Illuminated dental impression tray
AssigneePoly-Optical Products, Inc.
InventorLeonard W. Cheslak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dental impression tray constructed from an optically transmissive material prepared with appropriately positioned recesses to direct light towards a U-shaped channel formed in the body of the tray. The channel is dimensioned to receive a portion of a patient's teeth. The recesses are formed in the outermost surfaces of the dental tray sides. In particular, multiple, spaced-apart recesses are formed in the outermost surfaces of the tray sides to deflect light into the channel area, which may have deposited therein a light polymerizable or curable material. Light is introduced into the tray through at least a first light portal which is integrally formed in a side of the tray.
Claims23
A dental tray comprising:
- a trough shaped optically transmissive tray body characterized by substantially total internal reflection having formed therein a channel being sufficiently curved to receive at least a partial arch-shaped group of teeth, said channel having a cross-section wider than said teeth to be received therein, said tray body having an outer surface with multiple, contiguously positioned recesses, each recess being defined by two opposing surfaces which angle inwardly from said outer surface toward each other to define therebetween an included angle, and with said tray body formed with at least a first light portal upon which a light source can be directed to direct light through said optically transmissive body for reflection and refraction from the inwardly angled surfaces of the recesses toward the channel of the tray body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.