Dental handpiece performance sensor

Abstract

Operation of a handpiece is sensed, such as by detecting temperature and/or vibration associated with one or more of the bearing rings supporting the turbine in the handpiece. When operation exceeds a threshold, a visual or audible indication is provided, and power to the turbine may be interrupted. The sensor(s) may be built into the handpiece, or be part of a removable girdle placed on the handpiece. Typically, the handpiece is used for dental or medical applications.

1 . A removable girdle for a handpiece, the handpiece having a head with a turbine supported by at least one bearing ring, comprising:
 an element for detecting an operating condition of the at least one bearing ring, and   at least one sensor for sensing whether the detected operating condition exceeds a threshold, and for providing an indication when the threshold is exceeded.   
   
   
       2 . The removable girdle of  claim 1 , wherein the element consists of a first band configured to correspond with a back bearing ring of the handpiece, and a second band configured to correspond with a front bearing ring of the handpiece. 
   
   
       3 . The removable girdle of  claim 1 , wherein the operating condition is represented by the temperature of the handpiece head. 
   
   
       4 . The removable girdle of  claim 1 , wherein the operating condition is represented by the vibration of the handpiece head. 
   
   
       5 . The removable girdle of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is bimetallic. 
   
   
       6 . The removable girdle of  claim 1 , wherein the indication is visual. 
   
   
       7 . The removable girdle of  claim 1 , having at least one sensor for detecting the temperature of the handpiece head, and at least one sensor for detecting the vibration of the handpiece head. 
   
   
       8 . The removable girdle of  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible membrane for covering the back of the handpiece head. 
   
   
       9 . The removable girdle of  claim 1 , further comprising a stabilizer clip for supporting the girdle against the back of the handpiece head. 
   
   
       10 . The removable girdle of  claim 1 , further comprising a product tag. 
   
   
       11 . The removable girdle of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor indication and information from the product tag are provided to a controller. 
   
   
       12 . In a handpiece having a handle for enabling a user of the handpiece to hold the handpiece, and a head connected to the handle, the head including a turbine for rotating a burr and at least one bearing ring for supporting the turbine, the improvement comprising:
 an element for detecting an operating condition of the at least one bearing ring, and   at least one sensor for sensing whether the detected operating condition exceeds a threshold, and for providing an indication when the threshold is exceeded.   
   
   
       13 . The handpiece of  claim 12 , wherein the element consists of a first band configured to correspond with a back bearing ring of the handpiece, and a second band configured to correspond with a front bearing ring of the handpiece. 
   
   
       14 . The handpiece of  claim 12 , wherein the operating condition is represented by the temperature of the handpiece head. 
   
   
       15 . The handpiece of  claim 12 , wherein the operating condition is represented by the vibration of the handpiece head. 
   
   
       16 . The handpiece of  claim 12 , having at least one sensor for detecting the temperature of the handpiece head, and at least one sensor for detecting the vibration of the handpiece head. 
   
   
       17 . The handpiece of  claim 12 , further comprising a product tag. 
   
   
       18 . The handpiece of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor indication and information from the product tag are provided to a controller. 
   
   
       19 . The handpiece of  claim 18 , wherein the controller receives and stores an indication of whether usage instructions for the handpiece have been read by a user of the handpiece. 
   
   
       20 . The handpiece of  claim 12 , wherein when the threshold is exceeded, power to the turbine is terminated. 
   
   
       21 . The handpiece of  claim 12 , further comprising an indicator for indicating whether the handpiece has been sterilized subsequent to usage of the handpiece.