Dental imaging and treatment system
First Claim
1. A system for irradiating an object with electromagnetic energy which comprises:
- a base member positionable in a predetermined orientation relative to the object;
an optical emitter mounted on said base member for generating a beam of electromagnetic energy;
a mirror mounted on said base member for directing the beam of electromagnetic energy from the emitter along a predetermined path for incidence at a location on the object; and
a computer means electronically connected with said mirror for selectively moving the mirror to sequentially redirect the beam of electromagnetic energy along a plurality of discreet beam paths to a respective plurality of different locations in a raster on the object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An intra-oral dental irradiation device for use in dental procedures for whitening teeth, imaging teeth, and making impressions of tooth structures of a patient. The device features one or a plurality of LED devices mounted to an arched shaped structure which project light upon or through teeth. In the whitening mode the light of the proper spectrum to activate enamel whitening material is projected. In the imaging mode light projected by the LED devices is received by a charged coupled device which communicates the image of the light passing through the teeth from the LED devices, to a computer. In making dental impressions, the device projects light in a spectrum that provides the catalyst to material that hardens when exposed to that spectrum thereby hardening dental impression material when inserted over the teeth of a patient.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for irradiating an object with electromagnetic energy which comprises:
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a base member positionable in a predetermined orientation relative to the object;
an optical emitter mounted on said base member for generating a beam of electromagnetic energy;
a mirror mounted on said base member for directing the beam of electromagnetic energy from the emitter along a predetermined path for incidence at a location on the object; and
a computer means electronically connected with said mirror for selectively moving the mirror to sequentially redirect the beam of electromagnetic energy along a plurality of discreet beam paths to a respective plurality of different locations in a raster on the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for irradiating an object with electromagnetic energy which comprises:
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a laser means for generating a beam of collimated light;
a mirror for directing the beam of collimated light from the laser means along a predetermined path for incidence at a location on the object;
a computer means electronically connected with said mirror for selectively moving the mirror to sequentially redirect the beam of collimated light along a plurality of discreet beam paths to a respective plurality of different locations in a raster on the object;
a detector means engageable with said base member for receiving the beam after the beam has been incident on the object, wherein said detector activates to generate a signal in response to the collimated light of the beam; and
a monitoring means electronically connected with said detector to receive the plurality of discreet signals generated by the beam on respective beam paths and to use the signals for moving the mirror to direct the beam through the raster. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for irradiating an object which comprises the steps of:
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generating a beam of collimated light with at least one laser diode, wherein the beam comprises a plurality of energy pulses generated at a repetition rate of approximately 3 MHz, and wherein each energy pulse is generated at substantially a peak power output from said laser diode;
directing the beam of collimated light, with a mirror, along a predetermined path for incidence at a location on the object;
moving the mirror to sequentially redirect the beam of collimated light along a plurality of discreet beam paths to a respective plurality of different locations in a raster on the object;
detecting the beam, after the beam has been incident on the object, to generate a plurality of discrete signals in response to the collimated light of the beam on corresponding beam paths; and
using the signals to move the mirror to direct the beam through the raster. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification