Dental handpiece performance sensor
Operation of a handpiece is sensed, such as by detecting temperature and/or vibration associated with one or more of the bearing rings supporting the turbine in the handpiece. When operation exceeds a threshold, a visual or audible indication is provided, and power to the turbine may be interrupted. The sensor(s) may be built into the handpiece, or be part of a removable girdle placed on the handpiece. Typically, the handpiece is used for dental or medical applications.
1 . A removable girdle for a handpiece, the handpiece having a head with a turbine supported by at least one bearing ring, comprising:
an element for detecting an operating condition of the at least one bearing ring, and
at least one sensor for sensing whether the detected operating condition exceeds a threshold, and for providing an indication when the threshold is exceeded.
2 . The removable girdle of claim 1 , wherein the element consists of a first band configured to correspond with a back bearing ring of the handpiece, and a second band configured to correspond with a front bearing ring of the handpiece.
3 . The removable girdle of claim 1 , wherein the operating condition is represented by the temperature of the handpiece head.
4 . The removable girdle of claim 1 , wherein the operating condition is represented by the vibration of the handpiece head.
5 . The removable girdle of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is bimetallic.
6 . The removable girdle of claim 1 , wherein the indication is visual.
7 . The removable girdle of claim 1 , having at least one sensor for detecting the temperature of the handpiece head, and at least one sensor for detecting the vibration of the handpiece head.
8 . The removable girdle of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible membrane for covering the back of the handpiece head.
9 . The removable girdle of claim 1 , further comprising a stabilizer clip for supporting the girdle against the back of the handpiece head.
10 . The removable girdle of claim 1 , further comprising a product tag.
11 . The removable girdle of claim 10 , wherein the sensor indication and information from the product tag are provided to a controller.
12 . In a handpiece having a handle for enabling a user of the handpiece to hold the handpiece, and a head connected to the handle, the head including a turbine for rotating a burr and at least one bearing ring for supporting the turbine, the improvement comprising:
an element for detecting an operating condition of the at least one bearing ring, and
at least one sensor for sensing whether the detected operating condition exceeds a threshold, and for providing an indication when the threshold is exceeded.
13 . The handpiece of claim 12 , wherein the element consists of a first band configured to correspond with a back bearing ring of the handpiece, and a second band configured to correspond with a front bearing ring of the handpiece.
14 . The handpiece of claim 12 , wherein the operating condition is represented by the temperature of the handpiece head.
15 . The handpiece of claim 12 , wherein the operating condition is represented by the vibration of the handpiece head.
16 . The handpiece of claim 12 , having at least one sensor for detecting the temperature of the handpiece head, and at least one sensor for detecting the vibration of the handpiece head.
17 . The handpiece of claim 12 , further comprising a product tag.
18 . The handpiece of claim 17 , wherein the sensor indication and information from the product tag are provided to a controller.
19 . The handpiece of claim 18 , wherein the controller receives and stores an indication of whether usage instructions for the handpiece have been read by a user of the handpiece.
20 . The handpiece of claim 12 , wherein when the threshold is exceeded, power to the turbine is terminated.
21 . The handpiece of claim 12 , further comprising an indicator for indicating whether the handpiece has been sterilized subsequent to usage of the handpiece.