US4888489A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hand-held device for curing a dental restorative material
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1988-05-09
•
Granted: 1989-12-19
•
Expires: 2008-05-09
Abstract
Abstract When a hand-held visible-light curing unit is used in air to cure dental restorative material, a thin layer of soft, uncured surface material ordinarily remains and is removed by grinding. In the invention, the surface of the restorative material is fully cured by the simple expedient of using a hand-held light curing unit whose lightguide has a hollow tube having at least one orifice that is substantially colinear with the lightguide. An inert gas such as nitrogen is gently blown through the orifice and across the surface of the restorative material while the material is being cured by light from the light curing unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas T. Bryan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 14:59
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C19/00; A61C19/003; A61C19/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A hand-held device useful for curing a photocurable restorative material, said device comprising means for directing radiant energy of a wavelength that cures said material along a direction toward the restorative material, and means for directing a gentle flow of inert gas in substantially the same direction as the radiant energy is directed as said radiant energy is directed toward said restorative material, whereby said gas blows across said restorative material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
A hand-held device useful for curing a photocurable restorative material, said device comprising means for directing radiant energy of a wavelength that cures said material along a direction toward the restorative material, and means for directing a gentle flow of inert gas in substantially the same direction as the radiant energy is directed as said radiant energy is directed toward said restorative material, whereby said gas blows across said restorative material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
A hand held device useful for curing a photocurable restorative material, said device comprising means for directing radiant energy of a wavelength that cures said material, and means for directing a gentle flow of inert gas in substantially the same direction as the radiant energy is directed, whereby said gas blows across said restorative material, said inert gas directing means comprising a hollow tube enveloping said energy-directing means with at least one orifice therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
A hand held device useful for curing a photocurable restorative material, said device comprising means for directing radiant energy of a wavelength that cures said material, and means for directing a gentle flow of inert gas in substantially the same direction as the radiant energy is directed, whereby said gas blows across said restorative material, said inert gas directing means comprising a hollow tube enveloping said energy-directing means with at least one orifice therebetween.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said energy-directing means comprises a lightguide containing a bundle of optical fibers for collimating light emitted by a lamp.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said hollow tube is part of a slip-on attachment that fits over the lightguide and includes a fitting for connecting the attachment to a supply of inert gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said lightguide is substantially cylindrical and said hollow tube has a thin cylindrical metallic wall which is deformed to provide at least three spaced crimps that rest against the lightguide to leave an interrupted annular orifice between the lightguide and the tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said tube is coextensive with the distal end of the lightguide when the attachment is in place.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
A hand-held device useful for curing a photocurable restorative material, said device comprising means for directing radiant energy of a wavelength that cures said material, means for directing a gentle flow of inert gas in substantially the same direction as the radiant energy is directed, whereby said gas blows across said restorative material, and means for briefly delaying the initiation of the radiant energy until the inert gas has flowed through the orifice for a preselected period of time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
A hand-held device useful for curing a photocurable restorative material, said device comprising means for directing radiant energy of a wavelength that cures said material, means for directing a gentle flow of inert gas in substantially the same direction as the radiant energy is directed, whereby said gas blows across said restorative material, and means for briefly delaying the initiation of the radiant energy until the inert gas has flowed through the orifice for a preselected period of time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
92 words
A hand-held device useful for curing a radiation-curable restorative material, said device comprising a housing containing a lamp, a substantially cylindrical transparent lightguide including a bundle of optical fibers for collimating light emitted by the lamp and directing the light along certain direction, and an attachment including a cylindrical tube enveloping the lightguide to leave an interrupted annular orifice therebetween and a fitting for connecting the attachment to a supply of inert gas to permit the gas to flow through the orifice in the same direction as the collimated light is directed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
92 words
A hand-held device useful for curing a radiation-curable restorative material, said device comprising a housing containing a lamp, a substantially cylindrical transparent lightguide including a bundle of optical fibers for collimating light emitted by the lamp and directing the light along certain direction, and an attachment including a cylindrical tube enveloping the lightguide to leave an interrupted annular orifice therebetween and a fitting for connecting the attachment to a supply of inert gas to permit the gas to flow through the orifice in the same direction as the collimated light is directed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
A slip-on attachment for a hand-held light curing unit including a lamp and a lightguide containing a bundle of optical fibers for collimating light emitted by the lamp and directing the light along a certain direction, said attachment comprising a hollow tube that fits over the lightguide to leave at least one orifice therebetween and a fitting for connecting the attachment to a supply of inert gas to permit the gas to flow through the orifice in the same direction as the collimated light is directed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
86 words
A slip-on attachment for a hand-held light curing unit including a lamp and a lightguide containing a bundle of optical fibers for collimating light emitted by the lamp and directing the light along a certain direction, said attachment comprising a hollow tube that fits over the lightguide to leave at least one orifice therebetween and a fitting for connecting the attachment to a supply of inert gas to permit the gas to flow through the orifice in the same direction as the collimated light is directed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
A slip-on attachment as defined in claim 9 wherein the lightguide is substantially cylindrical and the hollow tube has a thin cylindrical metallic wall which is deformed to provide at least three spaced crimps that rest against the lightguide to leave an interrupted annular orifice between the lightguide and the tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
79 words
Method of curing of restorative material to provide a dental restoration, said method comprising the simultaneous or sequential steps of (1) gently forcing inert gas to flow across the surface of the restorative material to remove oxygen from the surface, and (2) directing at the restorative material in the same direction as the flow of said inert gas, radiant energy of a wavelength that cures the restorative material, thereby providing a restoration that is fully cured at its surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
79 words
Method of curing of restorative material to provide a dental restoration, said method comprising the simultaneous or sequential steps of (1) gently forcing inert gas to flow across the surface of the restorative material to remove oxygen from the surface, and (2) directing at the restorative material in the same direction as the flow of said inert gas, radiant energy of a wavelength that cures the restorative material, thereby providing a restoration that is fully cured at its surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
Method as defined in claim 11 wherein the inert gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen and nitrous oxide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US32073A
Cited
US3983039A
Cited
GB1544776A
Cited
US4298806A
Cited
US4385344A
Cited
USRE32073E
Cited
US4471226A
Cited
US4503169A
Cited
US4623795A
Cited
US4648838A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-12-18 | 1993-06-19 | 1993-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-18 | 1997-06-19 | 1997-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-18 | 2001-06-19 | 2001-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |