Contact coupled delivery of radiation for dental hard tissue treatment
OwnerCharles Holland Dresser, Nathan Paul Montyinventors
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Abstract
Embodiments relate to a systems and methods for preventative irradiative dental treatment. In accordance with one embodiment, a system and method include using a radiation source to generate a radiation; using an optic disposed to accept the radiation to internally reflect he radiation at a first end; using at least one side of the optic to contact a dental hard tissue; using the optic to couple some of the radiation into the dental hard tissue; and, using a controller to control a parameter of the radiation to heat a surface of the dental hard tissue.
Claims14
A system for preventative dental treatment comprising:
- a radiation source configured to generate a radiation having a wavelength in one or more of a first range between 100 and 500 nm and a second range between 8,000 and 12,000 nm;
- a diamond optic disposed to accept the radiation at a first end, internally reflect the radiation, and contact a dental hard tissue with one or more sides of the diamond optic;
- and, wherein the diamond optic is configured to couple at least a portion of the radiation into the dental hard tissue when placed in contact with the dental hard tissue on the one or more sides;
- a cooling system configured to cool the diamond optic, wherein the cooling system comprises:
- a fluidic pathway in fluidic communication with and sealed about the diamond optic;
- and
- a coolant configured to flow within the fluidic pathway and come into direct contact with the diamond optic;
- and
- a controller configured to control at least one parameter of the radiation to raise a temperature of a surface of the dental hard tissue to a temperature that is greater than 400° Celsius.
A method for preventative dental treatment comprising:
- generating, using a radiation source, a radiation having a wavelength in one or more of a first range between 100 and 500 nm and a second range between 8,000 and 12,000 nm;
- internally reflecting the radiation within a diamond optic disposed to accept the radiation at a first end;
- contacting a dental hard tissue with one or more sides of the diamond optic;
- coupling, using the diamond optic, at least a portion of the radiation into the dental hard tissue;
- cooling the diamond optic, using a cooling system, wherein cooling the diamond optic comprises:
- providing a fluidic pathway in fluidic communication with and sealed about the diamond optic;
- and
- flowing, within the fluidic pathway, a coolant such that the coolant comes into direct contact with the diamond optic;
- and
- controlling, using a controller, at least one parameter of the radiation to raise a temperature of a surface of the dental hard tissue to a temperature that is greater than 400° Celsius.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.