Dental practice operating system
First Claim
1. An operating system for a dental practice, comprisinga dental unit including an instrument holder for a number of dental instruments, which are individually selectable by removal from the holder, and means for control and execution of a plurality of functions related to a dental treatment including operational functions for said dental instruments and a first group of auxiliary functions,an adjustable patient'"'"'s rest comprising means for control and execution of adjustment functions thereof,at least one multi-function activation device incorporating at least one operating member for independent execution of a number of distinct operational function for dental instruments as well as auxiliary and/or adjustments functions, andcomputer means connected with said at least one multi-function activation device and said dental unit and patient'"'"'s rest and comprising means for changing a functionality of said at least one activation device between a plurality of distinct functionalities for execution of distinct groups of said operational, auxiliary and/or adjustments functions, said computer means including interactive display means for display of a configuration of symbols representing the distinct group of said operational, auxiliary and/or adjustments functions executable by a distinct functionality of said at least one activation device,said computer means further includinga user interface for simultaneous display on said display means of a first configuration of individually selectable symbols representing a number of said plurality of distinct functionalities and a second configuration of individually selectable symbols representing operational, auxiliary and/or adjustments functions of the distinct group of functions executable by the distinct functionality represented by a selected symbol of said first configuration, said second configuration of symbols including at least one further symbol representing a change of the functionality of the at least one activation device, andmeans for controlling the multi-function activation device for individual execution of an operational, auxiliary and/or adjustment function or a change of functionality represented by a symbol of said second configuration including said further symbol.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A novel dental practice operation system affords computer controlled activation and control of a multitude of instrument operation and auxiliary functions by providing a plurality of distinct functionalities of at least one activation device for activation and control signals for a dental unit and a patient'"'"'s rest. Increased efficiency for the dentist or dental team with increased integration of instrument control and auxiliary functions as well as operation of facilities provided by external sources is provided by simultaneous computer displayed guidance to the dentist of a first configuration of individually selectable symbols representing a number of distinct functionalities of the activation device and a second configuration of individually selectable symbols representing functions executable by a distinct functionality of the activation device made available by activation of a selected symbol in said first configuration.
23 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. An operating system for a dental practice, comprising
a dental unit including an instrument holder for a number of dental instruments, which are individually selectable by removal from the holder, and means for control and execution of a plurality of functions related to a dental treatment including operational functions for said dental instruments and a first group of auxiliary functions, an adjustable patient'"'"'s rest comprising means for control and execution of adjustment functions thereof, at least one multi-function activation device incorporating at least one operating member for independent execution of a number of distinct operational function for dental instruments as well as auxiliary and/or adjustments functions, and computer means connected with said at least one multi-function activation device and said dental unit and patient'"'"'s rest and comprising means for changing a functionality of said at least one activation device between a plurality of distinct functionalities for execution of distinct groups of said operational, auxiliary and/or adjustments functions, said computer means including interactive display means for display of a configuration of symbols representing the distinct group of said operational, auxiliary and/or adjustments functions executable by a distinct functionality of said at least one activation device, said computer means further including a user interface for simultaneous display on said display means of a first configuration of individually selectable symbols representing a number of said plurality of distinct functionalities and a second configuration of individually selectable symbols representing operational, auxiliary and/or adjustments functions of the distinct group of functions executable by the distinct functionality represented by a selected symbol of said first configuration, said second configuration of symbols including at least one further symbol representing a change of the functionality of the at least one activation device, and means for controlling the multi-function activation device for individual execution of an operational, auxiliary and/or adjustment function or a change of functionality represented by a symbol of said second configuration including said further symbol.
-
24. An operating system for a dental practice, comprising
a dental unit including an instrument holder for a number of dental instruments, which are individually selectable by removal from the holder, a control unit for control and execution of a plurality of functions related to a dental treatment including operational functions for said dental instruments and a first group of auxiliary functions, an adjustable patient'"'"'s rest comprising an adjustment unit for control and execution of adjustment functions thereof, at least one multi-function activation device incorporating at least one operating member, and a computer connected with said at least one multi-function activation device and said dental unit and said patient'"'"'s rest and comprising means for selectively changing a functionality of said at least one activation device between a plurality of distinct functionalities, each distinct functionality comprising a distinct group of said operational, auxiliary or adjustment functions which are individually executable by said at least one operating member of said at least one activation device, said computer including an interactive display for display of a configuration of symbols representing the distinct group of said individually executable operational, auxiliary or adjustment functions of the selected distinct functionality, said computer further including a user interface for simultaneous display on said display of a first configuration of individually selectable symbols representing a number of said plurality of distinct functionalities, the selected symbol of the first configuration representing the selected distinct functionality, and a second configuration of individually selectable symbols representing the individually executable operational, auxiliary or adjustment functions of the selected distinct functionality, said second configuration of individually selectable symbols including at least one further symbol representing a change of the functionality of the at least one activation device, and means for controlling the multi-function activation device for individual execution of an operational, auxiliary or adjustment function or a change of the functionality of the at least one activation device represented by a symbol of said second configuration including said further symbol.
Specification