Dental articles including post-formable multilayer optical films
First Claim
1. A dental article comprising at least one optical surface reflecting light of desired wavelengths, wherein the optical surface comprises a post-formed optical stack comprising a plurality of layers, the layers comprising at least one birefringent polymer and at least one different polymer, wherein the optical stack comprises first and second strain-induced index of refraction differentials, the first and second index of refraction differentials being located along first and second perpendicular in-plane axes, and further wherein the thickness of the post-formed optical stack varies over the optical surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Dental articles including at least one optical surface formed of a multilayer optical film including layers of at least one strain-induced birefringent material are disclosed. The multilayer optical films included in the dental articles is preferably post-formed into desired non-planar shapes in manners that result in some deformation of the optical stack of the multilayer optical films. A variety of dental implements can be constructed with multilayer optical film including dental mirrors, light guides for use in connection with photo-curing dental materials, and matrix bands for use in molding photo-curing dental restoratives.
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Citations
13 Claims
- 1. A dental article comprising at least one optical surface reflecting light of desired wavelengths, wherein the optical surface comprises a post-formed optical stack comprising a plurality of layers, the layers comprising at least one birefringent polymer and at least one different polymer, wherein the optical stack comprises first and second strain-induced index of refraction differentials, the first and second index of refraction differentials being located along first and second perpendicular in-plane axes, and further wherein the thickness of the post-formed optical stack varies over the optical surface.
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13. A dental article comprising at least one optical surface reflecting light of desired wavelengths, wherein the optical surface comprises an optical stack comprising a plurality of layers, the layers comprising at least one birefringent polymer and at least one different polymer, wherein the optical stack comprises first and second strain-induced index of refraction differentials, the first and second index of refraction differentials being located along first and second perpendicular in-plane axes, and further wherein the thickness of the optical stack varies over the optical surface.
Specification