Dental Laser Beam Alignment Using Handpiece Feedback Control

Solution Overview

Problem

Dental laser systems face alignment challenges due to vibrations, misalignment, and thermal deformations, leading to inefficient and unreliable beam guidance, which requires frequent and time-consuming adjustments by trained personnel.

Innovation Solution

A feedback-controlled beam guidance system using a laser beam presence detector and a processor to adjust the beam path, ensuring accurate alignment of the laser beam through a handpiece/main chamber assembly, with sensors providing signals to direct the beam to the center of the beam exit and correct for misalignments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a beam guidance system is used to direct the laser beam through an articulated arm and handpiece, then the laser can treat hard and soft tissue effectively, but alignment errors accumulate over time due to vibrations, thermal deformations, and mechanical drift

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam alignment reliabilityVSAvoidbeam alignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A sensor is positioned to detect the laser beam at a known location within the handpiece, and a processor receives signals from this sensor to automatically adjust the beam guidance system, creating a closed-loop feedback mechanism that maintains alignment despite vibrations, thermal deformations, and mechanical drift

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-alignment by using the sensor to detect beam position and automatically adjusting the beam guidance system through processor-controlled feedback, eliminating the need for manual realignment by trained personnel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If manual alignment adjustment is performed by trained personnel, then beam alignment can be corrected, but the process is time-consuming and requires specialized training

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam alignment precisionVSAvoidalignment adjustment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-alignment by using the sensor to detect beam position and automatically adjusting the beam guidance system through processor-controlled feedback, eliminating the need for manual realignment by trained personnel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical adjustment by personnel is replaced with an automated sensor-based detection and processor-controlled adjustment system, substituting human operation with automated control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If the laser beam is transmitted through an articulated arm with multiple components, then flexibility and ergonomics are improved, but the number of potential alignment error sources increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandpiece manipulation easeVSAvoidbeam path complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A sensor is positioned to detect the laser beam at a known location within the handpiece, and a processor receives signals from this sensor to automatically adjust the beam guidance system, creating a closed-loop feedback mechanism that maintains alignment despite vibrations, thermal deformations, and mechanical drift

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

A sensor acts as an intermediary element within the handpiece to detect beam position and provide feedback signals, serving as a mediator between the beam guidance system and the control processor to enable automatic alignment correction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The system enables efficient, accurate, and user-friendly automatic alignment of the dental laser beam, reducing the need for frequent adjustments and improving the reliability of the treatment process by maintaining precise beam alignment.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor aligned with the inlet and adapted to provide a first signal indicating presence of laser energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric Effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3226797B1Systems for alignment of a laser beam

Publication Date: 2024.03.20 CONVERGENT DENTAL INC

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

A dental laser treatment system includes a treatment laser beam and a pilot (e.g., aiming/marking) laser beam sharing a collinear beam path, where the beam path is guided by a guidance system through a handpiece/main chamber assembly having a beam exit. A laser beam presence detector is removably affixed to or within the handpiece/main chamber assembly. The laser beam presence detector provides feedback to a computer which can control actuation of the treatment laser beam and the pilot laser beam, and the beam guidance system. The computer performs a search for determining the center location of the beam exit based on the feedback and controls the beam guidance system to guide the beam path approximately to the center of the beam exit, thereby providing automatic alignment of the laser beam with the beam exit or an optional hollow waveguide.