US6282013B1 — System for curing polymeric materials, such as th…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 162 words

A light curing system for light curing of composite materials comprising: a. a light power supply which utilizes electrical power to generate voltage and current at appropriate levels for use in the light curing system, b. a light producing device configured to receive and utilize voltage and current from said light power supply, said light producing device being capable of producing light at selected intensities for selected periods of time, c. a wavelength separating, mixing and eliminating device capable of receiving light from said light producing device and manipulating said light into a format for exposure to a polymeric material, d. a delivery device capable of delivering light manipulated by said wavelength separating, mixing and eliminating device to a remote location for exposure to a polymeric material, and e. a computer control system which controls said light power supply and said wavelength separating, mixing and eliminating device to produce light according to a selected modulation scheme based on the cured composite material.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 162 words

A light curing system for light curing of composite materials comprising: a. a light power supply which utilizes electrical power to generate voltage and current at appropriate levels for use in the light curing system, b. a light producing device configured to receive and utilize voltage and current from said light power supply, said light producing device being capable of producing light at selected intensities for selected periods of time, c. a wavelength separating, mixing and eliminating device capable of receiving light from said light producing device and manipulating said light into a format for exposure to a polymeric material, d. a delivery device capable of delivering light manipulated by said wavelength separating, mixing and eliminating device to a remote location for exposure to a polymeric material, and e. a computer control system which controls said light power supply and said wavelength separating, mixing and eliminating device to produce light according to a selected modulation scheme based on the cured composite material.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 15 words

A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said light producing device is a laser.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 119 words

A system for light curing of polymeric materials comprising: a. a light power supply which supplies power for use by a light source, b. a light source which utilizes power supplied by said power supply to produce raw light, c. a light refining device capable of receiving light from said light source and manipulating said raw light into a format suitable for exposure to a polymeric material, d. a light delivery device capable of receiving light from said light refining device and delivering said light to a remote location for exposure to a polymeric material, and e. a light modulation control system which modulates said light according to a predetermined light modulation scheme based on the cured polymeric material.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 119 words

A system for light curing of polymeric materials comprising: a. a light power supply which supplies power for use by a light source, b. a light source which utilizes power supplied by said power supply to produce raw light, c. a light refining device capable of receiving light from said light source and manipulating said raw light into a format suitable for exposure to a polymeric material, d. a light delivery device capable of receiving light from said light refining device and delivering said light to a remote location for exposure to a polymeric material, and e. a light modulation control system which modulates said light according to a predetermined light modulation scheme based on the cured polymeric material.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 23 words

A system as recited in claim 3 wherein said light refining device includes at least one filter to eliminate unwanted wavelengths of light.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 41 words

A system as recited in claim 3 wherein said light refining device includes at least one structure from the group consisting of prisms, diffraction gratings, frequency multiplying crystals, lenses, mirrors, filters, acusto optic tunable filters and poly chromatic acusto optic modulators.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

A system as recited in claim 3 wherein said light source is capable of producing light at more than one frequency.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 40 words

A system as recited in claim 6 wherein said light refining device is capable of mixing light of different wavelengths in predetermined percentages in order to produce light suitable for exposure to a polymeric material containing more than one initiator.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 20 words

A system as recited in claim 3 wherein said modulation scheme includes adjusting light intensity and light duration over time.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 41 words

A system as recited in claim 3 wherein said light source is capable of producing light of more than one wavelength and wherein said modulation control system is capable of selectively providing light of different wavelengths to said light delivery device.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 20 words

A system as recited in claim 3 wherein said modulation scheme includes varying light intensity according to a predetermined waveform.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 34 words

A system as recited in claim 3 further comprising a plurality of said light delivery devices so that light from said light source can be provided to multiple remote locations at the same time.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 110 words

A system for curing dental materials, the system comprising: a. at least one light source which produces raw light of at least one wavelength suitable for curing a dental material, b. a poly chromatic acusto optic modulator capable of causing raw light from said light source to be processed into a format suitable for curing a dental material, c. a delivery device capable of receiving light from said poly chromatic acusto optice modulator and delivering said light to a remote location for exposure to a polymeric materials, d. a light modulation control system which modulates said light according to a predetermined light modulation scheme based on the cured polymeric material.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 110 words

A system for curing dental materials, the system comprising: a. at least one light source which produces raw light of at least one wavelength suitable for curing a dental material, b. a poly chromatic acusto optic modulator capable of causing raw light from said light source to be processed into a format suitable for curing a dental material, c. a delivery device capable of receiving light from said poly chromatic acusto optice modulator and delivering said light to a remote location for exposure to a polymeric materials, d. a light modulation control system which modulates said light according to a predetermined light modulation scheme based on the cured polymeric material.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

A system as recited in claim 12 wherein said modulation system directly controls emission of light by said light source.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 32 words

A system as recited in claim 12 wherein said poly chromatic acusto optic modulator operates in conjunction with mirrors and diffraction gratings to format light to be provided to said delivery device.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 36 words

A system as recited in claim 12 wherein said delivery device comprises a structure selected from the group consisting of glass fiber, a fluid-filled waveguide, a beam splitter, a photo diode, a mirror and a lens.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 32 words

A system as recited in claim 12 wherein said measuring delivery device provides a feedback signal to said modulation system in order to permit said modulation system to accurately control light modulation.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 24 words

A system as recited in claim 12 wherein said poly chromatic acusto modulator device is used to facilitate elimination of unwanted wavelengths of light.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 20 words

A system as recited in claim 12 wherein said modulation scheme includes adjusting light intensity and light duration over time.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 20 words

A system as recited in claim 12 wherein said modulation scheme includes varying light intensity according to a predetermined waveform.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 41 words

A system as recited in claim 12 wherein said poly chromatic acusto modulator is capable of mixing light of different wavelengths in predetermined percentages in order to produce light suitable for exposure to a dental material containing more than one initiator.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 118 words

A system for polymerizing a material containing monomers, the system comprising: a. a light source that can produce raw light of at least one wavelength suitable for curing a dental material, b. a light delivery device capable of receiving light from said light source and delivering said light to a remote location, c. a light refining system capable of modifying characteristics of said light in order to produce light in a format more suitable for exposure to the material containing monomers than said raw light, and d. a light modulation control system which modulates said light according to a predetermined light modulation scheme based on the polymerizing material in order to control polymerization of the material containing monomers.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 118 words

A system for polymerizing a material containing monomers, the system comprising: a. a light source that can produce raw light of at least one wavelength suitable for curing a dental material, b. a light delivery device capable of receiving light from said light source and delivering said light to a remote location, c. a light refining system capable of modifying characteristics of said light in order to produce light in a format more suitable for exposure to the material containing monomers than said raw light, and d. a light modulation control system which modulates said light according to a predetermined light modulation scheme based on the polymerizing material in order to control polymerization of the material containing monomers.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 27 words

A system as recited in claim 21 wherein said light delivery device comprises a doped fiber optic which causes wavelength multiplying of light which passes through it.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 35 words

A system as recited in claim 21 wherein said light delivery device comprises a fluid-filled waveguide which eliminates certain wavelengths of light produced by said light source before the light reaches the material containing monomers.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 34 words

A system as recited in claim 21 wherein said light delivery device comprises glass fibers which eliminate certain wavelengths of light produced by said light source before the light reaches the material containing monomers.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-08-27	2005-02-26	2005-08-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-08-27	2009-02-26	2009-08-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-08-27	2013-02-26	2013-08-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System for curing polymeric materials, such as those used in dentistry, and for tailoring the post-cure properties of polymeric materials through the use of light source power modulation

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