Patent Description:
Dental handheld devices such as intraoral cameras allow clinicians to capture and display digital signals such as images from inside a patient's mouth. Between treatments, the intraoral camera is disinfected, wherein the clinician uses disinfection wipes to clean the camera. Data communication is done by a connection to an adjacent treatment unit. Color calibration and 3D calibration are executed manually with independent calibration kits. In effect, most steps require separate tools and features. For example, disinfection wipes and autoclaves may be required for the sterilization of handsets, and for color calibration, the clinician mounts a color calibration kit prior to performing manual color calibration steps based on visual instructions from a software. Reference is made to the prior art document <CIT>. It discloses an apparatus for disinfecting a mouth scanner, the apparatus comprising: an insertion port into which a probe of the oral scanner is inserted.

The aforementioned problems of the prior art can be overcome by the dental pod as defined in claim <NUM>, and the method as defined in claim <NUM>. The illustrative embodiments provide a dental pod and a method of operating the dental pod. The dental pod provides a plurality of functions that are localized at the pod and shorten cleaning, setup, maintenance and other operations of and on a dental handheld device. An intraoral camera is disclosed as a dental handheld device for illustration. However other dental handheld device such as those configured to provide signals from a patient's dental cavity to a screen or computer for display can be conceived in light of the descriptions herein. Such dental handheld devices include, for example, dental caries detectors and apex locators.

In an aspect, the functions are performed automatically and include cleaning of the intraoral camera, charging of the intraoral camera, data communication of the intraoral camera via W-LAN (wireless local area network) to the pod and from there via LAN to a WLAN connected PC, intraoral camera calibration for color and 3D measurement, heating of the intraoral camera, fast cooling of the camera, configuring LED lights on the pod to display a charging status of a battery of the intraoral camera, direct operation at the pod via buttons. Further, the cleaning may be achieved in between each dental treatment of a patient. During this action, the intraoral camera charges independently. At any time, the camera may be calibrated automatically or with the pushing of a button. Data communication, through the upload of actual firmware software can be done at that docking station/pod, since it may be connected with a PC (personal computer) via LAN. Thus, a larger volume of data transmission is possible. The pod may act as a WLAN access point for other WLAN devices nearby (if the pod is equipped with such a component/provides this functionality). If an intraoral camera or the AC unit would use WLAN for communication then the pod could also be used, because it would provide the required access point to the practice LAN. Thus, a device and system for controlling an intraoral camera is disclosed. The device and system include a receiver for a distal end of a camera, the receiver includes nozzles for disinfection and cleaning as well as a heating/drying plate. A pump and ventilator in the pod are utilized to dispose disinfection liquids over the distal end of the intraoral camera (camera tip). The system further includes insertion slots for different cartridges and extensions for future needs to support several functions. A motor to turn the cartridges below the camera tip is also included to perform different functions. A positioning mechanism is used to move the camera into the right position, such as into the cartridge, for an individual cartridge in use. The system also includes a WLAN access point, an LAN slot, power plug to power the whole unit, and has touch and sound capabilities for device feedback and user input. One of the cartridges may include a disinfection liquid.

In an aspect herein, a dental pod is disclosed. The dental pod comprises: a receiver in a form of a cavity, adapted to receive a distal end of a dental handheld device; one or more nozzles disposed on a side of the receiver, the one or more nozzles configured to clean and disinfect the distal end of the dental handheld device; and a cartridge compartment disposed proximal to the receiver, the cartridge compartment including one or more insertion slots for one or more cartridges, the one or more cartridges configured to support operations of the handheld device.

In another aspect, the dental pod includes more than one combinations of the following features: (i) the dental handheld device is an intraoral camera, a dental caries detector or an apex locator, (ii) a motor turns the one or more cartridges to a predefined spatial position relative to the receiver to perform said operations of the dental handheld device, (iii) the pod is configured to alter a shape of the receiver to move the distal end of the dental handheld device into or out of an entrance of the one or more cartridges, this may be achieved, for example, via a linear actor e.g. a motor, a lead screw or a timing belt and a linear slide to move the device up and down. (iv) the one or more cartridges include at least one of a color calibration cartridge, a 3D calibration cartridge, a disinfection cartridge, a dental caries cartridge, for example for calibrating a dental caries detector, which may be achieved by a material combination that mimics certain caries situations for calibration, and an air-filter cartridge, (v) the dental pod includes a heater disposed along the side of the receiver or proximal to the receiver to heat at least the distal end of the dental handheld device after a cleaning operation, (vi) the one or more nozzles is operatively coupled to a pump for delivering fluids to the distal end of the dental handheld device, (vii) the fluids include at least one of fluids selected from the group consisting of spray water, spray air, a cleaning liquid and a disinfectant, (viii) the cartridge compartment is disposed below the receiver, (ix) the engine compartment is disposed below the cartridge compartment, (x) the pod is configured to communicate wirelessly with the dental handheld device, (xi) one or more insertion guides guide the insertion and retaining of the one or more cartridges in the cartridge compartment, (xii) an internal processor of the pod is configured to control said operations of the dental handheld device, (xiii) an external processor is configured to control said operations of the dental handheld device, (xiv) the receiver is shaped to allow manual movement of the distal end of the dental handheld device into or out of an entrance of the one or more cartridges.

In yet another aspect, a computer-assisted method of operating a dental pod is disclosed. The computer-assisted method of operating the dental pod, comprising the steps of: Automatically performing, by a processor, one or more operations of the dental handheld device based on a predefined function of the one or more cartridges, at least one of the one or more operations being selected from the group consisting of a color calibration operation, a 3D(three-dimensional) calibration operation, a cleaning operation, a disinfection operation, caries detection, and a spray air-filtering operation.

In an even further aspect, the computer-assisted method includes one or more of the following: (i) the automatically performing step includes a maintenance step of the dental handheld device, an automatic set-up step of the dental handheld device or an automatic cleaning step of the dental handheld device, (ii) operating a motor to turn at least one of the one or more cartridges to a predefined spatial position that is in alignment with the distal end of the dental handheld device in order to perform said one or more operations of the dental handheld device, (iii) verifying that a distal end of the dental handheld device has been received by the receiver and verifying that one or more cartridges are available in the cartridge compartment, the one or more cartridges being configured to support one or more operations of the dental handheld device, (iv) transferring data from the dental handheld device to a computer via a network of the pod and upload of actual firmware software and charging of the intraoral camera, (v) the dental handheld device is cleaned, heated and calibrated automatically, (vi) the dental handheld device is an intraoral camera, a dental caries detector or an apex locator.

Certain novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:.

The illustrative embodiments described herein are directed to a pod having cartridges for a plurality of dental use-cases and configured to keep an intraoral camera ready for operation.

Reference will now be made to <FIG>, which shows a perspective view of a pod <NUM>. The pod <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM>, that encloses a receiver <NUM>, the receiver <NUM> being configured as a cavity to receive and/or store at least a distal end of an intraoral camera and other dental handheld devices. The housing also includes one or more buttons <NUM> for operating the pod and a plurality of other internal components as discussed hereinafter, and power/data lines <NUM> for supplying power and/or data input/output to the pod <NUM>. In an illustrative embodiment, the intraoral camera <NUM> may be powered by an internal battery and may be in wireless communication with a computer.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of the pod with a vertical plane <NUM> passing through a vertical axis (Y-axis) of the pod to produce a vertical cross section, shown in <FIG>. A horizontal plane <NUM> also passes through a horizontal axis (X-axis) of the pod to produce a horizontal cross section, shown in <FIG>.

In <FIG>, the vertical cross sectional view of the pod depicts an illustrative embodiment wherein a receiver <NUM> has the shape of at least a portion of a distal end <NUM> of the intraoral camera <NUM> and is configured for receiving the distal end of the intraoral camera <NUM>. The receiver <NUM> is also lined with one or more nozzles <NUM> and/or heating elements <NUM> to clean, disinfect and/or dry the intraoral camera <NUM>. The nozzles <NUM> may be configured to apply water, cleaning liquid and/or a disinfecting/sterilizing liquid to at least said distal end <NUM> in order to clean or disinfect said distal end <NUM>. The liquid, such as water, may be applied under force, such as by the use of a pump <NUM> (<FIG>) and ventilator in order to create a spray out of each nozzle <NUM> to apply pressure when cleaning or disinfecting the distal end <NUM>. The nozzles may also be configured to apply or spray air to the intraoral camera <NUM> to dry the intraoral camera <NUM> or at least a distal end <NUM> end of the intraoral camera <NUM>.

Further a heating/drying plate <NUM> that lies below the distal end <NUM> may separately or alternatively apply heat and/or air to dry the distal end <NUM> of the intraoral camera <NUM>. In particular, the heating elements of the embodiment may be used to dry a lens of the intraoral camera <NUM>. Said heating elements are made of, for example, resistive heating elements which work by converting electrical energy to heat energy. A non-limiting example material suitable for use as a resistive heating element is a Nickel alloy (e.g. NiCr, CuNi) which is a corrosion-resistant material that has sufficient internal electrical resistance, high melting point, and sufficient elevated temperature strength. Due to the use of liquid in the receiver and thus the potential for moisture, a corrosion-resistant resistive heating element may extend the shelf life of the pod <NUM>. In other embodiments, inductive heating elements may be used. This involves heating an electrically conducting object such as a metal by electromagnetic induction, through heat generated in the object by eddy currents. Of course, these examples are not meant to be limiting and other arrangements to produce heat in the pod <NUM> for heating the distal end <NUM> can be obtained in light of this specification.

The pod further includes a base portion <NUM> that includes a cartridge compartment <NUM> and an engine compartment <NUM>. The cartridge compartment <NUM> receives one or more cartridges in insertion slots for performing a dental function or workflow, based on, for example, the intraoral camera <NUM>. The dental functions include, for example, maintenance and set-up operations of the intraoral camera that are otherwise performed separately, individually and\or manually by a clinician using external tools and kits. In an illustrative embodiment, the spatial position of cartridges of the cartridge compartment are changeable, relative to the receiver <NUM> or intraoral camera <NUM>, through a rotation of a motor of the engine compartment <NUM> as described herein. One or more cartridges may have an entrance <NUM> for receiving the distal end <NUM> of the intraoral camera <NUM> for a dental function. The cross-sectional view of <FIG> shows a disinfection cartridge <NUM> that may hold disinfection liquid and a color calibration cartridge <NUM> having a color calibration module <NUM> for calibrating the intraoral camera <NUM>. In another illustrative embodiment (not shown), the spatial position of the receiver <NUM> or intraoral camera are changeable through a rotation of the intraoral camera or receiver <NUM> relative to the cartridge compartment <NUM>. The ability of the cartridge compartment <NUM> to receive a plurality of cartridges allows the ability to change and add functionalities to existing handheld dental devices and to make it versatile for different devices and their features by changing cartridges or developing new cartridges.

In another illustrative embodiment, the performance of the dental functions is automatic and may be controlled by instructions from an internal processor <NUM> or external processor <NUM>. For example, upon inserting the intraoral camera <NUM>, a processor operates a motor of the engine compartment <NUM> to rotate the cartridges sequentially to perform one or more dental functions, with each cartridge configured to perform a different function including, but not limited to, 3D calibration, color calibration, cleaning, disinfection and caries detection calibration. In an embodiment, independent cleaning of intraoral camera <NUM> between the treatments may be achieved. The buttons <NUM> may also be used by an operator to automatically perform one or more cartridge dependent dental functions, wherein rotation of the cartridge to coincide with the intraoral camera <NUM> may not be needed if only one dental function is being performed. Each dental function may include a plurality of steps. For example, automatic color calibration includes ensuring that the camera has already been disinfected to remove any substances from the lens, lowering the distal end <NUM> of the intraoral camera <NUM> through the entrance <NUM> into a color calibration module <NUM> of a color calibration cartridge <NUM> such that a camera lens <NUM> of the intraoral camera <NUM> faces or is mounted on a color calibration set (not shown). Internal processor <NUM> or external processor <NUM> then operates the intraoral camera <NUM> to project images to be reflected and measured in a calibration process. Once complete, an LED (light emitting diode) on the pod <NUM> or remote software indicates completion and the distal end <NUM> is moved back up to its previous position. Of course, this is not meant to be limiting and other dental functions can be realized using other types of cartridges configured to perform other dental functions or intraoral camera procedures.

In a further illustrative embodiment, receiver <NUM> may be reconfigurable, electronically or mechanically to alter the shape of the cavity in order to further lower the distal end <NUM> of the intraoral camera <NUM> into an entrance <NUM> of a calibration module such as the color calibration module <NUM>.

Turning now to <FIG>, the figure shows a block diagram of a pod system <NUM> in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented. The pod system <NUM> includes the pod <NUM> (a schematic of at least the nozzle structure and data lines of which is shown for illustration purposes). The pod system <NUM> also includes a button <NUM>, a motor <NUM> and an internal processor <NUM> for controlling various operations of the pod. A pump <NUM> of the pod system <NUM> operatively connects the nozzle <NUM> to a disinfectant of liquid supply, such as water (not shown), through one or more hoses <NUM>. The pod system <NUM> also includes data lines <NUM> operatively connected to an internal processor <NUM> or external processor <NUM> configured to control the performance of dental functions as described herein. Further, the data lines <NUM> may be configured as extension for the LAN access that is needed for the WLAN access point.

In an illustrative embodiment, the pod <NUM> is operatively connected to an external computer <NUM> and/or the intraoral camera <NUM> through a network/communication infrastructure <NUM>. Network/communication infrastructure <NUM> is the medium used to provide communications links between various devices, databases, processors and computers connected together within the pod system <NUM>. Network/communication infrastructure <NUM> may include connections, such as wire, wireless communication links, or fiber optic cables. Data processing systems such as the external computer <NUM> with external processor <NUM>, intraoral camera <NUM>, internal processor <NUM>, etc. are only examples of certain data processing systems connected to network/communication infrastructure <NUM> and are not intended to exclude other configurations or roles for these data processing systems. Software applications or software tools may execute on any data processing system in the pod system <NUM>.

Only as an example, and without implying any limitation to such architecture, <FIG> depicts certain components that are usable in an example implementation of an embodiment. As another example, an embodiment can be distributed across several data processing systems and a data network as shown, whereas another embodiment can be implemented on a single data processing system within the scope of the illustrative embodiments.

The pod system <NUM> may be implemented as a number of different types of networks, such as for example, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN). In a particular example, there is a data communication between the intraoral camera <NUM> and the pod <NUM> via a wireless local area network (WLAN) and between the pod and a (W)LAN external computer via LAN. The pod may serve as a WLAN access point for the intraoral camera <NUM> and as a "hot spot" in dental treatment rooms for dental acquisition units. Herein a clinician may therefore not need a physically connected computer for data processing and data may be sent via LAN to the external computer within a dental office.

Of course, Network/communication infrastructure <NUM> may also represent a collection of networks and gateways that use the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and other protocols to communicate with one another. <FIG> is intended as an example, and not as an architectural limitation for the different illustrative embodiments.

<FIG> shows a horizontal cross-sectional view of the pod <NUM> with a plurality of cartridges <NUM> inserted in a cartridge compartment <NUM>. The cartridges include, without limitation, a disinfection cartridge <NUM>, an air-filter cartridge <NUM>, a 3D calibration cartridge <NUM> and a color calibration cartridge <NUM>.

A perspective view of a cartridge assembly <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. The cartridge assembly <NUM> includes, in an illustrative embodiment, one or more cartridges <NUM>, a motor <NUM> from the engine compartment <NUM>, and a shaft <NUM> of the motor <NUM>. Insertion guides <NUM> may guide the insertion and retaining of the one or more cartridges <NUM> in an illustrative embodiment. The motor <NUM> also has an encoder line <NUM> for controlling, responsive to insertion of the intraoral camera <NUM>, the direction of rotation or degree of rotation based on instructions from a processor. The motor also has a power line <NUM> for supplying power to the motor. A shaft connected from the motor to the cartridge assembly <NUM> couples rotational movements from the motor to the cartridge assembly <NUM> such that the cartridges <NUM> are at defined spatial positions. The processor may also control the movement or reconfiguration of the receiver <NUM>, or movement of the intraoral camera <NUM>, for example by lowering the intraoral camera <NUM>, such that the distal end <NUM> of the intraoral camera <NUM>, is in alignment with a particular cartridge <NUM>. However, in an illustrative embodiment, the intraoral camera <NUM> is lowered manually through the entrance <NUM> by the operator. It is noted that not all cartridges need to have an entrance <NUM>. Further, these examples are not meant to be limiting and other mechanical and electronic movement mechanisms such as other rotary actuators, linear actuators, servos, guide rails, etc., configured to position the cartridges in a predefined alignment with respect to the intraoral camera <NUM> may be achieved in light of the specification.

<FIG> shows a process <NUM> in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. The process <NUM> begins at step <NUM>. In step <NUM>, a pod <NUM> is provided. The pod <NUM> has a receiver for at least a distal end of an intraoral camera, one or more nozzles disposed on an edge of the receiver, and a cartridge compartment disposed proximal to the receiver. The intraoral camera is inserted into the pod in step <NUM>. In step <NUM>, a processor optionally verifies or detects that the intraoral camera has been inserted. It may also check that one or more cartridges are available for operations of the intraoral camera. The cartridges are in any shape or form that allows specific instructions of a processor to be carried out on or using the intraoral camera. In step <NUM>, process <NUM> automatically performs, by the processor, one or more operations of the intraoral camera based on a predefined function of the one or more cartridges. At least one of the one or more operations can be selected from the group consisting of a color calibration operation, a 3D (three-dimensional) calibration operation, a cleaning operation, a disinfection operation, and an air-filtering operation. The process <NUM> ends at step <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates another process <NUM> in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. Process <NUM> is an example illustration of step <NUM> of process <NUM>. Process <NUM> is a color calibration operation and begins at step <NUM>. In step <NUM>, the process <NUM> moves the intraoral camera through entrance <NUM> into the color calibration cartridge <NUM> such that a distal end <NUM> of the intraoral camera <NUM> resides in a color calibration module <NUM> or cavity of the color calibration cartridge <NUM>. In a different operation such as a cleaning, disinfection or heating operation, moving the tip of the intraoral camera <NUM> through an entrance <NUM> may not be necessary and the operation may be performed in situ in the receiver <NUM>. In step <NUM>, a lens of intraoral camera is aligned with color calibration reference. The reference may include color fields for color calibration. It may also include white fields and/or gray fields for white balance and/or shading correction. In step <NUM>, responsive to moving the intraoral camera <NUM> through the entrance <NUM>, the process <NUM> causes a processor to initiate the automatic projection of images onto the color calibration reference for color calibration. In step <NUM>, the process <NUM> automatically records reflected images. In step <NUM>, the process <NUM> automatically analyzes the reflected images for color correction. In step <NUM>, the process <NUM> automatically releases, by a processor, the intraoral camera from color calibration module. In step <NUM>, the process <NUM> automatically rotates a next cartridge to be in a defined alignment with the intraoral camera. In step <NUM>, the process <NUM> automatically performs operations of the next cartridge according to defined instructions corresponding to said next cartridge. The process <NUM> ends at step <NUM>.

In an example use-case, a clinician, in the morning, takes the charged, cleaned, updated, heated and calibrated intraoral camera <NUM> out of the pod <NUM>. The clinician uses it on a patient as usual. Data is transferred to a PC and visualized on the monitor, which is connected with the pod <NUM> via the (W)LAN access point giving it access to the inhouse LAN. After use the intraoral camera <NUM> is put back into the pod <NUM>. The intraoral camera <NUM> is subsequently automatically cleaned and charged. It is also automatically heated and calibrated if necessary. The clinician may initiate an additional/separate calibration if needed.

Reference will now be made to <FIG>, which shows a block diagram of a computer system <NUM> that may be employed in accordance with at least some of the illustrative embodiments herein. Although various embodiments may be described herein in terms of this exemplary computer system <NUM>, after reading this description, it may become apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the pod <NUM> using other computer systems and/or architectures.

In one example embodiment herein, at least some components of the pod system <NUM> may form or be included in the computer system <NUM> of <FIG>. The computer system <NUM> includes at least one computer processor <NUM> which may be, in an exemplary embodiment, internal processor <NUM> or external processor <NUM> of the pod system <NUM>. The computer processor <NUM> may include, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a multiple processing unit, an application-specific integrated circuit ("ASIC"), a field programmable gate array ("FPGA"), or the like. The computer processor <NUM> may be connected to a communication infrastructure <NUM> (e.g. a communications bus, a cross-over bar device, a network). In an illustrative embodiment herein, the computer processor <NUM> includes a CPU that that controls operations of the pod <NUM>, including the automatic cleaning and disinfection processes. For example, the computer processor <NUM> may be configured to control the timing and sequence of said operations.

The display interface <NUM> (or other output interface) forwards text, video graphics, and other data from the communication infrastructure <NUM> (or from a frame buffer (not shown)) for display on display unit <NUM>. For example, the display interface <NUM> may include a video card with a graphics processing unit or may provide an operator with an interface for controlling the thermoforming apparatus.

The computer system <NUM> may also include an input unit <NUM> that may be used, along with the display unit <NUM> by an operator of the computer system <NUM> to send information to the computer processor <NUM>. The input unit <NUM> may include a keyboard, buttons <NUM> and/or touchscreen monitor on or outside of the pod <NUM> for sending instructions for execution to a processor. In one example, the display unit <NUM>, the input unit <NUM>, and the computer processor <NUM> may collectively form a user interface.

One or more steps of operating the pod <NUM> may be stored as instructions on a non-transitory storage device in the form of computer-readable program instructions. To execute a procedure, the computer processor <NUM> loads the appropriate instructions, as stored on storage device, into memory and then executes the loaded instructions.

The computer system <NUM> may further comprise a main memory <NUM>, which may be a random-access memory ("RAM"), and also may include a secondary memory <NUM>. The secondary memory <NUM> may include, for example, a hard disk drive <NUM> and/or a removable-storage drive <NUM> (e.g., a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, a flash memory drive, and the like). The removable-storage drive <NUM> reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit <NUM> in a well-known manner. The removable storage unit <NUM> may be, for example, a floppy disk, a magnetic tape, an optical disk, a flash memory device, and the like, which may be written to and read from by the removable-storage drive <NUM>. The removable storage unit <NUM> may include a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable software instruction and/or data.

In further illustrative embodiments, the secondary memory <NUM> may include other computer-readable media storing computer-executable programs or other instructions to be loaded into the computer system <NUM>. Such devices may include removable storage unit <NUM> and an interface <NUM> (e.g., a program cartridge and a cartridge interface); a removable memory chip (e.g., an erasable programmable read-only memory ("EPROM") or a programmable read-only memory ("PROM")) and an associated memory socket; and other removable storage units <NUM> and interfaces <NUM> that allow software and data to be transferred from the removable storage unit <NUM> to other parts of the computer system <NUM>.

The computer system <NUM> may also include a communications interface <NUM> that enables software and data to be transferred between the computer system <NUM> and external devices. Such an interface may include a modem, a network interface (e.g., an Ethernet card or an IEEE <NUM> wireless LAN interface), a communications port (e.g., a Universal Serial Bus ("USB") port or a FireWire® port), a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association ("PCMCIA") interface, Bluetooth®, and the like. Software and data transferred via the communications interface <NUM> may be in the form of signals, which may be electronic, electromagnetic, optical or another type of signal that may be capable of being transmitted and/or received by the communications interface <NUM>. Signals may be provided to the communications interface <NUM> via a communications path <NUM> (e.g., a channel). The communications path <NUM> carries signals and may be implemented using wire or cable, fiber optics, a telephone line, a cellular link, a radiofrequency ("RF") link, or the like. The communications interface <NUM> may be used to transfer software or data or other information between the computer system <NUM> and a remote server or cloud-based storage (not shown).

One or more computer programs or computer control logic may be stored in the main memory <NUM> and/or the secondary memory <NUM>. The computer programs may also be received via the communications interface <NUM>. The computer programs include computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the computer processor <NUM>, cause the computer system <NUM> to perform the methods as described hereinafter. Accordingly, the computer programs may control the computer system <NUM> and other components of the pod <NUM>.

In another embodiment, the software may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and loaded into the main memory <NUM> and/or the secondary memory <NUM> of the using the removable-storage drive <NUM>, hard disk drive <NUM>, and/or the communications interface <NUM>. Control logic (software), when executed by the computer processor <NUM>, causes the computer system <NUM>, and more generally the pod system <NUM>, to perform the some or all of the methods described herein.

Lastly, in another example embodiment hardware components such as ASICs, FPGAs, and the like, may be used to carry out the functionality described herein. Implementation of such a hardware arrangement so as to perform the functions described herein will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) in view of this description.

Claim 1:
A dental pod (<NUM>) comprising:
a receiver (<NUM>) in a form of a cavity, adapted to receive a distal end (<NUM>) of a dental handheld device (<NUM>);
one or more nozzles disposed on a side of the receiver, the one or more nozzles configured to clean or disinfect the distal end of the dental handheld device;
characterised in that it further comprises
a cartridge compartment (<NUM>) disposed proximal to the receiver, the cartridge compartment including more than one insertion slot, wherein the insertion slots are for cartridges (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>), and wherein the cartridges being configured to support operations of the handheld device, wherein each cartridge is one of a color calibration cartridge (<NUM>), a 3D calibration cartridge (<NUM>), a disinfection cartridge (<NUM>), a dental caries cartridge and an air-filter cartridge (<NUM>); and
a motor (<NUM>) adapted to turn the one or more cartridges to a predefined spatial position relative to the receiver to perform said operations in the dental handheld device; and
a processor (<NUM>, adapted to automatically perform operations of the dental handheld device based on a predefined function of the cartridges, at least one of the operations being selected from the group consisting of a color calibration operation, a 3D calibration operation, a cleaning operation, a disinfection operation, caries detection calibration, and an air-filtering operation.