Cutting mineralized physiologic tissue using laser radiation
US5118293A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 30, 1991 |
| Grant date | Jun 2, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 30, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB23K2103/30
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The cutting of tooth or bone tissue with laser radiation is enhanced by giving the radiation a polarization P parallel to the surface of the tissue being cut. For enlarging a tooth canal, laser radiation is delivered via an optical fiber which is introduced into the canal and is tapered in the region of its distal end. To fill a canal, an optical fiber having a low melting point is introduced into the canal and radiation is conducted through the fiber to melt the fiber and form the filling. The fiber may be coated with a material which will be melted by the radiation and will bond to the canal wall. Fillings and coatings are formed on tooth or bone tissue by projecting toward a surface of the tissue two starting components which when combined and exposed to light of a selected wavelength undergo a photochemical reaction to form a calcium containing product, and causing light of the selected wavelength to impinge on the components at least partially before they reach the surface in order to create the reaction and cause the resulting calcium containing product to bond to the tissue. Bacteria on a tooth surface are destroyed by staining the bacteria to cause the bacteria to have a da…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.