Curing unit for dental materials
AssigneePentron Laboratory Technologies, LLC
InventorsGeorge Zychek, Daniel P. Clark
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A curing apparatus wherein rapid curing is provided by using light, pressure, pressure and light, or purge, pressure and light to cure resinous materials by application of energy from an external source to excite polymerization in a polymerizable system. An air-tight chamber is provided to house the polymerizable dental material. The apparatus provides an automated system for curing the polymerizable material under light and pressure in the same unit. A purge cycle may be included to minimize or eliminate bubbles and provide an oxygen-free atmosphere.
Claims34
An apparatus for curing a polymerizable dental material by light and pressure comprising:
- an air-tight chamber for receiving the dental material therein;
- a light source for supplying light to an interior of the air-tight chamber;
- a gas inlet for receiving pressurized gas into the interior of the air-tight chamber from an independent gas source;
- a processing means operatively associated with the light source and the gas source for controlling curing of the dental material by light and pressure within the air-tight chamber;
- and
- a control means operatively associated with the processing means for receiving input from an operator relating to operation of the light source and the gas source.
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the inert gas comprises argon, xenon, krypton or a mixture thereof.
An apparatus for curing a polymerizable dental material by light and pressure comprising:
- an air-tight chamber for receiving the dental material therein;
- a light source for supplying light to an interior of the air-tight chamber;
- a gas inlet for receiving pressurized gas into the interior of the air-tight chamber from an independent gas source;
- a processing device operatively associated with the light source and the gas source for controlling curing of the dental material by light and pressure within the air-tight chamber;
- and
- a control panel operatively associated with the processing means for receiving input from an operator relating to operation of the light source and the gas source.
An automated process for curing a polymerizable dental material by light and pressure using an apparatus having light and pressure modes comprising the steps of:
- placing a dental material in an airtight chamber;
- selecting a pressure mode for the curing process;
- selecting a light mode for the curing process;
- activating the automated curing process, whereby the chamber is sealed;
- gas is supplied to the chamber under pressure until the desired pressure is reached;
- the desired pressure is maintained;
- and whereby a light is activated inside the chamber while the desired pressure is maintained.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.