Medical Instrument Coupling Device With Shared Power Lines

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical and dental instrument parts with electrical storage devices face challenges in simplifying the structure for energy supply and communication connections, which often require multiple electrical lines and complex interfaces, leading to space inefficiencies and potential reliability issues.

Innovation Solution

The use of two common electrical lines for both the lighting device and storage device, along with a separate data line for data transmission, simplifies the coupling device and reduces the number of electrical contacts, ensuring reliable energy supply and data transmission while minimizing space requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple separate electrical lines are used for lighting device and storage device, then each device can be independently powered, but the number of electrical contacts increases and the coupling device becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent power supplyVSAvoidcoupling device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the power supply for the lighting device and storage device into a single common electrical line, reducing the number of electrical contacts in the coupling device while maintaining independent operation of each device through separate control circuits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common electrical line serves multiple functions by providing power to both the lighting device and storage device simultaneously, making the electrical connection system more versatile and reducing overall complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple electrical lines are used for power supply and data transmission, then all functions can be supported, but the number of electrical contacts increases leading to space inefficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional capabilityVSAvoidspace requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges power transmission and data transmission functions into a single electrical line by using voltage variations to encode data signals, thereby reducing the number of required electrical contacts and saving space in the instrument component

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The electrical line is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - providing both power supply and data communication between the instrument component and external devices, making the system more space-efficient

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If wired connections with multiple electrical contacts are used, then reliable power and data transmission can be achieved, but the design becomes less compact and more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower and data transmission reliabilityVSAvoiddesign simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines power and data transmission into a single electrical connection, simplifying the coupling device design and reducing the number of contacts required while maintaining transmission reliability through encoded voltage signals

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex multi-contact mechanical electrical connections with a simplified single-contact system that uses voltage modulation for data transmission, reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3636203B1Medical or dental instrument portion, treatment device and method of operation
Publication Date: 2022.05.04 W & H DENTALWERK BURMOOS GMBH
  • EP3636203B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3636203B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5C

AI summary

Medical or dental instrument part (1), comprising: A coupling device (3) for connecting the instrument part (1) to a control, regulating or supply unit (4), an electrically powered storage device (5) for storing identification data and/or operating data and/or maintenance data of the instrument part (1) and at least one electrical line (6A, 6B) for supplying electrical energy to a lighting device (2) provided on or connectable to the instrument part (1) for operating the lighting device (2) and for supplying electrical energy to the storage device (5) for operating the storage device (5).Furthermore, a medical or dental treatment device (11) with such a medical or dental instrument part (1) and a corresponding method for supplying a lighting device (2) and a storage device (5) with electrical energy via at least one electrical line (6A, 6B) is described.