Cone-shaped lens having increased forward light intensity and kits incorporating such lenses
AssigneeUltradent Products, Inc.
InventorsBruce S. McLean, Vasiliy Nosov, Dan E. Fischer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention is directed to lenses having thin walls and a generally conical shape for use with dental light-curing devices. The conical or otherwise tapered shape enables the apex of the lenses to be inserted at least partially within a dental preparation (e.g., a Class II dental preparation). The thin walls allow the light emitted from the light-curing device to pass through the lens and apex without being undesirably refracted, thereby enabling light to be emitted directly in front of the apex with sufficient intensity to cure light-curable compounds within the dental preparation.
Claims28
A lens for use with a light-curing device and that is sized and configured to be inserted at least partially within a dental preparation, the tapered lens comprising:
- a hollow body that has a tapered profile and that includes a hollow interior region therewithin, the hollow body comprising:
- a base circumferentially extending around the body that is configured to be connected with the light-curing device in such a manner that light emitted from the light-curing device passes through the lens when in use;
- and
- a wall extending outwardly from the base and converging at an apex,
- the wall and apex being configured such that, when coupled to a light-curing device, the lens is able to transmit an increased quantity of light emitted by the light-curing device through the apex in a forward direction when in use compared to a tapered lens that does not include a hollow interior region.
A cone-shaped lens in combination with a light-curing device, the cone-shaped lens being sized and configured so as to be inserted at least partially within a dental preparation, the cone-shaped lens comprising:
- a hollow body having a substantially conical profile and defining a substantially conical void within the hollow body, the hollow body comprising:
- a base circumferentially extending around the body that is connected with the light-curing device and in such a manner that light emitted from the light-curing device passes through the lens;
- and
- a wall extending outwardly from the base and converging at an apex,
- the wall and apex being configured such that the lens is able to transmit an increased quantity of light emitted by the light-curing device through the apex in a forward direction when in use compared to a tapered lens that does not include a hollow interior region.
A kit of interchangeable tapered lenses for use with a light-curing device, each tapered lens being sized and configured to be inserted at least partially within a dental preparation, each tapered lens comprising:
- a hollow body that has a tapered profile and that includes a hollow interior region therewithin, the hollow body comprising:
- a base circumferentially extending around the body that is configured to be connected with the light-curing device in such a manner that light emitted from the light-curing device is enabled to passes through the lens;
- and
- a wall extending outwardly from the base and converging at an apex,
- the wall and apex being configured such that, when coupled to a light-curing device, the lens is able to transmit an increased quantity of light emitted by the light-curing device through the apex in a forward direction when in use compared to a tapered lens that does not include a hollow interior region.
26 A kit as recited in claim 24, wherein at least one of the lenses in the kit comprises at least one material selected from the group comprising acrylic, polyacrylic, polypropylene, polycarbonate, silicone, aluminum dioxide, sapphire, quartz, and glass.
27 A kit as recited in claim 24, wherein at least one of the lenses in the kit is color tinted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.