Capacitive Sensor Feedback for Medical Instrument Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical or dental treatment instruments with capacitive sensors on one-hand designs face the risk of unintentional actuation, leading to undesirable processes that may endanger users or patients due to the lack of visible controls.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a display device that optically, acoustically, or haptically indicates the actuation of the capacitive sensor, providing visible markings and vibrations to prevent unintentional actuation, and using a capacitive sensor with a sensor surface integrated into the outer sleeve to generate actuating signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a capacitive sensor is used on the outer sleeve without additional operating buttons, then the device complexity is reduced and sealing requirements are simplified, but the risk of unintentional and unnoticed actuation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by providing a display device that gives visual, acoustic, or haptic feedback to the user when the capacitive sensor is activated. This feedback mechanism allows the user to notice and control the actuation process, preventing unintentional operation while maintaining the simple capacitive sensor design without additional buttons or seals.
2Ease of operation
If the sensor surface is integrated into the outer sleeve surface, then the ease of operation is improved by providing a large touch area, but the difficulty of detecting the sensor boundaries increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by using a display device that visually indicates the sensor surface boundaries and provides feedback during actuation. The display device can show different colors or visual patterns to clearly demarcate the sensor area, making it easy for users to identify and operate the sensor while maintaining a large touch surface.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Significantly reduces the risk of unintentional actuation by providing clear feedback to the user through visual, auditory, or tactile signals, enhancing safety and operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
at least one actuating element provided on or in the outer sleeve with at least one capacitive sensor and a sensor surface provided on the outer sleeve and operatively connected to the capacitive sensor, when it is touched or when it is approached, the actuating element generates an actuating signal
Implementation Method 2
a display device having a vibration generator that generates vibrations in the form of structure-borne noise, wherein the display device is arranged on the treatment instrument that can be held in one hand and the generation of an actuating signal indicates the generation of structure-borne sound vibrations and transmission of structure-borne sound vibrations to a display surface of the display device and/or the sensor surface
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4B
Figure 5~7
AI summary
The invention relates to a medical or dental treatment instrument (1) which can be held in one hand, comprising: a single- or multi-part outer sleeve (2) and at least one control element (3) which is provided on the outer sleeve (2) and has at least one capacitive sensor (4) and a sensor surface (6 - 6C) that is provided on the outer sleeve (2) and operatively connected to the capacitive sensor (4), the control element (3) generating a control signal when said surface is contacted or approached. The treatment instrument (1) further comprises a display device (5) which is arranged on the treatment instrument that can be held in one hand and which displays the sensor surface (6 - 6C) and/or the generation of a control signal as a result of the sensor surface (6 - 6C) being contacted or the sensor surface (6 - 6C) being approached.