US5388987A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser beam dental instrument
Assignee: Cheval Freres SA
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Filing: 1991-04-17
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Granted: 1995-02-14
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Expires: 2011-04-17
Abstract
Abstract Dental instrument for the treatment of caries and for oral surgery, of the type comprising a laser beam emission source, the said laser radiation being conveyed by optical fibre through the dental instrument (12) up to the zone to be treated, characterised in that it comprises control means enabling the user to vary at will during an operation at least one of the emission parameters of the laser beam chosen from the group comprising: the firing of the laser shot or shots, the energy of the laser beam, the frequency of the shots.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Marie Badoz
- 👤 Herve Picaud
- 👤 Jacques Manne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:30
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C1/00; A61C1/0046; A61C1/0007; A61C1/0015; A61C1/0023; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00017; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B2018/2015; A61B2018/202; A61B2018/2025; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A dental instrument for treating caries and for oral surgery, comprising a laser beam emission source having a plurality of adjustable emission parameters including an adjustment for firing a laser beam in a shot or a series of shots, an adjustable energy level for the laser beam, and an adjustable frequency for firing of the laser beam, an optical fiber for conveying the laser beam extending through the dental instrument and to a zone to be treated, and control means responsive to a foot-controlled pedal, for varying each of the emission parameters of the laser beam during operation of the dental instrument.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
A dental instrument for treating caries and for oral surgery, comprising a laser beam emission source having a plurality of adjustable emission parameters including an adjustment for firing a laser beam in a shot or a series of shots, an adjustable energy level for the laser beam, and an adjustable frequency for firing of the laser beam, an optical fiber for conveying the laser beam extending through the dental instrument and to a zone to be treated, and control means responsive to a foot-controlled pedal, for varying each of the emission parameters of the laser beam during operation of the dental instrument.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The dental instrument of claim 1 wherein the foot-controlled pedal is a single action type.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The dental instrument of claim 2 wherein the foot-controlled pedal includes a sliding element coupled with a first potentiometer for variably controlling the energy level of the laser beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The dental instrument of claim 3 wherein the sliding element is further coupled with a second potentiometer for variably controlling the frequency of the firing of the laser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The dental instrument of claim 1 wherein the foot-controlled pedal is a double action type.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The dental instrument of claim 1 wherein the foot-controlled pedal is a triple action type.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The dental instrument of claim 1 which further includes a supplementary source, in addition to the laser beam emission source, for providing a function supplementary to the treating of caries and the oral surgery.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The dental instrument of claim 7 wherein the supplementary function is sterilization, and wherein the supplementary source is a green light source centered on about 540 nm and obtained by means of a dye-laser head.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The dental instrument of claim 7 wherein the supplementary function is sterilization, and wherein the supplementary source is an incoherent light source of about 540 nm and obtained by means of a short-arc lamp associated with a filter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The dental instrument of claim 7 wherein the supplementary function is photopolymerization, and wherein the supplementary source is a blue light source centered on about 460 nm and obtained by means of a short-arc lamp associated with a bandpass filter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The dental instrument of claim 7 wherein the supplementary function is photopolymerization, and wherein the supplementary source is an incoherent light source emitted on bands centered on about 540 nm and about 460 nm, in combination.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The dental instrument of claim 7 wherein the supplementary function is an anti-inflammatory analgesic effect for accelerating healing, and wherein the supplementary source is injected visible light emitted by a laser diode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The dental instrument of claim 1 which further includes means for connecting the laser beam emission source to a plurality of instruments.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The dental instrument of claim 13 which further includes means for distributing the laser beam emission source to the plurality of instruments on a time-sharing basis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The dental instrument of claim 1 which further includes means for delivering the laser beam from the laser beam emission source to the dental instrument.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
66 words
The dental instrument of claim 15 wherein the delivering means includes a coupling mirror at a resonator exit for the laser beam, a laser reflecting mirror in communication with the coupling mirror, for deflecting the laser beam by approximately 90 degrees, and means for focusing the deflected laser beam onto an entrance face of the optical fiber for delivering the laser beam to the dental instrument.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The dental instrument of claim 16 wherein the laser reflecting mirror has a 98 percent minimum mirror effect and is substantially transparent to light in the visible spectrum.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The dental instrument of claim 17 wherein the laser reflecting mirror has a minimum transmission of 40%.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The dental instrument of claim 16 wherein the focusing means is a lens.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The dental instrument of claim 16 wherein the focusing means is a convergent doublet.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The dental instrument of claim 16 wherein the focusing means has a face which is provided with an anti-reflecting treatment for wavelengths of the laser beam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The dental instrument of claim 16 wherein the entrance face of the optical fiber is provided with a connector of the SMA type.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The dental instrument of claim 16 wherein the optical fiber is integral with means for adjusting the optical fiber along three orthogonal translational degrees of freedom.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
The dental instrument of claim 23 wherein the integral adjusting means includes means for adjusting the position of the entrance face of the optical fiber and means for positional locking of the optical fiber.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
The dental instrument of claim 24 wherein the integral adjusting means has an accuracy of at least 0.02 mm along a plane defined by the entrance face of the optical fiber, and at least 0.1 mm along a longitudinal axis defined by the optical fiber.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The dental instrument of claim 16 wherein the laser reflecting mirror is movable, for communicating with a plurality of optical fibers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The dental instrument of claim 26 wherein the laser reflecting mirror includes linear guide rails in association with cylindrical bearing means, for movement of the laser reflecting mirror.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
The dental instrument of claim 26 wherein the laser reflecting mirror includes ball bearings positioned along an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the laser reflecting mirror, for supporting the laser reflecting mirror upon a rotatable stage.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The dental instrument of claim 26 which further includes means for rotating the laser reflecting mirror.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The dental instrument of claim 29 wherein the rotating means is a stepped motor.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The dental instrument of claim 29 wherein the rotating means is a scanner.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The dental instrument of claim 29 which further includes a foot-controlled pedal having means for controlling the rotating means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
55 words
The dental instrument of claim 1 wherein the dental instrument is a hand-piece having a head which includes an entrance lens in communication with the optical fiber, means for reflecting the laser beam received from the optical fiber at a specified angle, and an exit lens for delivering the reflected laser beam from the head.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The dental instrument of claim 33 wherein the reflecting means is a plane mirror.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
13 words
The dental instrument of claim 33 wherein the reflecting means is a prism.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
The dental instrument of claim 33 wherein the head is rotatably mounted to a stem of the hand-piece,
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
The dental instrument of claim 33 wherein the exit lens is changeably mounted within the head.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The dental instrument of claim 33 wherein the exit lens includes means for protection against products of sublimation and carbonization.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
The dental instrument of claim 33 wherein the head further includes an exit portion which includes means for developing a COANDA effect.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
31 words
The dental instrument of claim 33 wherein the head further includes an exit portion which incorporates an optical prism in combination with an optical fiber for operating within a dental canal.
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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) | 1998-02-13 | 1998-08-15 | 1999-02-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-02-13 | 2002-08-15 | 2003-02-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-02-13 | 2006-08-15 | 2007-02-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |