Dental impression tray for photocurable impression material
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorsCary A. Kipke, James G. Bentsen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dental impression tray includes a self-contained light source for curing photocurable impression material. The light source is a solid state light emitter such as a light emitting diode. In one embodiment, an array of light emitting diodes is arranged along a channel of the tray. In another embodiment, a light dispersive material distributes light into the tray channel from a bank of one or more emitters.
Claims27
A dental impression tray comprising:
- a body having a channel for receiving a quantity of photocurable dental impression material;
- and
- at least one solid state light emitter mounted on said body for curing dental impression material in said channel, wherein said at least one solid state light emitter emits light having a wavelength in the range of about 630 to 980 nanometers.
A dental impression tray comprising:
- a body having a channel for receiving a quantity of photocurable dental impression material;
- at least one light emitting diode mounted on said body for curing dental impression material in said channel, each of said at least one light emitting diode lacking a corresponding, discrete focusing lens;
- and
- a layer of polymeric material extending across the body and covering each light emitting diode.
A dental impression tray comprising:
- a body having a channel for receiving a quantity of photocurable dental impression material;
- a source of light for curing dental impression material in the channel;
- and
- at least one light detector connected to said body.
A method of curing dental impression material comprising the steps of:
- placing a quantity of dental impression material in an impression tray;
- directing light toward the impression material in the tray;
- sensing reflectance optical properties of the impression material as the impression material cures;
- and
- changing the amount of light flux directed toward the impression material in response to one or more changes in the sensed reflectance optical properties.
A method of curing dental impression material comprising the steps of:
- placing a quantity of dental impression material in an impression tray;
- directing light toward the impression material in the tray;
- sensing reflectance optical properties of the impression material as the impression material cures;
- and
- activating an alarm in response to one or more changes in the sensed reflectance optical properties to thereby signal that polymerization is substantially complete.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.