Method and apparatus for removing dental caries by using laser radiation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for removing pre-selected dental caries from non-selected healthy dental tissue at a predetermined target site of a tooth comprising:
- a laser source for generating an ultraviolet laser beam having a wavelength in a range of 193 nm-400 nm;
a fluid coolant delivery handpiece coupled to a water reservoir for delivering a fluid coolant for dissipating heat to said target site such that said fluid coolant has an arbitrary thickness between said laser beam and said preselected dental caries and said non-selected healthy dental tissue; and
an optical device disposed in radiation receiving relation to said laser source for delivering said laser beam to said target site, said laser beam propagating through said fluid coolant and ablating said pre-selected dental caries, said fluid coolant coacting with said laser beam to maintain a temperature at said target site below a given threshold temperature as said pre-selected dental caries are removed by said laser beam.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (1) is provided for treating a target area (22) of a tooth (10). The apparatus (1) generally comprises a coolant delivery system (20) and an ultraviolet laser system (15). The coolant delivery system (20) delivers coolant (52) to the target area (22) while a light guide (44) focuses ultraviolet radiation thereon. The ultraviolet radiation (18) and coolant (52) combine to ablate a desired material without generating excess heat which may otherwise char surface tissue or cause thermal damage.
97 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for removing pre-selected dental caries from non-selected healthy dental tissue at a predetermined target site of a tooth comprising:
-
a laser source for generating an ultraviolet laser beam having a wavelength in a range of 193 nm-400 nm; a fluid coolant delivery handpiece coupled to a water reservoir for delivering a fluid coolant for dissipating heat to said target site such that said fluid coolant has an arbitrary thickness between said laser beam and said preselected dental caries and said non-selected healthy dental tissue; and an optical device disposed in radiation receiving relation to said laser source for delivering said laser beam to said target site, said laser beam propagating through said fluid coolant and ablating said pre-selected dental caries, said fluid coolant coacting with said laser beam to maintain a temperature at said target site below a given threshold temperature as said pre-selected dental caries are removed by said laser beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method of removing pre-selected dental caries from non-selected healthy dental tissue at a target site of a tooth comprising:
-
delivering a fluid coolant for dissipating heat to said target site such that said fluid coolant forms a layer having an arbitrary thickness on said preselected dental caries and said non-selected healthy dental tissue; generating a laser beam having a wavelength in a range of 193 nm-400 nm; and delivering said laser beam to said target site, said laser beam propagating through said fluid coolant and ablating said pre-selected dental caries, said fluid coolant coacting with said laser beam to maintain a temperature at said target site below a given threshold temperature. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of ablating pre-selected dental caries from a non-selected healthy dental tissue at a target site of a tooth comprising:
-
delivering water for dissipating heat to said target site such that said water forms a layer having an arbitrary thickness on said preselected caries an non-selected tissue; generating a laser beam having a wavelength in a range of 193 nm-400 nm, a fluence level in a range of 0.01-10 J/cm2 and a frequency level in a range of 1-1000 Hz; generating a low power laser guide beam having a wavelength in the visible spectrum, said low power laser guide beam being coincident with said laser beam at said target site; delivering said low power guide beam and said laser beam to said target site through a fiber optic waveguide, said waveguide focusing said laser beam to a diameter in a range of 0.1 nm-5 nm at said target site, said laser beam propagating through said water and ablating said pre-selected caries from said non-selected healthy dental tissue at said target site, said water coacting with said laser beam to maintain a temperature at said target site below a given threshold temperature; and removing said water and pre-selected caries from said target site with a vacuum after said laser beam ablates said pre-selected caries. - View Dependent Claims (18)
-
Specification