Apparatus for polymerization of plastic dental material
US5040964A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 2, 1990 |
| Grant date | Aug 20, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 2, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29C2035/0833
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is an improvement upon a known apparatus for polymerization of a body from dental plastic material by irradiation of the body with radiation of a selected wave length in the range between about 350 nm and about 550 nm. To achieve a desired degree of polymerziation of the dental plastic, a specific amount of radiation must be applied to the body. In order to achieve reproducible irradiation results in spite of fluctuations in supply voltage, alterations in lamp characteristics, burn out of one or more lamps, shifting of spectral outputs, replacement of defective or superannuated lamps, soiling of lamps and reflector surfaces and/or changes of operating temperatures in the irradiation area, a supplemental detection system in provided. Upon beginning of irradiation, a photocell measures a percentage component of the radiation within the selected wave length range from each irradiation source, generates an electrical signal therefrom and the electrical signal is integrated and compared to a predetermined value corresponding to the desired degree of polymerization. When the predetermined value is reached, the irradiation is interrupted.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.