Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Bernd Nickel

Eugen Hohmann

Wolfgang Schorr

Arthur Lewin

Josef Pabst

Werner Schwarz

Johannes Liefke

Otto Fleer

Monika Paulke

A recognition system is provided for tools, such as drill bits and milling bits, which are insertable into dental treatment instruments, each of the tools having an optimum speed at which the tool must be rotated for effective treatment. In the recognition system, each tool is provided with a code corresponding to the speed or speed graduation necessary to effectively use the tool. The system also includes a reader which reads the code on each tool, and generates identifying signals in accordance with the code, which are supplied to an evaluation logic. The logic converts the signal from the reader into control signals for the drive motor used to operate the tool, as well as indicator signals for visually displaying information relating to the tool currently in use.

Recognition system for tools insertable into dental treatment instruments

An apparatus for measuring the location and attitude, as well as, locational and attitudinal changes of a rigid body in space has a transmission system which is composed of at least three current-permeated elements arranged at right angles relative to one another and supplied with different operating frequencies by an alternating current generator. The alternating magnetic field thereby generated are received by a plurality of magnetic field sensors arranged perpendicular to one another. The magnetic field sensors are attached to the rigid body. An evaluation electronic instrument separately evaluates the signals obtained from the three different alternative fields and converts them into quantities corresponding to the position to at least one point of the body. The magnetic field sensors are preferably magnetic coils which are arranged perpendicular to one another on a coil body of non-ferromagnetic material.

Apparatus for measuring the locational and attitudinal change of a rigid

A method for measuring the position, attitude and/or positional or attitudinal change of a fixed body in space, such as the lower jaw of a patient in a dental examination, utilizes signals obtained from a number of magnetic flux pickup blocks arranged at a distance from a magnetic field generator, the magnetic field generator being disposed on or a short distance from the fixed body and generating a defined irregular field. The pickup blocks detect the field flux, or the field flux alteration, during a measurement. In order to eliminate interference signals occurring in the region of the measuring system the signals from all of the pickup blocks are first added and the aggregate interference signals formed therefrom are respectively subtracted from the individual pickup block signals.

Method for eliminating spurious signals in a measuring installation for

The illustrated embodiment employs a field generator, preferably a magnetic field generator, field flux pick-ups arranged at an interval therefrom, as well as an electronic device for the three-dimensional comprehension and evaluation of electrical signals arising in a field flux or a change of field flux. For displaying random points (P.sub.2 . . . P.sub.n) of the lower jaw (1), means are provided which identify the geometrical attitude of the points with respect to a fixed-body coordinate system (x.sub.o, y.sub.o, Z.sub.o) allocated to the lower jaw whose origin and rotational center is the measuring point (P.sub.1). Further, a coordinate converter is provided which converts the coordinates (x.sub.o, y.sub.o, z.sub.o) related to the lower jaw into the coordinates (.DELTA.x.sub.2, .DELTA.y.sub.22 .DELTA.z.sub.2) of the stationary coordinate system (X, Y, Z). Further, summing amplifiers are provided which add the adjustment magnitudes (.DELTA.x.sub.2, .DELTA.y.sub.2, .DELTA.z.sub.2) of the jaw-related coordinates to the coordinates (x.sub.1, y.sub.1, z.sub.1) of the measuring point (P.sub.1). The device is particularly employed in gnathography.

Device for measuring the location, the attitude and/or a change of

In an exemplary embodiment, a field generator preferably a magnetic field generator which generates a defined irregular field is arranged directly on the body or at an interval thereto, pickups independent of the body are arranged at an interval from the field generator, said pickups having field-flux-dependent sensor elements for sensing a field flux or, respectively, a change of field flux during a measurement, and an electronic circuit obtains and evaluates electric signals arising in a field flux or, respectively, a field flux change. The sensor elements of the pickups or, respectively, the reference points of the pickups decisive for sensing the field flux or the change of field flux are arranged in such manner that they form the corner points of a cuboid. Thereby, the field generator is arranged within a space determined by the cuboid. The device is particularly provided for use in dental medicine, namely for sensing the lower jaw movement of a patient.

Device for measuring the location, attitude and/or change of location

In an exemplary embodiment, a magnetic field generator is arranged directly on the body or at an interval therefrom, and is designed in such manner that it generates a defined irregular field. For determining the field flux, a plurality of magnetic flux pick-ups with magnetic flux-dependent sensor elements are arranged on a carrier at an interval from one another in at least two, preferably in three, planes which stand perpendicular to one another. Moreover, the arrangement is executed in such manner that a free space is formed between the magnetic flux pick-ups corresponding to the intervals therebetween. The device is suited in particular for employment in dental medicine, and, namely, for the determination of lower jaw movements in a patient.

Device for the measurement of the location, the position and/or the

A hand-held instrument is illustrated wherein a counting cycle may be initiated by pressing the active electrode against a tooth to be examined. A digital to analog converter controls a battery operated current source to supply stimulating current pulses whose intensity is linearly increased in steps at the counting rate, independently of the electrical resistance presented by the external current flow path. The counter controls an indicator which displays the successive output current values, and displays the last reading for a predetermined time interval at the end of the counting cycle.

Electrical pulp testing instrument

An electric fluid heating device for heating comparatively small amounts of a fluid mdium, particularly for dental purposes, is characterized in that an operable controllable semiconductor, such as a transistor, is used as the heating element. The fluid heating device includes a metallic casing provided with a fluid heating chamber having a fluid inlet and outlet. The semiconductor is seated in a recess in the casing in heat exchange relation with the chamber. A temperature responsive control circuit including a PTC resistor in heat exchange relationship with the chamber is provided for regulating the current flowing through the semiconductor and thus the heat output thereof. The casing is made in two parts to permit a damaged smiconductor to be easily removed and replaced.

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Lorsch, Germany

Bernd Nickel