Patent US4818231A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4818231A
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Processing device for local irradiation with visible or invisible light
Assignee: WILHELM SEDLBAUER WITTEISBACHERSTRASSE 2-8 D-8352 GRAFENAU GERMANY A CORP OF GERMANY GmbH
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Filing: 1986-05-09
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Granted: 1989-04-04
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Expires: 2006-05-09
Abstract
Abstract A hand held device for providing local irradiation with visible or invisible light to defined processing points of tooth fillings for hardening tooth fillings during dental treatment includes a housing containing a light source for emitting visible or invisible light, a light conductor optically coupled to the light source which transmits visible or invisible light to the processing points, a fan for cooling the light source and a rechargeable battery and means for counting the times the light source is activated.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans Steiner
- 👤 Alois Mitterndorfer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:20
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/70; H02J7/751; A; A61; A61C; A61C19/00; A61C19/003; A61C19/004; A61C2204/00; A61C2204/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A hand held processing device for local irradiation, with visible or invisible light, of defined processing points of tooth fillings for hardening the tooth fillings during a dental treatment, said hand-held device comprising: a housing, within which is disposed: a light source means for emitting said visible or invisible light; a light conductor optically coupled to said light source means via an optical coupling element, said light conductor transmitting said light to said processing points; a fan means for cooling said light source; at least one rechargeable battery means for supplying power to said light source means and said fan means and; means for counting the number of times said light source is activated and for preventing further activation thereof when the count exceeds a predetermined number until said batteries have been recharged.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A hand held processing device for local irradiation, with visible or invisible light, of defined processing points of tooth fillings for hardening the tooth fillings during a dental treatment, said hand-held device comprising: a housing, within which is disposed: a light source means for emitting said visible or invisible light; a light conductor optically coupled to said light source means via an optical coupling element, said light conductor transmitting said light to said processing points; a fan means for cooling said light source; at least one rechargeable battery means for supplying power to said light source means and said fan means and; means for counting the number of times said light source is activated and for preventing further activation thereof when the count exceeds a predetermined number until said batteries have been recharged.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
Processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the batteries are accommodated in a foot portion of the housing and said light conductor is made of a material having a characteristic selected from the group of rigid and plastic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
Processing device according to claim 1 including a plug-in device means, secured against contact, provided in an area of the foot portion of the housing, on the bottom side thereof, for inserting the processing device into a charger.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
Processing device according to claim 1 including means, coupled to the battery, for preventing the activation of the light source if a terminal voltage of the battery is lower than a predetermined minimum value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
Processing device according to claim 1, wherein said means for counting includes a counter means, coupled to an activator means for the device, for preventing further activation after said predetermined number of activations until a charging process has been completed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
Processing device according to claim 1, wherein a charger, external to said housing, is to be provided and includes means for accommodating several, preferably two processing devices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
Processing device according to claim 6, wherein the charger includes a switch that allows only one of the devices to be charged at any one time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
Processing device according to claim 6, wherein a charge maintenance device is provided in the charger in order to maintain the charge of those batteries in said several processing devices which are not at that particular time connected to a charge voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
134 words
A hand held processing device for local irradiation, with visible or invisible light, of defined processing points of tooth fillings for hardening the tooth filings during a dental treatment, said hand-held device comprising: a housing, within which is disposed: a light source means for emitting said visible or invisible light; a light conductor optically coupled to said light source means via an optical coupling element, said light conductor transmitting said light to said processing points; a fan means for cooling said light source; at least one rechargeable battery means for supplying power to said light source means and said fan means; and means for monitoring a terminal voltage of said battery and for preventing the activation of the light source if said terminal voltage of the battery is lower than a predetermined minimum value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
134 words
A hand held processing device for local irradiation, with visible or invisible light, of defined processing points of tooth fillings for hardening the tooth filings during a dental treatment, said hand-held device comprising: a housing, within which is disposed: a light source means for emitting said visible or invisible light; a light conductor optically coupled to said light source means via an optical coupling element, said light conductor transmitting said light to said processing points; a fan means for cooling said light source; at least one rechargeable battery means for supplying power to said light source means and said fan means; and means for monitoring a terminal voltage of said battery and for preventing the activation of the light source if said terminal voltage of the battery is lower than a predetermined minimum value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
Processing device according to claim 9, characterized in that the batteries are accommodated in a foot portion of the housing and said light conductor is made of a material having a characteristic selected from the group of rigid and plastic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
Processing device according to claim 9 including a plug-in device means, secured against contact, provided in an area of the foot portion of the housing, on the bottom side thereof, for inserting the processing device into a charger.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
Processing device according to claim 9, wherein said means for monitoring is a stabilizing charge monitor switching means, coupled to the battery, for preventing the activation of the light source if said terminal voltage of the battery is lower than said predetermined minimum value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
Processing device according to claim 12, including a counter means, coupled to an activator means for the device, for preventing further activation after a predetermined number of activations until a charging process has been completed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
Processing device according to claim 9, wherein a charger, external to said housing, is provided and includes means for accommodating several, preferably two processing devices.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
Processing device according to claim 14, wherein the charger includes a switch that allows only one of the devices to be charged at any one time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
Processing device according to claim 14, wherein a charge maintenance device is provided in the charger in order to maintain the charge of those batteries in said several processing devices which are not at that particular time connected to a charge voltage.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-04-03 | 1992-10-03 | 1993-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-04-03 | 1996-10-03 | 1997-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-04-03 | 2000-10-03 | 2001-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |