EP0125558A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for providing direct cool beam incident light on dental targets
Assignee: Dentsply Sirona Inc
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Filing: 1984-05-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-05-02
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus as provided for generating a condensed beam of light having a limited degree of scatter, or deviation, comprising light collimating means for providing a source of collimating light and light condensing means operatively connected to the collimating means, such as a truncated cone with a reflective inner surface, the condensing means providing a light beam output having a light divergence limited to about 30° or less. The low divergence beam generating apparatus might be incorporated into larger dental apparatus which can be operator manipulated to provide different modes of light output, which modes include the condensed beam with and without a bandpass of visible wavelengths. In practicing the method of this invention, particularly with respect to dental applications such as curing restorative materials placed in one or more teeth of a patient's oral cavity, the low divergence beam is directed at the teeth from a distance of about 1 cm, enabling reduced operator dependence in the process of curing the restorative materials.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald I. Gonser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 14:04
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C19/00; A61C19/003; A61C19/004; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4298
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
Apparatus for generating a beam of light having a limited degree of divergence, comprising light collimating means for providing a source of collimated light, and low angle light condensing means operatively connected to said collimating means for condensing the area of said collimated light and outputting a low divergence beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus for generating a beam of light having a limited degree of divergence, comprising light collimating means for providing a source of collimated light, and low angle light condensing means operatively connected to said collimating means for condensing the area of said collimated light and outputting a low divergence beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said light condensing means comprises an asymmetric single continuous condensing element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein said asymmetric element is a truncated cone having a reflective interior surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as described in claim 3, wherein the output opening of said truncated cone has a diameter at least about 1 cm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus as described in claim 3, wherein said truncated cone has an angle of convergence with respect to its axis which limits the divergence of said beam to less than 30°.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said light condensing means has an output opening producing a light beam at said opening having an area of at least about-1/4 cm2.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said light collimating means produces light concentrated in a bandwidth of about 320 to 600 nm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said light collimating means comprises a tungsten halogen light source in combination with a parabolic reflector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said collimating means comprises a tungsten halogen light source in combination with an IR absorbing filter and a visible light bandpass filter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as described in claim 9, wherein said bandpass filter comprises a heat reflecting surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as described in claim 1, comprising a handle to which said collimating means and condensing means are attached, said handle adapted the apparatus for hand-held operation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising mounting means for mounting said apparatus, said slide means for slidably moving said condensing means relative to said collimating means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said condensing means comprises a tip portion which has an angular optical path, whereby light emerges at an angle relative to the optical axis of the collimated beam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The .pparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said condensing means comprises tip means for outputting light at an angle relative to the optical axis of said condensing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said light collimating means comprises a lamp source and a reflector for reflecting light in a collimated beam along an optical axis, said reflector being positioned relative to said lamp source so as to reflect light radiated from said source at more than 90° from said optical axis.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
44 words
A method of visible light curing of light curable material in a dental environment, comprising generating a substantially collimated light beam and directing said light beam on a predetermined target area in a patient's mouth so that said light teaches pre-positioned light curable material.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
44 words
A method of visible light curing of light curable material in a dental environment, comprising generating a substantially collimated light beam and directing said light beam on a predetermined target area in a patient's mouth so that said light teaches pre-positioned light curable material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as described in claim 16, comprising generating said light beam to have a divergence of less than about 30 0 .
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as described in claim 16, comprising generating said light beam with apparatus having a beam output aperture, and positioning said output aperture at least about 1 cm from said target area beam.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as described in claim 13, comprising directing said light beam through natural tooth structure to cure light curable restorative material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method as described in claim 13, wherein said collimated light has a diameter of at least 1 cm, and directing said light so as to simultaneously cure visible light curable material positioned in two or more teeth at a time.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as described in claim 13, comprising directing said light beam through dental materials consisting of glass, glass ceramics, and clear and translucent plastics.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
157 words
Adjustable operating light apparatus, comprising a lamp housing, a lamp and a reflector, said lamp and reflector being arranged in said housing to output a substantially collimated beam of light; a notch rejection filter for filtering out a bandpass of visible light, and means for inserting into and removing said filter from the path of said collimated beam; - reflector means for reflecting said collimated beam to at least a one output location, and means for adjusting said reflector means so that in a first position said collimated light is reflected to said at least one output location and in a second position said collimated light passes without being reflected; and a low angle condensing means positionable in the path of said collimated light for condensing said light to provide a light beam of low divergence, said condensing means receiving said collimated light beam when said reflector means is moved to permit passage of said collimated light.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
157 words
Adjustable operating light apparatus, comprising a lamp housing, a lamp and a reflector, said lamp and reflector being arranged in said housing to output a substantially collimated beam of light; a notch rejection filter for filtering out a bandpass of visible light, and means for inserting into and removing said filter from the path of said collimated beam; - reflector means for reflecting said collimated beam to at least a one output location, and means for adjusting said reflector means so that in a first position said collimated light is reflected to said at least one output location and in a second position said collimated light passes without being reflected; and a low angle condensing means positionable in the path of said collimated light for condensing said light to provide a light beam of low divergence, said condensing means receiving said collimated light beam when said reflector means is moved to permit passage of said collimated light.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as described in claim 22, comprising moving means for moving the position of said condensing means relative to said lamp housing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus as described in claim 23, comprising filter means for filtering said collimated beam, comprising (a) absorbing means to absorb wavelengths from about 600 nm to 2400 nm; (b) reflecting means to reflect wavelengths from about 600 nm to 1000 nm; and (c) bandpass means to pass wavelengths from about 400 nm to 500 nm.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as described in claim 23, wherein said notch filter filters out a range of wavelengths so as to produce a substantially yellow light.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
75 words
Light source apparatus for producing a beam of filtered collimated light, comprising collimated light source means for producing a collimated light beam, absorbing filter means positioned in the path of said beam for absorbing wavelenghts in the range of about 600 nm to 2400 nm, and heat reflector means positioned in the path of the beam emerging from said absorbing filter means for reflecting wavelengths in the range of about 600 nm to 1000 nm.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
75 words
Light source apparatus for producing a beam of filtered collimated light, comprising collimated light source means for producing a collimated light beam, absorbing filter means positioned in the path of said beam for absorbing wavelenghts in the range of about 600 nm to 2400 nm, and heat reflector means positioned in the path of the beam emerging from said absorbing filter means for reflecting wavelengths in the range of about 600 nm to 1000 nm.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
61 words
The light source apparatus as described in claim 26, wherein said heat reflector means comprises bandpass filter means for passing wavelengths in the range of about 400 nm to 500 nm and rejecting wavelengths shorter than about 400 nm and between about 500 and 800 nm, said bandpass filter means being combined with said heat reflector means in a compound filter.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The light source apparatus as described in claim 27, wherein said light source means comprises a tungsten halogen lamp mounted with a parabolic reflector.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of applying a light curable material in a location within an oral cavity, comprising illuminating the oral cavity with substantially white light and preparing said location for application of said material, illuminating the oral cavity with yellow light and placing and forming said material at said location, generating a collimated low divergence light beam comprising wavelengths for curing said material and directing said generated collimated light beam on said placed and formed material.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of applying a light curable material in a location within an oral cavity, comprising illuminating the oral cavity with substantially white light and preparing said location for application of said material, illuminating the oral cavity with yellow light and placing and forming said material at said location, generating a collimated low divergence light beam comprising wavelengths for curing said material and directing said generated collimated light beam on said placed and formed material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as described in claim 29, wherein said generated light beam comprises wavelengths in the range of about 400 nm - 500 nm.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as described in claim 29, comprising directing said generated light beam from a source having an output aperture, and positioning said output aperture at least about 1 cm from the outside surface of said location.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
42 words
Light source apparatus for producing a beam of filtered collimated light, comprising collimated light source means for producing a collimated light beam, and absorbing filter means positioned in the path of said collimated light beam for absorbing wavelengths within a predetermined range.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
42 words
Light source apparatus for producing a beam of filtered collimated light, comprising collimated light source means for producing a collimated light beam, and absorbing filter means positioned in the path of said collimated light beam for absorbing wavelengths within a predetermined range.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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