical switching device, the temperature-measuring device and the signal device is/are connectable to an energy source situated in or on the handpiece for supplying it/them with electric energy.

20. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 19, wherein the energy source provided in or on the handpiece comprises an electrodynamic converter which can be operated by a driveshaft of the handpiece or by a fluid conveyable in the handpiece.

21. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 19, wherein the energy source provided in or on the handpiece comprises a battery.

22. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 17, wherein the first signal condition and the second signal condition comprise at least one of a visually perceptible signal, an acoustically perceptible signal or a tactilely perceptible signal.

23. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 17, wherein the signal device comprises a light source.

24. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 17, wherein the signal device is designed to represent the first signal condition by displaying a first color and the second signal condition by displaying a second color, which is different from the first color.

25. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 17, wherein the signal device is designed to represent the first signal condition by emitting light from the handpiece and to represent the second signal condition by not emitting light from the handpiece.

26. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 17, wherein the signal device comprises a lighting device which is arranged on the handpiece such that it illuminates at least one of a tool that can be inserted into the holding device or the treatment site.

27. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 17, wherein the signal device is provided on the handle part or on the coupling part of the handpiece.

28. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 17, wherein the temperature-measuring device is arranged in the head part or adjacent the head part or on a moving part or adjacent a moving part of the handpiece.

29. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 17, wherein the temperature-measuring device is designed to measure the temperature of the handpiece or a part of the handpiece contact-freely by detection of electromagnetic radiation or thermal radiation, and/or the temperature-measuring device is designed to measure the temperature of an interior of the handpiece that can be heated by at least one heat source.

30. The medical or dental handpiece according to claim 17, wherein the handpiece comprises two parts detachably connected to one another, wherein the temperature-measuring device is arranged in or one part and at least one of the electrical switching device, the signal device or the energy source provided in or on the other part.