Light curing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016367347-A1
Application number	US-201615181776-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 14, 2016
Priority date	Jun 17, 2015
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A light curing device for curing dental materials, having a handpiece ( 14 ) and a base station ( 12 ), wherein the handpiece ( 14 ) includes a light source, a light-conducting rod ( 22 ), which is attached to the handpiece ( 14 ) in particular in a replaceable and detachable manner, and at least one sensor ( 30 ) which is positioned in the handpiece ( 14 ), wherein the light curing device ( 10 ) includes a control device ( 18 ) with at least one curing program for polymerizing the dental material. It is characterized in that a mirror ( 28 ) with a predetermined reflection parameter with a reflection value of more than 90% is provided, in particular at the base station ( 12 ) of the light curing device ( 10 ) or at the handpiece ( 14 ) of the light curing device ( 10 ), and in that the control device ( 18 ) includes a calibration program which can be actuated automatically or by user intervention when the light curing device ( 10 ) with the front end ( 24 ) of the light-conducting rod ( 22 ) is directed towards the mirror ( 28 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A light curing device for curing dental materials, comprising
a handpiece ( 14 ) comprising a light source, a light-conducting rod ( 22 ), which is attached to the handpiece ( 14 ) in a replaceable and detachable manner, and at least one sensor ( 30 ) which is positioned in the handpiece ( 14 ); a base station ( 12 ); and a control device ( 18 ) with at least one curing program for polymerizing the dental material; characterized in that a mirror ( 28 ) with a predetermined reflection parameter with a reflection value of more than 90% is provided at the base station ( 12 ) of the light curing device ( 10 ) or at the handpiece ( 14 ) of the light curing device ( 10 ), and in that the control device ( 18 ) comprises a calibration program which can be actuated automatically or by user intervention when the light curing device ( 10 ) with the front end ( 24 ) of the light-conducting rod ( 22 ) is directed towards the mirror ( 28 ).

2 . The light curing device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the sensor ( 30 ) and the light source are disposed adjacent to a light input end of the light-conducting rod ( 22 ).

3 . The light curing device as claimed in claim 2 , characterized in that the light curing device ( 10 ) comprises an alignment aid by means of which an optical axis of a light output end of the light-conducting rod ( 22 ) can be aligned perpendicular relative to a reflection area of the mirror ( 28 ), with a deviation of less than 5°.

4 . The light curing device as claimed in claim 3 , characterized in that the calibration program adjusts a rated light power of the light source based on a measurement result of the sensor ( 30 ).

5 . The light curing device as claimed in claim 4 , characterized in that the mirror ( 28 ) is pivotably attached as a measurement mirror to an antidazzle device which is attached to the light output end of the light-conducting rod ( 22 ).

6 . The light curing device as claimed in claim 5 , characterized in that the mirror ( 28 ) is attached to a base station ( 12 ) of the light curing device ( 10 ) as a measurement mirror.

7 . The light curing device as claimed in claim 6 , characterized in that the base station ( 12 ) of the light curing device ( 10 ) comprises a setdown position for the handpiece ( 14 ) in which the handpiece ( 14 ) can be picked up in or at a predetermined original position, and in that the mirror ( 28 ) as a measurement mirror at the front end ( 24 ) of the light curing device ( 10 ) is aligned parallel to the light output end of the light-conducting rod ( 22 ) and spaced apart from it slightly by less than 5 mm.

8 . The light curing device as claimed in claim 7 , characterized in that the handpiece ( 14 ) comprises a presence sensor for the light-conducting rod ( 22 ) by means of which it can be determined if a light-conducting rod ( 22 ) is inserted at the handpiece ( 14 ) or not inserted, and in that the control device ( 18 ) automatically performs the self-calibration program or requests to have it performed, when the presence sensor has reported the change of the light-conducting rod ( 22 ) to the control device ( 18 ).

9 . The light curing device as claimed in claim 8 , characterized in that the control device ( 18 ) is connected to a display device which displays the operating state of the light curing device ( 10 ), comprising the execution of the calibration program, and points out to the user that the usual operational function of the light curing device ( 10 ) is disabled during the calibration process.

10 . The light curing device as claimed in claim 9 , characterized in that the display device indicates the light power which is measured by the optical sensor ( 30 ) and used for the calibration process as a numerical value.

11 . The light curing device as claimed in claim 10 , characterized in that the self-calibration program of the control device ( 18 ) proportionally prolongs the light curing cycle with a decreasing and accordingly lower measured power of the light sources by up to 20%, and in that the exposure time is prolonged automatically.

12 . The light curing device as claimed in claim 11 , characterized in that the alignment aid is configured as a sleeve which surrounds the mirror ( 28 ) and shields it laterally and extends in front of the mirror and comprises an internal diameter which matches the front end ( 24 ) of the light-conducting rod ( 22 ).

13 . The light curing device as claimed in claim 12 , characterized in that the mirror ( 28 ) can be attached to the front end ( 24 ) of the light-conducting rod ( 22 ) as a mirror element.

14 . The light curing device as claimed in claim 13 , characterized in that the mirror element is a film which can be adhered onto the front end ( 24 ) of the light-conducting rod ( 22 ) and which is optionally disposable.

15 . A light curing device for curing dental materials, comprising
a handpiece ( 14 ) comprising a light source, and at least one sensor ( 30 ) which is positioned in the handpiece ( 14 ); a base station ( 12 ); and a control device ( 18 ) with at least one curing program for polymerizing the dental material; characterized in that a mirror ( 28 ) with a predetermined reflection parameter with a reflection value of more than 90% is provided at the base station ( 12 ) of the light curing device ( 10 ) or at the handpiece ( 14 ) of the light curing device ( 10 ), and in that the control device ( 18 ) comprises a calibration program which can be actuated automatically or by user intervention when the light curing device ( 10 ) with the front end ( 24 ) of the handpiece ( 14 ) is directed towards the mirror ( 28 ).

16 . The light curing device as claimed in claim 11 , characterized in that the exposure time is prolonged automatically from 5 seconds to 6 seconds.

Assignees

• Ivoclar Vivadent Ag

Inventors

• Senn Bruno
• Tommasini Dario

Classifications

• A61B2090/306

  using optical fibres · CPC title

• A61C1/0015

  Electrical systems · CPC title

• G01J1/4257

  applied to monitoring the characteristics of a beam, e.g. laser beam, headlamp beam (monitoring arrangements for lasers in general H01S3/0014) · CPC title

• A61C19/004 Primary

  Hand-held apparatus, e.g. guns · CPC title

• A61B1/247

  with means for viewing areas outside the direct line of sight, e.g. dentists' mirrors · CPC title