Portable high power arc lamp system and applications therefor
First Claim
1. A portable, high power arc lamp system comprising:
- a. an arc lamp capable of a power input of at least about 1500 W;
b. an reflector for reflecting the optical energy generated by said arc lamp;
c. a flexible light guide for receiving optical energy from said reflector;
d. a battery for providing electrical power to said lamp;
e. a charging circuit for recharging said battery using 110 V ac power.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable, high power arc lamp system for composite curing and tooth whitening applications utilizes battery cells to power a lamp, such as a short-arc xenon lamp. The use of battery power allows for a high power system without the need for costly components required if ac power were used. Battery power is acceptable for low duty cycle applications such as composite curing and tooth whitening. The batteries may be recharged using either standard 110 V or 220 V house current and a charging circuit is included to charge the batteries. An elliptical reflector is used to direct the light from the xenon lamp to a flexible light guide. The system of the present invention is particularly suited to the curing of dental composites and tooth whitening procedures. Significantly improved methods of curing and whitening may be realized through the use of a high power light source of the present invention.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A portable, high power arc lamp system comprising:
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a. an arc lamp capable of a power input of at least about 1500 W; b. an reflector for reflecting the optical energy generated by said arc lamp; c. a flexible light guide for receiving optical energy from said reflector; d. a battery for providing electrical power to said lamp; e. a charging circuit for recharging said battery using 110 V ac power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A high power short-arc xenon arc lamp system comprising:
a. a housing, said housing comprising; b. a short-arc xenon lamp capable of a power input of at least 1500 W; c. a flexible light guide, the proximal end of said light guide mounted within said housing to receive optical energy from said reflector; d. a rechargeable battery for powering said lamp; and e. a charging circuit coupled to said battery for recharging said battery.
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10. A method of curing a photocurable material comprising:
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a. providing an arc lamp capable of a power input of at least 1500 W; b. providing a reflector for reflecting the optical energy generated by said arc lamp; c. providing a flexible light guide, the proximal end of said light guide optically coupled to said reflector; d. providing a battery for supplying electrical power to said lamp; e. providing a charging circuit for recharging said battery cell using 110 V or 220 V ac current; f. placing the distal end of said light guide proximate a photocurable material and activating said lamp for a sufficient amount of time to cure said material. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of whitening teeth comprising:
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a. providing an arc lamp capable of a power input of at least 1500 W; b. providing a reflector for reflecting the optical energy generated by said arc lamp; c. providing a flexible light guide, the proximal end of said light guide optically coupled to said reflector; d. providing a battery for supplying electrical power to said lamp; e. providing a charging circuit for recharging said battery cell using 110 V or 220 V ac current; f. placing the distal end of said light guide proximate a tooth for a sufficient amount of time to effect whitening of said tooth. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of whitening teeth comprising:
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a. providing an arc lamp for generating optical energy; b. providing an ellipsoidal reflector for reflecting the light energy generated by said arc lamp; c. filtering the light energy reflected by said reflector with an optical filter to eliminate optical energy with a wavelength below about 430 nanometers and above about 505 nanometers; d. providing a flexible light guide, the proximal end of said light guide optically coupled to the output of said filter; e. providing a battery for supplying electrical power to said lamp; f. providing a charging circuit for recharging said battery cell using 110 V ac current; g. placing a bleaching composition on a tooth to be whitened; h. placing the distal end of said light guide proximate said bleaching composition and activating said lamp for a sufficient amount of time to whiten said tooth.
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28. A method of curing a dental composite comprising:
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a. providing an arc lamp with a power input of at least 1500 W; b. providing optical energy generated by said arc lamp to the proximate end of a flexible light guide; c. placing the distal end of said light guide proximate a dental curing compound and activating said lamp for a sufficient amount of time to cure said compound. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A method of whitening teeth comprising:
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a. providing an arc lamp with a power input of at least 1500 W; b. providing optical energy generated by said arc lamp to the proximate end of a flexible light guide; c. placing a light-activated bleaching compound on a tooth to be whitened; d. placing the distal end of said light guide proximate said tooth and activating said lamp for a sufficient amount of time to effect whitening of said tooth.
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Specification