Portable high power arc lamp system and applications therefor

A high power short-arc xenon arc lamp system comprising:

• a. a housing, said housing comprising:
• b. a short-arc xenon lamp capable of a power input of at least 1500 W;
• c. a flexible light guide, the proximal end of said light guide mounted within said housing to receive optical energy from said reflector;
• d. a rechargeable battery for powering said lamp;
• and
• e. a charging circuit coupled to said battery for recharging said battery.

A method of curing a photocurable material comprising:

• a. providing an arc lamp capable of a power input of at least 1500 W;
• b. providing a reflector for reflecting the optical energy generated by said arc lamp;
• c. providing a flexible light guide, the proximal end of said light guide optically coupled to said reflector;
• d. providing a battery for supplying electrical power to said lamp;
• e. providing a charging circuit for recharging said battery cell using 110 V or 220 V ac current;
• f. placing the distal end of said light guide proximate a photocurable material and activating said lamp for a sufficient amount of time to cure said material.

A method of whitening teeth comprising:

• a. providing an arc lamp capable of a power input of at least 1500 W;
• b. providing a reflector for reflecting the optical energy generated by said arc lamp;
• c. providing a flexible light guide, the proximal end of said light guide optically coupled to said reflector;
• d. providing a battery for supplying electrical power to said lamp;
• e. providing a charging circuit for recharging said battery cell using 110 V or 220 V ac current;
• f. placing the distal end of said light guide proximate a tooth for a sufficient amount of time to effect whitening of said tooth.

A method of whitening teeth comprising:

• a. providing an arc lamp for generating optical energy;
• b. providing an ellipsoidal reflector for reflecting the light energy generated by said arc lamp;
• c. filtering the light energy reflected by said reflector with an optical filter to eliminate optical energy with a wavelength below about 430 nanometers and above about 505 nanometers;
• d. providing a flexible light guide, the proximal end of said light guide optically coupled to the output of said filter;
• e. providing a battery for supplying electrical power to said lamp;
• f. providing a charging circuit for recharging said battery cell using 110 V ac current;
• g. placing a bleaching composition on a tooth to be whitened;
• h. placing the distal end of said light guide proximate said bleaching composition and activating said lamp for a sufficient amount of time to whiten said tooth.

A method of whitening teeth comprising:

• a. providing an arc lamp with a power input of at least 1500 W;
• b. providing optical energy generated by said arc lamp to the proximate end of a flexible light guide;
• c. placing a light-activated bleaching compound on a tooth to be whitened;
• d. placing the distal end of said light guide proximate said tooth and activating said lamp for a sufficient amount of time to effect whitening of said tooth.