Ball lens for use with a dental curing light
First Claim
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1. A lens for use with a light-emitting device when curing a dental composition within a dental preparation, comprising:
- a connector body that couples or attaches to a light-emitting device so as to capture at least some of the light emitted by the light source of the light-emitting device;
a light guide extending from the connector body, said light guide having a proximal end adjacent to said connector body and a distal end, the proximal end of said light guide having a cross-sectional diameter that is no larger than half the cross-sectional diameter of said connector body in order to facilitate placement of said light guide within a dental preparation during a dental restoration procedure; and
a ball or substantially rounded shape at the distal end of the light guide distal, said light guide being sufficiently rigid as to enable said ball or substantially rounded shape to hold a matrix band against a tooth adjacent to a dental preparation during use.
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Abstract
A ball lens includes a connector body that couples or attaches to a dental curing light so as to capture at least some of the light emitted by the light source, an elongate light guide extending from the connector body, and a light-emitting ball at an end of the light guide distal to the connector body. The ball can be used to hold a matrix band against an adjacent tooth prior to and/or while incrementally curing a light curable composition.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A lens for use with a light-emitting device when curing a dental composition within a dental preparation, comprising:
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a connector body that couples or attaches to a light-emitting device so as to capture at least some of the light emitted by the light source of the light-emitting device; a light guide extending from the connector body, said light guide having a proximal end adjacent to said connector body and a distal end, the proximal end of said light guide having a cross-sectional diameter that is no larger than half the cross-sectional diameter of said connector body in order to facilitate placement of said light guide within a dental preparation during a dental restoration procedure; and a ball or substantially rounded shape at the distal end of the light guide distal, said light guide being sufficiently rigid as to enable said ball or substantially rounded shape to hold a matrix band against a tooth adjacent to a dental preparation during use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22)
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18. A light curing system for use in filling a dental preparation, the light curing system comprising:
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a light-emitting device that emits a footprint of light energy; and a lens adapted for use with the light-emitting device, the lens comprising; a connector body that couples or attaches to a light-emitting device so as to capture at least some of the light emitted by the light source of the light-emitting device; a light guide extending from the connector body, said light guide having a proximal end adjacent to said connector body and a distal end, said light guide being substantially cylindrical in order to facilitate placement of said light guide within a dental preparation during a dental restoration procedure; and a ball or substantially rounded shape at the distal end of the light guide distal to the connector body, said light guide being sufficiently rigid as to enable said ball substantially rounded shape to hold a matrix band against a tooth adjacent to a dental preparation during use. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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23. A lens for use with a light-emitting device when curing a dental composition within a dental preparation, comprising:
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a connector body that couples or attaches to a light-emitting device so as to capture at least some of the light emitted by the light source of the light-emitting device; a light guide extending from the connector body, said light guide having a proximal end adjacent to said connector body and a distal end; and a ball at the distal end of the light guide, wherein said ball has a diameter ranging from about 1 mm to about 6 mm, said light guide being sufficiently rigid as to enable said ball to hold a matrix band against a tooth adjacent to a dental preparation during use. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification