Water-cooled light source

• US 4,363,080 A
• Filed: 09/02/1980
• Issued: 12/07/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dentek Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Dentek Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Sylvester, Donald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lechert, Jr., Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US06/182,975
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 362/32, 362/96, 362/101, 362/218, 362/294, 362/373, 362/804
• US Class Current: 362/573
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0669 at proximal end of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/24 for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors tongue depressors per se A61B13/00; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth combined with saliva removers A61C17/00; mouth openers for animals A61D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/00 Dental auxiliary appliances dental chairs or accessories therefor, working stands whether or not combined with chairs A61G15/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/56 using liquid coolants F21V29/51 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/202 for dentistry
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/804 Surgical or dental spotlight

Abstract

Apparatus for supplying a source of light, in a dental control unit, to an optical fiber for transmission of light from the source, along the fiber, into a patient'"'"'s mouth. A heat sink is provided with a cavity for receiving a high intensity light. A duct leads from the light to the exterior of the heat sink to permit access of the fiber to the light. The block contains a fluid-conducting bore therethrough for conducting heat from the block to the fluid.

Claims

1. Cooling apparatus for a light source which supplies light to an optical fiber, said apparatus comprising

a heat-conductive heat sink body having means defining a cavity extending thereinto from a side of said body for receiving such a light source, means defining a duct extending into said body from another side of said body for permitting access of such a fiber to the source, and means defining a fluid coolant passage extending through said heat sink body;

and

a source of fluid coolant operatively connected to said passage for providing a flow of fluid coolant through said passage which operates to conduct heat away from the heat sink body.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said heat sink body is block-shaped, said cavity being at one end thereof and said passage-defining means is a bore which traverses the block about said cavity.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 or 3 which further includes means for simultaneously activating said light source and said source of fluid coolant.

3. In dental apparatus, means for supplying light into a patient'"'"'s mouth comprising:

a heat-conductive heat sink body having a light source receiving cavity extending thereinto from a side of said body, a duct extending into said body from another side of said body joining with an inner portion of said cavity, and a coolant passage extending through said body out of communication with said cavity and duct,

a high intensity light source mounted within said light source receiving cavity,

an elongate optical fiber for transmitting light having one end mounted within said duct and exposed by said mounting to said light source, and

a source of fluid coolant connected to said coolant passage for providing a flow of fluid coolant through said passage which operates to conduct heat away from said heat sink body.

5. A method of cooling a high intensity light source which supplies light for transmission along an optical fiber comprising the steps of

surrounding such a light source with a heat conductor having a duct for permitting access of such a fiber to the source and means defining a fluid transmission conduit through said conductor, and

activating said light source, and

transmitting fluid through said defining means to conduct heat away from said conductor.