Curing light instrument
First Claim
1. An instrument for curing light-curable compounds comprising:
- a housing;
a light emitting structure positioned in the housing and including a plurality of light emitting dies forming a generally planar array positioned on a generally planar substrate;
the substrate being mounted on a base made of a thermally conductive metal;
a heat sink thermally coupled with the base to direct heat away from the base and light emitting structure;
a reflector configured for being positioned with the light emitting structure, the reflector being a tubular structure having open proximal and distal ends;
the open proximal end of the reflector surrounding the die array generally at the plane of the substrate, the reflector further configured to capture light emitted from the die array at the proximal end and direct the light out of the distal end onto a light-curable compound,an adaptor having opposite ends and configured to interface, at one end, with the distal end of the reflector and to interface, at the other end, with an end of a light guide so that the light guide is directly coupled to the distal end of the reflector for directly transmitting light captured by the reflector onto a light-curable compound.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a handheld portable, efficient instrument for curing light-curable compounds. The instrument comprises a housing, a light emitted structure supported in the housing, and a reflector configured to interface with the light emitting structure such that light emitted is captured and directed by the reflector onto a light-curable compound. The reflector maximizes the amount of light transferred and contacting the light-curable compound thereby reducing the instrument'"'"'s power requirements and improving efficiency. The light emitting structure comprises state of the art, energy efficient, light generating dies. The curing light instrument may also have a self-contained power supply lending portability and convenient of use.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An instrument for curing light-curable compounds comprising:
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a housing; a light emitting structure positioned in the housing and including a plurality of light emitting dies forming a generally planar array positioned on a generally planar substrate; the substrate being mounted on a base made of a thermally conductive metal; a heat sink thermally coupled with the base to direct heat away from the base and light emitting structure; a reflector configured for being positioned with the light emitting structure, the reflector being a tubular structure having open proximal and distal ends; the open proximal end of the reflector surrounding the die array generally at the plane of the substrate, the reflector further configured to capture light emitted from the die array at the proximal end and direct the light out of the distal end onto a light-curable compound, an adaptor having opposite ends and configured to interface, at one end, with the distal end of the reflector and to interface, at the other end, with an end of a light guide so that the light guide is directly coupled to the distal end of the reflector for directly transmitting light captured by the reflector onto a light-curable compound. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An instrument for curing light-curable compounds comprising:
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a housing; a light emitting structure comprising a plurality of solid state light emitting dies forming a generally planar collective array positioned on a generally planar substrate; a reflector forming a generally tubular passage with open proximal and distal ends, the open proximal end of the reflector configured to surround the array of dies generally at the plane of the substrate to capture and direct light emitted by the array of dies out of the open distal end; an adaptor having opposite ends and configured to interface, at one end, with the distal end of the reflector and to interface, at the other end, with an end of a light guide so that the light guide is directly coupled to the open distal end of the reflector for directly transmitting light captured by the reflector onto a light-curable compound. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification