Dental Laser Unit with Communication Link to Assistance Center

• US 20140272771A1
• Filed: 03/11/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biolase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Biolase Incorporated
• Inventors: Boutoussov, Dmitri, Tuck, David
• Granted Patent: US 10,561,560 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2025 with a pilot laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0015 Electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0046 Dental lasers surgical lasers A61B18/20; working by laser beam in general B23K26/00; lasers per se H01S3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 2204/005 using chip tag or any electronic identification mean, e.g. RFID
• 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

A medical treatment apparatus includes a power and control (PAC) device. The PAC device provides electrical power through a cable to a laser handpiece assembly to electrically power a laser source within the handpiece assembly. The PAC device controls operation of the handpiece assembly and detects an identification of the handpiece assembly. The PAC device also monitors data relating to operation of the handpiece assembly. The PAC device uploads, through a communication network to a user assistance center remote from the PAC device, the handpiece assembly identification and the monitored data.

Claims

1. A medical treatment apparatus comprising:

a power and control (PAC) device configured to;

provide electrical power through a cable to a laser handpiece assembly to electrically power a laser source within the handpiece assembly;

control operation of the handpiece assembly;

detect an identification of the handpiece assembly;

monitor data relating to operation of the handpiece assembly; and

upload, through a communication network to a user assistance center that is remote from the PAC device, the handpiece assembly identification and the monitored data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the PAC device is further configured to:

download, through the communication network from the user assistance center, an update of software that controls the PAC device, wherein the update is prepared based on the uploaded data; and

implement the software update.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the PAC device is further configured to:

download, through the network from the assistance center, control instructions that control operation of the PAC device to perform a diagnostic test and upload resulting data to the assistance center; and

implement the control instructions.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the PAC device is further configured to:

download, through the communication network from the user assistance center, information that is derived from the uploaded data, and

display the information to a user of the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the information includes a statistical analysis of the uploaded data.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the uploaded data includes a time log of operation of the laser source.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the uploaded data includes a measurement of a temperature in the handpiece assembly and a measurement of laser power that is output by the handpiece assembly.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the updated data includes notes entered by the user identifying a medical condition being treated, a treatment procedure the user is using, and the procedure'"'"'s results to the patient.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the PAC device is further configured to

receive, from the user, a question regarding a medical procedure being performed using the system;

upload the question to the assistance center through the network to the assistance center;

download an answer to the question though the network from the assistance center; and

display the answer to the user.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a dental patient chair assembly that is configured for seating a dental patient undergoing treatment by the handpiece assembly and that supports PAC device.

11. A hardware server configured to:

communicate over a network with power and control (PAC) devices, wherein each PAC device is configured to (i) provide electrical power through a cable to a medical handpiece assembly, (ii) control operation of the handpiece assembly, (iii) detect an identification of the handpiece assembly, and (iv) monitor data relating to operation of the handpiece assembly; and

upload, from each PAC device through the network, the respective handpiece assembly identification and the monitored data.

12. The server of claim 11, wherein server is further configured to:

prepare, based on the uploaded data, an update of software that controls the PAC devices; and

download the update to the PAC devices.

13. The server of claim 11, wherein the PAC device is further configured to:

download, to each PAC device, control instructions that control the PAC device to perform a diagnostic test and upload resulting data to the assistance center; and

receive the uploaded resulting data from the respective PAC device.

14. The server of claim 11, wherein the server is further configured to:

derive information from the uploaded data; and

download the information to the PAC devices to be displayed by the PAC devices.

15. The server of claim 14, wherein the information downloaded to each PAC device is derived primarily from data uploaded by the respective PAC device.

16. The server of claim 14, wherein the information downloaded to each PAC device is derived from data uploaded from a plurality of the PAC devices.

17. The server of claim 11, wherein the uploaded data includes a question from a user of one of the PAC devices regarding a medical procedure being performed using the PAC device, and wherein the server is further configured to download an answer, to the question, to the PAC device to be displayed to the user.

18. The server of claim 11, wherein the server is configured to

upload, from one of the PAC devices, a question regarding use of the handpiece assembly;

download the question to the other PAC devices;

upload, from the other PAC devices, answers to the question; and

download the answers to the PAC device from which the question was received.

19. The server of claim 11, wherein the server is configured to

upload, from one of the PAC devices, advice on use of the handpiece assembly;

and

download the advice to the other PAC devices.

20. The server of claim 11, wherein the server is part of an assistance center that is operated by a manufacturer or distributer of the PAC device and the handpiece assembly.