Patent US5879159A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5879159A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable high power arc lamp system and applications therefor
Assignee: BriteSmile Inc
•
Filing: 1996-12-24
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Granted: 1999-03-09
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Expires: 2016-12-24
Abstract
Abstract A portable, high power arc lamp system for composite curing and tooth whitening applications utilizes battery cells to power a lamp, such as a short-arc xenon lamp. The use of battery power allows for a high power system without the need for costly components required if ac power were used. Battery power is acceptable for low duty cycle applications such as composite curing and tooth whitening. The batteries may be recharged using either standard 110 V or 220 V house current and a charging circuit is included to charge the batteries. An elliptical reflector is used to direct the light from the xenon lamp to a flexible light guide. The system of the present invention is particularly suited to the curing of dental composites and tooth whitening procedures. Significantly improved methods of curing and whitening may be realized through the use of a high power light source of the present invention.
Inventors
- 👤 John C. Cipolla
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:58
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J61/00; H01J61/84; H01J61/86; A; A61; A61C; A61C19/00; A61C19/003; A61C19/004; A61C19/06; A61C19/063; A61C19/066; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S362/00; Y10S362/804
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A portable, high power arc lamp system comprising: a. an arc lamp capable of a power input of at least about 1500 W; b. an reflector for reflecting the optical energy generated by said arc lamp; c. a flexible light guide for receiving optical energy from said reflector; d. a battery for providing electrical power to said lamp; e. a charging circuit for recharging said battery using 110 V ac power.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
A portable, high power arc lamp system comprising: a. an arc lamp capable of a power input of at least about 1500 W; b. an reflector for reflecting the optical energy generated by said arc lamp; c. a flexible light guide for receiving optical energy from said reflector; d. a battery for providing electrical power to said lamp; e. a charging circuit for recharging said battery using 110 V ac power.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said arc lamp is a short-arc xenon lamp.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said arc lamp is an argon lamp.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said reflector is ellipsoidal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said light guide is coupled to said arc lamp with an index gel coupling compound.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said light guide comprises tapered ends.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a housing in which said lamp, battery cell, and charging circuit are mounted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising an optical filter between said reflector and said light guide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
A high power short-arc xenon arc lamp system comprising: a. a housing, said housing comprising: b. a short-arc xenon lamp capable of a power input of at least 1500 W; c. a flexible light guide, the proximal end of said light guide mounted within said housing to receive optical energy from said reflector; d. a rechargeable battery for powering said lamp; and e. a charging circuit coupled to said battery for recharging said battery.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
74 words
A high power short-arc xenon arc lamp system comprising: a. a housing, said housing comprising: b. a short-arc xenon lamp capable of a power input of at least 1500 W; c. a flexible light guide, the proximal end of said light guide mounted within said housing to receive optical energy from said reflector; d. a rechargeable battery for powering said lamp; and e. a charging circuit coupled to said battery for recharging said battery.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of curing a photocurable material comprising: a. providing an arc lamp capable of a power input of at least 1500 W; b. providing a reflector for reflecting the optical energy generated by said arc lamp; c. providing a flexible light guide, the proximal end of said light guide optically coupled to said reflector; d. providing a battery for supplying electrical power to said lamp; e. providing a charging circuit for recharging said battery cell using 110 V or 220 V ac current; f. placing the distal end of said light guide proximate a photocurable material and activating said lamp for a sufficient amount of time to cure said material.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of curing a photocurable material comprising: a. providing an arc lamp capable of a power input of at least 1500 W; b. providing a reflector for reflecting the optical energy generated by said arc lamp; c. providing a flexible light guide, the proximal end of said light guide optically coupled to said reflector; d. providing a battery for supplying electrical power to said lamp; e. providing a charging circuit for recharging said battery cell using 110 V or 220 V ac current; f. placing the distal end of said light guide proximate a photocurable material and activating said lamp for a sufficient amount of time to cure said material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said arc lamp is a short-arc xenon lamp.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said arc lamp is an argon lamp.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said reflector is ellipsoidal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said light guide is coupled to said arc lamp with an index gel coupling compound.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said light guide comprises tapered ends.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising providing a housing in which said lamp, battery cell, and charging circuit are mounted.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising an optical filter between said lamp and said light guide.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of whitening teeth comprising: a. providing an arc lamp capable of a power input of at least 1500 W; b. providing a reflector for reflecting the optical energy generated by said arc lamp; c. providing a flexible light guide, the proximal end of said light guide optically coupled to said reflector; d. providing a battery for supplying electrical power to said lamp; e. providing a charging circuit for recharging said battery cell using 110 V or 220 V ac current; f. placing the distal end of said light guide proximate a tooth for a sufficient amount of time to effect whitening of said tooth.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of whitening teeth comprising: a. providing an arc lamp capable of a power input of at least 1500 W; b. providing a reflector for reflecting the optical energy generated by said arc lamp; c. providing a flexible light guide, the proximal end of said light guide optically coupled to said reflector; d. providing a battery for supplying electrical power to said lamp; e. providing a charging circuit for recharging said battery cell using 110 V or 220 V ac current; f. placing the distal end of said light guide proximate a tooth for a sufficient amount of time to effect whitening of said tooth.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said arc lamp is a short-arc xenon lamp.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said arc lamp is an argon lamp.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said light guide is coupled to said arc lamp with an index gel coupling compound.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said light guide comprises tapered ends.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising providing a housing in which said lamp, battery cell, and charging circuit are mounted.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising an optical filter between said lamp and said light guide.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said whitening agent comprises a peroxide compound.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising applying a whitening agent to said tooth.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of whitening teeth comprising: a. providing an arc lamp for generating optical energy; b. providing an ellipsoidal reflector for reflecting the light energy generated by said arc lamp; c. filtering the light energy reflected by said reflector with an optical filter to eliminate optical energy with a wavelength below about 430 nanometers and above about 505 nanometers; d. providing a flexible light guide, the proximal end of said light guide optically coupled to the output of said filter; e. providing a battery for supplying electrical power to said lamp; f. providing a charging circuit for recharging said battery cell using 110 V ac current; g. placing a bleaching composition on a tooth to be whitened; h. placing the distal end of said light guide proximate said bleaching composition and activating said lamp for a sufficient amount of time to whiten said tooth.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of whitening teeth comprising: a. providing an arc lamp for generating optical energy; b. providing an ellipsoidal reflector for reflecting the light energy generated by said arc lamp; c. filtering the light energy reflected by said reflector with an optical filter to eliminate optical energy with a wavelength below about 430 nanometers and above about 505 nanometers; d. providing a flexible light guide, the proximal end of said light guide optically coupled to the output of said filter; e. providing a battery for supplying electrical power to said lamp; f. providing a charging circuit for recharging said battery cell using 110 V ac current; g. placing a bleaching composition on a tooth to be whitened; h. placing the distal end of said light guide proximate said bleaching composition and activating said lamp for a sufficient amount of time to whiten said tooth.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of curing a dental composite comprising: a. providing an arc lamp with a power input of at least 1500 W; b. providing optical energy generated by said arc lamp to the proximate end of a flexible light guide; c. placing the distal end of said light guide proximate a dental curing compound and activating said lamp for a sufficient amount of time to cure said compound.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of curing a dental composite comprising: a. providing an arc lamp with a power input of at least 1500 W; b. providing optical energy generated by said arc lamp to the proximate end of a flexible light guide; c. placing the distal end of said light guide proximate a dental curing compound and activating said lamp for a sufficient amount of time to cure said compound.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising providing a filter to filter out undesired wavelengths of optical energy generated by said arc lamp.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 28 wherein an ellipsoidal reflector is used to provide optical energy from said lamp to said flexible light guide.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of whitening teeth comprising: a. providing an arc lamp with a power input of at least 1500 W; b. providing optical energy generated by said arc lamp to the proximate end of a flexible light guide; c. placing a light-activated bleaching compound on a tooth to be whitened; d. placing the distal end of said light guide proximate said tooth and activating said lamp for a sufficient amount of time to effect whitening of said tooth.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of whitening teeth comprising: a. providing an arc lamp with a power input of at least 1500 W; b. providing optical energy generated by said arc lamp to the proximate end of a flexible light guide; c. placing a light-activated bleaching compound on a tooth to be whitened; d. placing the distal end of said light guide proximate said tooth and activating said lamp for a sufficient amount of time to effect whitening of said tooth.
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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) | 2002-03-08 | 2002-09-07 | 2003-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-08 | 2006-09-07 | 2007-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-08 | 2010-09-07 | 2011-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |