Surgery – Instruments – Light application
Patent
1995-10-12
1998-04-14
Shay, David M.
Surgery
Instruments
Light application
606 3, 606 13, 433 29, 433215, A61H 506
Patent
active
057386781
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
The invention relates to laser treatment of substrates, and more specifically to an apparatus and method for delivering laser radiation to a substrate. In particular it concerns an apparatus and a method of producing cosmetic or prophylactic coatings for teeth utilising such an apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In attempting to prevent or reduce the incidence of tooth decay, and to inhibit decay after it has commenced, a number of compounds for forming highly durable coatings or fillings for teeth, and methods of using such compounds, have been considered in the past. Protective/cosmetic coatings and restorative surfaces for teeth must be highly durable and cosmetically acceptable.
In co-pending application WO-93/00878 a suitable vitreous dental coating composition is described, specifically a sol gel, xerogel or heat-consolidated gel composition, comprising a hydrolysable silicic ester, 1-4 moles water per mole of silicon, a solvent and a filler. In a typical use of such a composition the surface of the tooth is first prepared by cleaning, then the composition is applied to the tooth surface in a thickness of a few microns, and then the composition is cured or consolidated by heat treatment. This heat treatment stage is carried out by application of appropriate radiation energy. For this latter stage, it is important to safely deliver the correct amount of energy to the correct location in a sufficiently short time, preferably below or close to the thermal relaxation time of the tooth tissue, that is, within a few microseconds.
A suitable source of radiation energy for processing thin film of the type discussed above is a CO.sub.2 laser producing pulsed or continuous wave laser light tuned to 10.6 .mu.m, since such laser light is strongly absorbed by the natural tooth. Other laser radiation sources, such as Nd:YAG or argon lasers, with wavelengths in the near infra-red and visible ranges, can also be used.
The process described above has been successfully tested on extracted human teeth, but there are particular requirements associated with delivering the laser energy effectively and safely to a tooth in situ in a patient's mouth.
Patent document U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,858 teaches an apparatus for use in curing dental restorative materials by means of visible or ultraviolet light, incorporating a hand-held light wand whose end is spaced from the material to be cured by a conical shield. The device is not designed to be suitable for use in delivering laser radiation.
German patent application DE-A-3232007 describes a handpiece which is intended for dental treatment by laser, employing a laser beam transmitting glass fibre. The delivery end of the handpiece features a laser ejection cylinder provided with four circumferentially spaced cutaway portions to provide exhaust ports for an air supply through the laser delivery system.
Lasers have been increasingly used in the medical arena with ever improving clinical results for a number of years now. The controllable, intense light beams can be used for example to cut or vaporise tissue in many aspects of specialised surgery. However, in the dental treatment process presently of interest, different problems arise due to the specific safety considerations. An effective delivery system must be capable of being accurately controlled whilst ensuring that the risks inherent in the use of lasers are reduced as far as possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, an apparatus is provided for delivering laser radiation to a substrate, said apparatus comprising:
a laser radiation source;
delivery means to transmit the laser radiation from the source; and
a delivery head to direct the laser radiation from the delivery means onto the substrate, having isolation means to isolate a selected target area from its surroundings by essentially preventing escape of laser radiation, characterised in that viewing means non-transmissive of the laser radiation are provided to enable an operator to view the selected target area when the latter is
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British Technology Group Limited
Shay David M.
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