BR-102024018268-A2 - Cyber-physical device for dispensing dental products and inventory control method produced and assigned on consignment of dental products.

Abstract

The present invention provides a cyber-physical device for dispensing a variety of dental products in client environments, enabling the supply of such items for immediate use within a dental clinic without the need to accurately predict the demand for specific items in advance. The present invention also provides a method for inventory control of the dental products dispensed in the client environment, enabling better logistical control in view of consumption demand, as well as automated invoicing of the dental products used by the client.

Inventors

• JAFTE CARNEIRO FAGUNDES DA SILVA
• RODRIGO LIBERATORI PASCINI

Assignees

• JJGC INDÚSTRIA E COMÉRCIO DE MATERIAIS DENTÁRIOS S.A.

Dates

Publication Date

20260317

Application Date

20240905

Claims (15)

1. 1. Cyber-physical device for dispensing dental products (1), CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises: at least one compartment (2) configured to store dental products; at least one climate-controlled subcompartment (6); a user interface unit (3) that displays information about the dental products and allows product selection; a product release unit to release the dental products from the compartments (2) and climate-controlled subcompartment (6); an image capture and internal monitoring device for the product release unit; a mechanism for counting the dental products selected and removed; an information transmission unit (4) configured to send information about the dental products to a central server (10) of the manufacturer; a communication unit (4.1) with a smartphone configured to receive and send instructions and commands for dispensing products and/or opening usage incidents; and an interface connected to a database system that stores information about instructions for use of the dental products allocated in the cyber-physical device.
2. 2. Device (1), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the air-conditioned subcompartment (6) is configured to adjust the temperature, humidity and/or light exposure.
3. 3. Device (1), according to claim 2, CHARACTERIZED in that the temperature and humidity of the air-conditioned subcompartment (6) are controlled and monitored remotely via the central server (10).
4. 4. Device (1), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the image capture and internal monitoring device of the product release unit is a camera.
5. 5. Device (1), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the mechanism for counting each of the dental products is a sensor, a coded drawer or other electronic interface reading mechanism.
6. 6. Device (1), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the user interface unit is a touch screen (3), buttons (5), a keyboard (7) or some other combination thereof.
7. 7. Device (1), according to claim 6, CHARACTERIZED in that the user interface unit (3) comprises a screen for displaying instructions about the dental product showing the function and main feature/line of the item.
8. 8. Device (1), according to claim 6 or 7, CHARACTERIZED in that the selection of a dental product in the user interface unit (3) and the release is via a product code.
9. 9. Device (1), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that it further comprises a release chamber that receives the selected dental product for the user to access and remove the product.
10. 10. Device (1), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that it further comprises a safety mechanism comprising an emergency device, equipped with a power supply battery, wherein said device is configured to send a signal indicating the geolocation of the storage compartment to the central server (10).
11. 11. Device (1), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that it further comprises a return compartment (20) configured to receive dental products that have been improperly removed from the device (1) itself.
12. 12. A method for controlling the inventory produced and assigned on consignment of dental products using a cyber-physical device to dispense dental products (1), as defined in claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises the steps of: receiving information from the user to select a dental product; identifying the selected dental product; verifying whether it is a new or returned dental product; confirming that the selected dental product actually corresponds to the desired item; releasing the dispensing of the dental product selected by the user; making information available on the screen about the selected product such as the function and main characteristic/line of the item; counting the quantity of dental products that the user removed from the device (1) or returned; sending information on the quantity and which products were removed or returned to the manufacturer's central server (10); updating the logistics control (11) regarding the demand consumed for dental products; sending an order to replenish the device (1) if the removed dental products reach a predetermined minimum quantity; and carry out the invoicing (12) of the dental products that were used by the client and their corresponding tax reconciliation.
13. 13. Method, according to claim 12, CHARACTERIZED in that the authorization for dispensing the dental product is based on validation through a product code.
14. 14. Method, according to claim 12, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises connecting with other devices (1) in different clients (15, 16, 17) in a multiple inventory control and management.
15. 15. Method, according to claim 12 or 14, CHARACTERIZED in that it further comprises the step of updating the history of consumption trends for each particular customer.

Description

Field of invention [001] The present invention falls within the technical field of cyber-physical systems and practical use for dispensing health products (especially dental implants and components) and a functional application for inventory control of consigned products. More specifically, the present invention provides a device for dispensing, on consignment, a variety of dental products arranged in a practical way in clinical environments and an inventory control method that makes it possible to manage the consumption, replenishment, storage, invoicing, exchange and technical assistance of dental products. The present invention aims to implement a way of dispensing dental products in clinical environments suitable for dentists, for example, in dental clinics and offices with a high patient turnover, for immediate use and without the need to accurately and in advance predict the use of certain dental parts and their corresponding quantities. Fundamentals of the invention [002] Inventory management is a challenge that can lead to unwanted costs for suppliers and customers. Inventory problems, demand forecasting, and over-availability or under-availability of products are generally critical challenges that affect many suppliers and their customers. Excess inventory can generate additional costs and the risk of obsolescence where products would actually be in demand, while under-availability can result in lost sales and customer dissatisfaction. [003] Buying inventory comes with a certain level of risk. If a retailer buys too much merchandise, for example, they may have to lower the price of the products to sell them or find another way to unload them, which could lead the retailer to incur losses on the merchandise. A different model—called consignment inventory—reduces the retailer's risk. Consignment inventory is an agreement between the consignor and the consignee. The consignor, which may be a wholesaler, manufacturer, or supplier, provides goods to the consignee, the retailer. In this agreement, the consignor owns the products, and the consignee will pay for them when customers buy them. Bringing this to the field of the manufacturer-dentist relationship, clinical environments with a high patient turnover generally require a large volume of consigned inventory of products in order to meet the needs of surgeries and oral rehabilitation of the patient. However, consigning products implies another major problem: controlling consumption and maintaining product replenishment or exchanges, which in the vast majority of cases depends on human control and counting and recounting. [004] Thus, inefficient inventory management and inaccurate forecasts, caused by demand variability and, eventually, insufficient information, can contribute to poor supplier-customer relationships, as well as lead to high risks of product losses. It is clear that supply chain disruptions, insufficient production, and poor planning can hinder the availability of products needed to meet a certain demand. [005] For example, in the case of dental clinics with a high patient turnover, it is generally necessary to have large quantities and varieties of items readily available for use, since a wide variety of procedures are performed without it being possible to accurately predict in advance the need to use certain dental parts. [006] This scenario ultimately leads to excessive logistics costs, late product deliveries, delivery delays, and even over-dispensing of products without being able to guarantee proper on-site storage. Often, products may be lacking in situations requiring immediate use, for example, in urgent or delicate procedures that demand the use of multiple components, instruments, and materials, performed in dental clinics such as those specializing in implants. This becomes even more challenging if the surgical technique used is immediate loading and the oral rehabilitation is planned to occur on the same day as the implant placement surgery, for example. [007] In an attempt to mitigate these challenges, the implementation of an automated cyber-physical inventory management system becomes interesting, which uses more accurate demand forecasting models and better supply chain predictability. Solutions like these help improve the operational efficiency of item delivery and customer satisfaction, allowing companies to better meet their needs. In addition, ensuring the proper preservation of technical items in a clinical environment, on-site at the customer's location, without requiring the physical presence of a specialist supplier to verify ideal logistics and storage conditions, is also essential. [008] In view of this, some prior art patent documents attempt to solve the problems of dispensing products through vending machines in environments that have consumer demand. [009] For example, patent document WO2012000097 describes a vending machine that, in communication with a remote station, delivers a labeled container to a u