Multi-Camera Dental Handpiece for Blind Spot Elimination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dental handpieces with mounted camera modules often experience a blind spot for the drilled face due to the positional relationship of the drilling tool, light entry, and teeth, making it impossible to observe the drilled area effectively.

Innovation Solution

A dental handpiece device equipped with multiple camera modules that convert images to electric signals, a processing means to determine visibility of the drilled area, and the ability to switch between camera modules to ensure the area is always visible, using a priority system and a predetermined time suspension before switching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single camera module is mounted on the dental handpiece, then the device structure remains simple, but the drilled face may be in a blind spot and cannot be captured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of drilled faceVSAvoidnumber of camera modules
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the imaging function into multiple camera modules, each positioned at different locations around the tool mounted part. This segmentation allows the system to capture the drilled face from multiple angles, ensuring no blind spots exist while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-point imaging approach to a multi-point imaging approach by positioning camera modules at different spatial dimensions around the tool. This dimensional expansion ensures comprehensive coverage of the drilled face from various angles, eliminating blind spots.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If multiple camera modules are mounted to eliminate blind spots, then the visibility of the drilled face improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of drilled faceVSAvoidnumber of camera modules
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the imaging system universal by enabling multiple camera modules to serve the same imaging function. The processing means automatically selects and switches between modules based on the drilling state, allowing any module to serve as the active imaging device while maintaining comprehensive coverage.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The processing means automatically determines which camera module should be active based on the drilling state and switches between modules without manual intervention. This self-service mechanism reduces operational complexity while ensuring optimal visibility of the drilled face at all times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the camera module position is fixed, then the device structure is simple, but the drilled face cannot be captured when in certain positional relationships with the tool and teeth

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapture capability of drilled faceVSAvoidcamera module positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic positioning by enabling the system to switch between multiple camera modules based on the drilling state. This dynamic adaptation allows the imaging system to maintain optimal capture capability regardless of the relative positions of the tool, teeth, and drilled face, eliminating fixed-position limitations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of camera module selection based on the drilling state. The processing means adjusts which camera module is active according to the positional relationship between the tool, teeth, and drilled face, ensuring optimal capture capability by selecting the appropriate module for each drilling condition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Prevents the drilled face from being in a blind spot during drilling, enhancing the visibility and accuracy of the drilling process, thereby improving the practitioner's operability and convenience.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of camera modules (15) which take an image, to convert the image, which is taken, to an electric signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric conversion: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3470007B1Dental handpiece device
Publication Date: 2021.07.28 GC CORP
  • EP3470007B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3470007B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3470007B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

To provide a dental handpiece device that can suppress a case where a drilled face is in a blind spot, and thus cannot be observed, this dental handpiece device includes: a dental handpiece main body; and a dental handpiece imaging device with which the dental handpiece main body is equipped, wherein the dental handpiece imaging device includes: a plurality of camera modules each of which takes an image, to convert the image, which is taken, to an electric signal; and a processing means that receives the electric signal from each of the camera modules, to calculate for generating an image based on the electric signal, and to switch a display of the image, which is taken by each of the camera modules.