Abstract:
A universal docking station is provided for a dental operatory to manage a plurality of imaging subsystems. The digitally processed imaging subsystems include video cameras for intra- or extra-oral imaging, video surgical microscopes, x-ray film scanners, digital x-rays and any other type of imaging system that produces an S-video, composite video or digital video signal output. The universal docking station may provide each of the imaging subsystems with operating utilities, such as power and light, and instructions for controlling operation of the subsystem. The universal docking station receives outputs from each of the imaging subsystems for display, processing, recording and/or other uses. The universal docking system provides interfaces for selecting and operating various peripheral systems such as monitors, computers, multiplexers or printers and for digital control and manipulation of images from the imaging subsystems.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/195,010 filed on Apr. 6, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention is related generally to the field of docking stations for video imaging systems. Specifically, the present invention is related to a single, universal docking station to be used with all video imaging systems used in a dental operatory.  
           [0003]    Today&#39;s dental operatory includes many dental imaging systems designed to assist the dentist, each system of which requires various utilities such as power and light for operation. Each of these dental imaging systems also generates an output that is directed to a monitor, recording device or the like for review and assessment by the clinician. Each of the dental imaging systems further requires the entry or inputting of instructions for operation, interaction and control of the dental imaging system. The delivery of utilities and control instructions to the dental imaging system and the receipt of output from the dental imaging system is accomplished with a docking station configured for use with that particular dental imaging system. The docking station is then typically linked or connected to a computer, monitor, etc. to provide the control instructions to the docking station for the dental imaging system and/or to process or display the output received by the docking station from the dental imaging system for the clinician to review.  
           [0004]    Thus, a dental operatory that typically includes a video camera for intra- and extra-oral imaging of dental anatomy, a digital x-ray system, a video surgical microscope, and other systems and subsystems will require a equivalent number of docking stations for use with those systems in the dental operatory. The use of multiple docking stations in the dental operatory can be difficult to configure for coordinated operation with a single computer without having any conflicts, can occupy a significant amount of area in the dental operatory and can pose a potential health or safety risk.  
           [0005]    Therefore, what is needed is to have the utilities and operating functions of as many of these dental imaging systems functioning together with as few peripheral systems as possible. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a universal docking station that has the capability of managing all of the dental operatory subsystems, providing them with utilities and appropriate control and reporting services.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    A universal docking station is provided for a dental operatory to manage a plurality of imaging subsystems. The universal docking station may provide each of the subsystems with operating utilities, such as power and light, and instructions for controlling operation of the subsystem. The universal docking station receives outputs from each of the subsystems for display, processing, recording and/or other uses. The universal docking station also provides interfaces for selecting and operating various peripheral systems such as monitors, computers, multiplexers or printers and for digital control and manipulation of images from the imaging subsystems.  
           [0007]    The dental imaging subsystems interfacing with the universal docking station can include video cameras for intra- or extra-oral imaging, video surgical microscopes, x-ray film scanners, digital x-rays and any other imaging system that produces an S-video, composite video or digital video signal output.  
           [0008]    One advantage of the present invention is that all the dental imaging systems used in a dental operatory can be operated and controlled from a single unit in the operatory.  
           [0009]    Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides the clinician with a single compact interface for the various imaging devices he may need in the operatory.  
           [0010]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    The present invention is described in greater detail below with reference to the following drawings:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the interaction of dental systems with the universal docking station (UDS) of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a front view of a wall mounted UDS with remote operating panel;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic view of an operating membrane panel of the UDS; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the wall mounted UDS of FIG. 2. 
     
    
       [0016]    Whenever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the figures to refer to the same parts.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 illustrates schematically the interconnections of a universal docking station (UDS)  100  with dental imaging systems and other systems and devices located in a dental operatory. The UDS  100  enables the interconnection of several different instruments or systems at a single location. Some of the different dental imaging systems that can be docked at the UDS  100  include:  
         [0018]    an intra-oral camera  102 ;  
         [0019]    a video surgical microscope  104 ;  
         [0020]    an x-ray film scanner  106 ;  
         [0021]    various video equipment, such as a VCR, video camera, camcorder, DVD, etc. (not shown); and  
         [0022]    a digital x-ray sensor  108  and interface module  110 .  
         [0023]    The UDS  100  functions as an interface between the dental imaging systems described above and other systems or devices located inside or outside of the operatory that are used by the clincian in conjunction with the dental imaging systems. These other systems and devices used by the clinician are also connected to the UDS  100  and can include:  
         [0024]    a video monitor  112 ;  
         [0025]    a computer  114  with computer monitor  116 ; and  
         [0026]    a multiplexer  118  and printer  120 .  
         [0027]    In addition, the UDS  100  includes an integrated printer and multiplexer control system, which avoids the need for additional interface components for the multiplexer  118  and printer  120 . The UDS  100  also includes the processors, circuits and programming for a high performance freeze frame utility, which enables the UDS  100  to perform a new level of image capture and manipulation.  
         [0028]    The UDS  100  can be mounted on a table top in the operatory or on a wall in the operatory (see FIG. 2). The connections for the dental imaging systems and the other systems and devices are preferably located on the sides of the UDS  100 , but can be located anywhere on the UDS  100 . A top cover can extend over the areas of the UDS  100  that receives the various power, signal and control connections and can be effective in hiding the wiring when the UDS  100  is wall-mounted. In addition, the UDS  100 , includes a control panel  122  for using and controlling the UDS  100  and the freeze frame utility. FIG. 3 shows a preferred membrane control panel  122  for operating the various subsystems and performing the functions discussed below.  
         [0029]    When the UDS  100  is mounted on a countertop, the membrane panel  122  is preferably located at the bottom front of the UDS  100  and a filler panel  124  is preferably located in the recess at the top rear of the UDS  100 . In the wall-mount configuration of the UDS  100  as shown in FIG. 2, the membrane panel  122  is preferably located at the top of the UDS  100 , which corresponds to the top rear of the UDS  100  in the countertop configuration, and the filler panel  124  is preferably located at the bottom of the UDS  100 , which corresponds to the bottom front of the UDS  100  in the countertop configuration. The reversal of the placement of the membrane panel  122  and the filler panel  124  in the wall-mounted configuration from the countertop configuration is because a bottom mounted membrane panel would be inconvenient for the clinician.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 4 illustrates a connection panel  400  for the UDS  100 , which is located on a front side of the UDS  100  in the countertop configuration or on the bottom side of the UDS  100  in the wall-mounted configuration. The connection panel  400  preferably includes:  
         [0031]    a modified Lemo receptacle  402  to receive a camera cable connector;  
         [0032]    an additional S-video input connector  404  for connection to other video accessories; and  
         [0033]    a port  406  with spring loaded flap to receive a digital x-ray plug-in module.  
         [0034]    The intra-oral camera  102  can be plugged into the UDS  100  via a modified Lemo connector at the modified Lemo receptacle  402  located at the front of the UDS  100  in the countertop configuration or at the bottom of the UDS  100  in the wall-mount configuration.  
         [0035]    The camera cable connecting the inter-oral camera  102  and the UDS  100  includes a light guide that terminates in a stainless steel ferrule, which ferrule replaces the standard coaxial connector in the center of a typical Lemo connector. In addition, the remaining conductors in the camera cable are terminated to the ten (10) surrounding pins in the Lemo connector. The coaxial socket is removed from a standard Lemo receptacle, which permits the light guide ferrule to pass through and to be inserted into a light source when the modified Lemo connector is plugged into the modified Lemo receptacle  402 .  
         [0036]    The S-video input connector or receptacle  404  is preferably located adjacent to the modified Lemo receptacle  402  on the connection panel  400 . The S-video receptacle  404  can receive any standard NTSC, PAL or any other recognized standard video signal, such as from a VCR, video camera, camcorder, DVD, or other various types of video equipment.  
         [0037]    The docking port  406  at the front of the UDS  100  accepts the module  110  connected to the digital x-ray sensor  108 . The digital x-ray port  406  provides power to the module  110  and receives processed sensor signals. The digital x-ray port  406  is directly connected to a universal serial bus (USB) port located on the UDS  100  to transmit the received processed sensor signals to the computer  114 . The digital x-ray port  406  can provide the power to the module  110  from the computer  114  via the USB connection or from a power supply in the UDS  100 , if the module  110  power requirement is low. Otherwise, a receptacle for external power is provided on the UDS  100  and is connected to the digital x-ray port  406 . The digital x-ray port  406  can be compatible with any wired digital x-ray system because the digital x-ray port  406  is essentially passive, merely providing a docking facility and a signal throughput to the computer  114 .  
         [0038]    An additional connection panel for the UDS  100 , which is located on the rear side of the UDS  100  in the countertop configuration or on the top side of the UDS  100  in the wall-mounted configuration, preferably can include:  
         [0039]    (2) S-video output connections;  
         [0040]    an encoded video output connection;  
         [0041]    a printer or multiplexer control connection;  
         [0042]    one or more universal serial bus (USB) connections;  
         [0043]    a connection for a foot switch;  
         [0044]    a power connection for the digital x-ray system;  
         [0045]    a parallel data output connection from the digital x-ray system;  
         [0046]    a connection for a remote control panel; and  
         [0047]    an AC receptacle and fuses.  
         [0048]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the UDS  100  can be linked or connected to the dental imaging systems and the other systems and devices by wireless communication. The UDS  100  and the dental imaging systems and the other systems and devices preferably have infrared modules or RF modules for the transmission and receipt of signals and information wirelessly. For example, the UDS  100  can transmit control signals wirelessly to the video surgical microscope  104  and can then receive video signals from the video surgical microscope  104  also by wireless communication. Similarly, the UDS  100  can wirelessly transmit image data for display to the video monitor  112 . In addition, the UDS  100  and the dental imaging systems and the other systems and devices can also have analog to digital or digital to analog converters as required for the wireless transmission.  
         [0049]    A remote control panel  202  (see FIG. 2) may be provided to enable control of the UDS  100  from a convenient remote location. The remote control panel  202  includes a duplicate of the top cover membrane panel  122  on the UDS  100 . The connection to the remote panel  202  from the UDS  100  can be by hard-wiring, by radio frequency transmission, or by infrared control.  
         [0050]    The x-ray film scanner  106  enables a standard bite wing film image to be converted to a video signal and displayed on the video monitor  112 , or digitized via a computer frame grabber board. An x-ray film is inserted into the film scanner  106  and is backlit by a suitable incandescent or fluorescent lamp. A lens focuses the backlit image onto a black and white sensor assembly, consisting of a sensor mounted on a camera control unit (CCU) board. The film scanner  106  may be powered by a built-in, or external power supply, or from the UDS  100 . The output video signal from the film scanner  106  is preferably connected to the S-video connector  404  on the UDS  100 , but can be connected at any connection panel of the UDS  100 .  
         [0051]    Previously, surgical microscopes used in dentistry were optical instruments, which enabled the Dentist to view a highly magnified image of the patient&#39;s oral cavity through its eyepiece. However, the video surgical microscope (VSM)  104 , shown schematically in FIG. 1, provides a highly magnified image of the oral cavity to be displayed on a video monitor  114 , which can be viewed by the clinician in a more comfortable manner, instead of being hunched over an optical microscope. The VSM  104  is mounted on an articulating arm and suitably positioned to view the desired area of the patient&#39;s mouth. A telephoto lens applies a magnified image to a sensor, which is connected to a CCU board. The VSM  104  may be powered by a built-in or external power supply, or from the UDS  100 . The output video signal from the VSM  104  is preferably connected to the S-video connector  404  on the UDS  100 , but can be connected at any connection panel of the UDS  100 .  
         [0052]    The freeze frame utility includes a freeze frame board and a piggyback isolation board. The freeze frame utility enables up to four (4) full frame images to be captured, either by means of a footswitch, or by a membrane control panel button, e.g. capture button  310  shown in FIG. 3. The captured images can be displayed individually, or in split-4 configuration on the video monitor  112  or on the computer monitor  116 . The user can control the display of the captured images by selecting an appropriate button on the membrane control panel  122 , e.g. image select button  312  shown in FIG. 3. The freeze frame utility also includes programming and circuitry such that the captured images can be flipped horizontally or vertically, rotated or electronically zoomed by means of appropriate buttons on the membrane control panel  122 . On the membrane control panel  122  shown in FIG. 3, a user can electronically zoom-in on a captured image by selecting button  302 , perform a vertical flip of the captured image by selecting button  304 , perform a horizontal flip of the captured image by selecting button  306  and rotate the captured image by selecting button  308 .  
         [0053]    The freeze frame utility can accept at least two video inputs, one from the modified Lemo connector  402 , which can be connected to the intra-oral camera cable, the other from the S-video connector  404  on the front panel, which can accept video from any standard S-video source. An appropriate button on the membrane control panel  122  controls the selection of the video source, e.g. source select button  314  shown in FIG. 3. In one embodiment of the present invention, source  1  can be from the modified Lemo connector  402  and source  2  can be from the S-video connector  404 .  
         [0054]    The printer  120  can be controlled from the membrane panel  122  by selecting an appropriate button for the “print” command, e.g. print button  316  shown in FIG. 3, which causes the printer to capture the displayed image and print it. The printer  120  can be connected to the UDS  100  through the multiplexer  118  as shown in FIG. 1 or can be directly connected to the UDS  100 . Lights on the membrane control panel  122  indicate the printer status, as follows:  
                                                       Green   Printer ready           Flashing green   Printing in process           Orange   Printer busy           Flashing orange   Printer fault                      
 
         [0055]    A two-position footswitch protocol enables the capture, display and printer control functions of the UDS  100  to be accomplished from a remote footswitch. The protocol also enables the captured image to be replaced and avoids the need to manually operate the membrane panel controls, which prevents a potential cross contamination problem.  
         [0056]    The membrane control panel  122 , also has an appropriate button for a user to control a light source in the UDS  100 , e.g. light button  318  shown in FIG. 3. The light source in the UDS  100  can be used to provide light to the various dental systems connected to the UDS  100 . The UDS  100  can also include a memory for storing a number of captured images. The user can retrieve the captured images from memory and print and display the images as described above. The user can designate where the image is supplied from, i.e. either from the memory in the UDS  100  or from a connected video source, by selecting an appropriate button on the membrane control panel  122 , e.g. button  320  shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0057]    In another embodiment of the present invention, a dental office can have a plurality of operatories, with each operatory having its own universal docking station  100 . The plurality of UDSs  100  can be connected and configured to supply information to a central recording system, which is remotely located from said operatories. The central recording system can include a computer(s) and/or a printer(s). Additionally, the central recording system can include one or more analog or digital storage devices. The storage devices can include a floppy disk, a hard disk video image recorder, a flash memory card recorder, a CD-ROM recorder, or other similar type of storage device. To manage and conduct operation with the central recording system, each of the universal docking stations  100  is connected to a multiplexer  118 , which receives the video signals and control information from each docking station  100 . A print command from a particular UDS  100  causes the multiplexer  118  to select the video signal from that docking station  100  and route it to the printer  120 . This is followed by a command from the multiplexer  118 , which causes the printer  120  to capture and print the selected image.  
         [0058]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.