Heat sink for dental curing light comprising a plurality of different materials
First Claim
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1. A dental curing light comprising:
- an elongated housing having a proximal end and a distal end;
at least one light source disposed at the distal end of the housing, the light source and distal end being configured so as to be easily inserted into a patient'"'"'s mouth when using the curing light to cure a dental composition;
an elongated heat sink, disposed within said housing, said elongated heat sink comprising a first portion adjacent to said light source and a second portion separated from the light source, and wherein the elongated heat sink is further comprised of;
a first layer comprising a first material having a first specific heat and a first thermal conductivity;
a second layer comprising a second material different from said first material, said second material having a second specific heat and a second thermal conductivity;
wherein the first layer surrounds the second layer so that the second layer forms a core within the first layer of the elongated heat sink, with the first layer contacting the light source; and
wherein said first thermal conductivity is greater than said second thermal conductivity, and said second specific heat is greater than said first specific heat.
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Abstract
A dental curing light comprises an elongate hollow wand housing having a proximal first end, a distal second end, a light source disposed at the distal second end of the wand housing, and a heat sink disposed at least partially within the wand housing. The heat sink is in contact with the light source, and comprises a plurality of layers or regions comprising different materials. A first layer or region comprises a first material having a higher thermal conductivity than that of a second layer or region, while the second layer or region comprises a second material having a specific heat greater than that of the first layer or region.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A dental curing light comprising:
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an elongated housing having a proximal end and a distal end; at least one light source disposed at the distal end of the housing, the light source and distal end being configured so as to be easily inserted into a patient'"'"'s mouth when using the curing light to cure a dental composition; an elongated heat sink, disposed within said housing, said elongated heat sink comprising a first portion adjacent to said light source and a second portion separated from the light source, and wherein the elongated heat sink is further comprised of; a first layer comprising a first material having a first specific heat and a first thermal conductivity; a second layer comprising a second material different from said first material, said second material having a second specific heat and a second thermal conductivity; wherein the first layer surrounds the second layer so that the second layer forms a core within the first layer of the elongated heat sink, with the first layer contacting the light source; and wherein said first thermal conductivity is greater than said second thermal conductivity, and said second specific heat is greater than said first specific heat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A dental curing light, comprising:
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a housing having a proximal end and a distal end; at least one LED light source disposed at the distal end of the housing, the light source and distal end being configured so as to be easily inserted into a patient'"'"'s mouth when using the curing light to cure a dental composition; an elongated heat sink, disposed within said housing, said elongated heat sink comprising a first portion located at a distal end of the heat sink so as to be adjacent to said light source and a second portion that is located toward a proximal end of the heat sink so as to be separated from the light source, and wherein the elongated heat sink is further comprised of; a first layer comprising a first material having a first specific heat and a first thermal conductivity, said first layer being being in thermal contact with to said at least one LED light source; a second layer comprising a second material different from said first material, said second material having a second specific heat and a second thermal conductivity, said second layer being in thermal contact with said first layer; and a third layer comprising a third material having a third specific heat and a third thermal conductivity, said third layer being in thermal contact with said second layer; and wherein the second layer continuously surrounds the third layer so that the third layer forms a core within the second layer of the elongated heat sink, and the first layer being disposed in thermal contact along the entire length of the second layer and being disposed between the light source and the second layer; and wherein said first thermal conductivity is greater than said second thermal conductivity, said second thermal conductivity is greater than said third thermal conductivity, and said third specific heat is greater than said first specific heat. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification