KR101851609B1 - Sterilizing apparatus for oral scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a disinfecting apparatus for disinfecting an oral scanner which is inserted into an oral cavity of a dental patient and which treats three-dimensional information of the in-oral structure to be used for dental treatment. The disinfecting apparatus comprises a disinfecting apparatus for disinfecting an oral- A mounting part for defining a mounting space in which an insertion port for inserting a probe of the oral scanner is installed in the upper part of the probe; A sensing unit for sensing a probe that is inserted through the insertion port; A supply part for supplying a cleaning liquid to the mounting space; A heating unit for applying heat to the stationary space; A controller for activating the supply unit and the heating unit as the sensing unit senses the probe; And a disinfection guide unit for informing that the supply unit and the heat generating unit are being disinfected upon activation.

Description

[0001] STERILIZING APPARATUS FOR ORAL SCANNER [0002]

The present invention relates to a disinfecting apparatus for an oral scanner, and more particularly, to an apparatus for disinfecting an oral scanner for sterilizing an oral scanner, which is inserted into the oral cavity of a dental patient to treat three-dimensional information on the intraoral structure for dental treatment.

To treat a dental patient, the dentist must be provided with accurate information about the oral structure of the dental patient. To this end, it has been necessary to accurately and more effectively model three-dimensional structures in the oral cavity, and a mouth scanner has been developed in which three-dimensional data of structures in the oral cavity is obtained by directly scanning the oral cavity.

The oral scanner as described above is expensive and can be reused repeatedly, unlike a device that is discarded without being repeatedly reused such as a syringe. Therefore, the disinfection process such as sterilization and deodorization should be performed according to the repeated use of the oral scanner. If the disinfection process is insufficient, it may cause bacterial or viral infection.

Conventional disinfection and sterilization apparatuses for dental medical devices are generally disinfected using an ultraviolet lamp as disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 10-2006-0002349.

However, according to the above-described conventional disinfecting and sterilizing apparatus, ultraviolet rays of UV-A and UV-C wavelengths are irradiated through a UV (Ultra Violet ray) light emitting diode (LED) When UV-A having a wavelength of about 315 nm to 400 nm which is harmless to the human body is used, there is no antibacterial effect and sterilization can not be practically performed. When UV-C having a wavelength of about 200 nm to 280 nm is used There is a disinfecting effect that destroys DNA (DeoxyriboNucleic Acid), but it is harmful to human body.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2006-0002349

Disclosure of the Invention In order to solve the above problems, the present invention disinfects a probe, which is a part of the mouth scanner that enters the oral cavity, with a cleaning liquid such as alcohol or a disinfectant, The present invention also provides a disinfection apparatus for a mouth scanner that can provide a sense of hygiene to a patient by informing the user that the disinfection process is being performed.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for disinfecting an oral-use scanner, the apparatus comprising: an insertion port for inserting a probe of the oral-type scanner; A mounting portion defining a mounting surface; A sensing unit for sensing a probe that is inserted through the insertion port; A supply part for supplying a cleaning liquid to the mounting space; A heating unit for applying heat to the stationary space; A controller for activating the supply unit and the heating unit as the sensing unit senses the probe; And a disinfection guide unit for informing that the supply unit and the heat generating unit are being disinfected upon activation.

Here, the supply unit may include: a storage unit that stores and removes the cleaning liquid; A nozzle unit for supplying the cleaning liquid in the storage unit to the mounting unit; And a supply amount adjusting unit adjusting the amount of the cleaning liquid supplied through the nozzle unit by a predetermined amount at a time under the control of the control unit.

The cleaning liquid may be any one of a wave index and ethanol.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a disinfection apparatus for disinfecting an object to be sterilized, the disinfecting apparatus comprising: Can be guided by voice.

The display unit may display the number of disinfections after the storage unit is mounted under the control of the control unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a disinfecting apparatus for removing contaminants from an oral scanner, the apparatus comprising: a receiver for receiving a portion of the oral scanner probe; A supply part for supplying a disinfectant to the mounting part; A nozzle unit connecting the inside of the stationary part and the supply part; And a supply amount adjusting unit connected to the supply unit to supply the first pressure to the storage unit to supply the disinfectant.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface of a probe of a mouth, the cleaning probe being connected to the mounting unit.

The washing unit may be installed to be connected to rotation driving means for relatively moving the disinfectant and the oral scanner probe.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine,

Meanwhile, the control unit may adjust the first pressure so that the nozzle unit injects the disinfectant liquid at a constant pressure.

The apparatus may further include a heating unit for heating the inside of the mounting unit.

According to the present invention described above, disinfecting the probe, which is a part of the mouth scanner which enters into the oral cavity, with a cleaning liquid such as alcohol or a disinfectant, and drying by applying heat, unlike the disinfection method using an ultraviolet lamp, There is harmless effect.

In addition, according to the present invention described above, the oral scanner is informed that the disinfection process is being performed, thereby providing a patient with a sense of security against hygiene.

1 is a view showing an apparatus for disinfecting a mouth scanner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a structure of a disinfecting apparatus for a mouth scanner according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a detailed view showing the appearance of the display unit of the oral disinfector according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments of the present invention can be modified into various other forms, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. The shape and the size of the elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

And throughout the specification, when a part is referred to as being "connected" to another part, it includes not only "directly connected" but also "electrically connected" with another part in between. Furthermore, when a component is referred to as being "comprising" or "comprising", it is to be understood that this does not exclude other components, do.

Furthermore, the terms "first "," second ", and the like are used to distinguish one element from another element, and the scope of the right should not be limited by these terms. For example, the first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as a first component.

FIG. 1 is a view showing an apparatus for disinfecting an oral scanner according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing the structure of an apparatus for disinfecting an oral scanner according to an embodiment of the present invention. The oral disinfecting apparatus according to the example includes a mounting unit 100, a sensing unit 200, a supplying unit 300, a heat generating unit 400, a control unit 500, a disinfecting guide unit 600, and a display unit 700 can do.

The mounting portion 100 defines a mounting space in which the probe 10 is inserted therein as shown in FIG. 2 by providing an insertion port 110 through which the probe 10 of the oral scanner is inserted. Here, the mounting portion 100 receives the cleaning liquid for disinfecting the probe 10 from the supply portion 300 in the mounting space, and receives heat for drying the probe 10 after disinfection from the heating portion 400 .

On the other hand, the mounting part 100 may have a function of turning the mounting space to rotate in order to provide a stronger disinfecting function. For example, a cleaning part (not shown) in the form of a rotary plate capable of rotating the liquid in the cylindrical form or the mounting space for rotating the mounting space itself is connected to the inside of the mounting part 100, The surface may be provided with a cleaning force by the flow of the cleaning liquid or the disinfectant liquid.

 Here, the cleaning unit attaches a cloth cleaning material to the inner wall of the storage space as well as the cleaning liquid according to the flow of the cleaning liquid or the liquid described above, and provides a cleaning force according to the friction that the cleaning cloth is in close contact with the probe 10 of the oral- You may. Such a washing section may be connected to a separate rotation driving means (not shown) so that relative movement between the cleaning liquid or the disinfectant liquid and the probe 10 of the oral scanner can be performed, so as to be provided with a rotational force corresponding to the tubular or spiral shape .

The sensing unit 200 senses the probe 10 that is inserted through the insertion port 110 and transmits the sensed result to the controller 500. Here, the sensing unit 200 may include a proximity sensor attached near the insertion port 110, for example, a magnetic sensor using a magnet, or a capacitive sensor for detecting a change in capacitance between the oral scanner and the proximity sensor . The sensing unit 200 may be a pressure sensor mounted on the bottom surface of the mounting unit 100, but is not limited thereto.

The supply unit 300 supplies the cleaning liquid or the disinfectant 311 to the mounting space in the mounting unit 100 under the control of the control unit 500. Here, the washing liquid or the disinfectant 311 is preferably Pine-Dex or ethanol which is a non-toxic disinfectant, but is not limited thereto. That is, the cleaning liquid or the disinfectant 311 can be any substance as long as the liquid having disinfection characteristics is harmless to the human body and has a sufficiently low boiling point and it is not necessary to apply high temperature heat for evaporation.

At this time, the supply unit 300 may include a storage unit 310, a nozzle unit 320, and a supply amount control unit 330.

The storage unit 310 is preferably in the form of a cartridge which stores the cleaning liquid or the disinfectant 311 and is detachable from the apparatus of the present invention. That is, the storage unit 310 may be a cartridge capable of storing a cleaning liquid such as ethanol. The user can replenish the cleaning liquid in the storage unit 310 after the cleaning liquid in the storage unit 310 is completely exhausted. At this time, the capacity of the storage unit 310 may be a capacity capable of storing a cleaning liquid capable of disinfecting about 10 times to 30 times, preferably about 20 times. Here, it is preferable to provide a structure in which a cartridge, which is the storage part 310, is led out when a separation button (not shown) is provided outside the apparatus body of the present invention and the upper housing including the mounting part 100 is separated.

The nozzle unit 320 supplies the cleaning liquid or the disinfectant 311 in the storage unit 310 to the mounting space of the mounting unit 100 under the control of the supply amount adjusting unit 330. 2, the nozzle unit 320 may be connected to the mounting space through a hole provided in the bottom surface of the mounting space, but may include a plurality of holes on the wall surface in the mounting space, And a method of spraying the cleaning liquid with a positive pressure toward the cleaning liquid.

On the other hand, the supply amount adjusting unit 330 adjusts the amount of the cleaning liquid or the disinfectant 311 supplied through the nozzle unit 320 under the control of the control unit 500 to a predetermined amount at a time. Here, the supply amount regulating unit 330 can use any structure as long as it can supply a predetermined amount of fluid, and various methods such as a method using an elastic force and a method using a first pressure 331 can be applied . For example, the supply amount regulating unit 330 is provided separately with a constant amount discharging unit (not shown) for storing a predetermined amount of the cleaning liquid, and through the pressing unit (not shown) for applying pressure to the constant amount discharging unit, It is possible to spray the cleaning liquid through the nozzle unit 320.

Here, when the supply amount adjusting unit 330 uses the first pressure 331, the control unit 500 is electrically connected to the supply amount adjusting unit 330 to generate a predetermined control signal, 330 to adjust the first pressure 331 provided by the supply amount regulator 330. For example, the control unit 500 may control the first pressure 331 (see FIG. 3) depending on the amount of the cleaning liquid or the disinfectant 311 in the storage unit 310 so that the nozzle unit 320 can inject the cleaning liquid or the disinfectant 311 with a positive pressure. ) Can be adjusted.

At this time, it is preferable that the amount of the cleaning liquid predetermined at one time is such that an amount of about 85 mm of the probe 10 can be immersed in the cleaning liquid in the mounting space, and the depth of the probe 10 into the oral cavity is about 70 mm to 80 mm . Here, in the case of a general oral scanner, the upper length may correspond to about two-thirds of the total length of the probe 10.

In addition, the heat generating unit 400 applies heat to the mounting space in the mounting unit 100 under the control of the control unit 500. Here, the heat generating unit 400 may be a hot line built in the mounting space wall in the mounting unit 100 as shown in FIG. At this time, the heat generating part 400 is heated so that the temperature of the mounting space becomes a temperature exceeding 78.37 ° C in the case of the boiling point of the cleaning liquid, for example, ethanol. The heat generating part 400 may generate heat at a temperature relatively lower than the heat generating temperature according to the thermal sterilization method. That is, the apparatus of the present invention has an advantage that it can prevent the probe 10 from being deformed due to heating at a high temperature as well as the power consumed by the heater 400 is low.

The control unit 500 activates the supplying unit 300 and the heating unit 400 as the sensing unit 200 senses the probe 10. That is, when the probe 10 is inserted through the insertion port 110, the control unit 500 recognizes the probe 10 through the sensing unit 200 and controls the supply amount control unit 330 in the supply unit 300, So that it is sprayed into the mounting space. Then, the control unit 500 activates the heat generating unit 400 to dry the probe 10 when the spraying of the cleaning liquid through the supplying unit 300 is completed.

The disinfection guide unit 600 informs the control unit 500 that the disinfection is performed when the supplying unit 300 and the heat-generating unit 400 are activated. In particular, it is preferable to inform the progress of disinfection by voice. For example, the disinfection guide unit 600 can generate a warning message such as "disinfecting now" during the disinfection, and can "start disinfecting "," , "Probe is drying ", and" Disinfection is complete. " The disinfecting guide unit 600 disinfects the probe 10 of the oral scanner in this manner and informs the user of the fact that the probe 10 is in use, thereby promoting the hygienic use of the oral scanner to the patient using the oral scanner.

On the other hand, the display unit 700 can visually display whether the supplying unit 300 and the heat generating unit 400 are activated under the control of the control unit 500, and display the number of disinfections after the storage unit 310 is mounted .

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a display unit of the disinfecting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the operation of the disinfecting apparatus of the present invention will be described as follows .

First, the user removes the upper housing including the mounting portion 100 of the apparatus main body of the present invention, and draws out the cartridge which is the storage portion 310. [

Thereafter, the cartridge serving as the storage unit 310 is filled with a cleaning liquid such as ethanol. In some cases, the wave index may be used as a cleaning liquid.

Next, after mounting the cartridge, the upper housing including the mounting portion 100 is fastened.

Thereafter, the apparatus is activated through the power button 800 as shown in FIG. 3, and the sensing unit 200 continuously performs an operation of determining whether the probe 10 of the oral scanner is inserted .

If the probe 10 of the oral scanner is inserted through the insertion port 110 in the downward direction 11, the sensing unit 200 informs the control unit 500 that the probe 10 has been inserted.

Next, the control unit 500 controls the supply amount adjustment unit 330 in the supply unit 300 so that a predetermined amount of the cleaning liquid is jetted into the mounting space. Then, the control unit 500 activates the heat generating unit 400 to dry the probe 10 when the spraying of the cleaning liquid through the supplying unit 300 is completed.

At this time, the control unit 500 controls the disinfection guide unit 600 and the display unit 700 to voice and inform the user and the patient of the progress of disinfection through the LED indicator as shown in FIG.

Meanwhile, the control unit 500 controls the display unit 700 to display the number of disinfections after the storage unit 310 is mounted, as shown in FIG. 3, so that the user can determine the timing for supplying the cleaning liquid.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, It will be clear to those who have.

100:
200:
300:
310:
320:
330:
400:
500:
600: disinfection guide
700:

Claims (11)

A disinfecting device for disinfecting an oral scanner,
A mounting portion for defining a mounting space in which an insertion port for inserting a probe of the mouth scanner is installed in the upper portion and in which the probe is mounted;
A sensing unit for sensing a probe that is inserted through the insertion port;
A supply part for storing the cleaning liquid and including a detachable storage part to supply the cleaning liquid to the mounting space;
A heating unit for applying heat to the mounting space in excess of the boiling point of the cleaning liquid to dry the probe;
A controller for activating the supply unit and the heating unit as the sensing unit senses the probe; And
A disinfection guide unit for informing that the supply unit and the heat generating unit are being disinfected upon activation; And
And a display unit for visually displaying whether or not the supply unit and the heat generating unit are activated under the control of the control unit,
Wherein the display unit displays the number of disinfections after the storage unit is mounted under the control of the control unit.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the supply unit includes:
A nozzle unit for supplying the cleaning liquid in the storage unit to the mounting unit; And
And a supply amount adjusting unit that adjusts the amount of the cleaning liquid supplied through the nozzle unit to a predetermined amount at a time under the control of the control unit.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the cleaning liquid is any one of a wave index and ethanol.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the disinfection guide unit audibly informs that the disinfection is being performed.
delete delete delete delete delete delete delete

Images