Patents by Inventor Thomas A. St. Louis
Thomas A. St. Louis has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10886020Abstract: A predictive maintenance system and method for a dental handpiece includes a condition sensor for sensing a condition of the handpiece to obtain sensor data and providing wired communication of the sensor data and a device identifier from the handpiece to a delivery unit. The system is configured to store sensor data, a device identifier and a time stamp in data logging equipment to obtain a usage history for the handpiece. The system determines a maintenance condition of the handpiece based on the sensor data and/or the usage history of the handpiece. In response to a severity of the maintenance condition, the system provides a preventative maintenance indication of a future failure for the handpiece or stops operation of the handpiece.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2017Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: KAVO DENTAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Robert Thomas St. Louis, Michael Carl Dunaway, Mitchell James Rutledge
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Patent number: 10881490Abstract: A handpiece maintenance system and method identifies a dental handpiece and operates in a diagnostic cycle to power the handpiece and determine predictive maintenance condition thereof. The handpiece maintenance system includes a temperature sensor and/or an acceleration sensor to measure the conditions of the handpiece during the diagnostic cycle. The predictive maintenance condition of the handpiece is based on data from the diagnostic cycle and other stored data for the identified handpiece. A system is also configured to determine a predictive maintenance condition of the handpiece based on sensor data read from a handpiece and historical usage data thereof.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2017Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: KAVO DENTAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Robert Thomas St. Louis, Michael Carl Dunaway, Steven Bohon, Mitchell James Rutledge
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Patent number: 10434024Abstract: A modular dental system, methods for controlling a modular dental tool, a dental system, a control module, and a treatment unit. In one embodiment, the modular dental system includes a modular dental system including a control module and a battery module. The control module includes a first end, a second end, a control sub-system, and a charging sub-system. The control sub-system is configured to communicatively couple to an attachment, detect an attachment identifier associated with the attachment when the attachment is removably attached to the first end of the control module, and control the attachment based on the attachment identifier. The battery module is configured to removably attach to the second end of the control module.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2016Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignees: KAVO DENTAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, KALTENBACH & VOIGT GMBHInventors: Robert Thomas St. Louis, Michael Carl Dunaway, Frank Ulrich Emde, Amod Ashok Kher, Tyler Ray Harper, Nathan Lamb Shippee, Johannes Sauter, Patrick Niederreuter
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Patent number: 10201398Abstract: Devices and methods for dispensing material from a dental handpiece. In one example, the method includes receiving an input that indicates that an amount of the material is to be dispensed from the container of the dental handpiece. The method also includes rotating an electric motor to rotate an imbalanced mass to vibrate a vibration transmission element that vibrates the material in the container. The method also includes dispensing the amount of the material from the container with a piston based on the input.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2016Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignees: Kaltenbach & Voigt GmbH, KaVo Dental Technologies, LLC, Kerr CorporationInventors: Michael Aaron Fisher, Robert Thomas St. Louis, Gopikrishnan Soundararajan, Matteo Riccardo Bosisio, Michael Carl Dunaway
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Publication number: 20180353275Abstract: A handpiece maintenance system and method identifies a dental handpiece and operates in a diagnostic cycle to power the handpiece and determine predictive maintenance condition thereof. The handpiece maintenance system includes a temperature sensor and/or an acceleration sensor to measure the conditions of the handpiece during the diagnostic cycle. The predictive maintenance condition of the handpiece is based on data from the diagnostic cycle and other stored data for the identified handpiece. A system is also configured to determine a predictive maintenance condition of the handpiece based on sensor data read from a handpiece and historical usage data thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2017Publication date: December 13, 2018Inventors: Robert Thomas St. Louis, Michael Carl Dunaway, Steven Bohon, Mitchell James Rutledge
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Publication number: 20180357384Abstract: A universal controller for controlling dental devices includes a memory having a graphical user interface generator and control software for a plurality of dental devices. The universal controller includes a transceiver, a display for displaying graphical user interfaces and for receiving inputs, and an electronic processor connected to the memory, the transceiver, and the display. The electronic processor is configured to provide a graphical user interface to the display in response to a selection received from the display. The universal controller is configured to display a plurality of dental devices to be controlled and enable selection thereof. Further, multiple devices are displayable on the universal controller, along with a patient information.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2017Publication date: December 13, 2018Inventors: Robert Thomas St. Louis, Michael Carl Dunaway, Steven Bohon
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Patent number: 10137213Abstract: A disinfecting system including a delivery unit having a dental instrument holder, a dental instrument engagable with the dental instrument holder, a fluid supply line fluidly coupled to the dental instrument to provide fluid to the dental instrument, and a disinfecting device in fluid communication with at least one of the supply lines and the dental instrument.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2015Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: KAVO DENTAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Robert Thomas St. Louis, Nabil F. Dagher, Harold Thomas Lockamy, Douglas Gordon Knight
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Publication number: 20180307797Abstract: A predictive maintenance system and method for a dental handpiece includes a condition sensor for sensing a condition of the handpiece to obtain sensor data and providing wired communication of the sensor data and a device identifier from the handpiece to a delivery unit. The system is configured to store sensor data, a device identifier and a time stamp in data logging equipment to obtain a usage history for the handpiece. The system determines a maintenance condition of the handpiece based on the sensor data and/or the usage history of the handpiece. In response to a severity of the maintenance condition, the system provides a preventative maintenance indication of a future failure for the handpiece or stops operation of the handpiece.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2017Publication date: October 25, 2018Inventors: Robert Thomas St. Louis, Michael Carl Dunaway, Mitchell James Rutledge
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Patent number: 10077194Abstract: A disinfecting device including a conduit configured to carry a flowing liquid. The conduit has a first index of refraction. A sheath surrounds the conduit and has a second index of refraction. The second index of refraction is lower than the first index of refraction. The disinfecting device also includes a light source configured to produce disinfecting light and arranged to send the disinfecting light into the conduit.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2015Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: KAVO DENTAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Douglas Gordon Knight, Honson Ka-Ho Lam, Robert Thomas St. Louis, Nabil F. Dagher, Harold Thomas Lockamy
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Publication number: 20180256289Abstract: A coupling device for selectively coupling a dental handpiece to a dental base station. An electrical power source is housed by the coupling device. A first end of the coupling device is selectively coupleable to the dental base station and configured to receive a gaseous or fluid medium from the dental base station. A second end of the coupling device is selectively coupleable to the dental handpiece and configured to output the gaseous or fluid medium from the dental base station to the dental handpiece and to output electrical power from the electrical power source to the dental handpiece.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2017Publication date: September 13, 2018Inventors: Robert Thomas St. Louis, Michael Carl Dunaway, Steven Bohon
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Publication number: 20180092708Abstract: A tool recognition system includes a tool and a dental drill. The tool includes a fluted portion and a shank portion. The tool has one or more colored identifiers at least partially circumscribing a part of the shank portion. The dental drill includes a tool rotating portion, a light transmitter located in the tool rotating portion, and a light sensor. With the tool removably coupled to the tool rotating portion, the one or more colors present a sequence of one or more colors to the light sensor for identifying the tool to the light sensor when the tool rotates a predetermined number of turns. The dental drill includes a handpiece and a console in another embodiment.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2017Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventors: Sorin Cora, Matteo R. Bosisio, Emanuele Maretto, Robert Thomas St. Louis, Daniel Khalili
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Publication number: 20180042802Abstract: A modular dental system, methods for controlling a modular dental tool, a dental system, a control module, and a treatment unit. In one embodiment, the modular dental system includes a modular dental system including a control module and a battery module. The control module includes a first end, a second end, a control sub-system, and a charging sub-system. The control sub-system is configured to communicatively couple to an attachment, detect an attachment identifier associated with the attachment when the attachment is removably attached to the first end of the control module, and control the attachment based on the attachment identifier. The battery module is configured to removably attach to the second end of the control module.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2016Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: Robert Thomas St. Louis, Michael Carl Dunaway, Frank Ulrich Emde, Amod Ashok Kher, Tyler Ray Harper, Nathan Lamb Shippee, Johannes Sauter, Patrick Niederreuter
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Publication number: 20160332894Abstract: A disinfecting device including a conduit configured to carry a flowing liquid. The conduit has a first index of refraction. A sheath surrounds the conduit and has a second index of refraction. The second index of refraction is lower than the first index of refraction. The disinfecting device also includes a light source configured to produce disinfecting light and arranged to send the disinfecting light into the conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2015Publication date: November 17, 2016Inventors: Douglas Gordon Knight, Honson Ka-Ho Lam, Robert Thomas St. Louis, Nabil F. Dagher, Harold Thomas Lockamy
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Publication number: 20160331855Abstract: A disinfecting system including a delivery unit having a dental instrument holder, a dental instrument engagable with the dental instrument holder, a fluid supply line fluidly coupled to the dental instrument to provide fluid to the dental instrument, and a disinfecting device in fluid communication with at least one of the supply lines and the dental instrument.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2015Publication date: November 17, 2016Inventors: Robert Thomas St. Louis, Nabil F. Dagher, Harold Thomas Lockamy, Douglas Gordon Knight
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Publication number: 20160270876Abstract: Devices and methods for dispensing material from a dental handpiece. In one example, the method includes receiving an input that indicates that an amount of the material is to be dispensed from the container of the dental handpiece. The method also includes rotating an electric motor to rotate an imbalanced mass to vibrate a vibration transmission element that vibrates the material in the container. The method also includes dispensing the amount of the material from the container with a piston based on the input.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: Michael Aaron Fisher, Robert Thomas St. Louis, Gopikrishnan Soundararajan, Matteo Riccardo Bosisio, Michael Carl Dunaway
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Patent number: 7415779Abstract: A kit for setting turbine probe depth. The kit may include a male measurement fixture having an extended leg and an alignment barrel and a female measurement fixture having a depth rod.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2006Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Thomas St. Louis, Dennis Lee Runyon, Tyler Warren Jacobs
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Publication number: 20080127503Abstract: A kit for setting turbine probe depth. The kit may include a male measurement fixture having an extended leg and an alignment barrel and a female measurement fixture having a depth rod.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2006Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Thomas St. Louis, Dennis Lee Runyon, Tyler Warren Jacobs
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Publication number: 20030220852Abstract: The schema includes providing a first bill of materials, linking a parent part in the first bill of materials with a first child part by a first relationship, revising the first bill of materials by linking the parent part with a second child part by a second relationship, different than the first relationship, and, providing a revised bill of materials listing the first child part, first relationship, second child part, and the second relationship. The schema may be incorporated into a system and a storage medium encoded with machine readable computer program code.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2002Publication date: November 27, 2003Inventors: Andrew Back, James Robert Scanlon, Gary Paul Michaelis, Rcik Cornish, Stanley T. Mason, Thomas A. St. Louis, Mark Edward Dausch, Vrinda Rajiv, Charles Robert Gilman
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Publication number: 20030220853Abstract: A method, system, and storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for managing changes in a bill of materials are disclosed and include providing an editor, the editor having a first frame and an adjacent second frame, displaying a parts list in the first frame of the editor, the parts list forming a subset of the bill of materials, and displaying search results from a search for parts in the second frame of the editor. A user interface for managing and navigating a bill of materials, the bill of materials listing a plurality of parts, is disclosed. The user interface includes a first frame including a parts list listing at least a subset of the bill of materials, a second frame providing search results of a search or details of a part listed in the first frame, and a third frame containing function buttons for performing operations between the first frame and the second frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2002Publication date: November 27, 2003Inventors: Andrew Back, James Robert Scanlon, Gary Paul Michaelis, Rick Cornish, Stanley T. Mason, Thomas A. St. Louis, Mark Edward Dausch, Vrinda Rajiv, Charles Robert Gilman