JP2017074296A - Portable dental practice device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable dental practice device that is unprecedented, and thereby enables training without selecting a place.SOLUTION: A portable dental practice device is a portable type used for practice for examining a periodontal pocket using a probe P. The portable dental practice device comprises: an enclosure 10 having a gripper 11 for gripping it in a portable manner; a sensor unit 20 provided in a position different from the gripper 11 in the enclosure 10, having a pressure receiving surface 23 where the tip of the probe P is pushed, and measuring the force applied from the probe P to a pressure receiving surface 23; and a data processing unit for notifying when a measured value measured by the sensor unit 20 becomes a predetermined value or higher, or displaying the measured value measured by the sensor unit 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable portable practice instrument used for practice, for example, for measuring the depth of a periodontal pocket.

  For example, for periodontal disease, the depth of the periodontal pocket is measured using a dental probe, and the progress of the period is inspected based on the depth. In such an inspection, the dental hygienist needs to handle the probe with a force of about 20 g in order to accurately measure the depth of the periodontal pocket. From this, the unskilled person must practice and learn how much sense the force of about 20 g is.

As a practice instrument used for such practice, the one shown in Patent Document 1 is known.
This practice instrument uses a jaw model having a plurality of artificial teeth, and by providing a sensor in the periodontal pocket formed around the artificial tooth, when the probe is inserted into the periodontal pocket, it is inspected. Can be detected by the sensor.

  However, this practice instrument is used in a state where it is placed on a medical table, and the practice place is limited, and there is a limit to increase the efficiency of practice.

JP 2012-181364 A

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an unprecedented portable dental practice instrument so that it can be practiced anywhere. It is.

  That is, the portable dental practice instrument according to the present invention is a portable type used for practice for inspecting a periodontal pocket using a probe, and has a gripping part for gripping it so as to be portable. A sensor unit for measuring a force applied from the probe to the pressure-receiving surface, the sensor unit having a pressure-receiving surface that is provided at a position different from the gripping unit in the housing and is pressed against the tip of the probe; And a data processing unit for notifying when the measured value measured by the unit becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value, or for displaying the measured value measured by the sensor unit.

  If it is such, since it has the holding part for holding so that it can carry, the portable practice instrument which is not in the past can be provided. This makes it possible to carry the exercise equipment to various places to practice, and even if it is a place where the exercise equipment cannot be placed, the user can hold the probe with one hand while the other It is possible to practice with the hands of the training equipment, and to improve the efficiency of the practice.

Depending on the place where the training equipment is placed, the training equipment may not be able to be placed stably. In addition, when practicing while holding the training equipment, compared to the case where the training equipment is placed, For example, the work of inserting the probe into the periodontal pocket tends to be unstable.
Therefore, the sensor unit has a pressure receiving surface against which the tip of the probe is pressed, forms an introduction space into which the probe is introduced, and the tip of the probe inserted into the introduction space serves as the pressure receiving surface. It is preferable to further include a guide surface that guides substantially perpendicularly.
If it is such, since the front-end | tip of a probe can be guide | induced substantially perpendicularly with respect to a pressure receiving surface with a guide surface, the force which handles a probe can be measured correctly.

The introduction space has a shape simulating a periodontal pocket, the guide surfaces are surfaces facing each other through the introduction space, and one is formed in a simulated gingival member simulating gingiva, and the other is It is preferably formed on a simulated tooth member that simulates a tooth.
Even such things can be practiced by simulating actual tests.

The sensor unit has a sensor body having a sensor surface, and one end is in contact with the sensor surface, and the probe is pressed against the other end to transmit force from the probe to the sensor surface. It is preferable to have a member and a holding member that holds the force transmission member so as to be slidable substantially perpendicular to the sensor surface.
With such a configuration, even if the sensor surface is curved, the force transmission member slides substantially perpendicular to the curved surface. Therefore, the sensor surface is substantially perpendicular to the sensor surface regardless of the shape of the sensor surface. It is possible to accurately measure the force applied to the.

  In order to simulate an actual inspection with high accuracy, it is preferable that the force transmission member simulates the hardness of the alveolar bone from the hardness of the gingiva.

As a specific embodiment, the casing has an elongated shape, the gripping portion is provided at one end of the casing, and the sensor portion is provided at the other end of the casing. The structure which has a sensor is mentioned.
With such a configuration, since the pressure sensor is used, the force for handling the probe can be measured with a simple configuration.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, a portable dental practice instrument can be provided, and it is possible to practice efficiently without choosing a place.

The whole figure which shows typically the portable dental practice instrument of this embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the sensor part of the embodiment typically. The functional block diagram which shows the function of the data processing part of the embodiment. The whole figure which shows typically the portable dental practice instrument of other embodiment. The functional block diagram which shows the function of the data processing part of other embodiment.

  An embodiment of a portable dental practice instrument according to the present invention will be described below.

The portable dental practice instrument 100 of this embodiment is used together with a dental probe P, and is used for practice for measuring the depth of a periodontal pocket in a periodontal disease test, for example.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, this includes a housing 10, a sensor unit 20 against which a dental probe P is pressed, and a data processing unit (not shown) such as a microcomputer built in the housing 10. ).

The housing 10 has a long plate shape made of, for example, a synthetic resin, and is placed on a table (not shown), for example, when the user performs practice.
The housing 10 has a grip portion 11 that is gripped by a user for carrying.
As shown in FIG. 1, the grip portion 11 of the present embodiment is a side surface of the one end portion 10 a of the housing 10, but the position of the grip portion 11 is not necessarily limited to the side surface of the one end portion 10 a. It is good also as an up-and-down surface in the center part of 10, or a side surface. It is conceivable that the part where the user grips the housing 10 is different depending on the user, and the part gripped by the user is the grip part 11.

A display / operation unit 30 is provided on the upper surface of the one end 10 a of the housing 10.
The display / operation unit 30 includes a display 31 and an operation unit 32 having various operation buttons such as a power button 32a, a calibration button 32b, and a hold button 32c.

The sensor unit 20 measures the pressure applied from the probe P while being pressed against the tip of the probe P, and is provided at a position different from the gripping unit 11 in the housing 10.
Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the sensor unit 20 is provided at the other end 10 b of the housing 10, and the other end 10 b can be opened and closed so as to cover the sensor unit 20. A lid 12 is further provided. The lid 12 has a slidable cap 13 so that the tip of the probe P can be pressed against the sensor unit 20 with the lid 12 closed.

  The sensor unit 20 is exposed by opening the lid 12 or by sliding the cap 13, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a simulated gingival member provided on the top of the housing 10. 21, a simulated tooth member 22, a pressure receiving surface 23 that is surrounded by the simulated gingival member 21 and the simulated tooth member 22, and a sensor body 24 provided at the bottom of the housing 10. And a force transmission member 25 interposed between the pressure receiving surface 23 and the sensor main body 24.

  The simulated gingival member 21 simulates the hardness and thickness of the gingiva, and the simulated tooth member 22 simulates the hardness and thickness of the tooth, and these form an introduction space S into which the probe P is introduced. The introduction space S is formed so as to be gradually narrowed downward. Here, the shape of the periodontal pocket, such as the depth of the periodontal pocket, is simulated.

The pressure receiving surface 23 is a plane provided below the introduction space S.
Here, the mutually opposing surfaces of the simulated gingival member 21 and the simulated tooth member 22 function as a guide surface 26 that guides the probe P substantially perpendicularly to the pressure receiving surface 23. That is, the lower end portions of the guide surfaces 26 are formed substantially perpendicular to the pressure receiving surface 23, respectively. Only the lower end portion of any one of the guide surfaces 26 may be formed substantially perpendicular to the pressure receiving surface 23.

The sensor body 24 is a capacitance type or strain gauge type pressure sensor that has a sensor surface 241 on the outer surface and detects pressure applied to the sensor surface 241 based on deformation of the sensor surface 241.
Note that the sensor surface 241 of the present embodiment is a curved surface that bulges toward the outside (upper side).

The force transmission member 25 has one end 25a abutting against the sensor surface 241 and the probe P being pressed against the other end 25b to transmit the force from the probe P to the sensor surface 241. The pressure receiving surface 23 is set on at least a part of the upper surface of the other end 25b.
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, this has a substantially T-shaped cross section comprising a columnar one end portion 25a and a flat plate-like other end portion 25b provided above the one end portion 25a. It simulates the hardness of the alveolar bone from the hardness of the gingiva.

The sensor unit 20 of the present embodiment further includes a holding member 27 that holds the force transmission member 25 so as to be slidable substantially perpendicular to the sensor surface 241.
The holding member 27 includes an upward surface 271 that contacts the downward surface of the force transmission member 25 (here, the lower surface of the other end portion 25 b) and supports the force transmission member 25, and one end portion of the force transmission member 25. 25a has a slide groove M to be inserted with some play.
More specifically, the slide groove M is a cylindrical space formed above the sensor surface 241 and extends substantially perpendicular to the sensor surface 241. As a result, the force transmission member 25 moves along the slide groove M to slide substantially perpendicular to the sensor surface 241.
A slight play is provided between the inner peripheral surface forming the slide groove M and the outer peripheral surface of the holding member 27, and little friction is generated between them.

Next, a data processing unit (not shown) will be described.
The data processing unit is physically provided with a microcomputer, a memory, an input / output means, etc., and operates according to a predetermined program stored in the memory, so that a display unit as shown in FIG. 41, it is comprised so that the function as the alerting | reporting content storage part 42 and the alerting | reporting part 43 may be exhibited. The data processing unit is of a battery drive type that is driven by, for example, a button battery built in the housing 10.

  The display unit 41 acquires a measurement value signal indicating a measurement value from the sensor unit 20 and digitally displays the measurement value on the display 31 described above.

The notification content storage unit 42 is formed in a predetermined area of the memory, and stores notification content corresponding to the measurement value.
In the present embodiment, for example, a preset lower limit value to upper limit value of the measurement value is divided into a plurality of measurement ranges, and the notification content storage unit 42 displays each measurement range and the notification content in each measurement range. It is stored in a lookup table format.
More specifically, the plurality of measurement ranges are set so that measurement values before and after a predetermined threshold are included in different measurement ranges, and the notification content is different for each measurement range, such as a melody. Notification sound.
Note that the threshold in this embodiment is set to 20 g.

The notification unit 43 acquires a measurement value signal indicating a measurement value from the sensor unit 20, compares the measurement value with a predetermined threshold value, and notifies the fact when the measurement value is equal to or greater than the threshold value. is there.
More specifically, this is configured to notify the notification content corresponding to the measurement range including the measurement value indicated by the measurement value signal with reference to the lookup table stored in the notification content storage unit 42. The notification contents different from each other before and after the predetermined threshold, that is, different notification sounds are notified.
As shown in FIG. 1, the portable dental practice instrument 100 of the present embodiment includes a speaker Z that is a sound generating unit, and the notification sound is emitted from the speaker Z.

According to the portable dental practice instrument 100 according to the present embodiment configured as described above, since the grip portion 11 to be gripped for carrying by the user is provided on the one end portion 10a of the housing 10, it has hitherto been known. There can be no portable exercise equipment.
This makes it possible to carry the practice equipment to various places and practice, and even in places where the practice equipment cannot be placed, the user can practice with the other hand while holding the probe P with one hand. It is possible to practice with the equipment, so that the efficiency of the practice can be improved and independent practice can be performed.
In addition, for example, not only immature persons, but also a dental hygienist can confirm his / her feeling using the portable dental practice instrument 100 according to the present embodiment immediately before performing an actual examination.

As described above, when practicing while holding the practice tool with one hand, for example, the work of inserting the probe P into the periodontal pocket tends to become unstable compared to the case where the practice tool is placed and practiced.
On the other hand, in the practice instrument of the present embodiment, the tip of the probe P can be guided substantially perpendicularly to the pressure receiving surface 23 by the guide surface 26, so the force when inserting the probe P into the periodontal pocket Can be measured accurately.

  In addition, the simulated gingival member 21, the simulated tooth member 22, and the force transmission member 25 simulate the hardness of the alveolar bone from the gingiva, the tooth, and the gingiva, respectively, and the introduction space S has a shape that simulates the periodontal pocket. Therefore, you can practice simulating actual tests. In addition, a jaw model or a tooth model is not used, and the design can be improved as compared with a conventional practice instrument.

  In addition, since the holding member 27 holds the force transmission member 25 so as to be slidable substantially perpendicular to the sensor surface 241, even if the sensor surface 241 is curved as in the present embodiment. Regardless of the shape of the sensor surface 241, the force applied substantially perpendicular to the sensor surface 241 can be accurately measured.

  In addition, since the sensor body 24 is a capacitance type or strain gauge type pressure sensor, the pressure applied to the sensor unit 20 from the probe P can be measured with a simple configuration.

  In addition, when the measurement value measured by the sensor unit 20 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the notification unit 43 notifies the user of the probe P without looking at the display 31 or the like. It is possible to determine whether the handling force is appropriate, and to concentrate on handling the probe P.

  Since the housing 10 includes the lid 12 that covers the sensor unit 20, dust or dust can enter the sensor unit 20 by covering the sensor unit 20 with the lid 12 except when in use. Can be prevented.

  Since the data processing unit is of a battery drive type, it can be practiced regardless of location.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

For example, the notification unit of the above embodiment notifies different notification sounds for each of a plurality of measurement ranges. However, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, for example, a plurality of lighting areas 311 are provided on the display 31. And the alerting | reporting part 43 may light the lighting area | region 311 which changes for every measurement range.
In this case, in order to be able to easily determine the force of the probe P, as the measurement value measured by the sensor unit 20 increases, the number of lighting regions 311 that are lit gradually increases. It is preferable that it is comprised.
Further, in order to more easily determine whether the force of the probe P is appropriate, for example, in each measurement range, an allowable range allowed as a force for handling the probe P and a range other than that are different from each other, It is preferable that the lighting region 311 is shaded by lighting with a light amount.

Furthermore, when the measured value measured by the sensor unit is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the notification unit notifies the notification unit with a notification sound. For example, a lighting unit using an LED or the like is provided in the housing. In addition, the notification unit may notify by lighting the lighting unit when the measured value is equal to or greater than a threshold value. Of course, the notification unit may use both sound and light.
In addition, in the above-described embodiment, different notification sounds corresponding to a plurality of measurement ranges are used, but the notification unit is configured to emit a notification sound only when the measurement value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. It doesn't matter.
In addition, for example, when the probe is inserted with being inclined with respect to the pressure receiving surface, the notification unit may notify this by turning on a notification sound or light such as an LED.
Note that the data processing unit does not necessarily have a function as a notification unit. In this case, the user may practice by confirming the force to handle the probe while observing the measured value of the sensor unit displayed on the display unit.

Although the sensor unit of the embodiment has the force transmission member and the holding member, the sensor unit may be configured without using these members.
As a specific embodiment of such a sensor unit, there is a configuration in which a sensor main body is provided below the introduction space, and the sensor surface of the sensor main body is set as a pressure receiving surface.
With such a configuration, the number of parts can be reduced, and a portable dental practice instrument with a simpler configuration can be provided.

  Although the case of the embodiment has a long plate shape, it is not always necessary to have a long shape or a plate shape. For example, the case may have a disk shape or a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

  In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Portable dental practice instrument P ... Probe 10 ... Housing | casing 11 ... Grasping part 20 ... Sensor part 23 ... Pressure receiving surface 24 ... Sensor main body 241 ... Sensor Surface 25 ... Force transmission member S ... Introduction space 26 ... Guide surface 27 ... Holding member

Claims (6)

It is a portable type used for practice to inspect periodontal pockets using a probe,
A housing having a gripping portion for gripping in a portable manner;
A sensor unit that has a pressure receiving surface that is provided at a position different from the gripping unit in the housing and that is pressed against the tip of the probe, and that measures a force applied from the probe to the pressure receiving surface;
A dental processing system characterized by comprising a data processing section for notifying when a measured value measured by the sensor section exceeds a predetermined value, or for displaying a measured value measured by the sensor section. Portable exercise equipment. The sensor unit has a pressure-receiving surface against which the tip of the probe is pressed;
2. The guide surface according to claim 1, further comprising a guide surface that forms an introduction space into which the probe is introduced and guides the tip of the probe inserted into the introduction space substantially perpendicularly to the pressure receiving surface. Portable exercise equipment for dentistry. The introduction space has a shape simulating a periodontal pocket,
The guide surfaces are surfaces facing each other through the introduction space, and one is formed on a simulated gingival member that simulates a gingiva, and the other is formed on a simulated tooth member that simulates a tooth. The dental portable practice instrument according to claim 2. The sensor unit is
A sensor body having a sensor surface;
A force transmission member that abuts the one end portion against the sensor surface and the probe is pressed against the other end portion to transmit a force from the probe to the sensor surface;
The dental transportable type according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a holding member that holds the force transmission member so as to be slidable substantially perpendicular to the sensor surface. Practice equipment.   5. The portable dental practice instrument according to claim 4, wherein the force transmission member simulates the hardness of the alveolar bone from the hardness of the gingiva. The casing is elongated,
The gripping part is provided at one end of the housing;
The dental portable practice instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sensor unit includes a pressure sensor provided at the other end of the housing.