Optical source method
First Claim
1. A medical apparatus, comprising:
- an array of optical sources; and
a housing to which said array is mounted, wherein said 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 said optical sources can be directed onto tissue by orienting said housing by hand.
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Abstract
An optical device includes a diode light source which is preferably in the form of an array of diode elements such as laser diodes or light emitting diodes (LEDs). The light emitted from the diode elements is directed towards a reflector which directs the emitted light through a heat sink member for controlling the temperature of the diode elements. The heat sink member preferably has a plurality of fins for dissipating heat, and the emitted light passes through these fins and away from the optical device. An optical lightguide may be integrated with the optical device to give the user better control over how the emitted light is imaged. The diode elements preferably emit in either the blue or ultraviolet region of the optical spectrum. In one embodiment of the invention, the output from the diode elements has a cross section that is variable in shape, permitting a composite material within a cavity of a tooth to be cured in such a way that microgaps between the tooth and the composite are not formed.
71 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A medical apparatus, comprising:
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an array of optical sources; and
a housing to which said array is mounted, wherein said 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 said optical sources can be directed onto tissue by orienting said housing by hand. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A dental 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, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24)
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12. A method, comprising:
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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.
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19. A dental apparatus 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, comprising:
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means for producing a first optical beam having an intensity distribution in cross section that concentrates energy at the periphery of the cross section;
means for producing a second optical beam having an intensity distribution in cross section that does not concentrate energy at the periphery of the cross section; and
means for directing the first and second optical beams towards the tooth, wherein the first optical beam cures the composite contacting the tooth tissue at the sides of the cavity without curing composite that is interior of the cavity, and the second optical beam cures the composite within the interior of the cavity.
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23. A method of curing an optically curable material filling in a tooth, comprising:
using optical energy to cure filling material that is adjacent to tooth tissue at a periphery of the filling prior to curing filling material that is interior to the periphery.
Specification