Curing light
First Claim
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1. A hand-held device for curing light curable materials, comprising:
- a light-tight housing which includes means for permitting the device to be gripped and manipulated in use, and an elongate body part having a removable end wall;
and, within the housing;
a light source which is accessible through said removable end wall of the housing;
a non-imaging light concentrator element having an input end for receiving light from said light source and an output end through which a concentrated beam of light leaves the concentrator element in use; and
,means at the output end of the concentrator element for receiving a light guide capable of extending outwardly of the housing for directing light to a target material to be cured;
wherein the light concentrator element has a generally frusto-conical shape, extends about a longitudinal axis and tapers towards said output end, the element having a half cone angle in the range 7 to 12 degrees and including a chamber at said input end for containing a liquid that is selected to both cool the concentrator element and filter out light of a wavelength above a predetermined threshold, the chamber having parallel end faces normal to said axis and a thickness in the range 5 to 21 mm so that light passing through the chamber is refracted towards said axis for concentrating the light;
and wherein said body part of the housing includes a jacket for cooling liquid, said jacket extending around the light source and communicating with said chamber for permitting circulation of liquid through the chamber and the jacket.
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Abstract
A light curing gun for dental filling material includes a conical light concentrator element and a water filed chamber between the light source and the concentrator element. The water increases the collection of light as well as cooling the concentrator and filtering out light in the infrared portion of the spectrum. A water cooling jacket may also be provided around the light source and may be coupled to the water window so that water can be circulated through both the window and the water jacket.
201 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A hand-held device for curing light curable materials, comprising:
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a light-tight housing which includes means for permitting the device to be gripped and manipulated in use, and an elongate body part having a removable end wall; and, within the housing; a light source which is accessible through said removable end wall of the housing; a non-imaging light concentrator element having an input end for receiving light from said light source and an output end through which a concentrated beam of light leaves the concentrator element in use; and
,means at the output end of the concentrator element for receiving a light guide capable of extending outwardly of the housing for directing light to a target material to be cured; wherein the light concentrator element has a generally frusto-conical shape, extends about a longitudinal axis and tapers towards said output end, the element having a half cone angle in the range 7 to 12 degrees and including a chamber at said input end for containing a liquid that is selected to both cool the concentrator element and filter out light of a wavelength above a predetermined threshold, the chamber having parallel end faces normal to said axis and a thickness in the range 5 to 21 mm so that light passing through the chamber is refracted towards said axis for concentrating the light; and wherein said body part of the housing includes a jacket for cooling liquid, said jacket extending around the light source and communicating with said chamber for permitting circulation of liquid through the chamber and the jacket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification