Abstract:
The invention relates to a method, a machine-readable data carrier as well as a computer for commonly transmitting or receiving or dispatching data for dental prostheses and for product orders as well as dental prostheses or products.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to German Patent Application No. 10 2006 061134.9 filed Dec. 22, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to methods concerning the transport of dental prostheses. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is well-known that a dentistry laboratory or a dental surgery send a model data record for the manufacture of a dental prosthesis to a dental prosthesis manufacturing center, the latter manufactures the dental prosthesis and dispatches the same to the dentistry laboratory or the dental surgery in a parcel, for example with a parcel service. To this end, a certain infrastructure has to be created, such as, for example, a computer with a remote transmission connection as well as means that can handle the dispatch of relatively large amounts of manufactured dental prostheses as automated as possible. 
         [0004]    Dentistry laboratories and dental surgeries furthermore sometimes need material that is normally supplied by wholesalers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is the object of the present invention to provide methods, a machine-readable data carrier as well as a computer for a more efficient utilization of the infrastructure for the supply of dental surgeries or dentistry laboratories. 
         [0006]    This object is achieved with the method according to claims  1 ,  6 ,  8  and  10 , the machine-readable data carrier according to claim  12 , and the computer and/or system according to claim  14 . Preferred embodiments are disclosed in the depending claims. 
         [0007]    In one method, the data records, such as a model data record for a dental prosthesis as well as a data record for ordering products, such as dentistry laboratory or dental surgery accessories, are created on one and the same computer. The two data records can be transmitted via the remote data transmission means provided for the computer. It is preferred to transmit the two data records together. However, they can also be sent successively or to different points independent of one another. However, preferably the same remote data transmission means of the one computer is always used. 
         [0008]    The remote data transmission means can comprise or be, for example, an Internet connection. 
         [0009]    Particularly advantageous is a method in which the data record for the manufacture of a dental prosthesis or, during the creation of the first data record, respectively, information for the creation of the second data record are gathered or generated. Thus, certain dental prostheses can require, for example, a certain cement or adhesive, in particular in a case where particular adhesion problems or stability problems have to be expected with the dental prosthesis, so that certain special cements or special adhesives should be employed. The information about such required or recommended substances, such as adhesives, cements or similar accessories, can be acquired by means of the information of the first data record or the step of creating the first data record and correspondingly processed for a second data record. 
         [0010]    During the creation of a model data record for the manufacture of a dental prosthesis, for example the volume or area for which cement or adhesive is required can also be determined. Correspondingly, a required amount of adhesive or cement can be calculated, and these information can be worked into the second data record, so that then, for example, a corresponding amount of adhesive or cement is portioned or an appropriate pre-portioned amount is selected and sent to the dentistry laboratory or the dental surgery. To this end, one can, for example, access the data of the first data record when the data of the second data record are created. 
         [0011]    The data of the first record and the data of the second record are preferably created not only on one and the same computer, but also with one and the same software. This facilitates a possible overlapping of the software components for the creation of the two data records and also permits a corresponding efficient utilization of the computer resources. 
         [0012]    When the second data record is created, an electronic product catalogue is preferably used. The product catalogue can be stored on the computer on which the two data records are created. However, it can also be stored at another location, so that one can access the product catalogue via remote data transmission. This permits central creation and updating of a corresponding product catalogue. The catalogue can comprise more than ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousands or a hundred thousands products. 
         [0013]    Another method relates to the reception of data records and their corresponding processing. The method comprises the step of receiving a first data record from a user, the data record being transmitted via remote data transmission and being required for the manufacture of dental prostheses. This data record or a part thereof or a data record acquired therefrom can be forwarded to a dental prosthesis manufacturing system. Furthermore, a second data record of the user is received, this second data record concerning the dispatch of products, such as accessories for a dentistry laboratory or a dental surgery. A corresponding data record is forwarded to a product dispatch system. The two data records can be transmitted as a unit and be divided into the two data records only after this unit has been received. The two data records can, however, also have been transmitted separately by the same user and correspondingly received separately. 
         [0014]    The second data record or data acquired from it can be forwarded to the product dispatch system by means of remote data transmission, the data then being transmitted, as a rule, to an external company. However, the forwarding can also be effected locally, such as in a local network, within a company if the product dispatch system is operated by the same company as the dental prosthesis manufacturing system. 
         [0015]    Furthermore, the invention relates to a method wherein two data records of one and the same user are received, wherein one data record concerns the manufacture of dental prostheses and the other one concerns the dispatch of products. Both data records are received in a dental prosthesis manufacturing center. Furthermore, the dental prosthesis is manufactured and the dental prosthesis is dispatched together with the one or several products. As dental prostheses are anyway correspondingly dispatched by a dental prosthesis manufacturing center, at the same time, however, have a virtually negligible weight, a corresponding dispatch can be additionally used for the dispatch of further products, such as dentistry laboratory or dental surgery accessories. The infrastructure required for the dispatch of such dental prostheses can be used more efficiently in this manner. This is in particular true if in a dental prosthesis manufacturing center, for example, several hundreds, thousands or ten thousands of dental prostheses are manufactured and dispatched on one single day. 
         [0016]    The product data given in the second data record can be transmitted by the dental prosthesis manufacturing center to another location via remote data transmission, and corresponding products can be dispatched from there to the dental prosthesis manufacturing center. In this case, the dental prosthesis manufacturing center can have a delivery of a relatively high number of products from several second data records at a time, so that this, too, results in an efficient use of resources. 
         [0017]    Furthermore, the invention relates to a method, wherein a dental prosthesis is manufactured, one or several products are provided and the dental prosthesis and the one or several products are packed into a common parcel and this one parcel is then dispatched. For the above-mentioned reasons, this results in an efficient use of the infrastructure for the dispatch of dental prostheses. 
         [0018]    The invention further relates to a machine-readable data carrier with instructions for carrying out one of the above-mentioned methods with a computer. 
         [0019]    The machine-readable data carrier can comprise instructions for a first module for acquiring data for the manufacture of a dental prosthesis and concern instructions for a second module for acquiring data concerning the dispatch of products. The two modules are corresponding software modules which are preferably modules of the same software. 
         [0020]    Furthermore, the invention relates to a computer which is designed for carrying out one of the methods mentioned above or below. The invention also relates to a system which can be, for example, provided with such a computer and which furthermore comprises e.g. a dental prosthesis manufacturing system and/or a dental prosthesis packing system and/or a dental prosthesis storage system and/or a product storage system and/or a product packing system and/or a system providing packages for collection. The product storage system with the product packing system and the system providing packages for collection is a product dispatch system. This system can also be provided for also storing, packing or dispatching one or several dental prostheses. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    Preferred embodiments of the invention are to be illustrated with reference to the enclosed figures. In the drawings: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  shows a device for creating data records, and 
           [0023]      FIGS. 2 to 5  show schematic representations of processes in carrying out embodiments of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    In  FIG. 1 , a device  1  for scanning tooth models or models of remaining tooth areas is schematically shown. Such devices are well-known. A model can be, for example, arranged on a rotary table  4  and be scanned by an optical scanner  2  with a light beam or a luminous beam  3 . 
         [0025]    Such a scanner  1  is connected to a computer  5  via a local data transmission connection  6 . The computer  5  controls the scanner  1  and stores the data acquired during scanning. With the data that have been acquired during scanning, a model for a dental prosthesis can be created on the computer  5 . This can be made automatically or with the assistance of a user. A corresponding model for a dental prosthesis is schematically shown in the window  8  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0026]    In another window  9  in the computer in  FIG. 1 , an order list for various products A, B, C is schematically shown. One unit of product A, two units of product B and one unit of product C are to be ordered. It is also possible that only one product each or two, four, five or more different products are ordered. 
         [0027]    A product catalogue from which the products can be e.g. selected is stored on computer  5  (or accessible via a local network). However, the product catalogue can also be stored at the dental prosthesis manufacturing center  14  or the location  26  and be made accessible via Internet. 
         [0028]    The data record concerning the dental prosthesis represented in window  8  as well as a data record of the order of window  9  can be transmitted via the common remote data transmission line  7 . This can be, for example, an Internet connection. Although in  FIG. 1  a line is represented, the connection can also be wireless (via radio). 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  shows how a computer  5  is arranged in a dental surgery  11  or a dentistry laboratory  11 . A data record  12  representing the model of a dental prosthesis as well as an order list  13  are symbolically represented. These are transmitted via remote data transmission  15  to a dental prosthesis manufacturing center  14 . There, a computer  16  for receiving the data transmitted via the remote data transmission  15  is provided. The computer  16  forwards data concerning the manufacture of a dental prosthesis to a dental prosthesis manufacturing system  17 . This is here symbolically represented by a triaxial milling machine. However, it can also be any other arbitrary manufacturing system for dental prostheses. Here, in particular a litographic 3D laser system, a milling machine with more than three axes or any other rapid prototyping system are possible. With the milling machine  17  which is symbolically shown in  FIG. 2 , a dental prosthesis or else several dental prostheses can be obtained from a blank  18 . Such a dental prosthesis is shown in  FIG. 2  at reference numeral  19 . Such a dental prosthesis  19  can be stored in a (non-depicted) dental prosthesis storage system until it is packed and/or dispatched. 
         [0030]    Furthermore, a data record  13  concerning the order is forwarded to a product storage system  20  or a product dispatch system  20 , respectively, which is schematically shown as high-rise warehouse in  FIG. 2 . There, products  21  are provided, wherein in  FIG. 2  a product  22  taken from the high-rise warehouse  20  is represented. The dental prosthesis  19  and the product  22  can now be dispatched to the dentistry laboratory  11  or the dental surgery  11  in a common parcel  24  by a parcel service  23 . For packing the dental prosthesis and/or the product, a (non-depicted) packing system can be provided which is preferably computer-controlled and operates automatically. 
         [0031]    The product  22  individually shown in  FIG. 2  is here representative of one or several products. This is correspondingly true for the following illustrations. 
         [0032]    In  FIG. 3 , a variant of the method of  FIG. 2  is represented. Here, the second data record  13  is transmitted to a remote location  26  via remote data transmission  27 . This can be, for example, the place of a dental accessories wholesaler or the like. They deliver products  22  to the dental prosthesis manufacturing center  14  via product dispatch, such as by a parcel service  28 . In this way, a manufactured dental prosthesis  19  and a product  22  can in turn be dispatched together in a common parcel  24 . 
         [0033]    A modification of the method of  FIG. 3  is represented in  FIG. 4 . Here, the product  22  provided by the company at the location  26  is not dispatched to the dental prosthesis manufacturing center  14  but directly in a separate parcel  30  to the dentistry laboratory or the dental surgery  11 , respectively. Here, respective separate packing systems for the dental prosthesis and the product are provided. 
         [0034]    The method of  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  can also be optionally employed, for example, the method according to  FIG. 3  is in particular advantageous for smaller products  22 , whereas the method according to  FIG. 4  is advantageous for larger and heavier products, respectively. The decision of whether a product  22  is dispatched to the dentistry laboratory or the dental surgery  11  according to the method of  FIG. 3  or according to the method of  FIG. 4  (corresponding to the two variants of claim  7 ) can be made by the computer  16  in the manufacturing center  14 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  shows another variant of a method, wherein the data records  12  and  13  are created on the one computer  5  in the dental surgery or in the dentistry laboratory  11 , these are, however, then transmitted separately. The data record  12  concerning the manufacture of a dental prosthesis is transmitted to the manufacturing center  14 , and the data record  13  concerning an order of products is transmitted to location  26 . The separate transmission, however, is preferably not visible for the user of the computer  5  but is preferably rather carried out by one and the same software. 
         [0036]    In  FIG. 5  it is represented that a product  22  is returned in a parcel  30  and the dental prosthesis  19  in another parcel  32 . 
         [0037]    Here, however, it is also possible that the dental prosthesis  19  of the manufacturing center  14  is dispatched to the location  26 , so that the dental prosthesis  19  is sent along in the parcel  30 , or it is vice-versa possible that the product  22  (representative of one or several products) is dispatched to the dental prosthesis manufacturing center  14  and dispatched together with the dental prosthesis  19  in the parcel  32 . Then, the parcel  30  is eliminated. 
         [0038]    In a case where the second data record is not directly dispatched to the dental prosthesis manufacturing center  14 , it is furthermore advantageous if a corresponding data record or a part thereof or a data record acquired therefrom is transmitted from the location  26  to the dental prosthesis manufacturing center  14 . This then for example permits uniform billing for the dental prosthesis  19  and the product  22  by the dental prosthesis manufacturing center  14 .