Heating apparatu with a disinfection device
AssigneeDENTSPLY International Inc.
InventorsEdward CHEPPA, Kevin WILKINSON
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heating apparatus for heating and sterilizing or disinfecting a material used in dental treatment, the heating apparatus comprising a heating compartment with a heating element for heating all or part of the material within the heating compartment; at least one holder for receiving and holding at least a part of the material used in dental treatment inside the heating compartment; and an disinfection device having a light source for sterilizing all or part of the material within the heating compartment.
Claims21
A heating apparatus for heating and sterilizing or disinfecting a material used in dental treatment, the heating apparatus comprising:
- a heating compartment with a heating element for heating all or part of the material within the heating compartment;
- at least one holder for receiving and holding at least a part of the material used in dental treatment inside the heating compartment;
- and
- an disinfection device having a light source for sterilizing all or part of the material within the heating compartment.
A method for heating and sterilizing or disinfecting a material used in dental treatment, comprising the steps of:
- inserting at least a portion of the material through an opening and into a cavity of a heating compartment that includes a heating element and an ultraviolet light source;
- applying heat to the at least a portion of the material, with an intensity sufficient to soften the at least a portion of the material while juxtaposed to the heating element;
- and
- applying ultraviolet light to the at least a portion of the material, with an intensity sufficient to sterilize or disinfect the at least a portion of the material while juxtaposed to the ultraviolet light source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.