US5554029A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Dental laser apparatus and method for ablating non-metallic dental material from a tooth
Assignee: Medical Laser Technology Inc
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Filing: 1994-05-31
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Granted: 1996-09-10
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Expires: 2014-05-31
Abstract
Abstract A method of ablating non-metallic dental material from a tooth comprises the steps of generating radiation pulses having a predetermined wavelength, energy level, pulse repetition rate, and duration, and applying the radiation pulses to the non-metallic dental material in a tooth, whereby the non-metallic dental material is ablated from the tooth. The radiation may be generated by a frequency tripled Nd:YAG, an Er:YAG laser or an Er:YsGG laser and may have a wavelength of about 355 nanometers, 2.94 micrometers, and 2.79 micrometers respectively, for example.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Kowalyk
- 👤 Michael J. Myers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:28
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C1/00; A61C1/0046; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B2018/2015; A61B2018/2025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of ablating a non-metallic dental material from a tooth comprising the steps of: generating radiation pulses having a predetermined wavelength, energy level, pulse repetition rate and duration; and applying the radiation pulses to the non-metallic dental material in a tooth; whereby the non-metallic dental material is ablated from the tooth; wherein the non-metallic dental material comprises a composite material having a resin component and whereby the radiation pulses ablate substantially only the resin component.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of ablating a non-metallic dental material from a tooth comprising the steps of: generating radiation pulses having a predetermined wavelength, energy level, pulse repetition rate and duration; and applying the radiation pulses to the non-metallic dental material in a tooth; whereby the non-metallic dental material is ablated from the tooth; wherein the non-metallic dental material comprises a composite material having a resin component and whereby the radiation pulses ablate substantially only the resin component.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation pulses are generated by a frequency tripled Nd:YAG laser having a wavelength of about 355 nanometers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation pulses are generated by an Er:YSGG laser generating radiation pulses having a wavelength of about 2.79 micrometers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation pulses are generated by an Er:YAG laser generating radiation pulses having a wavelength of about 2.94 micrometers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of flushing ablated non-metallic material.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of ablating a non-metallic dental material from a tooth comprising the steps of: providing an optical fiber having an input end and an output end; applying the output end of said optical fiber to the non-metallic dental material in a tooth; and generating radiation pulses on the input end of the optical fiber; whereby the radiation pulses are applied to the non-metallic dental material through the optical fiber and ablate the non-metallic dental material in the tooth wherein the non-metallic dental material comprises a composite material having a resin component and whereby the radiation pulses ablate substantially only the resin component.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of ablating a non-metallic dental material from a tooth comprising the steps of: providing an optical fiber having an input end and an output end; applying the output end of said optical fiber to the non-metallic dental material in a tooth; and generating radiation pulses on the input end of the optical fiber; whereby the radiation pulses are applied to the non-metallic dental material through the optical fiber and ablate the non-metallic dental material in the tooth wherein the non-metallic dental material comprises a composite material having a resin component and whereby the radiation pulses ablate substantially only the resin component.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the radiation pulses are generated by a frequency tripled Nd:YAG laser.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the radiation pulses are generated by an Er:YAG laser.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the radiation pulses are generated by an Er:YSGG laser.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-09-10 | 2000-03-11 | 2000-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-09-10 | 2004-03-11 | 2004-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-09-10 | 2008-03-11 | 2008-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |