US5702250A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compact dental impression tray for photocurable impression material
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1996-07-19
•
Granted: 1997-12-30
•
Expires: 2016-07-19
Abstract
Abstract A dental impression tray includes at least one array of solid state light emitters for curing photocurable impression material received in a channel of the tray. The tray includes a body presenting the channel, and a housing that is detachably connected to the body. The tray preferably includes a battery that extends along a buccolabial side of the tray body and as a result is received in the patient's oral cavity when an impression is taken.
Inventors
- 👤 Cary A. Kipke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 23:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C9/00; A61C9/0006; A61C19/00; A61C19/003; A61C19/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A dental impression tray comprising: a body having a channel for receiving a quantity of photocurable dental impression material, said body having a lingual side and a buccolabial side; at least one solid state light emitter coupled to said body for directing light into said channel; and at least one battery electrically connected to said at least one light emitter and coupled to said body, said at least one battery extending along at least one of said lingual side and said buccolabial side of said body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A dental impression tray comprising: a body having a channel for receiving a quantity of photocurable dental impression material, said body having a lingual side and a buccolabial side; at least one solid state light emitter coupled to said body for directing light into said channel; and at least one battery electrically connected to said at least one light emitter and coupled to said body, said at least one battery extending along at least one of said lingual side and said buccolabial side of said body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The dental impression tray of claim 1 and including a housing that supports said at least one light emitter and said at least one battery.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The dental impression tray of claim 2, wherein said housing is detachably connected to said body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The dental impression tray of claim 2, wherein said housing includes a chamber that receives and encloses said battery.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The dental impression tray of claim 4, wherein said housing includes a detachable handle section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The dental impression tray of claim 5, wherein said housing includes a buccolabial section, wherein said chamber is located within said buccolabial section and wherein said handle is detachably connected to said buccolabial section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The dental impression tray of claim 6, wherein said handle section sealingly engages said buccolabial section when said handle section and said buccolabial section are connected together.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The dental impression tray of claim 1, wherein said channel includes an upper channel section and a lower channel section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The dental impression tray of claim 1 and including at least one flat substrate for supporting said at least one light emitter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
The dental impression tray of claim 1 and including a first substrate extending along said lingual side of said body and a second substrate distinct from said first substrate and extending along said buccolabial side of said body, and wherein said at least one solid state light emitter includes a number of light emitters mounted on said first substrate and a number of light emitters mounted on said second substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The dental impression tray of claim 10, wherein said first substrate and said second substrate are detachably connected to said body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The dental impression tray of claim 1, wherein said body includes a septum made of a series of optical fibers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The dental impression tray of claim 1, wherein said housing is detachably connected to said body by a tongue and groove arrangement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
103 words
A dental impression tray comprising: a body having a channel for receiving a quantity of photocurable dental impression material, said body having a lingual side and a buccolabial side; a housing detachably connected to said body and extending along said lingual side and said buccolabial side of said body; and at least two arrays of solid state light emitters connected to said housing and including at least two distinct flat, emitter-supporting substrates, wherein at least one of said substrates extends along said lingual side of said body, and wherein at least one of said substrates extends along said buccolabial side of said body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
103 words
A dental impression tray comprising: a body having a channel for receiving a quantity of photocurable dental impression material, said body having a lingual side and a buccolabial side; a housing detachably connected to said body and extending along said lingual side and said buccolabial side of said body; and at least two arrays of solid state light emitters connected to said housing and including at least two distinct flat, emitter-supporting substrates, wherein at least one of said substrates extends along said lingual side of said body, and wherein at least one of said substrates extends along said buccolabial side of said body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The dental impression tray of claim 14, wherein each of said substrates includes a printed circuit board.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The dental impression tray of claim 14, wherein each of said arrays includes a polymeric coating that transmits actinic radiation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The dental impression tray of claim 14, wherein said channel is elongated, and wherein said housing is detachably connected to said body, said housing being detachable from said body by sliding said housing relative to said body in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the channel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The dental impression of tray of claim 17, wherein said housing is connected to said body by a tongue and groove arrangement.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The dental impression tray of claim 14 and including at least one battery that extends along at least one of said lingual side and said buccolabial side, said at least one battery being supported by said housing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The dental impression tray of claim 19, wherein said at least one battery is substantially enclosed by said housing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
93 words
A dental impression tray comprising: a body having an elongated channel for receiving a quantity of photocurable dental impression material, said body having a lingual side and a buccolabial side; a housing detachably connected to at least one of said lingual side and said buccolabial side of said body; and at least one solid state light emitter connected to said housing for directing light into said channel, wherein said housing is detachable from said body by sliding said housing relative to said body in a direction along the longitudinal axis of said channel.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
93 words
A dental impression tray comprising: a body having an elongated channel for receiving a quantity of photocurable dental impression material, said body having a lingual side and a buccolabial side; a housing detachably connected to at least one of said lingual side and said buccolabial side of said body; and at least one solid state light emitter connected to said housing for directing light into said channel, wherein said housing is detachable from said body by sliding said housing relative to said body in a direction along the longitudinal axis of said channel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The dental impression tray of claim 21, wherein said housing is detachably connected to said body by a tongue and groove arrangement.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The dental impression tray of claim 21 and including a battery that is connected to said housing and extends along said buccolabial side of said body.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The dental impression tray of claim 23, wherein said housing includes a detachable handle section.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The dental impression tray of claim 23, wherein said housing includes a chamber that receives said battery.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
46 words
The dental impression tray of claim 21 and including at least one flat substrate for supporting said at least one solid state light emitter, wherein said at least one substrate extends along at least one of said lingual side and said buccolabial side of said body.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The dental impression tray of claim 21, wherein said body is made of a material that transmits actinic radiation.
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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) | 2000-12-29 | 2001-06-30 | 2001-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-29 | 2005-06-30 | 2005-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-29 | 2009-06-30 | 2009-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |