Dentistry – Method or material for testing – treating – restoring – or...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-03
2002-08-27
Lucchesi, Nicholas D. (Department: 3732)
Dentistry
Method or material for testing, treating, restoring, or...
C433S029000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06439888
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a compact source of optical radiation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Since its invention some 30 years ago, the laser has found a wide variety of applications. Despite their versatility, lasers themselves are often difficult to work with because of their size. Current light sources for producing laser light or other intense optical radiation, whether they be for curing or cutting, are frequently not sufficiently compact for hand-held operation. Additionally, they typically require an electrical hookup, and in general, are not battery operated. Fields which require compact, relatively high intensity light sources are dentistry and surgery. In particular, dentists use light for curing resins and composites in the mouth, and also the bleaching of teeth. For optimum results, these applications typically require intense emission in the blue region of the optical spectrum. However, intense blue light sources are generally not available in a compact hand-held unit that is easy to manipulate within an oral cavity. Further, in the case of curing composites in a cavity in a tooth, the curing process generally leads to the formation of microgaps between the tooth and the cured composite material within the cavity.
Recent advances in semiconductor technology relating to laser diodes and light emitting diodes (LEDs) have enabled the miniaturization of light sources. However, these semiconductor devices often do not generate high power, and in general, thermal management is a problem for compact, high power devices.
Thus, there remains a need for a compact, intense source of optical radiation which can be used in dentistry or in other fields involving close working quarters.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, an optical device includes a diode light source for emitting light, a heat sink member that is in thermal contact with the diode light source, a reflector for receiving the emitted light (in which the reflector directs the emitted light towards and through the heat sink member, and away from the reflector), and a housing for securing the diode light source, the heat sink member, and the reflector. The heat sink member preferably includes a tapered base in thermal contact with the diode light source, and also a plurality of fins in thermal contact with and extending away from the base, so that the fins conduct heat away from the base. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an optical element such as a lightguide is used for directing the emitted light away from the optical device. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the diode light source emits blue light, and in another, ultraviolet optical radiation.
Another aspect of the invention comprises a method of providing intense optical radiation, in which the method includes providing a diode light source that emits light, using a heat sink member to stabilize the temperature of the diode light source, directing the emitted light towards a reflector, and reflecting the emitted light from the reflector towards and through the heat sink member, and away from the optical source. In a preferred embodiment, the emitted light is directed onto an optical lightguide.
According to another aspect of the invention, an optical device includes a penlight shaped housing, a diode light source which emits blue light (in which the light source is mounted within the penlight housing), and an optical lightguide connected to the penlight housing which receives the blue light, wherein the optical lightguide is configured to provide a curved light path suitable for use in an oral cavity.
Another aspect of the invention comprises a method of tooth whitening, in which the method includes applying a tooth whitening material to a tooth, allowing the tooth to be exposed to the material in the absence of activating light for a substantial period of time, utilizing an array of diodes to produce activating light having a wavelength in the range 400-600 nm, and applying the activating light to the material at a power level of 100-600 mW for a period of 20-40 seconds. In one preferred embodiment, the application of the activating light is terminated before the tooth receive 14 Joules of laser energy during any one application of the activating light.
Yet another aspect of the invention comprises a method of treating a tooth, in which the method includes applying a dental composite or resin material to a tooth, utilizing an array of diodes to produce activating light having a wavelength in the range 400-60 nm, and applying the activating light to the dental material at a power level of 100-200 mW for a period of 2-5 seconds.
Yet another aspect of the invention comprises a method of treating teeth at a plurality of dental treatment stations, in which the method includes delivering power from a single power supply through a plurality of power lines to respective dental stations, utilizing power from each of the power lines to energize a diode light source to produce light in the optical range of 400-600 nm, applying a light sensitive material to a tooth of a patient at a first treatment station and exposing the material to light in the optical range of 400-600 nm, and applying a light sensitive material to a tooth of a patient at a second treatment station and exposing the material to light in the optical range of 400-600 nm. In one preferred embodiment, the method further includes applying a light sensitive material to a tooth of a patient at a third treatment station and exposing the material to light in the optical range of 400-600 nm. In a preferred embodiment, the light sensitive material is selected from the group consisting of a tooth whitening material, a dental composite material, and a dental resin.
According to one aspect of invention, a medical apparatus includes an array of optical sources, and a housing to which the array is mounted, wherein the optical sources are connectable to a power supply and individually addressable to produce at least two different output intensity patterns, and wherein optical output from the optical sources can be directed onto tissue by orienting the housing by hand. In one preferred embodiment, the array produces an annulus of optical radiation. In another preferred embodiment, the light emitted from the diode light source is absorbed by teeth.
Another aspect of the invention comprises a method for use on a tooth having a cavity that is at least partially filled with a dental composite, so that the composite contacts the tooth tissue that forms the cavity, in which the method includes providing a first optical beam having an intensity distribution in cross section that concentrates energy at the periphery of the cross section, using the first optical beam to cure the composite contacting the tooth tissue at the sides of the cavity without curing composite that is interior of the cavity, providing a second optical beam having an intensity distribution in cross section that does not concentrate energy at the periphery of the cross section, and curing the composite within the interior of the cavity with the second optical beam. In a preferred embodiment, the optical beams are transmitted sequentially through an optical lightguide.
Another aspect of the invention comprises a method, in which the method includes utilizing an optical source to produce an optical beam with a cross section having a first intensity pattern, utilizing the optical source to produce an optical beam with a cross section having a second intensity pattern different from the first intensity pattern, transmitting the optical beams along a common optical path to a target area without substantially varying the respective patterns of the cross section, grasping the optical source in a hand of a user, moving the user's hand to position the optical source, and directing the optical beams onto the target area. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the target area comprises tissue, such as tooth tissue.
According to another as
Boutoussov Dmitri
Cozean Colette
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Lucchesi Nicholas D.
PLS Liquidating LLC
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