Abstract:
A dental pain and discomfort notification system for providing immediate feedback from a patient to a dentist, dental hygienist, or oral surgeon. The dental pain and discomfort notification system includes a notification panel mounted in proximity to a dental chair and an activation device. The activation device may be a hand-held device, such as a wireless remote, or may be mounted near the dental chair. The activation device includes one or more switches for activation by the patient. Each switch corresponds to a condition being experienced by the patient, such as pain, discomfort, or the need for suction. During a dental procedure, the switches may be activated by the patient to request a corresponding action by the dentist.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the priority of Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/368,281 filed Jul. 29, 2016. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to devices for improving a patient&#39;s ability to communicate with a dental technician during dental procedures and specifically to a dental pain and discomfort notification system for providing immediate feedback from a patient to a dentist, dental hygienist, or oral surgeon. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In order to maintain oral health of individuals, dental procedures are performed daily in various dental offices. Dental procedures include cleaning and polishing of teeth, grinding and filling cavities, installation of crowns, and removal of teeth. 
         [0004]    When undergoing a dental procedure, it is difficult for patients to communicate their feelings with the dentist, hygienist, orthodontist, or oral surgeon. As an example, during a cleaning procedure by a hygienist, cleaning solution typically builds up in the patient&#39;s throat and must be frequently aspirated away by the hygienist. Unfortunately, when the patient requires aspiration, they must inform the hygienist audibly or by waving their hands or making a similar visible signal. It is difficult for the patient to inform the hygienist audibly as speaking is impossible as a result of the solution buildup in the throat. During a typical drilling procedure, mechanical equipment such as a dental drill is inserted in the mouth, and dental dams may be clamped around the tooth to keep it dry and free of saliva. As a result, the patient&#39;s throat is at least partially blocked and it is difficult for the patient to audibly inform the dentist if he is experiencing pain or discomfort. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, what is needed is a system for enabling a dental patient to easily communicate their needs to the dentist, hygienist, or similar professional during a dental procedure. Such a system will enable a dental practitioner to pause a procedure as required to make the patient more comfortable. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The foregoing objectives are basically attained by a dental pain and discomfort notification system for providing immediate feedback from a patient to a dentist, dental hygienist, or oral surgeon. The dental pain and discomfort notification system includes a notification panel mounted in proximity to a dental chair and an activation device. The activation device may be a hand-held device, such as a wireless remote, or may be mounted near the dental chair. The activation device includes one or more switches for activation by the patient. Each switch corresponds to a condition being experienced by the patient, such as pain, discomfort, or the need for suction. During a dental procedure, the switches may be activated by the patient to request a corresponding action by the dentist. 
       OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
       [0007]    A first object of the invention is to provide a non-verbal means of providing feedback from a patient to a dental practitioner. 
         [0008]    A second object of the invention is to provide a means of providing immediate feedback from a patient to a dental practitioner. 
         [0009]    A further object of the invention is to provide a notification system for a dentist&#39;s office that is capable of transmitting more than one condition to the dental provider. 
         [0010]    Another object is to provide a dental pain and discomfort notification system that is capable of transmitting an audible signal from the patient to the dental practitioner. 
         [0011]    A further object is to provide a dental pain and discomfort notification system that is capable of transmitting an audible signal coincidentally with a visual signal from the patient to the dental practitioner. 
         [0012]    A further object of the current invention is to provide a dental pain and discomfort notification system that includes LED lights of various colors for providing a visual signal to a dental practitioner during a dental procedure. 
         [0013]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be understood by reading the following description along with reference to the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0014]    Reference is made herein to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a first embodiment of a dental pain and discomfort notification system installed on a dental chair according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a top view of dental pain and discomfort notification system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of a signal activation box that forms a portion of the dental pain and discomfort notification system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a dentist notification panel that forms a portion of the dental pain and discomfort notification system. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4A  is a plan view of the dentist notification panel with the top transparent cover peeled away. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the signal activation box and a patient notification panel that forms a portion of the dental pain and discomfort notification system. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5A  is a plan view of the signal activation box and the patient notification panel with the top transparent cover of the patient notification panel peeled away. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a schematic of an electrical circuit for powering and controlling the dental pain and discomfort notification system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of a second embodiment of a dental pain and discomfort notification system installed on a dental chair according to the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of a hand held remote for powering and controlling the dental pain and discomfort notification system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a schematic of an alternative embodiment of an electrical circuit for powering and controlling the dental pain and discomfort notification system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a wiring diagram for powering and controlling the light emitting diodes (LEDs) of the dental pain and discomfort notification system of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a dental pain and discomfort notification system  20  installed on a dental chair  22  and including a dental patient  24  in the chair. The a dental pain and discomfort notification system  20  includes a power supply  26 , a signal activation box  28  with associated activation box mount  30 , a dentist notification panel  32 , and a patient notification panel  34  secured to an overhead support  36  by a bracket  38  and a support arm  40 . The dentist notification panel  32  is preferably mounted beside the patient&#39;s head or any similar position that would enable convenient observation during dental procedures by a dentist, a dental hygienist, an oral surgeon, or other dental personnel. The patient notification panel  34  is preferably mounted above the patient&#39;s head, preferably in a position to provide a sight line  42  for the patient to view the panel  34 . Electrical circuitry connecting the power supply  26  to the signal activation box  28 , to the dentist notification panel  32 , and to the patient notification panel  34  is not shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a layout of the dental pain and discomfort notification system  20  on a dental chair  22 . The signal activation box  28  is preferably mounted on an arm  44  of the dental chair, or can be mounted to the dental chair at any location that is convenient to the patient as the patient will be activating the system during dental procedures. It is also within the scope of the invention to provide a hand-held signal activation box that may be held by the patient during dental procedures. The dentist notification panel  32 , shown mounted to the head rest  46  portion of the dental chair  22 , may be mounted to the dental chair, to a separate floor stand (not shown), or any similar structure that enables observation by the dentist while performing a dental procedure on the patient. The patient notification panel  34  may be mounted to the lighting framework  48 , to a stand, or to any convenient supporting structure that enables viewing during dental procedures. 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , signal activation box  28  includes a housing  49  for accommodating the associated electronics, a pain and discomfort switch  50 , and a suction activation switch  52 . In the embodiment of the activation box depicted in  FIG. 3 , the pain and discomfort switch  50  is a rocker switch and the suction activation switch  52  is a pushbutton switch, although other switch configurations, such as a toggle switch for the pain and discomfort switch, are within the scope of the invention. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 4A , dentist notification panel  32  includes a housing  54  and a top cover  56  that includes indicia  58  thereon, with the indicia indicating the physical conditions the patient is experiencing, such as “discomfort” or “pain”, or an action that the dental patient is requesting, such as “suction”. As verbal communication is difficult during many dental procedures, such as when the patient&#39;s mouth is full of water, cleaning solution, polishing solution, or similar liquids, or when clamps are fixed around the teeth, the dental pain and notification system enables the patient to instantaneously transmit instructions to the dentist. The dentist notification panel  32  includes three separately wired LED strips  60 ,  62 , and  64  of separate colors which can be activated by a corresponding switch on the signal activation box. The power supply regulates voltage to  12  volts DC, that, depending on which switch is activated by the patient&#39;s action on the signal activation box, is supplied to the proper LED strip to illuminate the appropriate LED strip. Top cover  56  is preferably translucent enabling the proper indicia to be backlit with activation of the corresponding switch. 
         [0031]    With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 5A , the signal activation box  28  is mounted in a location convenient to manipulation by the patient or is a hand-held device. The patient notification panel  34  is constructed similar to the dentist notification panel including a housing  66  and a top cover  68  with indicia  70  thereon, with the indicia again indicating either “discomfort”, “pain”, or “suction”. The patient notification panel  34  includes three separately wired LED strips  72 ,  74 , and  76 . As the patient manipulates a switch on the signal activation box  28 , the electronic circuit instantaneously activates backlighting of the corresponding LED strip on both the patient notification panel  34  and the dentist notification panel  32 , thereby enabling the dentist to take the appropriate action. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , an electronic circuit  78  controls the various components of the dental pain and discomfort notification system. The electronic circuit  78  includes a power supply circuit  80 , a pain and discomfort switching circuit  82 , a suction switching circuit  84 , a patient notification circuit  86 , and a dentist notification circuit  88 . The power supply  26  converts AC voltage to  12  volts DC which, depending on the patient&#39;s action, is supplied to the LEDs through the appropriate switching circuit. The pain and discomfort switching circuit  82  includes the pain and discomfort switch  50  and the suction switching circuit  84  includes the suction activation switch  52 . In the preferred embodiment of the notification panels, blue LED lights are used to backlight the “suction” indicia, “amber” LEDs are used to backlight the “discomfort” indicia, and “red” LEDs are used to backlight the “pain” LEDs. The output supply voltage from each of the three conditions are wired in common to the appropriate LED strip, including LED strips  60 ,  62 , and  64  for the dentist notification panel  32  and LED strips  72 ,  74 , and  76  for the patient notification panel  34 . 
         [0033]    With reference to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a second embodiment of a dental pain and discomfort notification system  90  installed on a dental chair  22  and including a power supply  26 , a hand-held activator  92 , a dentist notification panel  32 , and a patient notification panel  34 . In this embodiment of the dental pain and discomfort notification system  90 , the hand-held activator  92  may include three separate pushbuttons, or similar switching devices, to control the electronic output to the two notification panels. Hand-held activator  92  includes an RF transmitter  94  and an RF receiver  96  is included with the dentist notification panel  32  and with the patient notification panel  34 . Manipulation of the hand-held activator  92  by the dental patient  24  activates the selected switch which in turn backlights the appropriate section of both the dentist notification panel  32  and the patient notification panel  34 . The discomfort notification system  90  thus eliminates the need for the patient to verbally communicate the details of his or her condition to the dentist. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the dental pain and discomfort notification system may include a remote controller  101  in place of the signal activation box. The remote  101  includes a housing  103  for accommodating the associated electronics, a pain activation button  104 , a discomfort activation button  105 , and a suction activation button  107 . In the embodiment of the remote depicted in  FIG. 8 , the remote  101  includes an electrical cable  109  for transmitting signals to the notification panel or panels. More preferably, remote is a wireless remote and each of the activation buttons activates a radio frequency (RF) signal which is picked up by an RF receiver in the notification panel and in turn activates the respective LED and/or activates an audible alarm such as a buzzer. 
         [0035]    With respect to  FIG. 9 , a control circuit  111  powers and controls the various components of the dental pain and discomfort notification system. The control circuit  111  includes a power supply circuit  113  having a transformer  115  for converting line voltage to an operating voltage, such as a lower DC operating voltage, a remote circuit  117 , a switching circuit  119 , a notification panel  121 , and an audible alarm switching circuit  123  including a buzzer  125  or similar device for producing an audible alarm upon activation of any of the pushbuttons, rocker switches, or similar activation devices on the remote or on the signal activation box. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , an LED circuit  141  for powering and controlling the light emitting diodes (LEDs) of the dental pain and discomfort notification system include a blue LED circuit  143  for, upon activation, powering and backlighting the “suction” indicia section of the notification panel, an amber LED circuit  145  for powering and backlighting the “discomfort” indicia section of the notification panel upon activation, and a red LED circuit  147  for powering and backlighting the “pain” indicia section of the notification panel upon activation, 
         [0037]    Having thus described the invention with reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood that the description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiments herein were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention.