Process and device for the wireless transmission of dental process data

• US 8,422,413 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENTSPLY International Incorporated (Astrazeneca PLC)
• Original Assignee: DENTSPLY International Incorporated (Astrazeneca PLC)
• Inventors: Buchner, Kerstin, Ertl, Thomas, Hauner, Wigbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US11/811,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20080031150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,139 Days
• Field of Search: 370535-537, 370/310, 370/328
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/08 combined with anaesthetising implements dental hypodermic syringes A61M5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 5/62 Applicators, e.g. syringes or guns
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/24 Ampoule syringes, i.e. syringes with needle for use in combination with replaceable ampoules or carpules, e.g. automatic ampoules or carpules A61J1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/482 Varying injection pressure, e.g. by varying speed of injection

Abstract

A dental apparatus and process for the transmission of dental data by means of a transmitter and a receiver in a wireless manner.

Claims

1. A process comprising the steps of:

transmitting process data from a plurality of dental devices over a long distance, wherein the process data from the plurality of dental devices is transmitted by means of a data switch to a transmitter;

wirelessly sending the process data to one or more receivers; and

retrieving the process data from the receiver that was received in a wireless manner;

wherein the process data involve at least two parameters selected from the group consisting of the identity of the operator of the plurality of dental devices, details regarding an object being processed by the plurality of dental devices, current internal temperature of the plurality of dental devices, lapsed operating time of an overall process of the plurality of dental devices, lapsed operating time of a particular process step of the plurality of dental devices, remaining operating time of the overall process of the plurality of dental devices, remaining operating time of the particular process step of the plurality of dental devices, internal pressure and/or vacuum level of the plurality of dental devices, and a programmed temperature program, which describe the status of the process at a given point in time.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the process data come from a dental apparatus, which is a firing kiln.

3. A system of carrying out the process for the transmission of process data according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises the following components:

(a) a transmitter, which can transmit the process data of up to 6 dental apparatuses in a sequential manner;

(b) one or more portable receivers; and

(c) a data switch, which receives the process data from at least one of the up to 6 dental apparatuses and transmits the process data to the transmitter.

4. The system according to claim 3, further comprising (d) a dental apparatus that is suitable for acting together with the transmitter in order to transmit process data to a receiver in a wireless manner.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a stationary transmitter and a receiver is portable.

6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the process data correspond to a running program of at least one of the plurality of dental devices.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein multiple portable receivers are provided and each individual dental device and each receiver can be assigned to one another through preselectable addresses.

8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the retrieving step, process data received by the receiver is selectively retrieved by an operator of the receiver.

9. The process according to claim 1, wherein:

b) the process data correspond to a running program of at least one of the plurality of dental devices; and

c) the retrieving step, process data received by the receiver is selectively retrieved by an operator of the receiver.

10. The process according to claim 9, wherein:

a) the process data come from a dental apparatus, which is a firing kiln;

b) the transmitter is a stationary transmitter and a receiver is portable; and

c) multiple portable receivers are provided and each individual dental device and each receiver can be assigned to one another through preselectable addresses.

11. The process according to claim 1, wherein:

b) the process data correspond to a running program of at least one of the plurality of dental devices; and

c) the retrieving step, process data received by the receiver is selectively retrieved by an operator of the receiver.

12. The process according to claim 11, wherein:

a) the process data come from a dental apparatus, which is a firing kiln;

b) the transmitter is a stationary transmitter and a receiver is portable; and

c) multiple portable receivers are provided and each individual dental device and each receiver can be assigned to one another through preselectable addresses.

13. The system according to claim 3, wherein the transmitter is a stationary transmitter and a receiver is portable.

14. The system according to claim 3, wherein the process data correspond to a running program of at least one of the up to 6 dental apparatuses.

15. The system according to claim 3, wherein the up to 6 dental apparatuses are provided and each individual dental device and each receiver can be assigned to one another through preselectable addresses.

16. The system according to claim 3, wherein:

b) the process data correspond to a running program of at least one of the up to 6 dental apparatuses; and

c) process data received by the receiver is selectively retrieved by an operator of the receiver.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein:

a) the process data come from a dental apparatus, which is a firing kiln;

b) the transmitter is a stationary transmitter and a receiver is portable; and

c) multiple portable receivers are provided and each individual dental device and each receiver can be assigned to one another through preselectable addresses.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein the up to 6 dental apparatuses includes at least two dental apparatuses.