Abstract:
A magnetostrictive ultrasonic dental scaler is disclosed. The magnetostrictive device comprises an oscillator adapted to provide electrical energy including a current and a voltage signal, a handpiece having a tool tip which vibrates in response to the electrical energy supplied to the handpiece and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a phase detector adapted to detect phase between current and voltage signals and to generate a phase detection signal as a function of the phase. The control circuit also includes a digital signal processor operatively connected to the phase detector. The digital signal processor adapted to process the phase detection signal through a digital loop filter to generate an error signal. The control circuit further includes a voltage controlled oscillator operatively connected to the digital signal processor, wherein the error signal outputs a voltage to operate the voltage controlled oscillator which in response thereto adjusts at least one of frequency and amplitude of vibrations of the tool tip.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     The present application claims priority to a U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/682,128 entitled “Operational Description of a New Ultrasonic Magnetostrictive Dental Scaler” filed by Richard Pachke et al. on May 18, 2005. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a system and method for dynamically controlling frequency and amplitude settings of an ultrasonic magnetostrictive dental scaler. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a system and method for utilizing digital filter control loops to individually adjust amplitude and frequency of the vibrations. 
     2. Background of Related Art 
     Ultrasonic dental scalers are generally used to clean various types of build up from teeth. Dental scalers include a control circuit, a handpiece having an ultrasonic transducer, an energizing coil and a tool tip. In particular, the energizing coil actuates the transducer which then produces vibrational motion. The vibrational motion is then transformed into lateral motion of the dental scaler tool tip, which is typically elliptical. Vibration of the tool tip is controlled and, if required, adjusted during operation to tune the frequency and amplitude to desired operational frequency and amplitude. As operational conditions change, such as temperature, density of the material being removed, etc., operational frequency and amplitude change accordingly. Manual tuning of the dental scaler is inconvenient, therefore, automatic frequency and amplitude tuning circuits have been developed. More specifically, automatic tuning circuits utilizing feedback coils have been proposed. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,451,161 and 6,241,520. However, these circuits suffer from a number of mechanical disadvantages (e.g., interconnection of additional wires, fragile wirings, placement of controls, etc.) and electronic disadvantages (e.g., inaccurate signal processing, interference, etc.). Therefore there is a need for an ultrasonic magnetostrictive dental scaler with improved control circuitry. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure relates to a magnetostrictive ultrasonic dental scaler which includes a handpiece and dental scaler device having a control circuit which dynamically maintains a desired operating point under varying loads and operating conditions. The operating point may be directly on a resonance of the handpiece at a fixed frequency shift from the resonance. The control circuit enables a greater level of control and enhanced performance by use of dynamic tracking of resonance under variable loading. In particular, the control circuit includes a digital signal processor which processes sensed feedback signals regarding frequency and amplitude of vibrations and filters the signals through dynamic filter loops to obtain error and/or control signals to adjust the output of the dental scaler thereby controlling the frequency and amplitude of vibrations and arriving at the desired operating point. 
     According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a magnetostrictive ultrasonic dental scaler is disclosed. The magnetostrictive dental scaler comprises an oscillator adapted to provide electrical energy including a current and a voltage signal, a handpiece having a tool tip which vibrates in response to the electrical energy supplied to the handpiece and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a phase detector adapted to detect phase between current and voltage signals and to generate a phase detection signal as a function of the phase. The control circuit also includes a digital signal processor operatively connected to the phase detector. The digital signal processor adapted to process the phase detection signal through a digital loop filter to generate an error signal. The control circuit further includes a voltage controlled oscillator operatively connected to the digital signal processor, wherein the error signal outputs a voltage to operate the voltage controlled oscillator which, in response thereto, adjusts at least one of frequency and amplitude of vibrations of the tool tip. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a control circuit for controlling a magnetostrictive ultrasonic dental scaler having a tool tip is disclosed. The control circuit includes a phase detector adapted to detect phase between current and voltage signals and to generate a phase detection signal as a function of the phase. The control circuit also includes a digital signal processor operatively connected to the phase detector. The digital signal processor adapted to process the phase detection signal through a digital loop filter to generate an error signal. The control circuit further includes a voltage controlled oscillator operatively connected to the digital signal processor, wherein the error signal outputs a voltage to operate the voltage controlled oscillator which in response thereto adjusts at least one of frequency and amplitude of vibrations of the tool tip. 
     According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, a magnetostrictive ultrasonic dental scaler is disclosed. The magnetostrictive dental scaler comprises an oscillator adapted to provide electrical energy including a current and a voltage signal, a handpiece having a tool tip which vibrates in response to the electrical energy supplied to the handpiece and a control circuit adapted for dynamically controlling the oscillator and the handpiece. The dental scaler also includes a voice input control module adapted to receive oral input commands and to output acknowledging responses thereto. The oral input commands are adapted to control activation, mode, power, and adjustment functions of the magnetostrictive ultrasonic dental scaler. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic dental scaler according to the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a control circuit according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Particular embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure in unnecessary detail. 
       FIG. 1  shows a dental scaler system  10  including a dental scaler device  20  and a handpiece  30  connected to the scaler device  20  via a cable  12 . The dental scaler device  20  includes a DC power supply  22 , which may be either internal or external to the scaler device  20 , an oscillator  24 , and a control circuit  26 . The DC power supply  22  provides voltage to the scaler device  20 . This voltage is used to provide functionality to the scaler device  20  (e.g., indicator lights, switches, etc.) and to power the oscillator  24  which converts DC voltage into high frequency signals for energizing the handpiece  30 . 
     The handpiece  30  includes a tip  32  and an energizing coil  34  which ultrasonically vibrates the tool tip  32 . The tool tip  32  may be either a fixed or a modularly removable tool. The tool tip  32  is brought into contact with teeth during scaling procedures wherein vibration of the tool tip  32  dislodges buildup. The handpiece  30  includes an irrigation system that supplies a liquid (e.g., water) to wash away debris as well as cool the tool tip  32 . 
     The control circuit  26  controls the frequency and amplitude of the vibrations produced by the scaler device  20 . In particular, the control circuit  26  includes a frequency and an amplitude adaptive control loops which dynamically adjust the respective ultrasonic properties. The control loops are implemented using the components shown in greater detail in  FIG. 2 . The control circuit  26  includes a digital signal processor (DSP)  40  which operates an adaptive digital loop filter for both the frequency and amplitude control loops. The DSP  40  may be either a TMS320C42XX or TMS320C28XX series processor manufactured by Texas Instruments, Inc. of Dallas, Tex. or a similar signal processor. The DSP  40  may also be a microprocessor or any other programmable digital device. Further, the DSP  40  may include memory which may be either non-volatile memory or volatile memory for permanent or temporary storage of data. 
     The frequency control loop is implemented in the following manner: the DSP  40  is operatively connected to a phase detector (PD)  50  which detects phase between the current and voltage signals and transmits the phase signal to the DSP  40 . The PD  50  is part of a phase lock loop (PLL) device such as a Signetics  4046  PLL device available from Signetics High Technology, Inc. of San Jose, Calif. The PLL device includes the PD  50 , a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO)  52 , and an amplifier. 
     The DSP  40  includes an offset algorithm which asserts a change in the operating point (e.g., frequency, phase, etc.) to accommodate situations where an initial operation point of the handpiece  30  produces feedback. After a user command for off resonance operation is detected by the DSP  40 , the offset algorithm detects feedback by varying the operating point and analyzing the response in amplitude. The DSP  40  tracks the operating point to maintain the operating point at a predetermined offset from resonance under varying load. Namely, the DSP  40  continues to make adjustments until an optimal operating point is reached. 
     Further, the DSP  40  includes an adaptive algorithm which automatically adjusts loop filter parameters to maximize the performance of various types of handpieces and tool tips. Start-up transients are monitored and optimized for overshoot and settling time by means of loop filter parameter adjustment. The adaptive algorithm detects amplitude via the peak detector  70  and transmits the amplitude signal to the DSP  40  where the amplitude signal is stored. After the ultrasound vibrations are stopped (e.g., oscillator  24  is turned off) the amplitude signal is analyzed to determine if the amplitude signals exceed a predetermined amplitude threshold. If the amplitude signal exceeds the amplitude threshold, then the digital loop filter gain is decreased to ensure that during subsequent operation, the amplitude is lowered. 
     The DSP  40  receives the peak current and phase signals from the PD  50  at a first analog-to-digital converter (A/D)  42 . The DSP  40  vectorially subtracts a known vector component caused by static inductance (Lo) of the handpiece  30  from the phase signal to obtain a frequency motional feedback signal which is reflective of actual motion. 
     The DSP  40  also calculates an error signal which is transmitted to the VCO  52  through a digital-to-analog converter (D/A)  60 . The error signal outputs a voltage which operates the VCO  52 . The DSP  40  includes an adaptive loop filter which may be implemented as an algorithm (e.g., software, firmware, etc.) to calculate the error signal. This process dynamically maintains the desired operating point of the handpiece  30  under varying loads. The operating point may be directly on a resonance of the handpiece  30  and/or the tool tip  32  or the operating point may be at fixed frequency shift from the resonance which enables a better control over a lower amplitude of vibration. The frequency shift may be a fixed frequency offset (e.g., user-defined) or a dynamically varying frequency offset determined by the load applied to the tool tip  32 . 
     Error conditions such as failure of the PLL device to acquire or maintain lock can be monitored and compensated for by using corrective algorithms. These algorithms can adjust start up or loop parameters until required performance is achieved. 
     The control circuit  26  also maintains amplitude of vibration under varying loads by sensing the motional component of current and responding to changes in the load by varying the output power. This is accomplished by using a pulse width modulation peripheral  46  which controls a voltage level circuit  80  driving the current through the handpiece  30 . A second A/D  44  senses current from a peak detector (PK DET)  70 . The DSP  40  processes the current signal through a second adaptive loop filter which may be implemented as either software or firmware. The DSP  40  separates the motional component of current, which represents the mechanical amplitude of vibration, from the static inductance component by vectorial subtraction thereof to obtain an amplitude motional feedback signal which is reflective of actual motion. The DSP  40  thereafter adjusts the PWM duty cycle at the PWM peripheral  46  to maintain a constant amplitude of vibration under varying load. 
     DC bias is used to drive the handpiece  30  and tool tip  32  in a linear portion of its operating curve. For optimum efficiency, it is important to prevent current from flowing in a reverse direction. Conventional devices maintained DC bias at a fixed level regardless of vibrational amplitude or as a fixed function thereof. Consequently, DC bias was optimal only at a predetermined amplitude of vibration. The present disclosure provides for a method of dynamically adjusting DC bias in addition to frequency and amplitude. This is accomplished by using PWM control. The DSP  40  controls the bias current via a bias control algorithm, wherein a PWM peripheral  48  controls a bias amplifier (BIAS)  90 . The DSP  40  monitors current and detects a negative cross of the current using the peak detector  70 . Upon detecting a negative cross, the DSP  40  controls bias to achieve maximum electromechanical coupling efficiency between the handpiece  30  and the tool tip  32 . 
     It is also contemplated that the scaler device  20  and the handpiece  30  may include an irrigation system which includes a liquid dispenser  100  and one or more hoses  105  supplying the liquid to the treatment site. The hoses  105  pass through the handpiece  30 . The temperature of the liquid may be adjusted during application. In particular, the temperature of the liquid may be adjusted by varying the DC bias so that the current passing through the handpiece  30  is used to heat the water. 
     The scaler device  20  and the handpiece  30  may be controlled via a variety of input devices, such as foot switches, hand switches disposed either on the scaler device  20  and/or the handpiece  30 . Inputs and output ports (I/O)  120  are connected to the DSP  40  and allow for the user to control the operation of the dental scaler. The input devices are connected to the I/O  120 . Although foot and hand switches are commonly used these input devices are limited to a single or a double switching function, which requires addition of rheostat to control power making the device even more cumbersome. Use of radio controlled switches eliminates a cable connection to the system but does not significantly improve control of the system. The present disclosure provides a novel voice input control module  200  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The voice module  200  provides on-off functionality as well as facilitates complete control of other features of the dental scaler  30  thereby allowing for operation of the device without being distracted from treatment by reaching for controls. 
     The voice module  200  is a bi-directional transducer that allows input of commands and provides audio feedback in response thereto (e.g., acknowledgment). The input commands may be unambiguous one to three syllable words. These commands may include the following: activation commands (e.g., “on,” “off”), mode (e.g., “perio,” “endo,” “scale,” “audio”), power (e.g., “max,” “mid,” “low,” “up,” “down”), adjustment control (e.g., “boost,” “zero,” “1,” “2,” “3,” “4,” “5,” “level,” “reset”). The mode commands set the operational output power range of the device. The perio mode designates the lowest power or stroke output to accommodate patient sensitivity and optimize activation of thinner tool tips  32 . The endo mode optimizes the stroke range consistent with activating endo files to maximize debridement and minimize breakage. The scale mode provides the broadest range that includes low levels for patient sensitivity as well as high power for removing tenacious buildup. All control and power commands are designed to respond proportionally to the selected mode. The “level” command recalls the current setting and states the currently selected mode and power level. Audio “1-5” commands set the level of the output audio. The “reset” command sets all control to preset conditions (e.g., mode is set to scale, power is set to low, boost is set to zero, and audio level is set to 2). 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that the circuits and methods disclosed herein can be easily adapted to other types of electromechanical transducer systems, e.g., piezoceramic systems. 
     While several embodiments of the disclosure are shown in the drawings and/or discussed herein, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.