Xenon light apparatus for supplying ultraviolet and visible spectra

• US 4,229,658 A
• Filed: 08/18/1978
• Issued: 10/21/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dentsply Research & Development Corporation (Astrazeneca PLC)
• Original Assignee: Dentsply Research & Development Corporation (Astrazeneca PLC)
• Inventors: Gonser, Donald I.
• Primary Examiner(s): La Roche, Eugene R.
• Application Number:
  US05/934,912
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 313/184, 313/198, 313/224, 315/241 R, 315/326, 315/336, 250/493, 250/504
• US Class Current: 250/504.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/004 Hand-held apparatus, e.g. guns
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/07 Stiffening bandages
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4298 coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 5/16 Optical or photographic arrangements structurally combined with the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/00 Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps arc lamps with consumable electrodes H05B; electroluminescent lamps H05B
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/16 having helium, argon, neon, krypton, or xenon as the principle constituent

Abstract

A handheld lamp is disclosed wherein the light source is a rapid pulse unconfined xenon arc tube containing more than three atmospheres of xenon gas pressure, and providing a selectable spectral output of ultraviolet, visible, or ultraviolet and visible wavelengths. The lamp contains a radiation guide for directing the generating light, the tip of which is maintained cool for effective use such as in curing tooth restorative materials. The lamp may be located in the power supply and light delivered through a flexible light pipe.

Claims

1. Light source apparatus for delivering a substantial continuum of radiation within a range of about 300 to 500 nanometers to a restricted surface area, comprising:

a. light source means containing xenon at greater than 3 atmospheres and less than 10 atmospheres pressure, and including a filter assembly to cut off wavelengths below about 300 nanometers;

b. a housing, adapted to contain said light source means and suitable for handheld operation;

c. means for pulsing of said light source means; and

d. light delivery means in operative association with said light source means for delivering radiation within said range from said light source means to the restricted surface area.

2. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said light source means comprises an unconfined arc tube which contains xenon gas maintained at said pressure of 3 to 10 atmospheres.

3. The apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said xenon pressure is about 4 atmospheres.

4. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said filter assembly has a bandpass characteristic passing wavelengths within the range of about 300 to 500 nanometers.

5. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said filter assembly has a bandpass characteristic passing wavelengths within the range of about 400 to 500 nanometers.

6. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said delivery means comprises flexible optical glass fibers.

7. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said delivery means comprises a liquid-tuned pipe.

8. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said delivery means is a light guide made of rigid quartz.

9. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said delivery means is a light guide made of flexible quartz fibers.

10. Light source apparatus for providing efficient emission of ultraviolet and visible radiation, comprising:

a. an unconfined xenon arc tube in combination with means for powering and triggering same, said tube providing a substantial continuum of wavelengths over the range of about 300 to 500 nanometers and being maintained at a pressure of at least 3 and less than 10 atmospheres;

b. a filter assembly for attenuating wavelengths below about 300 nanometers; and

c. housing means for housing said tube and filter assembly.

11. The apparatus as described in claim 10 comprising a handpiece external of said housing means for delivering light to a restricted area, and transmission means for transmitting light from said tube to said handpiece.

12. The apparatus as described in claim 11 wherein said transmitting means comprises flexible optical fibers.

13. The apparatus as described in claim 11 wherein said transmitting means comprises a light pipe.

14. Light source apparatus for providing efficient emission of radiation within the wavelength range of about 300 nanometers to 500 nanometers, comprising an unconfined arc tube containing a gas maintained at at least about 3 to 4 atmospheres and less than 10 atmospheres, and characterized in that the discharge of said tube provides radiation which is substantially continuous throughout said range, said tube having window means for transmitting therethrough said radiation, which window means cuts off wavelengths below about 300 nanometers, and filter means mounted in registry with said window for optically filtering the radiation transmitted through said window, said filter means including a high cutoff filter for attenuating wavelengths above a predetermined value for wavelengths higher than 500 nanometers.

15. The apparatus as described in claim 14 wherein said filter means comprises a low cutoff filter for further attenuating wavelengths below about 300 nanometers.

16. Light source apparatus for providing efficient emission of radiation within the wavelength range of about 300 nanometers to 500 nanometers, comprising an unconfined arc tube containing a gas maintained at at least about 3 to 4 atmospheres and less than 10 atmospheres, and characterized in that the discharge of said tube provides radiation which is substantially continuous throughout said range, said tube having window means for transmitting therethrough said radiation, which window means cuts off wavelengths below about 300 nanometers, light guide means in registry with said window for guiding the output of said tube along a predetermined guide path, and filter means mounted at about the end of said guide means for optically filtering the radiation transmitted therethrough, said filter means including a high cutoff filter for attenuating wavelengths above about 500 nanometers.

17. The apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein said filter means comprises a low cutoff filter for further attenuating wavelengths below about 300 nanometers.

18. The apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein said light guide means comprises a glass flexible fiber light pipe.

19. The apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein said light guide means comprises a quartz flexible fiber light pipe.

20. The apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein said light guide means comprises a flexible tuned liquid filled light pipe.

21. The apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein said light guide means comprises a rigid quartz light pipe.

22. The apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein said light guide means comprises a flexible plastic light fiber light pipe.