US5501599A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for removing carious tooth material by laser light and use of a laser light source
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1994-08-19
•
Granted: 1996-03-26
•
Expires: 2014-08-19
Abstract
Abstract A method of removing carious tooth material is effected by creating a laser light beam from a pulsed laser light source, and utilize a flexible light guide to direct the laser light beam as a light spot on carious tooth material of a tooth. The light source has a wavelength in the range from substantially 320 to 520 nm and the energy density per pulse in the light spot is substantially 0.14 to about 7.0 J/cm 2 .
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Rechmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61C; A61C1/00; A61C1/0046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of selectively removing only carious tooth material from a tooth comprising the steps of creating a laser light beam from pulsed laser light in the form of a light spot, conducting the pulsed laser light through a flexible light guide to thereby create a light spot upon a tooth, manipulating the flexible light guide to direct a light spot on carious tooth material of the tooth, maintaining the wavelength of the laser light beam in the range of substantially 320 to 520 nm, and maintaining the energy density per pulse of the light spot substantially in the range of 0.30 to about 7.0 J/cm 2 whereby healthy dentine and enamel are unaffected.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of selectively removing only carious tooth material from a tooth comprising the steps of creating a laser light beam from pulsed laser light in the form of a light spot, conducting the pulsed laser light through a flexible light guide to thereby create a light spot upon a tooth, manipulating the flexible light guide to direct a light spot on carious tooth material of the tooth, maintaining the wavelength of the laser light beam in the range of substantially 320 to 520 nm, and maintaining the energy density per pulse of the light spot substantially in the range of 0.30 to about 7.0 J/cm 2 whereby healthy dentine and enamel are unaffected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the energy density in the wavelength range between 330 nm and 480 nm is corrected in dependence upon the wavelength λ by the correction factor K=0.0115 nm -1 λ-3.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the pulse duration of the laser light source is less than about 10 μs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the pulse duration of the laser light source is between 50 ns and 5 μs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the pulse duration of the laser light source is about 9 ns.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein at a pulse duration of more than about 50 ns, the energy density is increased by a factor F that is proportional to the root of the ratio of the set pulse duration and a pulse duration of 10 ns.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the repetition frequency of said laser light source pulses is about 12 Hz at most.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the repetition frequency of said laser light source pulses is about 100 to 200 Hz.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the laser light is directed contiguous the tooth to be treated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the pulsed laser light has an energy density per pulse in the light spot of about substantially between 0.175 to about 2.0 J/cm 2 .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the pulsed laser light has a wavelength in the range between 350 nm and 410 nm with an energy density per laser light pulse in the light spot in the range substantially between 0.35 and 1.7 J/cm 2 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the wavelength of the pulsed laser light is about 355 nm to 375 nm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the pulsed laser light has an energy density per pulse in the light spot of substantially between 0.35 to about 1.0 J/cm 2 .
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein at a wavelength of about 375 nm the energy density is about 1.3 J/cm 2 .
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1392614A
Cited
US4784135A
Cited
US4521194A
Cited
US4818230A
Cited
FR2598608A1
Cited
WO1989001317A1
Cited
DE3800555A1
Cited
WO1990000035A1
Cited
US4981138A
Cited
WO1990001907A1
Cited
US4940411A
Cited
US5118293A
Cited
US5020995A
Cited
US5084043A
Cited
US5281141A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-03-26 | 1999-09-25 | 2000-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-03-26 | 2003-09-25 | 2004-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-03-26 | 2007-09-25 | 2008-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |