Dental illumination device with single or multiple total internal reflectors (TIR)
OwnerJohn Westinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates generally to a device that attaches to one or more Light Emitting Diode (LED) light source(s) to transmit and distribute light energy simultaneously across the arches of upper and lower teeth for dental tooth whitening and photo initiation of light curing resins while at the same time retaining the benefits of the light source(s) to be used for individual tooth whitening and curing.
Claims30
A dental illumination device comprising:
- a proximal end configured for attachment to at least LED light source;
- a distal end anatomically preformed with a profile complementary to a shape of a dental arch;
- and
- at least one light reflecting means configured to convey light from said proximal end to said distal end.
A system to transmit light to a dental arch, said system comprising:
- at least one LED light source;
- and
- a dental illumination device comprising:
- a proximal end configured for attachment to said at least one LED light source;
- a distal end anatomically preformed with a profile complementary to a shape of a dental arch;
- and
- a light directing means, wherein said light directing means is configured to convey electromagnetic radiation from said proximal end to said distal end.
A method of whitening at least one tooth in a dental arch comprising:
- applying a whitening solution to at least one tooth, said whitening solution is photoreactive, wherein whitening action of said whitening solution is increased in response to absorption of light;
- and
- applying light to said dental arch utilizing an illumination system comprising:
- at least one LED light source;
- and
- a dental illumination device comprising:
- a proximal end configured for attachment to at least one LED light source;
- a distal end anatomically preformed with a profile complementary to a shape of a dental arch;
- and
- at least one light directing means configured to convey light from said proximal end to said distal end.
A method of curing a photo-reactive compound in a dental arch comprising:
- applying a photo-reactive compound to at least one tooth;
- and
- applying light to said dental arch utilizing an illumination system comprising:
- an LED light source;
- and
- a dental illumination device comprising:
- a proximal end configured for attachment to said receptacle;
- a distal end anatomically preformed with a profile complementary to a shape of a dental arch;
- and
- a light directing means configured to convey light from said proximal end to said distal end.
A dental illumination device of single piece construction comprising:
- a proximal end configured for attachment to a light source;
- and
- an arch shaped distal end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.