Dental Care Unit

Abstract

The invention discloses a dental care unit. The invention relates to a dental care unit (1), comprising a frame part (2), a support structure (5, 7) for supporting instruments related to dental care (6), and on the other hand, an operating light (8) arranged to be used in conjunction with dental care, the operating light (8) being arranged to produce a desired light pattern at a desired distance from the operating light (8). A camera device is arranged to the operating light (8), the camera device comprising two optical cameras (85) at a certain distance from each other, which are integrated as a structural and functional part of the operating light (8) of the dental care unit (1).

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with application date of March 19, 2018, application number 201880028721.x, and title “Dental Care Unit”. Technical Field

[0002] The invention relates to a device which can be realised in connection with a dental care unit, wherein a camera has been arranged in connection with an operating light of the dental care unit. Background Art

[0003] In the field of dentistry, the term dental care unit (often shortened to "dental unit") refers to a device or apparatus that supplies power and possibly also provides control signals to diagnostic instruments related to dental care or instruments used in conjunction with dental care operations. A typical solution is to arrange such instruments on an instrument console supported by a support arm extending from the structure of the dental care unit.

[0004] In dental care units, arms for operating lights required for dental care work are often also arranged. For such operating lights, there are standards related to lighting, in particular the oral region of the patient, which define the properties of the light field generated by the operating light, such as its size, shape, penumbra area, etc.

[0005] It is also known in the prior art to arrange an optical camera in connection with such a dental operating light. Among other things, cameras arranged in connection with an operating light have been used in teaching environments to enable monitoring of the work of personnel training dental work, whereby it is not necessary for the personnel monitoring the training to be physically present at that particular workstation, but the work can also be observed from elsewhere. When more than one training workstation is typically used in one facility or teaching organization, fixing a camera on the operating light of a dental care unit enables monitoring of training taking place at several different workstations even in the supervisor's own office.

[0006] A camera retrofitted to an operating light may cause problems in placing and aligning the operating light to the desired position when the structure supporting the operating light or its counterbalance was not originally designed to also support such accessories. Furthermore, bringing it into the vicinity when the dental care unit may already be arranged to support a variety of instruments and accessories is not optimal, i.e., in practice in a dental care facility, cables are tangled in the air or crisscrossed on the floor, thereby hindering work. Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to design a novel operating light for a dental care unit comprising a camera device, wherein the camera device is initially already designed as an integral part of the structure of the operating light and which broadens the range of possible uses of the operating light.

[0008] The invention is based on a device in which a stereo camera, i.e. two cameras at a distance from each other, has been integrated into the structure of a dental operating light. Such a device can be used in connection with, for example, drilling the holes required for dental implants to generate information about the position and location of the drill bit relative to the hole designed for the implant.

[0009] The essential characteristics of the invention are defined in the appended independent claims.

[0010] Some preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth in the attached dependent claims and in the following more detailed description of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] In the attached picture:

[0012] Figure 1 A typical dental care unit is shown.

[0013] Figure 2 A device for operating a light in a dental care unit according to the present invention is shown.

[0014] Figure 3 A block diagram of one possible arrangement for implementing the integration of a stereo camera with a dental operating light is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Figure 1 The basic structure of a typical dental care unit 1 designed for use in conjunction with dental care is shown. Figure 1 The dental care unit 1 comprises a frame structure 2 and a patient chair 3 connected thereto. A vertical structure 4 extends from the frame structure 2, to which a first support structure 5 is connected, the first support structure 5 being used to support diagnostic instruments associated with dental care 6 or instruments used in conjunction with dental care operations 6, or both. A second support structure 7 for operating lights 8 and a third support structure 9 for a display 10 are also connected to the vertical structure 4.

[0016] Figure 1 Also shown is an instrument console 11 which may be designed to support instruments typically used by a dental assistant and a foot control 12 by which the operation of the dental care unit 1 and / or equipment and structures associated or connected thereto may be controlled. In addition, the dental care unit 1 is arranged to be in operative connection with a data network or a personal computer 13.

[0017] It should be pointed out that according to Figure 1 The dental care unit of is only one example. Within the scope of the present invention, the dental care unit may include more than one Figure 1More or less support structures for different kinds of equipment can be provided in the structure shown in FIG. For example, it is also possible that a patient chair is not required in a dental care unit, but it can be implemented as a structure completely separate from the frame part of the dental care unit. In addition, the frame structure of the dental care unit can replace Figure 1 The structure shown has significant horizontal and vertical dimensions, but is merely a support structure based on its dimensions, from which one or more support arms extend, and the structure can also be arranged to be integrated with the structure of a floor-standing dental care chair. However, the frame structure of the dental care unit has generally been implemented so that it is arranged to supply the power and / or control signals required for the use of instruments and equipment used in conjunction with dental care via the frame structure. Therefore, physically, the problem lies in supplying at least one of the following, for example: water, compressed air, electricity, electricity or other control signals. Therefore, when a dental care unit is mentioned in this application, it refers to a structure that includes a device for supplying at least some of the above-listed or equivalents to dental care instruments arranged to be combined with the dental care unit or other equipment used in conjunction with dental care.

[0018] Figure 2 The device of the operating light for the dental care unit according to the present invention is shown. The operating light 8 includes a frame portion 81 and a cover glass 82, and the frame portion 81 and the cover glass 82 define a Figure 2 The space in which components, not shown, for producing a light beam suitable for dental use are located. In addition to one or more actual light sources, these components typically include optical devices such as one or more lenses and / or reflective surfaces. Thus, dental operating lights are designed to produce a desired light pattern with desired properties at a distance substantially from the operating light, which light pattern can then be positioned in the patient's mouth area so that the patient's oral cavity can be illuminated without the light dazzling the patient.

[0019] according to Figure 2 The operating light 8 also includes a mechanical connection structure 83 via which the operating light 8 is connected to the dental care unit, such as included in the Figure 1 The second support structure 7 in the dental care unit 1. In addition, handles 84 are arranged on two different sides of the frame part 81, and the handles 84 are used to position the operating light 8.

[0020] In accordance with Figure 2Two optical cameras 85 are also arranged in the operating light 8 at a certain distance from each other. These cameras 85 are physically and operationally implemented as an integral part of the operating light 8. The camera 85 is arranged in the operating light 8 to be oriented to mainly shoot such a point at which the operating light 8 is arranged to produce the desired light pattern. On the other hand, the optics of the camera can be arranged so that the field of view (FOV) can be adjusted. The shooting direction of the camera can also be arranged to be adjustable.

[0021] Since the operating light has been originally designed to also include two cameras, the mechanism of its support structure can also be designed by taking into account the additional mass added by the cameras. Likewise, whenever additional cables need to be laid out for the operating light in order to use the cameras and forward the image information generated by them, the need to pass these cables through the operating light's support structure can be taken into account when designing these structures from the outset.

[0022] Figure 2 An operating light is shown in which a cover glass protects a component placed into a frame portion of the operating light. Without departing from the concept of the invention, the operating light can also be implemented as a structure without a cover glass. Importantly, the camera is structurally and operationally integrated as a part of the operating light of the dental care unit. That is, the operation of the camera and the control of its signal routing are part of the operating light of the dental care unit, as opposed to the camera device being a component retrofitted outside the frame of the operating light and the control of its operation and its signal routing being completely independent (i.e., external to the operating light and the dental care unit).

[0023] Figure 3 A block diagram of a possible device for integrating a stereo camera with a dental operating light is shown. Figure 3 The device comprises two camera units 801 which are arranged in operative connection with a camera controller 802 which is in turn in operative connection with a control system 804 operating the light 8. The control system 804 operating the light 8 controls the light projector 803 and may also communicate with it.

[0024] The camera unit 801 of the operating light may include a lens system and an image detector, as well as their required and possible peripheral components. The operation of these components may be related to, for example, processing the detected image information or controlling the lens system.

[0025] The lens system may include a lens with a fixed or adjustable focal length, which forms an image on the detector. The image information is forwarded in digital form from the camera unit 801 to the camera controller 802. The image information may be pre-processed in the camera unit 801 before it is forwarded, for example by compensating for defective pixels of the detector, by eliminating artifacts caused by the lens, or by adjusting exposure, sensitivity or color balance.

[0026] The camera controller 802 may include components whose operation, in addition to receiving signals and image information from the camera unit 801 and their forwarding on the other hand, also involves processing and storing image information.

[0027] The camera controller 802 may also be arranged to receive information and signals from external data systems.

[0028] Thus, the above-described processing that may be implemented in the camera unit 801 may be partially or completely performed only in the camera controller 802. The components used in the processing may be implemented as ASIC or FPGA-based solutions, for example. When forwarding data as well as receiving data, a WLAN or ETHERNET connection may be used as an alternative to cables.

[0029] In accordance with Figure 3 In the arrangement, the camera controller 802 is arranged to be in operative connection with the control system of the operating light 804, the camera controller 802 can communicate with the control system of the operating light 804 and it can be arranged to receive power from the camera controller 802. If necessary, means can be implemented for the camera controller 802 to convert the power supplied to it into a suitable voltage for internal use of the camera controller 802 and also for the camera unit 801.

[0030] In addition, the operating light's control system 804 is operatively connected to the operating light's projector 803. The operating light's projector 803 may include a device known in the art that produces a light beam that an operating light intended for use in conjunction with dental care must produce according to standards in the field. The projector 803 may include the actual light emitting components, for example, an LED device, and other optical components, such as one or more lenses and / or reflective surfaces.

[0031] The camera controller 802 thus receives image information in digital form from the camera unit 801, and both the camera controller 802 and the camera unit 801 may be arranged to process the received information. The camera controller 802 may also include a mass storage device in which image information detected and processed by the device may be stored. In particular in embodiments of the invention where information is not forwarded from the operating light via a cable, the image information may preferably be compressed into a format that is easily transmitted and stored before being forwarded.

[0032] It is clear to those skilled in the art that according to Figure 3 The device is only one way to implement the operating light according to the present invention. For example, it is not necessary to implement the camera controller 802 as an independent device separated from the camera unit 801.

[0033] In one embodiment of the invention, the camera unit 801 has been arranged to generate image information as a continuous stream of information that can be analyzed and processed within the camera system. Such processing may be based on control external to the system or based on analysis performed in the system itself. Information processing may be, for example, removing information that is not relevant to its intended use before forwarding the information.

[0034] Analysis of the image data may include, for example, identifying spatial frequency components and their intensities in different parts of the image, identifying patterns predefined to be detected and identifying their two-dimensional positions, or calculating changes between consecutive images.

[0035] Processing of the image information may again include, for example, processing the image into a form in which parts of the spatial frequency components of the image are presented with lower numerical accuracy than other parts, in which areas are deleted from the image information, or in which the image information is partially or fully replaced by the results of the analysis.

[0036] In one embodiment of the invention, the information streams mentioned above refer to individual images ("frames") captured at a high frequency. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the camera controller 802 is arranged to enable control of such camera unit 801 that generates these individual images so that such camera unit 801 can generate a pair of images captured substantially simultaneously. Then, a high-quality stereoscopic image of the image information generated by the camera unit 801 can be generated.

[0037] In one embodiment of the invention, the control of the operation of the camera and the operating light is synchronized so that the light is turned off when the image is captured in order to prevent the image from being overexposed. Thus, a live image can be produced so that the light flashes at an appropriate frequency, which is arranged to substantially correspond to the image capture frequency.

[0038] Therefore, in the present invention, it is important to Figure 3 The camera unit or equivalent is arranged as part of the structure of the operating light itself, and the components required for its control are arranged as part of the operating light of the dental care unit, or possibly partly or completely as part of the structure of the dental care unit. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the image detector and the optical components of the camera unit are located in the structure so that their field of view is opened from the same structure of the operating light, from the direction of the same surface from which the light field of the operating light is also emitted, and from inside the cover of the operating light.

[0039] An operating light according to the invention can be used, for example, for monitoring dental care instruments, such as drills. In such an arrangement, there is a feature, a marker, in the instrument or added at a known point in the instrument, which a camera is arranged to associate with the operating light image. Computer software operatively connected to the operating light is arranged to detect the marker itself from the image information and its position and orientation in the image produced by the operating light.

[0040] This detection function may be arranged to be performed already in the operating light.The amount of information forwarded from the operating light may be reduced if only information about the position and orientation of the marker is forwarded instead of the detected image information.

[0041] In order to enable the control of the drilling, in addition to detecting the position and orientation of the instrument, information is required about how the markers arranged in conjunction with the instrument are positioned relative to the anatomical structure that is the target of the dental care operation. This information can be obtained, for example, by arranging a number of different markers at known points of the anatomical structure; however, it is also possible to use as a reference a surface model showing the intraoral anatomical structure imaged by the camera, which surface model is generated and can be updated based on the image information generated by the camera pair arranged in the operating light.

[0042] If a method of the type described above is applied, for example, in order to drill a hole for a dental implant in the jawbone, the information on the position and orientation of the instrument obtained in the above manner can be compared with a model of the anatomical structure as the target of the operation stored in the device, which model has also been modeled with a hole designed for the implant. When all this information is available, there are a variety of possible arrangements for its use. For example, it is possible to visually indicate on a certain display where the instrument should be located and, on the other hand, where it is currently located, and such a system can be implemented to indicate when the instrument is (within a certain error margin) at a point and orientation corresponding to the drilling plan, or when it is not at a point and orientation corresponding to the drilling plan. This information can even be used to control a robot that performs the drilling.

[0043] In summary, it can be said that the present invention consists of a dental care unit comprising a frame structure, a support structure for supporting diagnostic instruments related to dental care or instruments used in conjunction with dental care operations, or both, a control system, means via which power or control signals or both required for their operation can be transmitted to at least a portion of the instruments used in conjunction with dental care operations, and a support structure for an operating lamp to be used in conjunction with dental care, the lamp being arranged to produce a desired kind of light pattern at a desired distance from the lamp. Basically, two optical cameras are arranged to the operating lamp at a distance from each other.

[0044] The camera of such a camera arrangement may be directed to primarily photograph the point where the operating light is arranged to produce a desired type of light pattern.At least a portion of the electronics of both the operating light and the camera required for its operation may be arranged as a physical part of the structure of the operating light.

[0045] A component in combination with the operating light may be arranged to pre-process the image information generated by the camera so that the amount of image information forwarded from the light is significantly less than the amount of image information generated by the camera. The component for pre-processing the image information may be configured so that only the image information of a portion of the area captured by the camera can be forwarded. In addition, a functional connection may be arranged with a computer configured to transmit to the camera information about the area being captured by the camera or which type of local area of ​​the area is to be restricted to the information forwarded. On the other hand, the control electronics of the device may be configured to identify predefined information from the information captured by the camera and forward only this information, or alternatively or additionally, forward the coordinates of that position in the image information where said information is identified.

Claims

1. A dental care unit comprising: - frame structure (2); - a first support structure (5) for supporting diagnostic instruments (6) related to dental care or instruments (6) used in conjunction with dental care procedures, or both; - control systems; - means, via which it is possible to deliver to at least a part of the apparatus (6) electrical power or control signals or both required for its operation, wherein said delivery to at least a part of the apparatus (6) comprises the delivery of water or compressed air; - a second support structure in the form of a support structure for an operating light (8), the operating light (8) being arranged for use in connection with dental care and being arranged to produce a desired kind of light pattern at a desired distance from the operating light (8) as required by standards for operating lights used in dental care; The invention is characterized in that a camera device is arranged to the operating light (8), the camera device comprising two optical cameras (85), the two optical cameras (85) being arranged at a distance from each other and being structurally and operationally integrated as part of the operating light (8) of the dental care unit (1), and A component arranged in conjunction with the operating light (8) pre-processes the image information generated by the camera (85) so that the amount of image information forwarded from the light (8) is significantly less than the amount of image information generated by the camera (85).

2. The dental care unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two cameras (85) are oriented to film primarily at the point where the operating light (8) is arranged to produce a light pattern of the desired kind.

3. The dental care unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: At least a portion of the electronics of both the operating light (8) and the camera (85) required for operation of both the operating light (8) and the camera (85) is arranged as a physical part of the structure of the operating light (8).

4. The dental care unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The support structure of the operating light (8) includes a mechanism that enables the position and orientation of the operating light (8) to be adjusted, the balance of the mechanism being achieved by taking into account the additional mass added to the operating light (8) by the two cameras (85).

5. The dental care unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Control of the operation of the camera and its signal routing is part of the operating light (8) of the dental care unit (1).

6. The dental care unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The camera arrangement comprises two camera units (801) comprising an image detector and at least one optical component, a camera controller (802) of the camera units and a control system (804) for operating the light, which control system has been arranged in functional connection with the camera controller (802) of the camera units.

7. The dental care unit according to claim 6, characterized in that: The camera unit (801) comprises at least one component configured to pre-process image information detected by the image detector.

8. The dental care unit according to claim 6, characterized in that The camera unit (801) is arranged to generate image information as a continuous information stream.

9. The dental care unit according to claim 6, characterized in that: The image detector and the optical assembly of the camera unit (801) are placed in the structure so that their field of view is opened from the same structure of the operating light (8), from the direction of the same surface from which the light field of the operating light (8) is also emitted, and from inside the cover of the operating light (8).

10. The dental care unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The cameras (85) are arranged to take a single picture and their control is implemented to enable a single picture to be taken simultaneously.

11. The dental care unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The operation control of the camera (85) and the operating light (8) is synchronized so that the operating light (8) is turned off when taking a picture in order to prevent overexposure of the picture.

12. The dental care unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Data transmission communication is arranged to the operating light (8) for forwarding image information generated by the camera (85).

13. The dental care unit according to claim 1, characterized in that The means for pre-processing the image information is configured to enable forwarding of image information of only a portion of the area captured by the camera (85).

14. The dental care unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The dental care unit (1) is arranged in functional connection with a computer (13), and the computer (13) is configured to transmit to the camera (85) information about the area being photographed by the camera (85) or which kind of partial area of ​​the area is to be restricted to the information being forwarded.

15. The dental care unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The camera (85) comprises control electronics configured to identify predefined information from the information captured by the camera (85) and to forward only the predefined information, or alternatively or additionally, to forward the coordinates of that location in the image information where the information is identified.

Images