Dental laser interface system and method
Embodiments of the invention provide a system of controlling a dental laser system. The system can include a dental laser and a control system for controlling certain functions of the dental laser. A graphical user interface can be used to provide input to the control system. The graphical user interface can include a central display and an outer display with selectable segments, and a menu navigation portion located adjacent the outer display. Treatment categories, procedures or laser control options can be selected using the interface, and the interface can be updated based on data from the station.
1. A dental laser control system comprising:
at least one computer system including at least one processor, the at least one computer system configured to control a dental laser;
at least one user display configured and arranged to exchange information with at least one controller, the at least one user display including at least one graphical user interface;
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured to tangibly store thereon program logic for execution by the at least one processor, the program logic including a dental laser control system that when executed by the at least one processor, is configured to update the at least one graphical user interface by:
rendering a central display at least partially encircled by an outer display, the outer display comprising at least one user-selectable segment, the outer display comprising dental treatment categories, wherein the at least one user-selectable segment is configured to select a specific category of the dental treatment categories, wherein the selection of the specific category renders user-selectable procedures for the specific category on the outer display,
rendering at least one menu navigation portion adjacent the at least one user-selectable segment, the at least one menu navigation portion including displayed information related to any user-actuable function represented by any one of the user-selectable segments, and
wherein following selection of a segment by a user through interaction with graphical user interface, the at least one processor is further configured to initiate a control sequence accessing or controlling one or more of the functions of the dental laser.
2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the selection of a specific procedure of the user-selectable procedures renders user-selectable steps for the specific procedure on the outer display.
3. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the outer display extends the circumference of the central display.
4. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the outer display includes at least one banner associated with the at least one user-selectable segment, the at least one banner comprising a notification or description of a parameter or function represented by the at least one user-selectable segment.
5. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one menu navigation portion includes at least one section configured to provide information related to at least one sub-menu.
6. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface further comprises a display of a recommendation for one or more laser tips of the dental laser.
7. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured by the program logic to display a user-slidable slide bar and to provide input to the at least one controller based on user positioning of the slide bar.
8. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured by the program logic to display associative icons that relate to dental categories, dental procedures, dental steps, or options.
9. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured by the program logic to display at least one of video and graphics related to a user help guide.
10. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the user-selectable procedures comprise a soft tissue procedure, an implant procedure, an endodontic procedure, a periodontal procedure, and a restorative procedure.
11. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the outer display comprises one or more selectable steps or options of a dental procedure represented as the at least one of the user-selectable segment.
12. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the central display includes a display of one or more parameters of any user-selected step of a dental procedure.
13. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured by the program logic to display a parameter display indicating one or more parameters of the dental laser station.
14. The control system of claim 13 , wherein program logic is configured to enable one or more of the parameters to be modified by the processor based on a user input to a slider bar displayed in the graphical user interface.
15. The control system of claim 14 , wherein the parameter display includes a display of laser power based at least in part on a user's operation of the slider bar.
16. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the outer display comprises at least one user-defined or selected favorite dental procedures or favorite steps of a dental procedure represented as at least one of the at least one user-selectable segments.
17. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the selection of the at least one user-selectable segment occurs based on a user's touch of the user display of a segment.
18. A non-transitory storage medium comprising:
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured to tangibly store thereon program logic for execution by at least one processor, the program logic including a dental laser control system that when executed by the at least one processor, is configured to display or update at least one user interface by:
displaying at least a portion of a graphical user interface on at least one user display, the at least one user display configured and arranged to exchange information with at least one dental laser controller;
rendering on the graphical user interface a display, comprising dental treatment categories, wherein a selection of a specific category from the dental treatment categories renders user-selectable procedures for the specific category on the display, wherein the selection of a specific procedure from the user-selectable procedures renders user-selectable steps on the display; and
rendering on the graphical user interface at least one menu navigation portion, the at least one menu navigation portion including displayed information related to any user-actuable function of the dental treatment categories, and
wherein the at least one processor is configured by the program logic to initiate a control sequence accessing or controlling one or more of the user-actuable functions of the dental treatment categories.
19. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the processor is further configured by the program logic to display a user-slidable slide bar, and to provide input to the at least one controller based on user actuation or positioning of the slide bar.
20. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the user-selectable procedures comprise soft tissue procedures, implant procedures, endodontic procedures, periodontal procedures, and restorative procedures.