Dentistry – Apparatus – Having means to emit radiation or facilitate viewing of the...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-12
2004-04-13
Lewis, Ralph A. (Department: 3732)
Dentistry
Apparatus
Having means to emit radiation or facilitate viewing of the...
C362S800000, C362S804000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06719559
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The inventions relate to the field of curing lights that may be used to cure light activated composite materials. More particularly, the inventions relate to curing lights of various configurations that use semiconductor light sources to provide light of a wavelength and power level desired to effect curing. In many fields, composite materials, such as monomers and an initiator, are cured into durable polymers by use of a light source of appropriate wavelength to excite the initiator into initiating polymerization, and sufficient power to carry polymerization through to adequate completion.
In the prior art, various light sources have been used for the purpose of curing composite materials. Halogen bulbs, fluorescent bulbs, xenon bulbs, and plasma-arc lights have been used. More recently, there have been some efforts to produce an effective curing light using light emitting diodes (LED's), but those efforts have not met with widespread acceptance in the marketplace.
The prior art described above suffers from several disadvantages. First, many of those prior art lights generate a wide spectrum of light rather than light just of the desired wavelength for composite curing. Consequently, those prior art lights generate unnecessary heat. Second, many of those prior art lights require light transfer systems such as a light guide or fiber, which many embodiments of the present invention omit, providing a smaller and more efficient unit. Third, many of the prior art systems require an elaborate cooling system to handle heat, creating a large, heavy and expensive curing light. Many embodiments of the invention use a unique heat sink structure that avoids the need for complicated, noisy and expensive cooling systems. Many embodiments of the invention use a semiconductor light source and package which provides high power light for use in curing composite materials. Additional points of difference between the inventions and the prior art will become apparent upon reading the text below in conjunction with the appended drawings.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is an object of some embodiments of the invention to provide a curing light system that uses a semiconductor light source to produce light capable of curing composite materials. Curing composite materials will involve polymerizing monomers into durable polymers. Various physical, electrical and semiconductor structures, materials and methods are provided to achieve this object. Additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification and reviewing the appended drawings.
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“Savings on Curing Lights from Lone Star Dental Corp.”, Including First Medica Hilux 200, Spring Health Powerlite and Dentamerica Litex (1 page) (printout from www.denteqip.com).
“LED Curing Light” from TOESCO Yoshida Toei Engineering Co., Ltd. (Oct. 2001).
“Dental/Medical Diagnostic Systems, Inc. Receives $4.0 Million Order for its Wireless Apollo e and Wavelight Curing Unites Based on New LED Technology” (2 pages) (printout from www.compoundsemiconductor.net).
“Heat Data” (2 pages) (regarding rise in tooth pulp temperature with various curing lights).
“Comparison to Other Curing Lights” (2 pages) (printout from www.cranews.com).
“Curing Performance” (4 pages) (printout from www.cranews.com).
“Technical Data” (3 pages) (printout from www.cranews.com).
“Photographs” depicting Virtuoso curing light (printout from www.cranews.com).
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“The Science of Curing” (8 pages) (printout from www.lasermed.com).
“The Accucure 1000” (2 pages) (printout from www.lasermed.com).
“The Accucure 3000” (2 pages) (printout from www.lasermed.com).
“RemeCure CL15” (1 page) (printout from www.remedent.com).
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Lewis Ralph A.
McCarthy Daniel P.
Parsons Behle & Latimer
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