Dental handpiece with embedded wireless communication device

A dental handpiece comprising:

• a handle portion formed from a first housing having a head portion at a first end thereof and a second end removably connected to a first end of a second housing, the second housing having a second end configured for connection to a supply hose, the first and second housings defining an internal cavity, the second housing defining a longitudinally extending handle axis and being made from a dielectric material, the first housing including a bend such that a portion of the first housing extends at an angle transverse to the handle axis;
• a turbine supported in the head portion and configured to removably receive a dental tool for rotation therewith;
• a manifold disposed within the internal cavity and contained in the second housing, the manifold including a plurality of connection openings and being configured for receiving the supply hose;
• a compressed air tube connected to one of the connection openings of the manifold and extending through the internal cavity to the head portion, the compressed air tube being configured to supply compressed air to the head portion for rotating the turbine;
• a fiber-optic cable connected to another of the connection openings of the manifold and extending through the internal cavity and terminating at a light opening in the head portion, the fiber-optic cable being made at least partially from metal;
• an RFID chip contained in the second housing and attached to the fiber-optic cable within the internal cavity, the RFID chip having a central, longitudinal axis that is oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect to the handle axis, the RFID chip being configured to wirelessly communicate with a reader or writer external to the dental handpiece and configured to store data related to at least one of identification, use, or maintenance of the dental handpiece;
• and
• an electrically inert substrate material encapsulating the RFID chip, the RFID chip being electrically isolated from other components of the dental handpiece.