A dental care unit and a method for configuring the same

Abstract

A dental care unit comprises at least one instrument support structure (106, 113) having instrument-places for holding a dental instrument Each instrument place is provided with means for detecting picking up a dental instrument from the instrument place. A control system (114) of the dental care unit recognizes, in response to a detection signal, that a dental instrument is picked up from an instrument place holding the dental instrument. The instrument support structure allows for placing the dental instrument in more than one instrument place of the instrument support structure. To learn the placing of the dental instruments, the control system is configured to control an interactive user interface to enable the user to carry out a teaching procedure informing the control system about the placing of the dental instrument.

Description

[0001] A dental care unit and a method for configuring the same

[0002] Field

[0003] The invention relates generally to devices for dental care. More particularly, the invention relates to a dental care unit. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method and to a computer program for configuring a dental care unit.

[0004] Background

[0005] A typical dental care unit comprises a body part, a treatment chair, a console arm connected by its first end to the body part, and an instrument console attached to the second end of the console arm. The console comprises an instrument support structure, such as for example an instrument table, having instrument places suitable for holding dental instruments typically used by a dentist. Furthermore, the dental care unit may comprise another instrument support structure having instrument places suitable for holding dental instruments typically used by a dental assistant. A dental instrument can be, for example, a micromotor rotary instrument, a turbine rotary instrument such as a drill, a scaler, a curing instrument, an intraoral camera, a syringe, or a suction instrument. The dental instruments are connected or connectable with instrument cables to the dental care unit. An instrument cable may comprise, for example, a hose for supplying liquid, e.g. water, or for sucking liquid, e.g. drivel, or for supplying gas, e.g. air, and / or electric wires for supplying electric energy to operate a dental instrument connected to the instrument cable. Furthermore, the dental care unit may comprise control means such as a foot pedal with the aid of which functions of the dental care unit and / or devices or structures connecting or coupled to the dental care unit can be controlled.

[0006] In typical dental care units of the kind described above, the instrument places are provided with detection means configured to detect picking up a dental instrument held by the instrument place. The detection means can be, for example, an electromechanical device such as a bendable balanced arm, e.g. a doriot arm, connected to an instrument cable and getting bent when a dental instrument is picked up from the instrument place under consideration. For another example,picking up a dental instrument from an instrument place can be detected by optical means. The dental care unit comprises a control system configured to activate a dental instrument in response to picking up the dental instrument from the instrument place that was holding the dental instrument, e.g. in response to bending of a balanced arm related to the instrument place. As the activation is related to an instrument place from which a dental instrument is picked up, the control system needs to be aware of which one of the dental instruments connected to the dental care unit is / was in the instrument place to be able to activate a correct one of the dental instruments.

[0007] An known approach to keep the above-mentioned control system aware of the placing of the dental instruments in the instrument-places, i.e. aware of which one of the dental instruments, if any, is in a given instrument place is such that a given instrument place is reserved only for a given kind of dental instrument, e.g. a drill or a syringe, and it is not possible to rearrange the placing of the dental instruments between the instrument-places. This approach is, however, unsatisfactory regarding situations in which one wants to arrange the placing of the dental instruments, like according to someone’s own needs and routines.

[0008] Another known approach to keep the above-mentioned control system aware of the placing of the dental instruments is such that the dental care unit comprises connection places configured to receive connectors of the instrument cables of the dental instruments, where a given one of these connection places is associated with a respective one of the instrument places. These connection places comprise identifier circuitries configured to produce, in cooperation with connectors of the instrument cables, identification signals related to the dental instruments. The identification signals make the control system aware of which one, if any, of the dental instruments connected to the dental care unit is in a given one of the instrument places and thus enable the control system to operate a correct one of the dental instruments when the dental instrument is picked up from the respective instrument place. An inconvenience related to this approach is that connection places capable of operating with different kinds of dental instruments and provided with required identifier circuitries can be complex and costly, which, in turn, increases the costs and complexity of a dental care unit. A compromise solution issuch that one or more instrument-places is / are reserved only for a given kind or kinds of dental instruments, whereas the other instrument places are provided with connection places suitable for many kinds of instruments and provided with identifier circuitries. In this compromise solution, there is, however, a trade-off between adaptability and complexity.

[0009] Summary

[0010] The following presents a simplified summary to provide a basic understanding of some embodiments of the invention. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of exemplifying embodiments of the invention.

[0011] In view of the above, a dental care unit is disclosed which comprises:

[0012] - one or more than one instrument support structure comprising instrument places designed for holding a dental instrument,

[0013] - connection places via which the dental instrument is connected or connectable, via an instrument cable, to the dental care unit, wherein the dental care unit is configured to provide, via at least one of the connection places, at least one of water and air, and

[0014] - a control system configured to recognize, in response to a detection signal, that the dental instrument is picked up from the instrument place holding the dental instrument.

[0015] The one or more than one instrument support structure is configured to allow for placing the dental instrument in more than one instrument place of the one or more than one instrument support structure. The dental care unit comprises an interactive user interface and the control system is configured to control the interactive user interface, when the instrument cable has been connected to one of the connection places, to enable a user of the dental care unit to carry out a teaching procedure, the teaching procedure comprising informing the control system in which of theinstrument places the dental instrument is located, or, when at least a first and a second dental instrument have been connected via at least a first and a second instrument cable to the connection places, the teaching procedure comprises informing the control system in which of the instrument places at least one of the first and second dental instruments is located and / or informing the control system which of the at least first and second dental instruments is located in a given one of the instrument places.

[0016] The user interface can be controlled to enable the user to carry out the teaching procedure in response to, for example, a situation in which a lid or another element of the dental care unit whose position needs to be changed in order to be able to change the placing of one or more dental instruments is returned to its position where the placing cannot be changed, a situation in which a dental instrument is connected with its instrument cable to the dental care unit, a situation in which the dental care unit is taken into use for a first time, a situation in which the user directs a predefined action to the user interface, and / or other predefined situations indicative of a change or at least a possible change in the placing of one or more dental instruments.

[0017] The above-mentioned teaching procedure makes the control system aware of which one of the dental instruments, if any, is in a given one of the instrument places and thereby the control system becomes capable of activating a correct operation of the dental care unit in response to picking up the dental instrument from the instrument place that was holding the dental instrument prior to the picking up.

[0018] In a dental care unit according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, the interactive user interface comprises a display screen and the control system is configured to control the display screen to show one or more than one picture or other identifier representing the one or more than one dental instrument and the instrument places, and to allow for the user to indicate in which of the instrument places the one or more than one dental instrument shown on the display screen is / are located, or to indicate the instrument located in a given one of the instrument places.In a dental care unit according to another exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, the control system is configured to control the interactive user interface to present identifier data of the dental instrument, and to allow for the user to indicate in which of the instrument-places the dental instrument identified by the identifier data is located.

[0019] It is to be noted that a dental care unit according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment may comprise dental instruments such as e.g. a micromotor rotary instrument, a turbine rotary instrument, a scaler, a curing instrument, a syringe, an intraoral camera, an intraoral scanner, and / or a suction instrument as integrated parts of the dental care unit, whereas, in a dental care unit according to another exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, the connection places are suitable for receiving connectors of instrument cables of dental instruments which are not integrated parts of the dental care unit. Thus, the invention covers dental care units provided with dental instruments, dental care units suitable for being connected to dental instruments, as well as dental care units provided with first one or more dental instruments and suitable for being connected to second one or more dental instruments.

[0020] In accordance with the invention, there is also provided a new method for configuring a dental care unit of the kind described above. The method comprises controlling an interactive user interface of the dental care unit, when the instrument cable has been connected to one of the connection places, to enable a user of the dental care unit to carry out a teaching procedure, the teaching procedure comprising informing the control system in which of the instrument places the dental instrument is located, or, when at least a first and a second dental instrument have been connected via at least a first and a second instrument cable to the connection places, the teaching procedure comprises informing the control system in which of the instrument places at least one of the first and second dental instruments is located and / or informing the control system which of the at least first and second dental instruments is located in a given one of the instrument places.

[0021] Various embodiments of the invention can be computer implemented invention “CH” embodiments. Therefore, in accordance with the invention, there is also provided anew computer program for configuring a dental care unit of the kind described above. The computer program comprises computer executable instructions for controlling a programmable data processing system to control an interactive user interface of the dental care unit, when the instrument cable has been connected to one of the connection places, to enable a user of the dental care unit to carry out a teaching procedure, the teaching procedure comprising informing the control system in which of the instrument places the dental instrument is located, or, when at least a first and a second dental instrument have been connected via at least a first and a second instrument cable to the connection places, the teaching procedure comprises informing the control system in which of the instrument places at least one of the first and second dental instruments is located and / or informing the control system which of the at least first and second dental instruments is located in a given one of the instrument places.

[0022] A computer program product according to the invention comprises a non-volatile computer readable medium, e.g. a compact disc “CD” or a flash memory, encoded with a computer program according to the invention.

[0023] Exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments are described in accompanied dependent claims.

[0024] Various exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments both as to constructions and to methods of manufacturing, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific exemplifying embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

[0025] The verbs “to comprise” and “to include” are used in this document as open limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of unrecited features.

[0026] The features recited in dependent claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated.

[0027] Furthermore, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an”, i.e. a singular form, throughout this document does not exclude a plurality unless otherwise explicitly stated.Brief description of figures

[0028] Exemplifying embodiments and their advantages are explained in greater detail below in the sense of examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0029] Figure 1 shows a dental care unit according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment,

[0030] Figures 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g, and 2h show views on a display of an interactive user interface of a dental care unit according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment during a teaching procedure,

[0031] Figures 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d show views on a display of an interactive user interface of a dental care unit according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment during a teaching procedure,

[0032] Figures 4a and 4b show views on a display of an interactive user interface of a dental care unit according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment during a teaching procedure,

[0033] Figure 5a and 5b show details of dental care units according to exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments, and

[0034] Figure 6 shows a flowchart of a method according to an exemplifying and nonlimiting embodiment for configuring a dental care unit.

[0035] Description of exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments

[0036] The specific examples provided in the description given below should not be construed as limiting the scope and / or the applicability of the invention. Lists and groups of examples provided in the description given below are not exhaustive unless otherwise explicitly stated.

[0037] Figure 1 shows a dental care unit 101 according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment. The dental care unit 101 is intended for use in connection with dental care work. The dental care unit 101 comprises a frame part 102 and a patient chair103 connected to the frame part 102. The dental care unit 101 comprises a support part 104 that extends vertically from the frame part 102 and support structures 105a, 105b, 105c, and 105d connected to the support part 104. The support structure 105a is configured to support an instrument support structure 106, the support structure 105b is configured to support a device 107a that may comprise e.g. an operating light used in connection with dental care operations, the support structure 105c is configured to support a part of an interactive user interface 108 of the dental care unit 101 , and the support structure 105d is configured to support a device 107b that may comprise e.g. an X-ray imaging means used in connection with dental care operations. In this exemplifying case, the interactive user interface 108 comprises display screens 117 and 118 one or both of which can be a touch screen. Furthermore, the interactive user interface 108 may comprise a keyboard, a mouse, and / or one or more other user interface devices. The dental care unit 101 may further comprise data communication means for communicatively connecting to a data network and / or to an individual computer 115. Furthermore, the dental care unit 101 may comprise a foot control device 116 by which functions of the dental care unit 101 and / or devices or structures connecting or coupled to it can be controlled.

[0038] In the exemplifying dental care unit 101 shown in figure 1 , the instrument support structure 106 is a console that comprises an instrument table that, in turn, comprises instrument places suitable for holding dental instruments typically used by a dentist. In figure 1, one of the dental instruments is denoted with reference 109. A dental instrument can be, for example, a micromotor rotary instrument such as a micromotor drill, a turbine rotary instrument such as a turbine drill, a scaler, a curing instrument, light, an intraoral camera, a syringe, an intraoral scanner, a suction instrument. Furthermore, the instrument support structure 106 comprises connection places via which the dental instruments are connected, via respective instrument cables, to the dental care unit 101. In figure 1, the instrument cable of the dental instrument 109 is denoted with reference 110. The dental care unit 101 is configured to provide, via the connection places, water and / or air. The connection places for the instrument cables are not shown in figure 1 because the connection places are inside a box 111.In the exemplifying dental care unit 101 shown in figure 1, the instrument places of the instrument support structure 106 are provided with bendable balanced arms, e.g. doriot arms. A bendable balanced arm is connected to an instrument cable and gets bent when the respective dental instrument is picked up from the instrument place under consideration. In figure 1 , the balanced arm connected to the instrument cable 110 of the dental instrument 109 is denoted with reference 112. The balanced arm 112 is configured to act as a detection means configured to produce a detection signal, in response to being bent, indicative of a situation in which the dental instrument 109 is picked up from the instrument place of the instrument support structure 106.

[0039] The exemplifying dental care unit 101 shown in figure 1 further comprises an instrument support structure 113 having instrument places suitable for holding dental instruments typically used by a dental assistant. These instrument places also can be provided with detection means configured to produce a detection signal indicative of a situation in which a dental instrument is picked up from an instrument place of the instrument support structure 113. The detection means can be for example optical, capacitive, or inductive means. The dental instruments held by the instrument support structure 113 are connected to the dental care unit 101 with instruments cables connected to connection places in the frame part 102. The connection places are not shown in figure 1.

[0040] The dental care unit 101 comprises a control system 114 configured to recognize, in response to a detection signal related to an instrument place of the instrument support structure 106 or 113, that a dental instrument is picked up from the instrument place. In the exemplifying dental care unit 101 shown in figure control system 114 is located in the frame part 102 and is schematically depicted with a dashed line. The control system 114 is advantageously configured to activate a dental instrument in response to picking up the dental instrument from the instrument place holding the dental instrument.

[0041] The instrument support structure of a dental care unit may be arranged to allow a user to arrange placing of the dental instruments in the instrument places according to needs and routines of the user. For example, the user may want a given dentalinstrument to be moved to another instrument place of the instrument support structure 106. Correspondingly, the instrument support structure 113 like the one of figure 1 may be arranged to allow a user of the dental care unit 101 to arrange the placing of the dental instruments in the instrument places of the instrument support structure 113 according to needs and routines of the user.

[0042] When activation of dental instruments is related to an instrument place from which the dental instrument is picked up, the control system 114 needs to be aware of which dental instrument locates at a given instrument place. Furthermore, the control system 114 needs to be made aware of the placing of the dental instruments in the instrument places in case placing of the dental instruments in the instrument places has changed.

[0043] In order to be aware of the placing of the dental instruments in the instrument places, the control system 114 is configured to control the interactive user interface 108 to enable the user of the dental care unit to carry out a teaching procedure informing the control system on the placing of the dental instruments in response to a predefined situation indicative of a change or at least a possible change in the placing of one or more dental instruments. Predefined situations which may have been arranged to trigger the teaching procedure include, for example, i) a situation in which a lid or another element of the dental care unit 101 whose position needs to be changed for changing the placing of one or more dental instruments is returned to its position where the placing cannot be changed, ii) a situation in which a dental instrument is connected with its instrument cable to the dental care unit 101, iii) a situation in which the dental care unit 101 is taken into use for a first time, and iv) a situation in which the user directs a predefined action to the interactive user interface 108.

[0044] In a dental care unit according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, the control system 114 is configured to control, concerning the dental instruments one-by-one, the interactive user interface 108 to present data identifying a dental instrument and to enable the user to carry out an identifier action enabling the control system 114 to recognize in which one of the instrument-places the identified dental instrument is located. The data identifying a dental instrument can be presented e.g.on the display screen 117 and / or the display screen 118. The identifier action can be, for example, picking up the currently identified dental instrument from the instrument-place holding the identified dental instruments or some other action which indicates the instrument-place holding the identified dental instrument. Picking up a dental instrument is an advantageous identifier action because the instrument places are typically provided with detection means, e.g. bendable balanced arms or optical means, for detecting picking up a dental instrument to activate the dental instrument. Thus, the same detection means can be used for the above-mentioned teaching procedure, too.

[0045] An exemplifying teaching procedure is described below with reference to figures 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g, and 2h. Figure 2a shows a view on the display 117 or 118 in a situation in which there is a need to check that the control system 114 is aware of the placing the dental instruments in the instrument places of an instrument support structure, and to carry out the teaching procedure if needed. In the exemplifying situation illustrated in figure 2a, the control system 114 has information that a camera, .for example an intraoral camera, is in instrument place 1, a curing instrument is in instrument place 2, a syringe is in instrument place 3, a scaler is in instrument place 4, a micromotor is in instrument place 5, and a turbine is in instrument place 6. If this is the true placing of the dental instruments in the instrument support structure, the user presses “OK” to confirm. In this exemplifying case, it is assumed that the true placing of the dental instruments is: the syringe is in instrument place 1 , the curing instrument is in instrument place 2, the camera is in instrument place 3, the scaler is in instrument place 4, the micromotor is in instrument place 5, and the turbine is in instrument place 6. When the control system 114 is not aware of this true placing of the dental instruments, the user may press “EDIT” to start the teaching procedure.

[0046] To start any kind of teaching procedure, a button or icon other than “EDIT” may be arranged to be displayed on the user interface.

[0047] During the teaching procedure, the control system 114 controls the display 117 or 118 to present, concerning the dental instruments one-by-one, identifier data of the dental instrument and requests the user to indicate in which of the instrument-places1-6 the dental instrument identified by the identifier data is located. Figure 2b shows a view on the display in a situation in which the display is controlled to show identifier data 221 of the syringe in forms of text and figure. The display is controlled to instruct the user to pick up the syringe from the instrument support structure. When the user picks up the syringe, the detection means, e.g. a balanced arm of an instrument place holding the syringe, informs the control system 114 which of the instrumentplaces 1 -6 relates to the syringe.

[0048] Figure 2c shows a view on the display in a situation in which the control system 114 has learned that the instrument place 1 relates to the syringe. The display is controlled to instruct the user to return the syringe to instrument place 1.

[0049] Figure 2d shows a view on the display in a situation in which the display is controlled to show identifier data of the curing instrument in forms of text and figure and to instruct the user to pick up the curing instrument from the instrument support structure. When the user picks up the curing instrument, the detection means, e.g. a balanced arm, of an instrument place holding the curing instrument informs the control system 114 which of the instrument-places 1-6 relates to the curing instrument.

[0050] Figure 2e shows a view on the display in a situation in which the control system 114 has learned that the instrument place 2 relates to the curing instrument. The display is controlled to instruct the user to return the curing instrument to instrument place 2.

[0051] Figure 2f shows a view on the display in a situation in which the instruments places 1-5 related to the syringe, the curing instrument, the intraoral camera, the scaler, and the micromotor, respectively, have been taught to the control system 114 in the above-described way, and the display is controlled to show identifier data of the turbine in forms of text and figure and to instruct the user to pick up the turbine from the instrument support structure.

[0052] Figure 2g shows a view on the display in a situation in which the control system 114 has learned that the instrument place 6 relates to the turbine. The display is controlled to instruct the user to return the turbine to instrument place 6.Figure 2h shows a view on the display in a situation in which the instrument places related to the dental instruments 1-6 have been taught to the control system 114 in the above-described way. The user is instructed to press “OK” to confirm that the control system 114 is now appropriately aware of the true placing of the dental instruments, or to press “CANCEL” to restart the teaching procedure, if needed.

[0053] In the exemplifying embodiment illustrated in figures 2a-2h, the display was used to request the user to pick up the dental instruments one-by-one. It is however also possible that the identifier date identifying a dental instrument to be picked up is given, for example, in the form of voice e.g. using recorded voice clips and speaker element.

[0054] An exemplifying teaching procedure is described below with reference to figures 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d for an exemplifying situation in which there are two, or more, similar dental instruments. In this exemplifying situation illustrated in figures 3a-3d, there are two micromotors 309a and 309b. A dentist may want different drill bits to be installed to the two micromotors 309a, 309b. Figure 3a shows a view on the display in a situation in which the control system 114 is aware of which dental instruments are in the instrument places 1-4, but there is a need to teach the control system 114 which one of the micromotors 309a and 309b is in the instrument place 5 and which one is in the instrument place 6. This may be accomplished, for example, by configuring the control system of the dental care unit to operate each of the two micromotors 309a and 309b in a predetermined way,, in the context when teaching the dental care unit at which instrument place a given micromotor is located.

[0055] In an embodiment, more generally, the dental care unit comprises connection places at which cables of dental instrument are connected and wherein the connection places may comprise identifier circuitries configured to produce, in cooperation with connectors of the instrument cables, identification signals indicative of the dental instrument connected to the instrument cable. In a case when there are identification signals from connection places which are the same, the control system of the dental care unit may be configured to consider the dental instruments connected to such instrument places similar, and be configured in such case to operate at least one ofthe similar instruments in a predetermined way, in the context when teaching the dental care unit at which instrument place a given instrument is located.

[0056] Figure 3b shows a view on the display in a situation in which the display is controlled to show identifier data of the micromotor 309a in forms of text and figure and to instruct the user to pick up the micromotor 309a from the instrument support structure. The control system 114 is configured to control the micromotor 309a to function in a predetermined way, e.g. to rotate slowly, to enable the user to distinguish which one of the micromotors 309a and 309b is identified by the identifier data.

[0057] Figure 3c shows a view on the display in a situation in which the control system 114 is aware of that the instrument place 5 relates to the micromotor 309awhich has been lifter from place 5. The display is controlled to instruct the user to return the micromotor 309a to instrument place 5. Figure 3d shows a view on the display in a situation in which the control system 114 is aware of that the instrument place 6 relates to another micromotor 309b. The instrument place of the micromotor 309b can be taught to the control system 114 in the same way as that of the micromotor 309a.

[0058] In a dental care unit according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, the control system 114 is configured to control the display screen 117 or 118 to show one or more than one picture or other identifier representing the one or more than one dental instrument and the instrument places, and to allow for the user to indicate, during a teaching procedure, in which of the instrument places the one or more than one dental instrument shown on the display screen is located, or to indicate the dental instrument locating in a given one of the instrument places.

[0059] An exemplifying teaching procedure is described below with reference to figures 4a and 4b. Figure 4a shows a view on the display 117 or 118 in a situation in which there is a need to teach the control system 114 the placing of the dental instruments in the instrument places of an instrument support structure. In the exemplifying situation illustrated in figure 4a, the control system 114 controls the display to show figures, or other symbols, of the dental instruments and a figure representing the instrument places 1-6. The figure of the turbine is denoted with reference 441. Inthis exemplifying case, the control system 114 is configured to enable the user to drag and drop the figures, or other symbols, of the dental instruments to figures of the instrument places 1-6. Figure 4b shows a view on the display in a situation in which the instruments places related to all the dental instruments have been taught to the control system 114 in the above-described way. The user is instructed to press “OK” to confirm that the control system 114 is now appropriately aware of the placing of the dental instruments, or to press “CANCEL” to restart the teaching procedure, if needed.

[0060] Figure 5a shows schematically the box 111 of the instrument support structure 106. The box 111 contains a cable holder 554 with cable places 559 (only one number “559” is presented in the figure). The cable holder 554 is configured to allow the user to change placing of the instrument cables 100 in cable places of the cable holder 554, while the box 111 is configured such that one may arrange a particular instrument cable 110 to exit from the box 111 from more than one cable place 559 without changing the instrument cable connection place 551, 552 to which an instrument cable connector 555, 556 is connected. Enabling the instrument cables crossing each other in the box 111 , one may change the order of instruments in instrument places without having the instrument cables crossing each other near instrument places of an instrument support or near the balancing arms, which could hamper use of the instruments. That is, it might be problematic if the instrument cables may cross and touch each other during use of instruments.

[0061] In figure 5a, two of the instrument cables are denoted with references 110 and 510. The cable holder 554 can be provided e.g. with slots into which the cables can be placed. In this exemplifying case, the slots of the cable holder 554 act as the above-mentioned cable places.

[0062] The box 111 of Fig. 5a is further provided with a lid 558, The lid 558 covers the cable holder 554 when the lid 558 is in a closed position, while in an open position the user may change placing of the instrument cables in the cable places of the cable holder 554. Figure 5a shows the lid 558 in the open position. The lid 558 is may be arranged to be openable by the user without a need for tools.In the exemplifying embodiment illustrated in figure 5a, there is a position sensor 553 configured to detect the open and closed positions of the lid 558. The control system 114 of the dental care unit may be configured to control the user interface to suggest to the user to initiate the above-discussed teaching procedure in response to a situation in which the lid 558 has been in the open position.. The position sensor 553 can be, for example, a mechanically controlled switch.

[0063] As discussed above, the box 111 as shown in figure 5a contains connection places 551, 552 connectable or connected to instrument cables. In a dental care unit according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, at least one of the connection places comprises an identifier circuitry configured produce, in cooperation with a connector of an instrument cable, an identification signal which is indicative of the dental instrument as an individual element or the type of the dental instrument. Two of the connectors of the instrument cables are denoted with references 555 and 556 in figure 5a. The identifier circuitry may comprise e.g. a hall sensor responsive to a magnet comprised by a connector of an instrument cable, a current source and a current sensor responsive to an identifier resistor comprised by a connector of an instrument cable, and / or a reader device suitable for reading data from a memory circuit comprised by a connector of an instrument cable.

[0064] Figure 5b shows schematically a box 511 of an instrument support structure in a dental care unit according to another exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment. The box 511 is otherwise like the box 111 , but the box 511 does not comprise a lid. Instead, the box 511 comprises a cable latch element 557 preventing changing the placing of the instrument cables with respect to the cable latch element when being in a first position and, when being in a second position, allowing for changing the placing of the instrument cables with respect to the cable latch element. Figure 5b shows the cable latch element 557 in the above-mentioned first position. The control system of the dental care unit may be configured to control the user interface to suggest to the user of the dental care unit to initiate the teaching procedure in response to a situation in which the cable latch element is moved from the second position to the first position.

[0065] In an embodiment, the box 511 comprises both the lid and the latching element 557.In an embodiment, one does not necessarily have a component which could be referred to as box, with or without a lid, but nevertheless comprises a construction which provides enough space between the cable places of the cable holder and connection places of the instrument cable connectors, so as to enable cables to cross within that space.

[0066] In one particular embodiment, the space, or the box, is not dimensioned to enable all the cables to cross but to be smaller.

[0067] In one particular embodiment, the construction is not designed to enable the cables to cross such that the connected to the leftmost cable connector place could exit from the rightmost cable place of the cable holder, and vice versa. In one particular embodiment, the box which houses the cables and wherein cables may cross each other has a height of at least 80 mm and a depth of at least 60 mm, the depth being a distance from that edge of the box at which the cable connectors are located to the edge from which the cables exit the box.

[0068] In one particular embodiment, the height of the box is between 80 mm and 120 mm and the depth between 60 mm and 100 mm,

[0069] The above dimensions of the box enable crossing of several cables in the box while not making the construction unnecessarily bulky

[0070] The implementation of the control system 114 of the dental care unit 101 can be based one or more digital processing circuits. A digital processing circuit can be a programmable processor circuit provided with appropriate software, a dedicated hardware processor such as for example an application specific integrated circuit “ASIC”, or a configurable hardware processor such as for example a field programmable gate array “FPGA”. Furthermore, the control system 114 may comprise at least one memory circuit which can be for example a Random-Access Memory “RAM” circuit or a flash memory circuit.

[0071] It should be noted that the dental care unit shown in figure 1 is only one example. Within the scope of the invention, a dental care unit can comprise e.g. more support structures or fewer support structures for different devices than included in the structure of figure 1. Also, for example the patient chair does not necessarily needto be integrated with the dental care unit, but it can be realized as a structure completely separate from the dental care unit. On the other hand, the frame structure can be arranged as an integral part of structures of a floor-mounted chair. Furthermore, instead of a structure having considerable horizontal and vertical dimensions as shown in figure 1 , the frame structure of the dental care unit can be as for its dimensions principally only a minor structure from which extend one or more than one support arm. Along with or in addition to a foot control, the arrangement can also include a graphical or other user interface. The structure of the dental care unit according to the invention is however realized such that via it are delivered or can be arranged to be delivered power, fluid and / or control signals needed for using the instruments and devices used in the dental care operations. Thus, physically this means delivering for example at least one of the following: water, compressed air, electricity, control signal.

[0072] Thus, in the context of this document, when mentioning a dental care unit it refers to a structure which includes an arrangement which enables supplying at least one of the above-mentioned or a corresponding variable to dental care instruments and / or a device used in connection with dental care work operations which are arranged in connection with the dental care unit.

[0073] Figure 6 shows a flowchart of a method according to an exemplifying and nonlimiting embodiment for configuring a dental care unit that comprises, wherein when an instrument cable has been connected to one of the connection places of the dental care unit, an interactive user interface of a dental care unit is controlled to enable a user to carry out a teaching procedure comprising informing the dental care unit in which of the instrument places the dental care instrument is located, or, when at least a first and a second dental instrument have been connected via at least a first and a second instrument cable to the connection places, the teaching procedure comprises informing dental care unit in which of the instrument places at least one of the first and second instruments is located and / or informing the dental care unit which of the at least first and second dental instruments is located in a given one of the instrument places.

[0074] :As to a dental care unit according to this disclosure, it may compriseone or more than one instrument support structure (106, 113) comprising instrument places (1-6) designed for holding a dental instrument (109),

[0075] - connection places (551, 552) via which the dental instrument (109) is connected or connectable, via an instrument cable (110), to the dental care unit, wherein the dental care unit is configured to provide, via at least one of the connection places, at least one of water and air, and

[0076] - a control system (114) configured to recognize, in response to a detection signal, that the dental instrument (109) is picked up from the instrument place holding the dental instrument,

[0077] wherein the one or more than one instrument support structure (106, 113) is configured to allow for placing the dental instrument (109) in more than one instrument place (1 -6) of the one or more than one instrument support structure.

[0078] The dental care unit further comprises an interactive user interface (108) and the control system is configured to control the interactive user interface,

[0079] i) when the instrument cable (110) has been connected to one of the connection places (551), to enable a user of the dental care unit to carry out a teaching procedure, the teaching procedure comprising informing the control system in which of the instrument places (1-6) the dental instrument is located, or,

[0080] ii) when at least a first and a second dental instrument have been connected via at least a first and a second instrument cable (110, 510) to the connection places (551.

[0081] 552), to enable a user of the dental care unit to carry out a teaching procedure, the teaching procedure comprising informing the control system in which of the instrument places (1-6) at least one of the first and second dental instruments is located and / or informing the control system which of the at least first and second dental instruments is located in a given one of the instrument places (1-6).

[0082] In an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, the interactive user interface comprises a display screen and the control system is configured to control the display screen to show one or more than one picture or other identifier representing the one or more than one dental instrument and the instrument places and to allowfor the user to indicate in which of the instrument places the one or more than one dental instrument shown on the display screen is located, or to indicate the instrument located in a given one of the instrument places.

[0083] According to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, the control system is configured to control the interactive user interface to present identifier data of the dental instrument, the identifier data identifying one of the dental instruments, and to allow for the user to indicate in which of the instrument-places the identified one of the dental instruments is located.

[0084] According to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment the control system is configured to control, when at least a first and a second dental instrument similar to each other have been connected via at least first and second instrument cables to the connection places, the first dental instrument to function in a predetermined way to enable the user to distinguish which one of the first and second dental instrument is the dental instrument currently identified by the identifier data.

[0085] In an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, the teaching procedure is configured to inform the control system i) in which one of the instrument places the dental instrument is located, or ii) which instrument is located at a given one of the instrument places, as a response of the dental instrument being picked up from the instrument place in which it is held.

[0086] In an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, at least one of the instrument places comprises a balanced arm connected or connectable to the instrument cable of the dental instrument located in the instrument-place and configured to produce the detection signal in response to picking up the dental instrument held by the instrument place from the instrument place to indicate in which one of the instrument places the dental instrument is located.

[0087] In an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, the dental care unit comprises a cable latch element configured to prevent changing a placing of the instrument cable with respect to the cable latch element when being in a first position and, when being in a second position, allowing for changing the placing of the instrument cable with respect to the cable latch element, and the method comprises controlling theinteractive user interface to suggest to the user of the dental care unit to initiate the teaching procedure in response to a situation in which the cable latch element is moved from the second position to the first position.

[0088] In an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, the instrument support structure comprises a cable holder comprising cable places, the cable holder being designed to allow for the user to change a placing of the instrument cable in the cable places of the cable holder.

[0089] In an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, the dental care unit comprises a lid covering the cable holder when being in a closed position and, when being in an open position, allowing the user to change the placing of the instrument cable in the cable places of the cable holder, and a position sensor configured to detect the open and closed positions of the lid, and the method comprises controlling the interactive user interface to suggest to the user of the dental care unit to initiate the teaching procedure in response to a situation in which the lid is moved from the open position to the closed position.

[0090] In an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, the lid (558) is the lid of a box which encloses the cable connection places and the cable places, hence housing the instrument cables when extending from the cable connection places to the cable places.

[0091] In an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, the height of the box is at least 80 mm the depth of the box is at least 60 mm, the depth being a distance from that edge of the box at which the cable connectors are located to the edge from which the cables exit the box.

[0092] In an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, the height of the box is between 80 mm and 120 mm and the depth between 60 mm and 100 mm.

[0093] In an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, at least one of the connection places comprises an identifier circuitry configured to produce, in cooperation with a connector of the instrument cable, an identification signal indicative of the dental instrument or a type of the dental instrument.In an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, the identifier circuitry comprises at least one of following: a hall sensor responsive to a magnet comprised by the connector of the instrument cable, a current source and a current sensor responsive to an identifier resistor comprised by the connector of the instrument cable, and a reader device suitable for reading data from a memory circuit comprised by the connector of the instrument cable.

[0094] In an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, when at least a first and a second dental instrument have been connected via at least a first and a second instrument cable to the connection places the dental instruments comprises one or more of following: a micromotor rotary instrument, a turbine rotary instrument, a scaler, a curing instrument, a syringe, an intraoral camera, an intraoral scanner, and a suction instrument.

[0095] As to a method according to this disclosure, to configure a dental care unit that comprises

[0096] - one or more than one instrument support structure comprising instrument places designed for holding a dental instrument,

[0097] - connection places via which the dental instrument is connected or connectable, via an instrument cable, to the dental care unit, wherein the dental care unit is configured to provide, via at least one of the connection places, at least one of water and air, and

[0098] - a control system configured to recognize, in response to a detection signal, that the dental instrument is picked up from the instrument place holding the dental instrument,

[0099] wherein the one or more than one instrument support structure is configured to allow for placing the dental instrument in more than one instrument place of the one or more than one instrument support structure,

[0100] the method comprises controlling an interactive user interface of the dental care unit,i) when the instrument cable has been connected to one of the connection places, to enable a user of the dental care unit to carry out a teaching procedure, the teaching procedure comprising informing the control system in which of the instrument places the dental instrument is located, or,

[0101] ii) when at least a first and a second dental instrument have been connected via at least a first and a second instrument cable to the connection places, to enable a user of the dental care unit to carry out a teaching procedure, the teaching procedure comprises informing the control system in which of the instrument places at least one of the first and second dental instruments is located and / or informing the control system which of the at least first and second dental instruments is located in a given one of the instrument places.

[0102] A computer program according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment comprises computer executable instructions for controlling a programmable processor to carry out steps according to any of the above-defined exemplifying embodiments.

[0103] A computer program according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment comprises software modules for configuring a dental care unit that comprises:

[0104] - one or more than one instrument support structure comprising instrument places designed for holding a dental instrument,

[0105] - connection places via which the dental instrument is connected or connectable, via an instrument cable, to the dental care unit, wherein the dental care unit is configured to provide, via at least one of the connection places, at least one of water and air, and

[0106] - a control system configured to recognize, in response to a detection signal, that the dental instrument is picked up from the instrument place holding the dental instrument,

[0107] wherein the one or more than one instrument support structure is configured to allow for placing the dental instrument in more than one instrument place of the one or more than one instrument support structure.The software modules comprise computer executable instructions for controlling a programmable processor to control an interactive user interface of the dental care unit,

[0108] i) when the instrument cable has been connected to one of the connection places, to enable a user of the dental care unit to carry out a teaching procedure, the teaching procedure comprising informing the control system in which of the instrument places the dental instrument is located, or,

[0109] ii) when at least a first and a second dental instrument have been connected via at least a first and a second instrument cable to the connection places, to enable a user of the dental care unit to carry out a teaching procedure, the teaching procedure comprises informing the control system in which of the instrument places at least one of the first and second dental instruments is located and / or informing the control system which of the at least first and second dental instruments is located in a given one of the instrument places.

[0110] The software modules can be, for example, subroutines and functions generated with a suitable programming language.

[0111] A computer program product according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment comprises a non-volatile computer readable medium, e.g. a flash memory or a compact disc “CD”, encoded with a computer program according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment.

[0112] A non-volatile computer readable medium according to an exemplifying and nonlimiting embodiment is encoded with a computer program according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment.

[0113] A signal according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment is encoded to carry information defining a computer program according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment.

[0114] The specific examples provided in the description given above should not be construed as limiting the applicability and / or the interpretation of the invention. Listsand groups of examples provided in the description given above are not exhaustive unless otherwise explicitly stated.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A dental care unit comprising:- one or more than one instrument support structure (106, 113) comprising instrument places (1-6) designed for holding a dental instrument (109),- connection places (551, 552) via which the dental instrument (109) is connected or connectable, via an instrument cable (110), to the dental care unit, wherein the dental care unit is configured to provide, via at least one of the connection places, at least one of water and air, and- a control system (114) configured to recognize, in response to a detection signal, that the dental instrument (109) is picked up from the instrument place holding the dental instrument,wherein the one or more than one instrument support structure (106, 113) is configured to allow for placing the dental instrument (109) in more than one instrument place (1-6) of the one or more than one instrument support structure, characterized in that the dental care unit comprises an interactive user interface (108) and the control system is configured to control the interactive user interface,i) when the instrument cable (110) has been connected to one of the connection places (551), to enable a user of the dental care unit to carry out a teaching procedure, the teaching procedure comprising informing the control system in which of the instrument places (1-6) the dental instrument is located, or,ii) when at least a first and a second dental instrument have been connected via at least a first and a second instrument cable (110, 510) to the connection places (551.552), to enable a user of the dental care unit to carry out a teaching procedure, the teaching procedure comprising informing the control system in which of the instrument places (1-6) at least one of the first and second dental instruments is located and / or informing the control system which of the at least first and second dental instruments is located in a given one of the instrument places (1-6).

2. The dental care unit according to claim 1 , characterized in that the interactive user interface comprises a display screen (117, 118) and the control system (114) is configured to control the display screen (117, 118) to show one or more than one picture or other identifier (441) representing the one or more than one dental instrument (109) and the instrument places (1-6), and to allow for the user to indicate in which of the instrument places (1-6) the one or more than one dental instrument (109) shown on the display screen (117, 118) is located, or to indicate the dental instrument (109) located in a given one of the instrument places (1-6).

3. The dental care unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control system (114) is configured to control the interactive user interface (108) to present identifier data (221) of the dental instrument (109), the identifier data (221) identifying one of the dental instruments, and to allow for the user to indicate in which of the instrument-places (1-6) the identified one of the dental instruments (109) is located.

4. The dental care unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the control system (114) is configured to control, when at least a first and a second dental instrument (309a, 309b) similar to each other have been connected via at least first and second instrument cables (110, 510) to the connection places (551, 552), the first dental instrument (309a) to function in a predetermined way to enable the user to distinguish which one of the first and second similar dental instruments (309a, 309b) is the dental instrument currently identified by the identifier data (221).

5. The dental care unit according to any one of claims 1 -4, characterized in that the teaching procedure is configured to inform the control system (114) i) in which one of the instrument places (1-6) the dental instrument (109) is located, or ii) which dental instrument (109) is located at a given one of the instrument places (1-6), as a response of the dental instrument (109) being picked up from the instrument place (1-6) in which it is held.

6. The dental care unit according to any one of claims 1 -5, characterized in that at least one of the instrument places (1-6) comprises a balanced arm (112) connected or connectable to the instrument cable (110) of the dental instrument (109) located in the instrument place (1-6) and configured to produce the detectionsignal in response to picking up the dental instrument (109) held by the instrument place (1-6) from the instrument place (1-6) to indicate in which one of the instrument places (1-6) the dental instrument (109) is located.

7. The dental care unit according to any one of claims 1 -6, characterized in that the dental care unit comprises a cable latch element (557) configured to prevent changing a placing of the instrument cable with respect to the cable latch element (557) when being in a first position and, when being in a second position, allowing for changing the placing of the instrument cable with respect to the cable latch element (557), and wherein the control system (114) is configured to control the interactive user interface (108) to suggest to the user of the dental care unit to initiate the teaching procedure in response to a situation in which the cable latch element (557) is moved from the second position to the first position.

8. The dental care unit according to any of the claims 1-7, characterized in that the interactive user interface (108) is configured to display a button or icon via which the teaching procedure may be started.

9. The dental care unit according to any one of claims 1 -8, characterized in that the dental care unit comprises a cable holder (554) comprising cable places (559), wherein the cable holder (554) is designed to allow for the user to change a placing of the instrument cable (110) in the cable places (559) of the cable holder.

10. The dental care unit according to claim 9, characterized in that the dental care unit comprises a lid (558) covering the cable holder (554) when being in a closed position and, when being in an open position, allowing the user to change the placing of the instrument cable (110) in the cable places (559) of the cable holder, and a position sensor (553) configured to detect the open and closed positions of the lid (558), and the control system (114) is configured to control the interactive user interface (108) to suggest tot the user of the dental care unit to initiate the teaching procedure in response to a situation in which the lid (558) is moved from the open position to the closed position.

11. The dental care unit according to claim 10, characterized in that the lid (558) is the lid of a box (111) which encloses the cable connection places (551 , 552) andthe cable places (559), hence housing the instrument cables when extending from the cable connection places (551 , 552) to the cable places (559).

12. The dental care unit according to claim 11 , characterized in that the height of the box (111 ) is at least 80 mm the depth of the box (111) is at least 60 mm, the depth being a distance from that edge of the box (111 ) at which the cable connectors are located to the edge from which the cables exit the box (111).

13. The dental care unit according to claim 12, characterized in that the height of the box (111) is between 80 mm and 120 mm and the depth between 60 mm and 100 mm.

14. The dental care unit according to any one of claims 1-13, characterized in that, when at least the first and the second dental instrument (109) have been connected via at least the first and the second instrument cable (110, 510) to the connection places (551, 552), the dental instruments comprise one or more of following: a micromotor rotary instrument, a turbine rotary instrument, a scaler, a curing instrument, a syringe, a suction instrument, an intraoral camera, an intraoral scanner.

15. The dental care unit according to any one of claims 1 -14, characterized in that at least one of the connection places (551, 552) comprises an identifier circuitry configured to produce, in cooperation with a connector (555, 556) of the instrument cable (110), an identification signal indicative of the dental instrument (109) or a type of the dental instrument (109).

16. A method for configuring a dental care unit that comprises:- one or more than one instrument support structure (106, 113) comprising instrument places (1-6) designed for holding a dental instrument (109),- connection places (551, 552) via which the dental instrument (109) is connected or connectable, via an instrument cable (110), to the dental care unit, wherein the dental care unit is configured to provide, via at least one of the connection places, at least one of water and air, anda control system (114) configured to recognize, in response to a detection signal, that the dental instrument (109) is picked up from the instrument place holding the dental instrument,wherein the one or more than one instrument support structure (106, 113) is configured to allow for placing the dental instrument (109) in more than one instrument place (1-6) of the one or more than one instrument support structure, characterized in that the method comprises controlling (601) an interactive user interface of the dental care unit,i) when the instrument cable has been connected to one of the connection places, to enable a user of the dental care unit to carry out a teaching procedure, the teaching procedure comprising informing the control system in which of the instrument places the dental instrument is located, or,ii) when at least a first and a second dental instrument have been connected via at least a first and a second instrument cable to the connection places, to enable a user of the dental care unit to carry out a teaching procedure, the teaching procedure comprises informing the control system in which of the instrument places at least one of the first and second dental instruments is located and / or informing the control system which of the at least first and second dental instruments is located in a given one of the instrument places.

17. A computer program for configuring a dental care unit that comprises:- one or more than one instrument support structure (106, 113) comprising instrument places (1-6) designed for holding a dental instrument (109),- connection places (551, 552) via which the dental instrument (109) is connected or connectable, via an instrument cable (110), to the dental care unit, wherein the dental care unit is configured to provide, via at least one of the connection places, at least one of water and air, and- a control system (114) configured to recognize, in response to a detection signal, that the dental instrument (109) is picked up from the instrument place holding the dental instrument,wherein the one or more than one instrument support structure (106, 113) is configured to allow for placing the dental instrument (109) in more than one instrument place (1-6) of the one or more than one instrument support structure, characterized in that the computer program comprises computer executable instructions for controlling a programmable data processing system to control an interactive user interface of the dental care unit,i) when the instrument cable has been connected to one of the connection places, to enable a user of the dental care unit to carry out a teaching procedure, the teaching procedure comprising informing the control system in which of the instrument places the dental instrument is located, or,ii) when at least a first and a second dental instrument have been connected via at least a first and a second instrument cable to the connection places, to enable a user of the dental care unit to carry out a teaching procedure, the teaching procedure comprises informing the control system in which of the instrument places at least one of the first and second dental instruments is located and / or informing the control system which of the at least first and second dental instruments is located in a given one of the instrument places.

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